2013 Kentucky Wildcats Football Preview

By Scott Sergent

The Good: New blood comes to the Bluegrass State as Mark Stoops takes over for Joker Phillips. He has brought in former Texas Tech offensive coordinator Neal Brown, who worked for Hal Mumme when the pair were at Kentucky, and knows the potent Air Raid offense. Stoops brought defensive line coach D.J. Eliot with him from Florida State and he will be a vast improvement from last year's Swiss cheese defense.

The Bad: Only four starters return on offense, but that might not be such a bad thing considering the Wildcats ranked 116th in scoring, 87th in rushing, 102nd in passing, and finally, 113thin total offense. It's like Bo Schembechler used to say, "They couldn't move the ball across the street."

The Ugly: Eight straight losses began with a shocking home loss to little brother Western Kentucky in overtime last year was as ugly as it gets.

Starters Returning: 4 – Offense/6 - Defense.

Schedule: You thought the offense was bad, take a look at the schedule. Consecutive games against Louisville, Florida, South Carolina and Alabama are not exactly an easy welcome into the SEC for Coach Stoops. Granted three of the four are at home (USC is at Columbia), but that won't be fun. Road games at Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Georgia are not exactly doing wonders for the optimism either.

Jul 17, 2013; Hoover, AL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops talks with the media during the 2013 SEC football media days at the Hyatt Regency. Photo Courtesy By Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports.

Outlook: A new day has come to Lexington and with it, a sense of hope that Stoops can build a team that will be able to contend with the bullies in the SEC. While the team lacks talent and depth to compete on a consistent basis right now, a talent recruiting class and a new direction has the Wildcat fans hopeful that their team won't be the usual distraction before basketball season.

Prediction: 7th SEC East.

Look out 2013 SEC Football Preview and Predictions.

Individual 2013 SEC Football Team Previews and Predictions (Listed in Order of Predicted Finish):

Read Scott Sergent's outstanding new book:

More About Kentucky Wildcats Football:

2012 Kentucky Wildcats Football Preview
2011 Kentucky Wildcats Football Preview
2010 Kentucky Wildcats Football
2009 Kentucky Wildcats Football
2008 Kentucky Wildcats Football
2007 Kentucky Football
Kentucky Wildcats Football History
Joker Phillips Biography -- (Current Kentucky coach)
Rich Brooks Biography -- (Former Kentucky coach)
Best All-Time SEC Football Team -- (1898 Kentucky Football Team is a finalist)
Best All-Time SEC Football Coach -- (Former Kentucky football coach -- Bear Bryant)
Bob Gain Biography -- (Best player of Kentucky)

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