The fourth quarter used to be a time when Kentucky fans were fearful of holding onto leads.  Now, they're comfortable being behind--because they believe that their Cats have a chance to win.  Maybe they're not as confident as they are when Kentucky trails with a minute or two left at Rupp Arena, but the fact that they do have hope is a testament to the mindset Rich Brooks changed in the Kentucky football program.  For a fan base that had seen so many victories snatched away at the last second over too many years, that achievement might well be the most significant of Brooks' tenure at UK.  Brooks set about changing the culture of Kentucky football amid pervasive doubts and he elevated the program without cheating or doing anything to sully its reputation.  The Wildcats didn't end all of the losing streaks--most notably the one with Tennessee--but the list of streaks ended or "first time since..." accomplishments is a long one.  One of the lasting memories I'll have of Rich Brooks is from the locker room after this past season's win at Georgia.  After we finished the radio show and Brooks headed for the bus, longtime equipment manager Tom Kalinowski gave him a big ol' bear hug.  Kalinowski is one of the people around the UK program long enough to have been involved in the previous win at Georgia--in 1977--and the smile on his face as he hugged Brooks personified the happiness of everyone around the program for that accomplishment and the respect and admiration "the old man" garnered with the way he did his job and treated the people with whom he worked.  A kinder hand of fate would have allowed the Cats to score on the final drive of regulation against Tennessee, but it's the moment at Georgia--one of the many such moments the Brooks era provided to the Big Blue faithful--that should be the way we remember this coach's tenure.  Write down your top 10 moments of the Rich Brooks era.  Then, write down your top 10 moments of every coach between him and Bear Bryant and see how much of a time span you cover to get to 10.  I look forward to working with Joker Phillips but I'll miss working with Brooks.  He was the consumate professional and I considered it a personal achievement to gain his trust over the time he was here.  I could ask him anything after a tough loss and he answered the question without fail.

I guarantee the folks around the football program are thrilled for Joker to get his shot but you can bet some tears flowed today, too--out of respect and love for "the old man."

v. Louisville
September 2 / 3:30pm eastern
listen on UK-IMG Sports Network
See full schedule