After Friday's loss to Utah the 'Cards dropped to 3-3, which is totally unacceptable for a team just a few months removed from a 12-1 season. Here is what I see is the problem. The coaching staff is not getting through to the players. It seems like once the players hit the field they're tuning out the coaches. The 'Cards are not playing with any emotion or energy and that starts at the top. The team comes out too flat and uninspired. Steve Kragthorpe must find a way to jumpstart this team or the season is down the toilet. The preseason hype is gone and so is the 'Cards status as contenders. They seem more like pretenders.

As for all the secrecy surrounding the program? It's the wrong approach to take if you want to ease the pressure on the players. I can understand the decision to keep the injuries under wraps but the UofL program has been so quiet on this matter and the off the field issues all fans can do is speculate. Maybe Kragthorpe and the players don't here all the negativity now, but if you want to stop the speculating just be up front and honest.

On to UK. The Kentucky Wildcats must bounce back from last weeks loss at South Carolina if they are to show they're one of the elite teams in the SEC. It's been more than two decades since Kentucky's last win over Florida. If they are to prove this is not the same 'ol Kentucky team, they have to beat the Gators or LSU. The Tigers seem to be the tougher of the bunch, but a win this Saturday is not out of the question. The key as one of the players said is to not beat yourself. Winning in the SEC is difficult enough. If you commit four turnovers it's virtually impossible. The 'Cats still have work to do to show they are contenders.

Big props going out to the Indiana Hoosiers. None of the big three local teams has been through as much this past offseason but Head Coach Bill Lynch has them competing for a Big Ten title. When coach Terry Hoeppner passed away back in June the Hoosiers season looked to be over before it even began. But now they are one win from being bowl eligible for the first time since 1994. That's a huge accomplishment considering the heavy hearts the players are playing with.

In years past the Hoosiers would always start out strong but once the Big Ten schedule hit they would fall apart. Not this year. At 5-1 on the season and 2-1 in the conference the Hoosiers have exceeded the expectations of some. Sure the Big Ten may be down this year but IU is beating the teams on their schedule. That's all you can ask. They have a solid defense, a quilaty quarterback in Kellen Lewis, and a big play receiver in James Hardy. It's still too early to crown them contenders but with the way the Big Ten is shaping up, you never know.

One last note. Check out myself and Erik Waxler each week on "Off The Cuff" on WHAS11.com. We'll be giving our opinions on the hot topics in sports.

Let me know what you think.