Stein, Cats Preparing for SEC Opener Against Alabama

Kentucky head coach Will Stein earned his first career win on Saturday as his Cats topped Youngstown State. Now, Stein will coach his first Southeastern Conference game as Kentucky hosts Alabama this weekend.

The SEC opener is obviously a big step up in competition for the Cats, but Stein and his staff are trying to keep things simple for the UK players.

“Do your job. One play at a time, one-play focus, relentless effort, play connected, play tough, play to our standard,” Stein said. “It’s about us.”

There are things that coaches and players have no say about in a particular game, and Stein wants his team to just worry about the things that they can control.

“At the end of the day, what can we do to control what we can control,” Stein said. “That’s how we do it. We don’t make it bigger than what it is. We have a football game to play. We have a job to do.”

While the operation was generally clean on Saturday against Youngstown State, there was one sequence that Stein was not happy about, and something that he doesn’t want to see from his team again.

“There was an instance, really late in the second quarter, early third (quarter) where I felt like we just kind of had a lull and we weren’t executing to our potential,” Stein said. “To me, attack mode doesn’t stop. On offense, on defense, on special teams. We’ve got to be at our best.”

Alabama will be coming to Lexington for the first time since 2013. Stein and the Cats are excited about opening league play against the Tide.

“We’re excited,” Stein said. “This is our first SEC game at home here in Kroger Field. Really excited about Big Blue Nation.”

Stein had a challenge for Saturday’s crowd.

“We have to make this the loudest game in the history of Kentucky football,” Stein said. “That’s my goal for our fans. The loudest it has ever been. And we need them to be at their best. I want people in the stands for pregame. Get in there, make it disruptive for them as they get here. And then, when the ball is kicked, everybody in their seats, cheering as loud as they humanly can.”

Kentucky and Alabama have met 42 times on the gridiron, with Kentucky winning twice (1922 and 1997). Stein and the Cats are hoping that elite execution and a great home crowd can help Kentucky add another win against the Tide.