Kentucky-South Alabama Postgame Quotes
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY MEDIA CONFERENCE
September 26, 2026
Lexington, Kentucky, USA
Coach Will Stein
Press Conference
Kentucky – 45 South Alabama – 21
WILL STEIN: First of all, I want to thank our fans for showing up. It is so great to see them. Every time that we are back home, they mean the world to us. Best fans in the country. I appreciate Big Blue nation for being here. Like I told the guys, that was not our standard. If you think for one second that is the standard of play here at Kentucky, then you are wrong. You are very seriously mistaken. I’m very excited to get the win. I think three and one in the month of September is a pretty good spot to be right now. But, if you for one second slip or think that is the way to play football here at Kentucky, then it’s going to be a long road ahead. The message will get sent to these guys loud and clear and I don’t want this to be a reflection of the work and preparation that was put in. Or us thinking about other things. But you have to understand, every single team has goods players. Every single team has good coaches. If you do not show up on any given Saturday, you will get beat. We cannot turn the ball over on offense. We cannot have special-teams turnovers. We have to get off the field on third and long. We have to corral the quarterback. And we have to just be better as a coaching staff getting these guys in a much better place moving into October football. Which is as we know, conference play. We had three backs over 100 yards, which is very positive. It’s good to see Jovantae today out there getting his feet wet and in the end-zone after long time of not being in there. Same with Jason Patterson. Godfrey had a big pick. That was really big end of half. Mi’Quise had a sack. We had some fourth-down stops. More importantly we each got to play better, we each got to play better. With that I would open it up.
Q Will, I think what you said there being that the prep this week did you think the softer performance was going to come or how did that coincide?
WILL STEIN: Our guys showed up on Tuesday and Wednesday. It wasn’t for a lack of effort, I think it’s more execution based, right? It’s like, don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story. The facts were that we did not execute. Right? It wasn’t for a lack of trying. There’s a difference. Everybody’s trying hard. It’s about doing your job and doing it at an elite level. And if you don’t, when we go to Columbia next week, it will not be pretty for the CATS. We’ve got to make sure that we are in the spot and these guys can go execute better. I hate that our fans had to experience that today at home. But I know we are going to get it corrected, and it’s a better lot better to correct off a win, I know that.
Q What did you see offensively from South Alabama that was kind of getting you fits in the first half?
WILL STEIN: It really was for a lack of execution. We knew they were going to be a high-pressure rate team, which they were, bringing boundary cat, bringing the star, bringing the safety plug in the mic. So, they force you to get it on the edge. Everybody who’s had success on them have gotten the ball on the edge because of their high-pressure rate. We did not do a good job early on. We moved the ball, we just didn’t finish drives. When we go for it on fourth downs, I’m expecting us to get those fourth-downs. So, it was a lot of lack of execution and lack of focus more than anything.
Q Will, you were talking about more explosives going this game on the run game. You got those. What worked really to create those big plays?
WILL STEIN: We were running a split zone, running some outside zones and some variations of that. Thought our backs ran hard and made people miss. We definitely covered them up better in the run game, especially as the game went on, you kinda just started to wear them down and you can see it, they didn’t have the depth to really sustain. And the guys ran hard. I thought Kenny got us in the correct check in the explosive run on J Pat for the touchdown at the end of the first half, which that was good to see. More importantly, I thought we broke some tackles, which was good.
Q What was your message to the guys at halftime because they came out firing pretty hard?
WILL STEIN: Again, just playing to our standard. It’s not rocket science. You have to run the correct play. You have to block correctly, you have to tackle the ball, you have to corral the quarterback. So, playing to our standard and not playing to whatever standard they had in their mind. They did get the message and they played better in the second half.
Q Will, somebody asked you in preseason about the running backs. You said you felt okay. Do you feel better about them now?
WILL STEIN: I definitely do. It’s much better when you got three. And Vantae out there, he’s got explosive ability for sure. Like I said, Jason Patterson continues to get better. CJ is back healthy and himself. Yeah, we like rotating those guys and it’s a very violent position and it’s great to have guys that go out there and run.
Q Will, how do you balance wanting to at least celebrate a win verses, as you said, kind of not playing to the standard that you want to see to win?
WILL STEIN: Like I mentioned, three and one in September. I think everybody in this room would be pretty fired up knowing that. I know I am. Right? We did not play well at home two weeks ago. We didn’t play well this game at home in terms of the entirety of the game. There were some spots that was really good and some spots that were really bad. There wasn’t a lot of just consistent play throughout the day. I am excited that we won. My message is, this is not going to sustain winning over the next eight weeks or however long we have of SEC play. We have to be better. Our guys are going to take this and be able to watch the tape. The best way to coach a football team is off game tape. The reality is we did not play to our best of our ability. But it is nice to obviously leave here with a win.
Q Talk about Jovantae a couple of times there. How important is it to get him going and seeing the fans really get into it. The aggressiveness that he ran with. Is that the kind of run that they are going to be able to see again? I saw he kind of limped off on the last play he was in the game. Is he okay?
