'Comeback Cats' Rally for Overtime Win at South Carolina

Kentucky football head coach Will Stein grew up as a big Kentucky fan, rooting for the Wildcats not only on the gridiron but also on the hardwood. And after his UK football team beat South Carolina 35-34 in overtime on Saturday, Stein referenced one of Kentucky’s national championship basketball teams.

Speaking with the SEC Network’s Michella Chester, Stein mentioned the nickname of Tubby Smith’s 1998 national championship team.

“I’m a big Wildcat basketball fan – Comeback Cats right there,” Stein said of his football team on Saturday. “Comeback freaking Cats, here in Columbia.”

Stein’s Cats were forced to come from behind on multiple occasions on Saturday. Kentucky fell behind 17-0 before rallying to take a 24-20 lead. However, South Carolina took the lead back, 27-24, before the Cats tied the game and sent it to overtime. There, the Gamecocks took the lead again, setting up Kentucky’s final possession.

UK needed a touchdown and an extra point to keep the game going. The first part of the equation was accomplished when quarterback Kenny Minchey found tight end Henry Boyer for a touchdown.

Instead of tying the game and playing on, Stein elected to go for two. It was a do-or-die situation for the Cats.

On the two-point play, Minchey found another tight end, Willie Rodriguez, in the back of the end zone to clinch the win. Why did Stein elect to go for two instead of playing for the tie?

“We weren’t stopping them much, you’ve got to go for it,” Stein said. “Put the ball in the hands of (Minchey), who played his butt off tonight. And throw it to (Rodriguez), who is one of the best tight ends in the country.”

Stein said that his team adopted a theme this week that carried them through the tough situation on Saturday.

“We said this all week – band of brothers,” Stein said. “A band of brothers came to Columbia, South Carolina, and got a win. A really tough environment, (against) a really excellent coach (Shane Beamer). He’s a great coach, he’s got an elite team, an elite quarterback (LaNorris Sellers).”

The 17-point deficit is the largest road deficit any Kentucky team has ever overcome on the road. So while Tubby Smith’s 1998 team will always have the nickname of Comeback Cats, Stein’s team could be called the same on Saturday night.