Give ’em credit for consistency.

Kentucky opposes going to a nine-game conference schedule now, just like the school opposed going to an eight-game schedule in 1992.

It’s hard to kick a cupcake addiction.  Although the AD claims to have something else on his mind.

Going to nine SEC games a year would make it more challenging for UK to get enough wins (six) to become bowl eligible. Barnhart says the physical impact on Kentucky’s players also factors into his stance.

“History says it’s very difficult for us to have the level of depth, the second, third, fourth lines of players, that some of the other schools in our league have just as a means of their in-state recruiting situations,” Barnhart said. “When we have to play a long line of league games, it’s a grind, our teams can get beaten up physically. It’s better for us, for our players, when the schedule allows us to have some so-called breathers, so that our kids can sort of restore themselves physically in-season.”

That’s how you inspire confidence in your football program.

Oh, and here’s your bonus chuckle:

Still, strictly from a position of UK’s self interest, Barnhart is right to oppose the ninth SEC football game. If they are smart, the administrations at schools such as Mississippi, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and even South Carolina will fight it, too.  [Emphasis added.]

Looks like they’ve still got a public perception problem in Columbia.

14 Comments

Filed under SEC Football

14 responses to “Give ’em credit for consistency.

  1. Dawg in Beaumont

    The main reason South Carolina will oppose going from 8 to 9 games is because then the rotation will be more even and they won’t get to cry about the mean/evil/cheating/dirty/rotten/nasty UGA schedule that OMG cheated them!!!!!!11111one

    Like

    • Bulldog Joe

      South Carolina oversigns and has the depth to go to the extra conference game. However, it takes away the opportunity for Coach Spurrier to do what he enjoys most.. whine.

      Like

  2. JasonC

    Is the Big East still around? Can we trade Kentucky to them or the Sunbelt? Maybe the won’t get boo-boos in a lesser league.

    Like

    • Mayor of Dawgtown

      You say this in jest but UK would be very competitive in the Big East and maybe even win that conference in football. Plus, the basketball situation would be perfect for them. They’d never leave the SEC, though. The ‘Cats are addicted to the $$ the SEC generates.

      Like

  3. uglydawg

    If KY is effectivley saying “we can’t be a successful program unless our conference schedule is light”, then maybe they need to find a way out of the SEC. Could they swap conferences with an ACC school? Geographically, KY is positioned to be very appealing to the rest of the SEC..that is to say that they aren’t too big of a threat to recruit in anyone’s back yard…I don’t know what ACC team could fill that appeal and be a great addition unless it’s NC State or maybe VT. I would suspect UNC is too in love with the basketball aspect of ACCishness to consider it. Clemson, GT and FSU would all be opposed by USC, UGA and UF. South Carolina will be competitive as long as Spurrier hangs in there….Vandy and Mississippi State seem content to be a part of it all and are striving to compete.

    Like

  4. Go Dawgs!

    I still find it hard to believe (and yet so, so delicious) that Tennessee has officially fallen into the group of Vandy, Kentucky, and the Mississippis in terms of program perception.

    Like

  5. Greg

    No doubt that a 9th conference game would be a disaster for Kentucky. From 2006 to 2010(4 seasons under Rich Brook and 1 season under Joker Phillips), UK went to 5 straight bowl games. In each of those seasons, they went 4-0 versus a very weak non-conference schedule. Louisville was by far the best non-conference opposition and they were struggling prior to Charlie Strong’s arrival. UK finished all of those years with
    no more than 8 wins after the bowl game.

    Having 9 conference games and Louisville under Strong would give them UK very little hope for a bowl game anytime in their future.

    Like

  6. Anon

    While silly, he is at least aware of the impact it would make to the program, unlike McG who thinks that we’re headed the right direction in basketball.

    Also there’s the fact that even though it’s the highest profile hoops team in the country, UK football still makes more money than does basketball. Going to a 9th conference game could likely take away a home game.

    Like

  7. AlphaDawg

    I can see the AJC headline now ‘SEC to rough with KY’

    Like

  8. Beer Money

    …says the team who just lost to WKU.

    Like