Kentucky players enjoyed beating Florida but now have to focus on Saturday night's game with LSU. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Mark Stoops has already forgotten about Kentucky’s upset of Florida last week and already has his sights set on LSU.
“This is the next opportunity, so we have to put that to bed really quick,” Stoops said Monday. “Certainly, the coaches did, back in the office working yesterday, and we’ll be excited to see our players today and get back on the practice field and get ready for the next opportunity.
“That’s what it’s about for us. If we continue to improve and cultivate the good things that we’re doing in the areas that we’re playing well. Continue to do that and cultivate that and get better each and every day in those areas.”
Kentucky (5-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) goes into the contest against the Tigers as a ranked team and will make its debut at No. 16 following the win over the Gators. Stoops doesn’t mind the lofty expectations that will follow after opening the season with five consecutive victories.
“I have said that and believed that since I walked in here,” Stoops said. “That’s not lip service when I sit up here and say we expect to win. That’s no discredit to anybody. I say every week I’m here, I can venture to say if you look back, on the respect that I have for the coaches and the league. If you don’t, then you’re not very bright. It’s a very competitive league with very good coaches and very good players.”
Stoops continues to carry that belief even though his squad is turning heads, locally and nationally, through the first half of the season.
“All I can worry about is us. I promise you I (came) in the building yesterday morning to compete to win the football game,” he said. “I don’t care who we are playing and that’s just the way we are going to go about our business.”
2 Responses
The football culture at UK had been one of a loser for decades. When Coach Stoops arrived, he boldly proclaimed that he would change that culture, and with the support of the UK administration, set out on his missision.
Programs take time to build the right way. To really get it done, it takes 1 to 2 decades of sustained focused hard work.
Those of us who have watched this program for decades could see what Coach Stoops was doing early in his tenue despite the slow progress, and at times the apparent steps back, season to season, even game to game.
I thank Coach Stoops for his commitment to MY Program every day, and I do not believe he is done here. Better yet, I don’t believe that Coach Stoops believes he is finished with his mission here. In this regard, I read elsewhere today, "He might retire at Kentucky, but I can’t help but wonder what he could accomplish at a gig like Ohio State, Michigan or Nebraska. " Well, there is nothing he can achieve at those places that he cannot achieve at UK now that he has established a program by building it from the foundation up the right way, and by changing the culture surrounding UK football. I know because I languished with this football program since the 1960s.
As far as I am concerned, he will win the SEC Title at UK. I don’t know when, but that time is much closer today than it was a mere 2 years ago, and if it does not happen this year, it will happen.
Yes, Coach, you are one of the best coaches in the game. I am glad that others are beginning to acknowledge this fact that many members of the BBN had recognized several years ago.
Thank you for your commitment to our program, and to the BBN!!!!
Well said professor, in his early years as UK coach things didn’t look good, just glad Mitch stood his side and let him get the ship afloat as it is now. GO CATS!!