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For the first time in school history, the Kentucky Wildcat football team is bowl-eligible a 4th year in a row. Impressive, in light of the previous record being held by Paul "Bear" Bryant-coached UK teams. But, at 6-4, and as likely underdogs in their remaining two games, these Wildcats may finish their 2nd consecutive regular season at 6-6. With all due respect to Bryant, in his day, a .500 season would only get you invited to a bowling league. With 34 bowl games to be played after this season, 68 of 125 Division 1 FBS (Football Bowl Series, formerly Division 1-A) teams are going bowling. That's more than half (54.4%) of the teams eligible! Contrast this with the NCAA D-1 basketball tournament, where only 65 of 347 teams are selected for March Madness. That's less than one-fifth (18.7%) of eligible teams! So, unless your football team is in the upper one-third (the rough ratio of 18.7% and 54.4%) of bowl-eligible teams, your school is playing in the equivalent of basketball's NIT. Seriously, all that's required to be bowl-eligible is to win half of your 12-game schedule, with only 5 of those wins coming against fellow FBS teams. Yes, feel free to play FCS (Football Championship Series, formerly Division 1-AA) teams like Indiana State, as Louisville did this year, in hopes of becoming bowl eligible. Never mind the Sycamores lost to an NAIA team in the weeks prior. Oh, as mediocre as it may be in Lexington, Cardinal fans have even less to feel good about. UK coach Rich Brooks has finished no better than 4-4 in the SEC. Again, contrast that with Bear Bryant, who had SEC finishes of 4-1 (1949) and 5-1 (1950). Bryant's worst season, overall, was 5-4-2 in 1952. That would be bowl-eligible by today's standards. Needless to say, then, all of Bryant's UK teams would have been bowl-eligible in our current era - all 9 of them! Puts a record 4 in a row in perspective, doesn't it? Playing an extra game each year is of great benefit to a group of young men preparing for the next season. But, the way bowl games award average play, who can be proud to play post-season football any more? Outside of the top 25, the rest of the FBS aren't far removed from the Poulan Weedeater Independence Bowl (1990-96). Yes, Cat fans, The papajohns.com Bowl awaits! And while you may call it bowling, I believe there are "better ingredients, better pizza."

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	In My Dreams   mon nov 16 2009 at 9:14 am         ·  Sounds like sour grapes from a UofL fan. It is what it is. If UofL somehow manages to win two more games they will also be bowl eligible. Should UofL decline a bowl bid in that situation. Kentucky still has two games left. Sooner or later they are going to be Tennessee. You can be crude all you want "2006 Douche Bowl Game"?!?! but UofL would do the exact same thing with a 6-6 record and fans would be happy about it.
	ukcatfan   mon nov 16 2009 at 9:41 am         ·  I agree, It sounds like a bitter UofL fan that wrote this. What team wouldn't take advantage of having one extra month to practice.
	On, On...   mon nov 16 2009 at 5:47 pm         ·  did they really just compare bear bryant(one of the greatest coaches ever) to rich brooks. dont get me wrong rich brooks has done wonders for this program but bear bryant is in the highest level of coaching tiers.