We had a pretty good ending to the decade for University of Kentucky athletics. The basketball Cats beat No. 3 Louisville in an OT thriller and the football Cats pulled out a last second win against Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl with Lynn Bowden throwing the winning touchdown pass.
This past decade treated Kentucky fans pretty good too. A national title and a great basketball run, Kentucky baseball made the Super Regionals, Mark Stoops brought Kentucky football back from the dead with four straight winning seasons, including two bowl wins and a 10-3 season.
Whether you want to admit it or not, it was a great ten years for Kentucky Athletics. Yeah we could’ve won a few more games here and there, some more important than others, but it was a great decade.
With another ten years on the horizon for Kentucky sports, here are five predictions for this next decade.
Alcohol will be sold at all games
A very controversial decision that was made this past year with no alcohol sales at Kentucky sporting events will come to an end.
Even though alcohol is allowed in the suites where the rich are, alcohol will be sold to fans with a stadium seat.
Many other programs have already allowed alcohol sales, raising revenue substantially. There was already a lot of backlash after this past decision, so I do not see it lasting long.
Kentucky football will make the SEC Championship game
I didn’t think Kentucky football would have the success that they have had, so here we go.
Mark Stoops has done a tremendous job with bringing Kentucky football back from the dead and making them a legit contender in the east.
After they hosted Georgia last year with a trip to Atlanta on the line, I can’t help but think it will happen again and Kentucky will win.
It could come as soon as next year with Kentucky’s roster loaded with talent and the Bulldogs coming to Lexington for another matchup with the Cats.
Mark Stoops will not leave Kentucky
As I said above, Stoops has already had a ton of success with Kentucky. After a terrible start to his career, Stoops is now 44-44 in his career at Kentucky with a 10-3 season and a major bowl win backed up by an 8-5 season with a WR at QB and a bowl win.
If the Cats do accomplish Stoops’ ultimate goal and make the SEC Championship game, many schools will come calling.
I think there will be a lot of drama surrounding Stoops and other jobs, but at the end of the day, Mark Stoops will not leave Kentucky.
Kentucky basketball will get No. 9 and No. 10
Kentucky basketball and John Calipari have not won a title since 2012 and while a lot of people think he’s underachieving, which is complete nonsense, Kentucky has been knocking on the door for many years now.
Kentucky will get No. 9 and No. 10 this decade. With the one and done ending, I would not be surprised if the Cats won back-to-back titles.
Now, if John Calipari spends 15 years at Kentucky and wins only one national title, then we can talk about whether he underachieved here.
John Calipari will retire
Since John Calipari has been at Kentucky, there have been many rumors about him leaving. The rumors started right after Kentucky won the title in 2012 and have been swirling ever since.
Who will follow him? I have no clue. I just know that we need to cherish these next few years with Calipari.
If the above does happen, I think Cal will retire right after.
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