Ten teams Kentucky should play

Call me a criminal if you want but I’m never afraid to steal a thought from another source. especially when they are better than mine. In this case the thought is from a Michael DiRocco article in the Florida Times Union on 10 teams Florida should play.

This year is the opening salvo of Joker Phillips operation win so here is a thought on taking it to the next level. Drop a patsy every year. Getting to the next level is going to require more exposure at the national level to get the recruits needed to win the SEC east than just picking four easy non conference patsy’s and winning two conference games. Joker has done a good job of recruiting but we need to expand our recruiting nationally so here is a list of teams to play during the next ten years.

1. SMU. I know, I know SMU? My love of Hawaii is showing isn’t it. Seriously though June Jones is creating a strong team down in Texas. Coaching at SMU has given him something he lacked at Hawaii a good place to recruit and he has taken advantage of it. A 1000 yd rusher with his offense looks like its going to be normal there. Texas is a fertile recruiting area and Kentucky should be able to grab more kids with good exposure there.

2. Notre Dame. A strong national fan base will have recruits watching. Nuff said.

3. Utah. They pull in a lot of Polynesian players every year and there is a lot of talent in Utah and the western states that the SEC ignores and Joker is a master at judging players talent.

4. South Florida. The talent in the south Florida area is unbeatable and S Florida is beatable and more exposure to the Big East audiences besides our annual beating of Louisville is a plus.

5. San Diego St. A beatable team from southern California and the Mountain West. Exposure in southern California is always a good thing and pulling in one or two good players from the area is a possibility since we are a SEC team and the SEC only recruits the top players in the area.

6. Oregon St. Another beatable team and a good game to get more west coast exposure to the large Polynesian population in the northwest. If not Oregon St. how about Washington St.

7. Boise St. This is one of those games that would draw a big audience and exposure is what possibly giving up a sure win is all about.

8. Houston. The second biggest TV market in Texas makes sense and they play exciting football and Kentucky plays SEC defense.

9. Central Florida. Beatable and exposure to the west coast of Florida where Joker has had some good recruiting.

10. Texas Tech is another possibility and winning over them and Tommy Tubberville would stir the recruiting pot in Texas for us. I could have picked Texas but we are a few years away from being able to beat them.

I said ten teams but what the heck eleven is good friends with ten and I admit I’m being selfish.

11. Hawaii. We would get a extra game at the end of the season that would be seen because its the last game of the year and the players would get a tropical vacation. Kentucky fans travel well and Joker would get to make contact with HS coaches here and maybe get some of those good defensive players that are going to USC, Utah and other Pac whatever teams.