It is early in the morning on Saturday, September 23rd and I can't sleep anymore. You'd think someone who just returned to the daily grind of waking up before daylight would cherish those days when he has the ability to sleep in. The truth is, while it going to be a long day for me today, I could use the sleep but would like nothing more than to put to rest the talk of the streak. Like most streaks, you don't realize they are "streaks" until a number of consecutive wins, or losses, have started to accumulate. If you weren't aware of it (living under a rock) , there are plenty of articles out there to remind you that it has been 30 years since the Kentucky WIldcats have beaten Florida in football.
I was a student at the University of Kentucky before the last win against the Gators. I asked a good friend of mine who played on that 1986 team about his memories of that game. The strength of that UK team was Mark Higgs usually running to the right side behind my friend Greg Kunkel and some guy named Dermonti Dawson. That was exactly how Kentucky scored the lone touchdown of that game. Greg remembers that scoring play and also watching from the sidelines as Tony Mayes recovered a fumble on Florida's final drive to seal the victory. Many long time fans have memories of those plays from their own perspectives.
As a longtime UK sports fan I have many memories of the exhilarating wins, and painful losses. Unfortunately, that 1986 win is not one of them. I have no memory of the game at all. Maybe it was just another game at the time. It occurrred to me this morning that I have no memory of ever beating Florida in football. Had that 1986 game been for a conference title I am sure I would remember. Had that game been a game that busted a 30 year losing streak, I certainly would remember.
Through the years, probably around the Tim Couch era, the awareness of The Streak has grown. There have been near misses when it comes to snapping THE Streak and Kentucky has fielded some pretty good teams over the 30 year span. With each one of these missed opportunities the weight of THE STREAK seems to grow. The players and coaches might say that this is just another game, like in 1986. The atmosphere tonight at Kroger Field will not be like any other game. That is why I am wide awake at 7:30 in the morning on this game day. I have seen THE STREAK grow from a monkey on our backs to a full sized gorilla. I am looking forward to the days when the Florida football game is just viewed as nothing more than another big SEC game. We can remember tonight as The NIGHT we broke THE STREAK and move on, Im ready. Thanks for reading…and Go Cats!
