A lot of former UK football lettermen attended Will Stein's introductory press conference Wednesday. (Angela Todd Photo)
By LARRY VAUGHT
Seated to the right of new Kentucky football coach Will Stein when he took the podium at this introductory press conference Wednesday was a large group of former UK football players who were thrilled to have been personally invited to attend the ceremony.
Seated to the left of Stein were numerous current Kentucky players, including quarterback Cutter Boley and safety Ty Bryant — two hometown players who should seem to be priority targets for retaining on Stein’s first UK team.
Stein, a Louisville native and Oregon offensive coordinator, expressed his appreciation to former UK coach Mark Stoops for what he did during his 13 years leading the Wildcats.
“Kentucky football and Big Blue Nation would not be where they are without him. I think we all owe him an incredible amount of debt for his efforts and success here,” Stein said.
Not something he had to say but it was the right thing to say.
“I want to thank the players that are currently on this team, the lettermen that decided to come out here and support me. It means the world,” Stein said. “This is your program. This isn’t Will Stein’s program. This is your program. It’s always going to be. It always has been.
“The doors are always open for you guys. I want you guys to feel like this is your home because it is. You are the reason why I’m standing up here. So this is your program.”
Bingo. That’s why former players deserve to hear but many have not felt overly welcomed at UK in recent years and some have made those feelings known. It was great to see players going back at least 50 years ago in the audience supporting Stein and hearing that he wants them to be around. Maybe that’s because Stein watched many of them playing at Commonwealth Stadium growing up.
“I was at the ’94 Peach Bowl, the Outback Bowl with my dad and older brother against Penn State with LaVar Arrington. We went to Busch Gardens after. We rode roller coaster rides. My dad couldn’t handle it. My brother and I did all the other roller coasters after he was throwing up at a park bench. Never forget that,” Stein j joked.
“This is not a great memory for everybody, but I remember the Bluegrass Miracle (when LSU won on a Hail Mary pass). I do remember later getting revenge against LSU (during a three-overtime win in 2007 during LSU’s national title season). Big fourth-down stop here in Kroger Field. I remember when (Florida quarterback Tim) Tebow got knocked out. Do you remember that? I remember that. I remember growing up watching all the great plays, teams.
“Jacob Tamme, I met him last night. Unbelievable person. I remember watching Tim Couch as a kid. Dusty Bonner, Craig Yeast, Wesley Woodyard. I talked to Randall Cobb yesterday. You name it, the players are here. They have been for a long time. We’re going to continue that tradition here at Kentucky.”
