SAD NEWS: FOR KENTUCKY HE IS BACK AGAIN...

Una pérdida del año pasado sigue alimentando a Kentucky. No puedes esconderte del elefante en la sala.

Josh Allen isn’t eagerly anticipating his upcoming trip to The Swamp early this season. It’s not because Kentucky hasn’t won there since 1979, or because the Cats have a dismal record of 4-28 in trips to Florida. It’s not even solely due to Kentucky’s 31-game losing streak to the Gators. Rather, it’s the subpar conditions in the visitor’s locker room that concern him. “Many of them lacked soap or hot water,” remarked Kentucky’s senior linebacker at Southeastern Conference Media Days in Atlanta. “So, many of us had to endure cold showers. That was pretty unpleasant.”

Allen is part of a contingent of Wildcats gearing up for the game in Gainesville on Sept. 8, hopeful to finally break the seemingly unending losing streak. The topic inevitably arose early in Mark Stoops’ media session on Monday. “I always anticipate that annual question here,” quipped the head coach, his tone akin to someone bracing for a root canal. “Until we achieve it. I understand. I’m going to hear it countless times between now and that game.”

Previously, Stoops would sidestep questions about the streak, emphasizing that those losses weren’t the burden of the current team. However, as the years passed, it became more personal for Stoops and the players, particularly with recent losses in agonizing fashion. “You can’t ignore the elephant in the room,” Stoops continued. “It’s been far too long. We must defeat Florida.”

Last season’s game, marred by the Gators scoring twice due to uncovered wide receivers and a potential game-winning run by Benny Snell being nullified by a late holding penalty, remains a bitter memory for the Wildcats. “For the majority of it, people probably felt we outplayed them that game,” reflected tight end C.J. Conrad on last season’s loss at Kroger Field. “We performed exceptionally well, but failed to finish as we wanted. It’s still painful.”

The disappointment lingered, but UK had to move on, with more games ahead and the need to overcome their frustrations. That discontent fueled their summer preparations. “We left the past in the offseason,” explained Conrad. “We used it as daily motivation, not just for that game, but for the others we should have won.”

Kentucky endured eight games last season decided by 11 points or fewer, with the three losses determined by a mere five combined points, including the perplexing 28-27 defeat to Florida.