Tucker: Kentucky’s hardest step in the climb? Winning games like this Ole Miss loss

OXFORD, Miss. — At first, when Mark Stoops was attempting to piece collectively a program that defied Kentucky soccer’s largely mediocre historical past, progress got here in matches and begins. His second season, the Wildcats began 5-1. They misplaced the final six. His third season, Kentucky began 4-1. Then misplaced six of the final seven. Again then, he continuously described these tenuous moments of burgeoning hope like this: “We had all of it teed up.” Solely to swing and miss, letting all that cautious optimism escape like a rush of air from an untied balloon.

However to his nice credit score, Stoops moved Kentucky and its weary fan base past the emotional trauma of ready for that different shoe to drop. He gained huge video games. Acquired the Cats to 6 consecutive bowls. Posted two 10-win seasons. Pounded rival Louisville with regularity. Beat ranked Huge Ten groups in Citrus Bowls. Snapped the 31-game shedding streak towards Florida and began a successful one towards the Gators. Final fall, after UK’s first dwelling victory in that collection since 1986, Stoops stated, “It was very nice to ship for the followers, as a result of we’ve had issues teed up earlier than.”

Stoops, now the winningest coach in class historical past, lastly flipped the script. Individuals had stopped questioning what new nightmare lurked across the nook and commenced dreaming about simply how excessive Kentucky may climb. The Wildcats entered Yr 10 below Stoops this fall ranked within the preseason AP ballot for the primary time since 1978.