Kentucky Wildcats Hope to Have Plenty to Cheer About in 2009

Kentucky has been on an upswing lately. Their appearances in postseason play is just the beginning according to head coach Rich Brooks, who is optimistic about about having an even more successful 2009.

"We were a few bounces away from having two or three more wins, and we were also a few bounces away from having two or three more losses this season. In this league, that is how it will probably be every year," said Brooks.

He continues: "The good news is that we don't roll over and play dead when something goes wrong. We are winning games. We come from behind in the fourth quarter and we battle and compete in most every game. I would like to have a Southeastern Conference Championship run and a BCS run. We want anything that keeps us from being just above .500. A few years ago that would be fairly significant, but it is no longer looked at that way. I'm glad that is not the case."

Conference championship? BCS run? Has Brooks been drinking some of that Kentucky moonshine?

Perhaps not when you consider that three big stars skipped the NFL draft to come back. Micah Johnson, Jeremy Jarmon, and Trevard Lindley are returning to help Kentucky's defense continue climbing the ladder and to help take them to more postseason play. Since all three were All-SEC players, it should help Kentucky stay strong despite losing 16 players to graduation.

On the subject of losing the 16 starters, Brooks said, "Everyone has those problems every year. We had holes to fill last year, and we didn't fill them as well as we would have liked, but we were still a good football team. We should be better on offense and I hope we don't slip on defense. I hope we step it up. I believe we have a chance to do that. The addition of Mark Crawford will give a big body on the inside and will help replace Myron Pryor."

Brooks also feels that postseason play and becoming more competitive is one of the reasons that recruiting has picked up lately too. Kentucky is bringing in several players who may contribute early and often.

The main man on offense looks to be Mike Hartline again this year. Brooks says the job is his until someone comes along who is better or until he shows he can't handle the job effectively. Like many players Rich has signed, he does say that some of the new quarterbacks could compete quickly.

It won't hurt that several players who missed games had offseason surgery and had injuries will be healed up by the kickoff of the season.

"We have had three offseason surgeries. Braxton Kelley had his shoulder repaired, and he probably played the last six games of the season with the injury. Justin Jeffries also had his shoulder repaired. Justin Jeffries will not participate in contact drills, but he should participate in other drills. I'm hopeful that Braxton will be rehabbed in three to four months," said Rich at a recent press conference.

Next year's schedule will be brutal. They play five teams that went to bowls last year, and play Auburn, Louisville, and Tennessee who hope to be in bowls this year. That's eight potential bowl teams to have to fight through this year.

Many who follow football closely agree with Brooks assessment of last season. Indeed they were "a few bounces away" from winning another two or three games. Perhaps this year the ball will bounce their way.