Although the season is not over thanks to barely reaching bowl eligibility, the regular season is over after a loss to Tennessee yesterday. There are many different ways to look at the game but I thought it would be interesting to take a look at Operation: Win vs. Tennessee by the numbers. We’ve [URL=”http://www.nationofblue.com/kentucky-east-tennessee-state-numbers-3577/”]done this before[/URL] on Nation of Blue and it was pretty popular so we thought we’d do it again.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
[B][SIZE=6]26:[/SIZE][/B] The number of times Tennessee has defeated Kentucky in their current win streak. So many people thought that this would be the year for Kentucky. Kentucky had an edge on paper but it wasn’t enough. The Volunteers proved to be too much, especially on their home field.
[B][SIZE=3]527:[/SIZE][/B] We might as well continue what the team started. After some players made appearances wearing shirts with “517” on the front of them the week leading up to the game, we might as well start wearing shirts with “527” to prepare for next year. Just in case you missed it, that is the number of points Tennessee has won by in this streak.
[B][SIZE=5]6-6:[/SIZE][/B] The record that Joker Phillips has as head coach, which doesn’t happen to meet the expectations of Big Blue Nation. Most expected 7-5, some thought 8-4 and even a few optimist said 9-3. But 6-6?
[SIZE=7][B]18:[/B][/SIZE] That’s right, Randall Cobb’s number. It’s significant after the Tennessee game because it could be the last regular season game we witnessed Cobb playing as a Wildcat. He will almost certainly test the waters of the NFL. He might bleed blue, but his stock went up this year being one of the most versatile players in college football.
[B][SIZE=4]2011:[/SIZE][/B] Maybe the year that Kentucky can beat Tennessee. Sigh…
Until then, we do have a bowl game to look forward to. It won’t be much, but it is a bowl and that provides us with another chance to see UK on the field. And with that, we’ll have another number to look at.
[SIZE=1]7:[/SIZE] Will it be the number of wins or the number of losses we have when it’s finally over with this season?
