HC Students and Staff Talk Kentucky Football

Before the first kickoff of the 2016 college football season, the Kentucky Wildcats season seemed brighter than in recent years. Countless news stations and articles dubbed the Cats a success. With a strong recruiting class, loaded with five-star recruits and a touted in-state pool, few fans considered an alternate possibility.

A heartbreaking loss in the opening game to Southern Mississippi however, put a damper on many of the fan’s spirits. To watch the team they knew and love go up by almost four touchdowns and to still lose late in the game caused many to question their team.

UK fan and HC Social Studies teacher Robbie Biddle was one of those fans.

“I was at Southern Miss. So I was not pleased”, Biddle said, “That was a really tough loss.”

“I’m happy with how it’s gone so far but I’d like to get Southern Miss back,” Chemistry teacher Joe Ratliff said. Even the students agreed.

“I was disappointed with how we played against Southern Miss,” HC Junior Beau Carroll said.

Not all this year has been a negative though, and a few staff members still retain hope. “The recruiting is as good as it’s ever been,” Ratliff said. “It’s really nice to see Coach Stoops pulling in these high-profile players from hot areas like Ohio and Florida and Georgia. I also like how he’s getting the University to put money into the program,” Ratliff said.

The players also seem to be a point of interest among the fans at HC. Above all the names mentioned, a familiar one stuck out. “Davonte Robinson” was a name that came up with all of the staff members. Robinson is a former Blue Devil and a very popular name on campus. He was a standout in both Football and Track, and was a student that many members of the staff loved to watch play.

“I love that Davonte has two very good players in front of him that are really helping him learn and figure everything out without the heat of competition.” Ratliff said.

In many instances, a team’s season can be defined by just one matchup: a Bowl game. These games pit teams from different conferences against one another after the regular season ends.

“I think we will get one if Lamar Jackson gets hurt,” Biddle joked. “And if we win the games we are supposed to.”

“I do not think we will get one this year sadly,” HC administrative assistant and season ticket holder Terri Harrison said, “We’ve looked good in the games we’ve played so far but I don’t see a strong finish with some of the opponents we have coming up.”

Ratliff was the most optimistic of the group.

“I think we will surprise some people and win the games we are supposed to,” he said. “We should get one this year.”

With the season now in full go, only time will tell how the Cats will fare against their SEC rivals. “I’m tired of sucking,” Biddle said.