Kentucky may have lost 27 straight to Florida, but they’re not going into Saturday’s game without confidence. Or false bravado. One of the two.
Following practice Tuesday, UK running back Jojo Kemp, a Florida native, was asked about what it would be like going back to his home state and facing the Gators in The Swamp. In responding honestly to the question, Kemp merely gave the Gators a little extra motivation in the form of bulletin-board material.
“A couple of my [high school] teammates actually went to Florida, so I’m familiar with a lot of those guys,” Kemp said according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. “It’s going to be fun walking out with a victory and rubbing it in their faces.”
For the record, the Wildcats have not beaten the Gators since a 10-3 win Nov. 15, 1986, in Lexington. The last time UK beat UF in Gainesville? Nov. 17, 1979, or 16 years before Kemp was even born
Kemp went on to add that “I was actually a Miami [Hurricanes] fan growing up, so I never really liked the Gators.”
At least Kemp has some semblance of talent so that his boasts don’t ring completely hollow.
As a true freshman last season, he led the Wildcats with 482 yards rushing. A three-star member of UK’s 2013 recruiting class, Kemp was rated as the No. 10 all-purpose back in the country.