Mark Stoops grateful outsiders are respecting what UK is doing

Mark Stoops celebrated with his team after the win at Florida but says it is back to business for this week’s game with Youngstown State. (UK Athletics Photo)

Just a few minutes after Kentucky beat then No. 12 Florida 26-16, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops was asked if he thought Kentucky would move up in the national rankings.

“We should jump into the top 10 now. Just saying. Other people jumped 20 spots,” Stoops said referring to Florida going from unranked to No. 12 after it opened the season with a win over then No. 7 Utah.

Kentucky climbed to No. 9 in the Associated Press rankings and No. 10 in the coaches poll going into this week’s home game with Youngstown State.

“I’m grateful, but I can’t control any of that. I’m grateful for our team and the preparation and the way we played,” Stoops said about the national rankings Monday. “If outsiders are respecting the way we play, then I credit the players for the way that they prepared and the way that they did their job.”

“So that’s what I appreciate, our team and our players and coaches and what they did to put themselves in that position.”

Stoops was a big part of a lively locker room celebration at Florida but insists he came back down to earth quickly even though he had over 300 text messages he knew he had to eventually answer.

“I had been pretty even-keeled this year, can’t you tell that?,” Stoops joked at his Monday press conference. “The players, heck when I went in there I let them have their fun for a while, they had the music going and were enjoying, they should.”

“They work hard and as I mentioned the first game you walk in there and I’m like, ‘What’s going on here? It’s not like we lost.’ I think that’s a good sign. I think they were like, ‘OK, we’re ready for the next step.’”

“Just like I addressed after game one, let’s get to work, let’s improve, let’s get ready for game two and now the challenge is how do we keep that energy, how do we keep that consistency to prepare, to be the best team we can be and continue to build.”