Last night was another reminder to all of the SEC that Kentucky is back, just in case there was any doubt still hanging around. Kentucky beat a good Florida team by 12 on the road... something they hadn't been able to do in a long time. It's hard to put into words how amazing (and fast) this turn around has been, but it's reminded me of when I got into an email war with a writer from Florida a couple of years ago. He tried to sell me on the fact that Kentucky was dead and that Florida was here to stay. Of course, back then, I didn't know Calipari would come to Kentucky and practically rebuild UK overnight, but I knew at some point it would happen.
I reminded the writer that Kentucky was still Kentucky, and while it was certainly a dark period for Big Blue Nation, there was no doubt Kentucky would be back at some point. Think about it, there has always been a program to rise up and challenge Kentucky in the SEC over the years. There was LSU in the 80's and Arkansas in the 90's. The past decade, Florida and Tennessee. But who has been the constant through all of that... Kentucky, baby. It's like Al Maguire once said about Kentucky's tradition... "They had it before you, they had it during you, and they'll have when you're gone."
Florida fans are now coming to see this harsh reality for themselves. If there was any doubt before last night, its certainly gone now. Pat Dooley of GatorSports.com probably said it the best. For perspective from Florida's angle, read his article here. Its great.
More later...
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