By the way Darius West played Saturday night in the loss at Texas A&M, he could hold his head high that he did just about everything in his power to avoid the loss.

With 10 tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery, West compiled the kind of stat line a Kentucky player hasn’t done since 2000. But perhaps as a turning point for the UK program, West said the loss would be used as a rally cry to build character in the locker room and bounce back.

With the kind of history Kentucky’s football program has, it would be easy to shrug off the end of the undefeated season as the end of a magical run. Or, the Wildcats could put it aside and have a wider perspective of the season, any championship hopes, or other postseason plans.

This also has the feel that’s different than other Kentucky programs, that, as West said, it will bounce back.