How the Players Handled the Loss

UK Athletics

There’s plenty of blame to be dished out, but immediately after the game all that was left was one feeling: hurt.

“It hurts. Everyone in the locker room was hurt and crying. It was emotional because we don’t like losing. We have to start executing the little things,” Mikel Horton said.

It’s a feeling that’s going to stick with the team for awhile.  Instead of moving on to the next opponent, a long offseason lies ahead.  “It is the worst feeling in the world, especially (against) Louisville,” Mikel Horton said.  “We have got to come back harder and stronger in the offseason as a team. We have to move as one and that’s our goal.”

A.J. Stamps was disappointed in the way his team handled themselves when faced with adversity, “That’s not the way we expected it to go. We faced adversity and we didn’t come out on the right end of the stick.”

Stamps also took it one step further: today was the worst loss he’s ever experienced.  “With a bowl game on the line and it being my last game here at Kentucky, (it’s the worst feeling I’ve been through here).”  But A.J. doesn’t have any regrets during his time at UK.  “It’s been a great place. I’ve had a great time the two years I was here and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”

Even though there isn’t room much room for optimism within the fan base, the departing Seniors are confident in the players returning.

“This is a great place and I am excited to see what Kentucky has in store for the years to come,” Farrington Huguenin said.  “Kentucky is not in trouble and I don’t think Mark Stoops is going anywhere. We have some young guys that will start taking control.”

“I definitely expect the program to grow,” Josh Forrest said, but he challenged the young guys to take the next step.  “A lot of young guys that have played will have to step up. We have a lot of freshmen that played that are older now and will not make the same mistakes as they did this year.”

The young guys must move forward, if not, Kentucky football will continue to hurt for years to come.