WILL STEIN: Yeah. I’m expecting that he’s okay. It wasn’t anything major, you know, I think he might have just got rolled up on a little bit towards the end. I think he’s fine. I’ve actually have a card with some guys. DJ left the game, he just had a, really a soft tissue deal, I think he is going to be fine. Nick got a little tight so we pulled him, nothing major. Same with our long snapper, had a little bit of tightness. And then Martels Carter had a, I can’t read what this says. But he had something that he did not end up playing. But nothing major season ending, just some nicks and bruises.
Q Obviously, the run game really stood out. But what about your passing game you talked about in the past having to get your receivers the ball more. What about that pass game gave you that difference?
WILL STEIN: Yeah, I’ve got to watch what was stopping us from having explosive plays. Obviously, threw the ball up to Kenny on the flood on the sideline, which was good. I think we kind of stopped ourselves. It will be interesting to see the tape about what exactly was, I don’t want to say a problem. We were 19 of 26, which is pretty good, I mean the yards was obviously 177, but we had almost 400 yards rushing. To me, it’s about how do we get spaced up better, how do we get the ball out of our hands better? I think we gotta climb the pocket better than we did today, So, there will be plenty of things to fix.
Q It seems like you were pretty upset going into the tunnel at halftime. You said you were outcoached. In what area? Was it preparation, was it playcalling, was a coaching effort?
WILL STEIN: We were in a real battle with a good team. Right? They’re a good team in Sunbelt. Like I mentioned all week. Major Applewhite can coach and Todd Orlando can coach. Tommy Perry can coach. I felt like at that point in time we were not playing our best and how our players play is a direct result of me and how I coach and how our coaches coach. I gotta do a better job of getting these guys ready to come play, especially at home where this needs to be a home-field advantage and we go play well.
Q Coach, was the split between your three running backs how you envisioned the backfield shaking out heading into the season?
WILL STEIN: Yeah, I think for the most part. That’s what we brought those guys here to do is to run the rock and I feel like they are in a good spot now and I think hopefully they continue to improve and step up in spots where we need them. We continue to need them.
Q Was it a targeted…
WILL STEIN: Yeah, it was totally targeting, it was clear. All of our coaches knew it. You just got to tackle them and wrap it up. He doesn’t need to be a hit them as hard as you can, they are quarterbacks, everybody is protecting the quarterbacks across football and across the NFL. So just tackle them. Don’t go in for the kill shot. Just know tackle him and get him down.
Q Will, when it comes down to coaching effort and execution, which one is harder to do? How do you coach that?
WILL STEIN: You coach effort every single day in practice, running drill to drill and you coach execution the same way. We’ve just got to continue to improve. That’s what the games are for. You learn a lot from these games. Again, it’s better to learn when you win. I know everybody is excited about a win. We just got to continue and improve and get better so we can going into Columbia next week and have success. Thank you, Go CATS.
KENTUCKY FOOTBALL POSTGAME QUOTES
KENTUCKY VS. SOUTH ALABAMA
KROGER FIELD – LEXINGTON, KY.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2026
UK Student-Athletes
#73 Olaus Alinen, OL
On what was working for the offensive line…
“It’s kudos to those guys (backs). They ran really hard today and they executed and made explosive plays. We got awesome running backs who really did their job well, and I think as long as we do our job well, it’s wide open for those guys, which is awesome, and they’re going to take advantage of it.”
On getting that push…
“I think running the ball-that’s a big thing for our program. We got a great scheme by our coaches, and we got to go out there and do our job. We got to play physical and play to our standard. When that happens, good things happen.”
On Coach Stein’s standard…
“Definitely to be better. We got to start fast, play with one play focus, and got to execute and play clean football. We can’t put ourselves in tough situations.”
#22 Grant Godfrey, LB
On what the focus was…
“It could have been the team we were playing this week. Each week has to be constantly going at each other. I think it was just riding the high and the competition in this game versus South Alabama.”
On Stein as a coach…
“He does yell. He got on to me last game a little bit because we were rotating a lot back when I was in the game, and we messed up the call. He screamed at me to get back on the field. He yelled, but he’s the coolest coach on the sideline.”
On getting his first interception …
“It felt amazing. The ball just floated to my hands. I tried to use my old running back skills and get out of there, but I am just happy I got the interception.”
#2 Jovantae Barnes, RB
On scoring a touchdown …
“Just the offensive line doing a great job of blocking. You know, I made a guy miss and just kept my eyes up. I knew eventually I was going to get in.”
On the running backs room …
“Yeah, we’re all different, but we’re all hungry. So I think just coming to Kentucky, it was different for me because I didn’t really know the culture, but in the portal, I knew Coach Smith. He poured into me, and Coach Stein did a lot, and I just believed in the whole coaching staff. I think we all do the same, just come to work every day and ready to work.”
