Losing the SEC games, especially at Kroger Field, is getting kind of old. UK’s ugly loss to Vanderbilt 20-13 before a crowd of 62,120 is one of the most frustrating nights I have had in recent years, especially after Kentucky had stunned then-No. 6 Ole Miss in a major upset on the road. In the past three years or so, the Wildcats have won only two games in the last 12 conference matchups at home.
After those recent home losses, the Wildcat fans are having to drive home with more disappointments, frustrations and heartbreaks. Obviously, that gloomy feeling isn’t a healthy sign for the football program. At this point, even after a couple of memorable 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021, Kentucky is no longer a Top 25 or 30 program
However, UK (3-3 overall, 1-3 SEC) still has a chance to turn its current season around. But it won’t be easy. The Cats have four more SEC games, including a road trip to Austin, Texas where they meet the top-ranked Longhorns the weekend before Thanksgiving. And don’t forget a road trip to Tennessee in early November.
Jamie H. Vaught, a longtime sports columnist in Kentucky, is the author of six books about UK basketball, including recently-published “Forever Crazy About The Cats: An Improbable Journey of a Kentucky Sportswriter Overcoming Adversity.” Now a retired college professor who taught at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College in Middlesboro., he is the editor and founder of KySportsStyle.com Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter @KySportsStyle or reach him via email at KySportsStyle@gmail.com.I thought the Florida and Auburn games in the next two weekends were winnable but now I’m not so sure. Hope I’m wrong. Of course, this isn’t the same Vanderbilt team that we have seen from the past. As you know, the Commodores recently upset then-No. 1 Alabama 40-35. In addition, Vandy stopped Virginia Tech in the season opener.
Even though the 2024 campaign isn’t over, it’s sure awfully hard to get excited about the football Wildcats in the murderous SEC these days.
• Said Kentucky coach Mark Stoops in a postgame press conference, “Another disappointing loss. And when I turn on the film tonight and I’m going to see a lot of the same mistakes that we made in another loss earlier this year. I obviously didn’t get it done. About our team and controlling our emotions and executing, you don’t win games by being all psyched up or just being irrational. It comes down to disciplined execution. I tried like hell to beat that into our heads and to play winning football in all areas.
“When you continuously hurt yourself with penalties, turnovers, missed assignments, not making plays, I’m obviously not getting through to them. I understand what winning football looks like and I know what it doesn’t look like. We certainly didn’t do that today and I’m very disappointed in myself and our staff for not getting this team ready. And I have to do a better job. I can promise you it wasn’t for lack of effort.”
• Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, a graduate transfer who played two years at New Mexico State and two years at New Mexico Military Institute, is an entertaining player to watch. Against the Wildcats, he rushed 14 times for 53 net yards, and passed 15 out of 18 attempts for 143 yards with one interception.
On Pavia’s bad knee, Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea, “Well, short of amputation I think that dude is playing. He is tough, I mean I am not sure of specifics, but he got his knee banged up, they just wanted to check on it, he’s fine. He’s going to get banged up, this is a tough stretch. He is a fun player to have on the team, he fights every night, he’s got the chip on the shoulder that defines our program, and he is going to be okay.”
Added wide receiver Richie Hoskins of Vanderbilt, “That kid’s a dog. We’ve known it since he’s been here, we knew it when he was on his way. That’s a true leader. He’s going to put the pain aside and go win a football game, and we love that about him.”
On this past week’s game preparation after a huge victory over Alabama, Pavia commented, “I feel like younger me would’ve for sure just been mentally all over the place, but I’m 22 years old. I’ve got to be the example for the younger guys in the locker room. I obviously didn’t play my best tonight. I had one turnover that I really wanted back. But other than that, I felt I played a pretty complete game. But if we want to go where we want to go, I can’t turn the ball over.”
• Kentucky wide receiver Dane Key now has 1,607 career receiving yards to remain ninth on the school’s all-time career list. He needs just 55 more yards to move into eighth, which is currently occupied by Randall Cobb. Against Vanderbilt, Key had a game-high and career-high-tying eight catches for 83 yards and a 22-yard touchdown reception.
• I’m glad to see Vanderbilt defensive end Miles Capers is okay after a serious neck injury in the first half. He was stretched off the field and taken to a local hospital.
Coach Clark Lea said, “Miles is doing well. He joined us for the end of the game on the sideline. I want to credit our medical team. I think anytime you are dealing with a neck injury you want to be cautious and take every precaution. I don’t know if there will be lingering effects, but he is doing just fine and he has a smile on his face. He was happy to be back on the sidelines. (It was) a scary moment.”
• UK travels to Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators, who dropped to then-No. 8 Tennessee 23-17 in overtime Saturday night, on Saturday, Oct. 19. The game time is 7:45 p.m. ET and it will be shown on the SEC Network. The early betting odds are showing Kentucky is a slight favorite over Florida as of late Sunday morning.