Rich Brooks is Irritated With Kentucky Fans

One team that seems to be operating completely under the radar in 2008 is Rich Brooks' Kentucky Wildcats.

At 5-2, playing without their two best offensive players (RB Derrick Locke and WR Dicky Lyons) the 'Cats are still playing solid, if unspectacular ball and surviving in the dog-eat-dog world of the SEC.

Kentucky's most recent feat was a comeback win over Arkansas. Down 20-7, the 'Cats mounted a furious rally to win in the final moments, 21-20. It was a great game that didn't garner much national attention, but it demonstrated the gritty, tough attitude that Kentucky football has cultivated since the arrival of Rich Brooks.

Now if only the fans could get on the same page.

Down three scores, fan in Commonwealth Stadium began filing out, no doubt expecting the usual futility once associated with Kentucky football. Brooks didn't appreciate it a bit. From his press conference after the game:

"After the last two years? No, I don't (think fans should have left) but that's their prerogative," Brooks said. "I wasn't very happy at that stage of the game either and I'm looking for everything I can on the sideline to get our players back into it mentally. That's part of the cascading affect that can have a real negative attitude on your football team. When those things happen around you you have to be strong enough to not let them affect you.

"I find it interesting about the perception of Kentucky football. What's the 'Bluegrass Miracle'? Now, you would think the Arkansas game might be better termed the 'Bluegrass Miracle' on the positive side so our 'Bluegrass Miracle' is a negative thing with Kentucky football. I find that very interesting. I find it interesting that you get more phone calls after a loss on the call-in shows than you do after a win. You might call that negativity, you know, the old glass half full, glass have empty."

It's a sad state of affairs when a football team can't even rely on their home crowd to help get them back in the game. These 'Cats dug deep and pulled themselves out of a deep hole, with no thanks at all to those who left. Support your team, Kentuckians!