On picking Kentucky in the portal …
“It was the coaching staff and the players they were getting. It was just a no-brainer. I knew Coach Smith. Me and him had a strong bond right away. As soon as I entered the portal, he hit up my agent, and I liked them a lot. Also, the back he coached last year. I feel like we had pretty similar attributes, and I just watched this film a lot, even when I was at my old school, and got on the phone with him, took the visit, and I fell in love with everything.”
#1 CJ Baxter, RB
On being able to find the gaps…
“The o-line was creating them. I feel like y’all could have ran through them with the gaps that they were creating. But the o-line, they’re amazing, man. The way they work during the week, if you guys could see that, you guys would be like, wow. Coleton, Lance, Tegra, Olaus, Malachi, all those guys. They really bond and connect with one another, and it shows on the field. As well as they block, their brotherhood is even better. I think that’s why they play so well together.”
On how Coach Stein and the team balanced the slow start…
“I just felt like we didn’t play up to our standard. We know our standard. We got to get better. That’s what tomorrow and the rest of the week is for. We got momentum going into halftime. But our big thing around here is one-play focus. Once we got to halftime, we were like the first half is behind us. Let’s put it behind us, but let’s go play to our standard. We know that we didn’t play the first half to our standard, so we just regrouped. We tell everybody one-play focus. Let’s go out there and play to our standard.”
On Javonte’s big day after an emotional week…
“It was super exciting. If you go back and look when he scored, I almost passed out trying to celebrate him. But man, he’s put in the work to get back to being healthy, to playing how he played today. The coaches do a great job of rotating us. Coach Stein and Coach Sloane do a great job of playing to our strengths. It was amazing to see him and JP have the success that they have. I was more happy for them than I was for myself.”
#26 Jason Patterson, RB
On his big run to end the first half…
“You want to give all credits to the o-line. If you go back and look at the run, the hole was so wide open. I didn’t do anything but run, my job as a running back is to run.”
On how versatile the running back room is…
“It’s crazy, I feel like we haven’t reached our full potential. What our guys can do, what I can do. It’s just so much crazy, and I just feel like it’s so much more in store. But we have the rest of the season, with eight more games.”
South Alabama Head Coach Major Applewhite
On reaction to today’s loss…
“I hate to lose. And regardless of who the opponent is and how good they are, I hate to lose. I knew we would have to throw the ball to be competitive in this ball game and go win it and it kind of got away from us there towards the middle and the end of the 3rd quarter, but we didn’t come here to play close or any of that stuff.”
On starting Jared Hollins…
“He played well last week. Bishop was banged up, obviously, coming off the Tulane game.”
On Jared’s Holland’s mistakes…
“There’s always going to be plays when you play over 70 plays in the ballgame as a quarterback that you want back. We’ve got to learn from some of those mistakes, which we will, because he’s humble and he’ll be better.”
On what the team could do better…
“We just have to go look at the film and see the roles. There’s no hierarchy. Coaches need to do better, players need to do better, but more than anything, we need be honest with ourselves and see what we could have done better.”
South Alabama Student-Athletes
#7 Jared Hollins, QB
On the effort in the game …
“Man, first of all, I want to thank God for the opportunity to play this game. Come out here and do this thing with my teammates. We had a good first half. We cannot turn the ball over right before half. That’s one big thing. Give them three points. You know, we had momentum going into halftime, so we came out a little flat, and they took advantage of it. So we got to figure that out, get back to work, and get back next week ready to rock.”
On conference play starting …
“Obviously, conference play is the most important thing we’re going to do, and who we’re going to face. These teams know us the best. So Applewhite always says that these games will come down to one or two plays, and so we know them. They know us. We got to go get back to work this week and get ready to go.”
#1 Anthony Eager, WR
On the touchdown …
“It’s just good to be back. You know, coming off the injury, you know, all spring and everything. This is good to be back. Feeling good to get in the end zone again. You know, gotta keep on stacking days, keep on stacking games, and we’re going to come up top one day. That’s good.”
On how to move forward with the conference approaching …
“Really, nobody can mess with us if we play like that every game. You know, we come out just swinging, come out swinging, and we stay on it. We have a better second half. I think we’re going to win the conference.
On the game slipping away quickly …
“Come out the second half a little bit better because all that stuff happened in the second half. You know, we were stopping them. We held them well in the first half. We just have to keep on coming out, come out again like we did in the first half, and promise you we’ll come out winning on top.”
#14 Cole Blaylock, S
On the effort on the field today …
“I mean, the effort’s always good. We just got to clean up some mistakes we’re making. I mean, we got to tackle better. We got to fit our gaps better and just got to get ready for the conference play coming up.”
On what you take out of today …
“I believe that we can play with anybody when we’re playing well. I mean, we can do it, we can be as good as we want to be. We just can’t beat ourselves.”
On stopping the tide when it’s rolling …
“I mean it’s a hard thing to do. I mean changing momentum in football is a very difficult thing to do, but we also have to do it better. I mean the same thing happened in Ohio. We lost some momentum coming out of the second half, and we came back and found a way to win, and we just didn’t do that today.”
