Mark Stoops is "optimistic" about the morale of his team going into Saturday night's game at Vanderbilt. (UK Athletics Photo)
What has a three-game losing streak after a 6-0 start done to the morale of the Kentucky football team?
Many Kentucky fans have been deflated, especially with the defensive lapses the last two weeks in losses to Mississippi State and Tennessee. Now Kentucky has to regroup for a game at Vanderbilt Saturday night where it currently is almost a three-touchdown favorite.
“As far as team morale and where we’re at, things of that nature, I’m very optimistic,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. ” I know our team, I know our leaders, I’ve seen a lot of them, I’ve talked to a lot of them after the game. They’re highly motivated to finish the season so we gotta get back on track.”
Stoops warned that Vanderbilt (2-7 overall with wins over Colorado State and UConn and 0-5 in SEC play) is “showing some spurts of very good football, very inspired football ” despite a four-game losing streak.
Stoops, though, knows he needs to be more concerned about his team than which of two quarterbacks the Commodores might play.
“We have to be ready for a couple of different styles but once again no matter who we’re playing it’s about us, the situation that we’re in, how we react to what happened to us Saturday (against Tennessee), and the way we played and that will determine the outcome of this week — just how we handle it, how we prepare, how we get ready,” Stoops said.
“But I can promise you there’s a lot of guys in that building that are just motivated to move on and try to go get the next victory.”
Vanderbilt has to now see this as a game it might win and the Commodores have a “blackout” planned for Saturday night.
“I can’t control any of that. I never spend any time wondering or worrying about what other teams are doing. I had no idea, you brought that to my attention, I didn’t know any of that,” Stoops said.
“I’m in my cave over there working. I worry about getting our team right and getting my team back on. We get very excited, very motivated. We’re not very happy, but we also have an opportunity. This is where you have to lead and work hard and get our guys right. How we respond will determine the outcome.”
4 Responses
The UK defense has not been right since the Georgia loss. Something happened to them after that loss. The way this UK team is playing right now on defense is very concerning. Vandy is capable of beating them. I hope UK comes ready to play.
The UK defense has been allowing opponents to pick it apart through the air all season, the last two weeks are simply exaggerations of that weakness. The UK defense has not forced turnovers all season, and the large negative turnover margin is evidence of that weakness.
What has changed is the UK defense against the run, which has gotten weaker in recent weeks, and it seems that this is due to the cost of player attrition.
Is “Bully” scheduled to go ??
Nothing official yet but believe he will play