Vicky Graff Photo
Dane Key knew he had not been performing the way he could this year. The sophomore receiver didn’t need any coach, teammate or fan to point out he had dropped balls and not been nearly as big a part of Kentucky’s passing offense as expected.
“I have been talking with a lot of the coaches and they have been telling me not to worry about catches and yards and let the game come to me. I really wish I had one catch for 10 yards and we had won but that’s not the way things turned out,” Key said after making seven catches for 113 yards and one score in Saturday night’s 33-27 loss to Tennessee.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops credited Key for handling the adversity and getting his issues fixed.
“He was in a tough spot. He was kind of frustrated and he just went to work, bottom-line. He will tell you, and I’ve told him, and we talked about it the past couple of weeks,” Stoops said. “He went to work. Instead of putting his head down and pouting and feeling like somebody would feel sorry for him, he went to work, and I appreciate that.
“I think I said that after the Georgia game, in which there were not many positives, but somebody asked me if there were any positives and I noticed that his work from the practice field carried over to the game field.”
Key refused to take any credit for his performance even thought UK Radio Network analyst Jeff PIecoro said Key ran routes better and crisper than he had all season.
“It all went back to the talk we (UK receivers) had with coaches. We talked that we really have to step up and make plays,” Key said. “I feel like the past few weeks we have done that.
“We have to keep playing for the team no matter what happens and just help the offense and team.”
Key’s father, Donte, played at Kentucky and the sophomore receiver admitted losing to Tennessee again bothered him.
“This one hurts me a little bit more than normal just because it was the guys in orange. I grew up not liking those guys because of my dad,” Key said. “I wish we could have got this one.”
