Kentucky's 33-18 loss to Georgia Tech in the TaxSlayer Bowl was a disappointing end to the 2016 season for Mark Stoops' team, but it was the program's first bowl appearance since 2010. With plenty of lean years in between, it makes at least some sense that the Wildcats celebrated this achievement.
But with bowl rings? Whether that is appropriate is at least up for some debate. Per the team's Twitter account, those rings were created and handed out to players on Tuesday.
This morning, our players received their bowl rings. #WeAreUK pic.twitter.com/i1r4F03Ryb
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) April 18, 2017
Normally, this is no big deal, and Kentucky isn't the first program to do it. Players can do whatever they want with their bling (well ... mostly). If they want to commemorate their first postseason game in six years, cool. If they'd rather not and throw the ring in their dresser drawer because it represents some kind of participation trophy to them, that's fine, too.
But Twitter is a far, far less forgiving place where everything is bad except for "The Fast and the Furious" franchise and Kendrick Lamar. So when Kentucky made the grave mistake -- in hindsight, at least -- of posting pictures of its new bowl rings, Twitter users didn't hold back.
Here were just some of the replies; the entire list is growing and way too large and/or vulgar to feature on here.
@UKFootball I see they're Gold. Fantastic choice to commemorate this milestone event forever! #TogetherWeSwarm #GTGoldOut @GeorgiaTechFB @GeorgiaTech pic.twitter.com/E3j2uoVJj3
— Bold in Gold (@DesignJacket) April 18, 2017
@UKFootball pic.twitter.com/JEWJXszwaX
— TJ Gledhill (@TJay_G) April 18, 2017
@UKFootball These will go well with your fake 1950 football national championship trophy.
— Kard Kong (@4715092117) April 18, 2017
@UKFootball pic.twitter.com/rbaqF0bQeD
— Rachael Roberts (@rachaelann2293) April 18, 2017
@UKFootball pic.twitter.com/PPMQgQhDwE
— Charles Oakley (@HeyIceCreamMan) April 18, 2017
Kentucky lost its bowl game 33-18.
— Thomas Goldkamp (@ThomasGoldkamp) April 18, 2017
Why rings as bowl gifts are dumb, my column: https://t.co/1XGJGogwOn
You guys put the score on there or nah??? 🤔🤔🤔 https://t.co/c5LLxMuKOl
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) April 18, 2017
@UKFootball You spent money on rings for the freaking TaxSlayer bowl?
— M (@TisdaleDr1978) April 18, 2017
The new Kentucky losing bowl game rings are out. @UKFootball pic.twitter.com/pF1TGZ0gex
— ⚡️Villenut⚡️ (@THE_Villenut) April 18, 2017
And, finally, my favorite...
@UKFootball Y'all shouldn't have posted this
— haney (@AndyInTennessee) April 18, 2017