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Since the hiring of Mark Stoops as head coach, the Kentucky Wildcats have had quite a bit of momentum as a program. Stoops has significantly upgraded the talent on the roster with three solid recruiting classes.
Stoops and athletic director Mitch Barnhart have also put money towards the football program, with upgrades to Commonwealth Stadium currently underway and new football offices in the works.
As Stoops enters year three, the Big Blue Nation is starting to have some expectations for the team, especially after last season. Kentucky started 5-1 and only needed one win in their last six games to go to a bowl. However, the Wildcats ended the season by losing six straight to finish 5-7.
When Stoops took over for Joker Phillips, the expectations were very low. Wildcat fans, as well as Stoops, knew that there was a lack of talent and depth on the roster. But with three recruiting classes on campus starting this Fall, now is the time for Kentucky to take that next step. They may not compete for an SEC East title, but if Kentucky can get back to a bowl game, it would take quite a bit of pressure off of Stoops and his team.
The fear in the Bluegrass is that the end of last season took away some of the momentum that Stoops and his staff worked so hard to build. Also, Kentucky saw at least eight 2015 recruits flip their commitments late, which hurt the overall class.
As the head coach at Kentucky, winning between six and eight games is about all the fans will ever ask to see. Anything above that is icing on the cake. The pressure that exists with the Alabama Crimson Tide or the Florida Gators is not seen in Lexington.
Stoops still has time and a commitment from the administration, but winning sooner rather than later would be a good career move for the first-time head coach.
Hot seat monitor: 5 out of 10
Tim Letcher is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TimLetcher , on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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