(By Keith Taylor)

Kentucky is inching closer and closer to becoming bowl eligible for the fourth season in a row.
Three weeks ago, it didn’t seem possible when Kentucky’s starting quarterback Mike Hartline when down with a knee injury. After winning at Auburn two weeks ago and taking care of business with a 38-13 win over the University of Louisiana at Monroe Saturday, the Wildcats need just two more victories in the next five games to put their name in the hat for a postseason bid.
In addition, the schedule is in Kentucky’s favor.
Three of those five games – Mississippi State, Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee are at home, while contests at Georgia and Vanderbilt also linger on the horizon. The last two victories have gotten the Wildcats back on track following losses to Southeastern Conference powerhouses Florida and Alabama and a disappointing setback at South Carolina.
“If we win two of those three (home) games, then we are bowl eligible,” Kentucky defensive tackle Ricky Lumpkin said. “If we win the next two games and go 6-3 into Vanderbilt and Georgia and come home for Tennessee, anything will be possible.”
The earlier-than-usual bowl talk has been made possible by the team’s renewed emphasis following the loss at South Carolina. Instead of giving up and giving in to adversity, Kentucky put up a fight.
Just as Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said following his team’s win over the Tigers two weeks ago, what a difference winning indeed makes. The dark cloud that hovered over the team when Hartline when down has now been lifted. Even a sub-par defensive outing against ULM didn’t hurt things either.
“It is definitely a good feeling,” Kentucky senior and defensive lineman Corey Peters said following the win over the Warhawks over the weekend. “We didn’t play as well as we would have liked from a defensive standpoint. We gave up way too many yards (but) it is easier to correct things after a win.”
Brooks was pleased with his team’s ability to put away Louisiana-Monroe early following the upset over Auburn and was pleased the Wildcats didn’t fall into a potential trap.
“It is a win, and in a game like this (ULM) –coming off a really emotional game on the road (at Auburn), it was nice just to get the win,” the Kentucky coach said.
In addition, Brooks said the team needs to keep improving heading into the final stretch of the season. Brooks said he’s not happy with the 4-3 record, but is satisfied with his team’s last two victories.
“I’m happy with where we are now base on where we were three weeks ago,” he said. “To get the Auburn win and come home and get this one is critical. It puts us in position to go back into conference play a critical football game in my opinion for us and probably for them (Mississippi State) as well. They want to get to the postseason and this is a huge football game for both teams (this) week.”

Photo: Kentucky's Randall Cobb approaches the end zone during a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown in the Cats' win over ULM Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium. Photo by Victoria Graff.