LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky wideout Derek Abney can pinpoint the moment he felt that the Wildcats' embattled football program was making huge strides toward respectability.

        Kentucky quickly jumped on top of seventh-ranked archrival Tennessee 21-0 and somehow held a 28-21 lead heading into the final quarter.

KENTUCKY

Sep. 1 at Louisville, 6 p.m.     Sep. 7 UTEP, 1:30 p.m.     Sep. 14 Indiana, 7 p.m.     Sep. 21 Middle Tennessee, 1:30 p.m.     Sep. 28 at Florida, TBA     Oct. 12 South Carolina, 7 p.m.     Oct. 19 at Arkansas, 2 p.m.     Oct. 26 Georgia, 7 p.m.     Nov. 2 at Mississippi St., TBA     Nov. 9 LSU, 1:30 p.m.     Nov. 16 Vanderbilt, 1:30 p.m.     Nov. 30 at Tennessee, TBA

        The Vols rebounded to go up 35-28 with 5:26 to play, apparently putting to rest any chance of being upset by a team they'd beaten 16 straight times.

        Abney and the rest of his teammates had other ideas.

        “When we got the ball back and got in that huddle, we knew we were going to score,” Abney said. “We really felt like they couldn't stop us. Every single person knew we were going to win that game.”

        A fumble on the potential game- winning drive in the final seconds eventually cost Kentucky the game. The loss, however, taught the Wildcats more about themselves that a victory might have.

        “We all believe we should have won that game,” Abney said. “If we can play Tennessee that way, we can compete with anybody. We'd come a long way since the beginning of the season.”

        Now the Wildcats prepare for a new season, trying to put back-to-back 2-9 seasons and crippling NCAA sanctions — including a bowl ban this season — far behind them.

        “Considering what we've been through the past few years, the attitude is real positive,” said senior linebacker Ronnie Riley, who hurt his knee in last year's opening game and missed the rest of the season.

        “There's just an upbeat feeling around here that hasn't been here before. Guys are working hard because we know we can win some games this season.”

        Second-year coach Guy Morriss also likes the demeanor of his young squad.

        “We've preached to them from day one not to worry about things you can't control,” Morriss said. “We've tried to get them to focus on one thing: play hard, have a great time and let's win some football games.”

        Offensively, Kentucky returns six starters, including junior quarterback Jared Lorenzen.

        Lorenzen started every game during his freshman season, breaking six NCAA freshman passing records with 3,687 yards and 19 touchdowns.

        He lost the starting spot to freshman Shane Boyd after a mediocre performance in a season-opening loss to Louisville. He regained the job five games later, coming off the bench to spark a near-upset of eventual Southeastern Conference champion LSU.

        Over the last five games of the season, Lorenzen averaged 376 passing yards and threw for 17 TDs. That convinced Morriss that Lorenzen should be back as the starter entering the 2002 season.

        “Can that momentum we built offensively at the end of last season carry over? I hope so,” Lorenzen said.

        Lorenzen and senior running back Artose Pinner, who rushed for 441 yards and scored four touchdowns last season, will be protected by an experienced but paper-thin offensive front.

        All five starters — left tackle Matt Huff, left guard Jason Rollins, center Nick Seitze, right guard Keith Chatelain and right guard Antonio Hall — have combined for 53 starts. But injuries could force the team to depend on several redshirt freshmen with little to no experience.

        Abney, a junior who led the team with 66 catches for 741 yards and six TDs last year, is back to lead a deep group of wideouts. Seniors Aaron Boone and Ernest Simms and sophomore Tommy Cook also return, and junior-college All-American Chris Bernard should add another outside threat.

        Defensively, the Wildcats should be strong up front with the return of several veterans who missed time with injury last season. Junior tackles Dewayne Robertson and Jeremy Caudill, and sophomore tackle Ellery Moore should be healthy.

        Senior Otis Grigsby will play at one end with either Vincent Burns, a sophomore transfer from Northern Arizona, or reshirt freshman Trey Mielsch at the other.

        Riley's return at linebacker could provide an emotional charge while senior Morris Lane will bring speed to the position. Senior David Johnson, another returning starter, and sophomore Mike Williams are expected to start at outside safety.

        Although the defensive backfield struggled last season, that experience should help that unit this season.

        Senior Derrick Tatum and junior Leonard Burress should return to their starting spots on the corners with either senior Quentus Cumby or redshirt freshman Muhammad Abdullah roaming at free safety.

        “Most of these guys have had a year in the system now, and that should help us,” defensive coordinator John Goodner said. “If we mature as much this season as we did last season, this could be a solid unit all the way around.”

        Fifty percent of the kicking game is set as senior punter Glenn Pakulak, an All-SEC performer last year, returns to try to improve on an impressive 44.5-yard-per-punt average.

        A handful of young legs are vying to become the Wildcats' placekicker, led by sophomore Clint Ruth and redshirt freshman Taylor Begley.

        With a new athletic director running the program, Morriss knows the squad likely will have to overachieve if he is to return for a third season.

        “When you're in the football business, the bottom line is wins and losses,” he said. “But if we can go out, play the way we we're capable of playing and win some of the close games we didn't win last season, everything else will take care of itself.”