Let’s take a look at the difference between a 6-6 record and a 6-6 record.
Kentucky and Louisville both have head coaches who just completed their first seasons. Both coaches were 6-6 overall and both teams are going to bowl games.
That is where the similarity apparently end.
At Kentucky, Joker Phillips has completed a 6-6 season that is largely considered a first-year failure. Entering the season with the exciting phrase “Operation Win”, Phillips generated a great deal of excitement around the UK program.
As the season progressed however, many thought the Wildcats program looked more like “Operation Try Not to Lose”. The result was a 6-6 season that has to be considered a disappointment considering how the schedule was filled with winnable games.
In other words, the stars were aligned for Kentucky to win 8 or even 9 games. There was even an opportunity to compete for the SEC East title. Florida, Tennessee and Georgia had terrible seasons, by their standards, but Kentucky managed to lose to all three.
Somehow, the Wildcats miraculously defeated South Carolina and amazingly almost dashed Auburn’s national title hopes. Those two games, coupled with a win over archrival Louisville saved some face for Phillips, but 6-6 is still very disappointing.
There have already been changes made to the UK staff and the Wildcats will limp into the BBVA Compass Bowl – the lowest bowl game that the SEC is tied to.
Then, there’s first-year coach Charlie Strong over at Louisville.
Louisville also finished 6-6, including losses in two of their final three games. The Cardinals play in a painfully weak Big East Conference. A conference that will send 8-4 Connecticut to the Fiesta Bowl.
Connecticut who lost to Michigan, Temple, Rutgers and (of course) Louisville will represent the Big East Conference in a BCS bowl. The outcome will surely be a beatdown at the hands of Oklahoma.
The Cardinals are headed to the Beef O’Brady Bowl for a battle with Southern Miss.
So, doing the math, U of L went 6-6 with one win over a ranked opponent – Connecticut, who finishes the season at No. 25 in the Associated Press rankings. The only other ranked opponent on the Louisville schedule was No. 23 West Virginia, who defeated the Cardinals.
Kentucky finished 6-6 with a win over No. 19 South Carolina and losses to No. 1 Auburn and No. 21 Mississippi State.
Joker Phillips had a disappointing 6-6 season.
Earlier today, Charlie Strong was awarded Big East Co-Coach of the Year for his 6-6 season.
