Seth Emerson, a writer at the Atlanta Journal Constitution, took some shots at Kentucky football today following SEC media days.
In his article titled “The idle interest in Kentucky football”, Emerson noted the differences between the Alabama and UK football programs.
Check out this excerpt:
“Six games is all we’ve gotta get. I don’t care which six they are,” Stamps said.
It’s safe to say no Alabama player uttered that quote on Wednesday.
The other contrasts were numerous. When Nick Saban walked to the podium in the media room, he was followed by photographers clicking and cameramen filming. Kentucky’s Mark Stoops walked up alone.
In the lobby, a horde of Alabama fans waited for autographs. Nobody in blue was seen. There was a Bear Bryant impersonator, complete with a houndstooth hat. There was no impersonator for the most well-known coach in Kentucky football history … Well actually there was, because that would also be Bryant. (He went 60-23-6 at Kentucky from 1946-53.)
Here’s the thing about Kentucky’s football program: It only seems to lack interest in relation to the rest of the SEC: Last year Kentucky’s home attendance was second-worst in the SEC, but would have ranked third in the ACC or Big 12.
It’s also in relation to the rabid interest in basketball. Several Kentucky media members came to Hoover straight from covering the Peach Jam, a basketball recruiting event.
