Mark Stoops will meet with his team today to talk about UK's bowl options. (SEC Photo)
Kentucky coaches and players will meet today to contemplate what to do about playing in a bowl game. The Wildcats beat South Carolina 41-18 Saturday night to end the season 4-6 against a 10-game SEC schedule. In this COVID season, that’s more than good enough to get a bowl bid.
“Why not (play)? It’s an extra game. It’s a chance to go out there and get another win,” said senior running back A.J. Rose after Saturday’s win.
However, coach Mark Stoops did admit it was a “little bit of a balancing act” contemplating what is best for the program overall versus the players’ well being.
“I think our players have left it all on the practice field and game field. No question. They emptied the tank. They need to revive and get some time off,” Stoops said.
He started to bring up playing in a bowl game after the win but stopped himself and decided to let the players enjoy the win and decompress.
Stoops acknowledged there could be an obligation to “our team and our league” to play in a bowl.
“If it is expected, we will put one foot forward and keep on pressing on,” the UK coach said.
He also said bowl bids under any circumstance cannot be taken for granted and that going to a fifth straight bowl would be a benchmark for UK football.
“Say what you want about four wins, but in a 10-game SEC schedule … this stuff is hard,” he said.
He talked briefly with UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart about the bowl process before Saturday’s game and said Barnhart was “supportive either way” about playing in a bowl or declining the opportunity.
“We will get together tomorrow and make the best decision for our players and our obligation for the league as well,” Stoops said.
Quarterback Terry Wilson said he just wanted to enjoy Saturday’s win and that the team would “talk about those things and just see where we are at and see where we go” at today’s team meeting. That’s basically what senior linebacker Boogie Watson said, too.
“When we are done with that meeting, we will have that answer,” Watson said.
