{"id":851,"date":"2016-09-16T08:21:54","date_gmt":"2016-09-16T12:21:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordoncollegefootball.com\/?p=851"},"modified":"2025-09-13T15:18:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T19:18:14","slug":"new-mexico-state-at-kentucky-preview-and-sec-predictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2016\/09\/16\/new-mexico-state-at-kentucky-preview-and-sec-predictions\/","title":{"rendered":"New Mexico State at Kentucky Preview and SEC Predictions"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a losing streak that now stretches into its third decade almost every Kentucky<\/strong> football coach has had at least one bad loss at Florida<\/strong>. This past Saturday it was Mark Stoops<\/strong>‘ turn. The Wildcats were embarrassed 45-7 in \u201cThe Swamp\u201d in a game that was never in doubt. The Kentucky<\/strong> defense made Luke Del Rio<\/strong><\/a> look like Danny Wuerffel<\/a>,<\/strong> as he threw for 320 yards and 4 touchdowns, the most yards by a Gator quarterback in SEC play since Chris<\/strong> Leak<\/strong><\/a> tossed for 322 against Arkansas<\/strong> in 2004.<\/p>\n

In his first SEC road game Drew Barker<\/strong> looked lost as he completed more passes to Gator defenders (three) than he did to Kentucky receivers (two). In fact the whole Wildcat offense looked lost and even one player hinted the team quit on Saturday.<\/p>\n

After nearly ending the three decade losing streak to Florida each of the last two seasons, Saturday’s game showed no signs of the progress the coaching staff has been preaching since last season ended. In fact it actually seems as if the program is regressing. Since starting the 2015 season 4-1, the Cats have gone 1-8 with the one win being over Charlotte,<\/strong> one of the worst teams in football. In six of the last eight games, Kentucky’s opponents have rushed for over 200 yards. For a coach who built his reputation as a defensive coach this has to be tough to watch.<\/p>\n

Unhappy Cats<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Even more telling were some of the comments by former Cats on Saturday while the blowout was happening. Former quarterback Maxwell Smith<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0who left the program for San Diego State<\/strong>,\u00a0posted this during the game.<\/p>\n

\n

\ud83e\udd10<\/p>\n

— Maxwell Smith (@Maxwe11EKU) September 10, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n