Nashville-bound Wildcats heading to first bowl since 1999

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Posted 6:50PM on Monday, December 4, 2006

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky coach Rich Brooks shrugged his shoulders when asked about the process that sent his Wildcats to the Music City Bowl for their first postseason appearance since playing in the same bowl seven years ago. ``I was on the outside of the process looking in,'' Brooks said. ``Just happy to be there.'' Truth be told, these Wildcats a team that appears to have finally turned the corner from probation and mediocrity of years past would have accepted virtually any bowl, anywhere, against any opponent within seconds after the invitation arrived. But this invitation was more than just any old bowl it's what Brooks and some players consider a near-perfect fit. They'll face Clemson, a high-powered opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference, that can score in bunches similarly to the way the Wildcats have. And they'll meet in Nashville, a commute less than four hours from Lexington. Kentucky's allotment of 20,000 tickets was gone within minutes Sunday to season ticket holders, and the team is scrambling to get more. Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart says he expects far more than 20,000 blue shirts in the stands on Dec. 29. ``I anticipate an incredible scene down there,'' Barnhart said. Kentucky missed its chance at even more history during its last trip to Tennessee last month with its season-ending loss to the Volunteers. A victory then would have meant an 8-4 record and second place in the Southeastern Conference's Eastern Division. But for a program with such a long bowl drought, 7-5 and third place isn't too shabby either particularly if you throw in a bowl win. ``This is where I wanted to be,'' said center Matt McCutchan, who fought to get a sixth year of eligibility to come back for one more year with the Wildcats. ``I wanted to get a taste of December football.'' Brooks' first comments Sunday night after receiving the bid were about practicing in December a month when the Nutter practice facility is usually closed for the winter. Now the Wildcats will get more practice time and more exposure with a nationally televised game steps Barnhart says are critical to getting the program where he wants it to be. ``I think this is a good spot to be,'' he said. ``Obviously a lot of people would have liked to be there faster, but knowing what we had to go through to get there, I knew the journey would be difficult.'' Barnhart is quick to point out this is hardly Kentucky's biggest bowl gap. From 1952 to 1976, there was no bowl for Kentucky, and another nine-year drought ended in 1993 when Kentucky lost to Clemson 14-13 in the Peach Bowl. In fact, the Wildcats have played in only 10 bowls in history and won half of them. Brooks has stressed history all season, and making bowl history certainly resonates with his players. ``The sixth bowl win in the school?'' linebacker Wesley Woodyard said. ``That would do big things for us. It's something we could remember for the rest of our lives.'' Win or lose, however, the players appreciate that they've accomplished something this year for the Kentucky football program. ``We see some sunshine at the end of the tunnel,'' receiver Keenan Burton said.