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This is the Mark Stoops that Kentucky fans know and love. The UK coach is getting his team ready for a showdown at No. 1 Georgia on Saturday that could decide who wins the SEC East — that is what ESPN analyst Greg McElroy said on his weekly podcast — Saturday night in Athens.
Forget the win over Florida last week. Forget moving into the AP Top 25 for the first time this year. Instead, focus more on Georgia.
That was the message Stoops delivered to his team based on what he said on the SEC Coaches Teleconference Wednesday.
“I’m worried about our team, like always, about making sure we get back out there and have a strong week,” Stoops said. “These are physical games. Every time we play Georgia, man, it’s gonna be physical. It always is. Every SEC game, and especially these guys. So, we have to be fully prepared.
“And the big thing for us is we have to have a strong belief system and the only way you’re going to have confidence and truly believe is having a great week of practice.”
Stoops had more.
“In my opinion, we’ve got to pick it up. I thought we had a decent Monday, but were not up to par on Tuesday to go play the No. 1 team in the country on the road,” Stoops said.
Kentucky has lost 30-13 in Athens and 16-6 in Lexington the last two seasons to No. 1 Georgia. Stoops has yet to beat the Bulldogs and Kentucky only has four wins ever in Athens.
Stoops told a media member not to worry about that irritating him.
“I’m already pissed because I didn’t feel like we had a great practice yesterday,” Stoops said.
“We can’t deviate from the things that we’ve done well, with the preparation that we’ve had,” Stoops said. “I’ve said for weeks that I felt like our team was coming together and we can’t deviate from that.
“And the last thing is, as you go play these guys, you better be at your best and that’s what I’m concentrating on is trying to get our team to play our best.”
Again, the coach had a lot more to add.
“If you want to do something that you haven’t done, then you’ve got to sacrifice. You’ve got to do things,” Stoops said. “We want something that we haven’t done here in a long time and we all have to sacrifice and do things that they haven’t done individually, either.
“And so we’ve got to get back out there and have a great day. I’m confident that the team will respond.”
He also gave quarterback Devin Leary a shaky vote of confidence after a not-so-good passing performance last week when Ray Davis ran wild to beat the Gators.
“With Devin, he has been inconsistent,” Stoops said. “I still have a lot of confidence, a lot of trust in him. We go back and look at the film and I thought during the game live that he was missing some throws and actually, a couple of them were deflected, so it wasn’t quite as bad as it felt on the field.
“But Devin’s a very good player. I know he’s going to continue to improve. And that’s the good news for us, there are a lot of things that we’re leaving on the field and I think we’re gonna continue to build on that.”
4 Responses
The key to a UK win is better play from Leary and his receivers. Dane Key has to show up for starters. White’s defense will be ready.
I hope this was just coachtalk from Stoops to motivate the team and tamp down expectations. Stoops is right…you play as you practice. If indeed our practices this week have been subpar, which hopefully is not the case, then tomorrow night could be a long one.
Pup, Georgia is not the team to try to spread your wings in becoming a more complete quarterback. This could happen if Georgia has to put 8 in the box to stop Davis leaving one on one coverage on the receivers. Even so, Georgia has a solid secondary.
I know, but UK come this Saturday night must deliver more than 69 total yards via the air to have any chance against the red and black. You do make a good point Barry, my point is that Leary and company need to pick it up. Earn those millions Coach Coen.
I can’t figure Leary out. He has looked so good in practice, but has yet to have a good game. If the Dawgs crowd the box, their corners will be aggressive too. Maybe that will be the time to work in a couple of double moves that could go big.