CFN's 2006 Pre-preseason Rankings

[AndyPopCat]

78. Kentucky 2005 Record: 3-8
Why to get excited: Just about everyone returns on offense including do-it-all playmaker Rafael Little and QB Andre Woodson. The schedule isn’t that horrible with home games against Texas State, Ole Miss (http://collegefootballnews.com/2006/Rankings/PrePreSeason_ProbableAlsoRans.htm#), Central Michigan, Vanderbilt and UL Monroe making a six-win season a real possibility. The Wildcats get LSU from the West, but they also get the ultimate break with Ole Miss and Mississippi State (http://collegefootballnews.com/2006/Rankings/PrePreSeason_ProbableAlsoRans.htm#).
Why to be grouchy: Is the talent any better? Consistency from the offensive backfield was a major issue, and there wasn’t any defense to speak of. The SEC is still the SEC, and there’s still the perpetual lame-duck feeling of the Rich Brooks era hanging over the program’s head.
The number one thing to work on is: Turnover margin. The team has a hard enough time without struggling to hang on to the ball. With 25 turnovers and only 16 takeaways, UK finished 107th in the nation in turnovers. Stopping the run will also be a priority.
Biggest offensive loss: RB Arliss Beach
Biggest defensive loss: SS Muhammad Abdullah


http://collegefootballnews.com/2006/Rankings/PrePreSeason_ProbableAlsoRans.htm

[zuma]

78th is pretty poor so I guess we can only surprise them somewhat. I would hope we can at least move into the top 50 and next year move into the top 40 or so. It will take a little longer to really show or expect anyone outside our fans to expect us to do better. A much improved defense this year will go along ways to helping out. Statistics sometimes do not tell the story but for us it seems to be pretty true. Of course everyone in 1A is not playing in the SEC so even if our defense is rated last in the NCAA, it would be better than many other schools.

[T75]

I like Beach but if his loss is the biggest from the UK offense, that's gotta be saying something!

Since so little is expected of us this year, it might even be easy to slip up on a couple of teams. But if you want to count recruiting stars, Ole Miss has a much much better class coming in next year than we've ever had in recent history---more multi stars than we've had the last two seasons combined. Not going to be push-overs in the near future.

I'm sure from all they've been saying that the whole UK staff, players and admin, know that this season is "fish or cut bait" time for the Cats. If this doesn't translate to a better effort with our somewhat better material, then I don't think anyone would argue with major changes in the UK football organization. But, man, that must not happen---it'd kill recruiting of players who've begun to believe that things are on the mend at UK. Unless, of course, we have to make changes and come up with a fantastic big name new coach.