UK players would need all-in mentality for Kentucky to accept bowl bid

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Landon Young and his teammates would have to convince Mark Stoops they are "all-in" for UK to accept a bowl bid if offered. (SEC Photo)

If Kentucky beats South Carolina Saturday, it would end the season 4-6. If the Cats lose, obviously that would leave them only 3-7. However, this season Kentucky could still likely get a bowl invitation even with only three wins.

But would the Cats do that considering the adversity — Chris Oats’ offseason medical issue that kept him from playing, COVID-19 issues and passing of offensive line coach John Schlarman — the team has faced this year? Would the Cats just opt to say no even if they are offered a bowl spot?

“I am not sure. I really haven’t addressed that yet,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said Monday. “I need to visit with our team. I think the biggest thing would be the mindset of our team and to make sure they would be all in and would want to do that.

“I certainly would want to and I think our staff would and administration. There are going to be a lot of teams playing in bowl games with three or four wins. We need to win this game (Saturday against South Carolina), that is for sure.

“But I will address that next week and it will really be the temperature of our football team. I don’t want to go in there half-hearted. I want to go in with an all-in mentality and ready to play and compete.”

The Southeastern Conference has at least 10 postseason bowl slots and only seven league teams at this point have four or more wins.

“Anything is possible. At this point it is too early to know,” one bowl official told me Monday. “I think the conferences are going to try and have teams play close to home if it makes sense opponent-wise and can be worked out.

“For all the Florida bowls that could present a problem, especially for Big 10 teams. Other bowls may have more options and flexibility.”

One would have to think the UK players would vote to play in a bowl game even if it would not be the same type of reward or experience a bowl bid is in a normal year.

Kentucky and South Carolina are the only two SEC teams who have not had a game postponed this season. Kentucky is also in the minority of college football because it has not had a single player opt out this season due to COVID.

Stoops confirmed Monday that he’s not had a single player ask out — and then a few hours later cornerback Kelvin Joseph announced he was doing just that to prepare for the NFL draft.

But Stoops’ comments about his team staying true until Joseph’s decision still ring true.

“I hope it’s the long work that we’ve done with the culture with our program. I hope it’s because of the obligation they have for each other. No, I haven’t had to ask anybody to come back or try to talk them into it. I would never do that if that’s what they wanted to do. I would shake their hand and thank them and move them on their way,” Stoops said.

“There’s nothing you can do. Listen, I understand. There’s good reasons. I’m not criticizing anybody. I’m proud of the fact that nobody on our team has done that but that’s not to say that people don’t have their reasons and they’re valid and good. Each individual, each person must do what’s right for them.

“I think it does say a lot for our program and our team that we haven’t had anybody. And I certainly haven’t had to sell anybody on staying. I wouldn’t do that.”

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