UK Locked in on CMU after Emotional Offseason
When he needs powerful examples of perseverance and strength through adversity to motivate his team, Mark Stoops doesn’t have far to look.
First, there’s Josh Paschal, the budding star sophomore defensive lineman who was diagnosed with malignant melanoma this summer. Though yet unable to resume football activities, Paschal has remained a constant positive presence around his team.
Then, you have John Schlarman. The All-Southeastern Conference offensive lineman turned UK assistant coach was also diagnosed with cancer this summer. Though the husband and father of four young children is in the midst of an intensive treatment regimen, Schlarman continues to be there for his team.
“I think they can certainly be inspired by the way John is handling this and the way he is going about his business,” Stoops said. “How can you be a player out there feeling sorry for yourself when you have a man that’s just gone through five, six hours of chemo and is sitting out there on the practice field coaching the same way he does every day? That’s pretty inspirational to me and I would assume to the players as well.”
Here’s the thing, though: Stoops isn’t really playing up the inspirational angle.
Not only does he feel his team doesn’t need it, but he also believes it much more important that Paschal’s teammates and Schlarman’s players support the two members of their family fighting cancer.
“Our players love Coach Schlarman and Josh,” Stoops said. “I can tell you this, going back to the first meetings and telling these guys and talking through that you could definitely hear a pin drop. They definitely really want to rally around these guys, and they do. That’s a cliché thing that I’ll let our football team do what they do. We try not to get into too much of that. But I promise you there’s a bunch of love for those guys.”
You can hear that love when the Wildcats break huddles with “JP on three” in honor of Paschal. You can sense it when Schlarman talks about the support he has received from the team. But come 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, when UK hosts Central Michigan its season opener at Kroger Field, the unwavering focus will be between the lines.
The Cats know Paschal and Schlarman wouldn’t have it any other way.
“We will be supportive and be a family, just much like you would, you know, and we will be there for them any way we can, but we’ll continue to do the work that we have to do,” Stoops said. “And they both want it that way.”
Paschal and Schlarman have both invested too much to see UK’s potential go to waste. That potential comes in the form of an offense with a talented set of skill players led by back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher Benny Snell Jr. Needless to say the junior is a little excited.
“I’m so ready,” Snell said. “I think about it every night. I’m just jacked up. … They took me out a game early last year. So I’m ready to play more than anybody.”
Terry Wilson might give him a run for his money on that front.
The top-rated junior college quarterback arrived on campus in January and officially won the starting job last weekend. Wilson began his college career at Oregon, but a winding road has led him to his first college start on Saturday in a place he would never have expected.
“I wouldn’t believe it, but I give all glory to God,” Wilson said. “Sometimes you gotta take different routes to get where you want to be. Like I said, I’ve always kept faith and just kept working hard.”
Wilson is somewhat of an outlier on this team, as he is surrounded by veterans with plenty of experience. That’s certainly true on the offensive line, though that experience took a hit when starting left tackle Landon Young was lost for the season to a knee injury. Naasir Watkins and E.J. Price will be tasked with replacing Young.
“What a great opportunity,” Eddie Gran said. “Great opportunity for both of them. They’re going to have to compete each and every day, each and every week. I think they’re both going to do a heck of a job. I think they’re both going to get a lot of reps. They need to be ready to go.”
That’s true across the board for UK, as the Cats will be facing a Central Michigan team that won eight games a season ago and has taken down Big 12 opponents each of the last two years: Kansas in 2017 and a ranked Oklahoma State team in 2016.
“They are winning a bunch of games in the MAC and those are good teams,” Stoops said. “We have been watching them and heck, you watch them and just their crossovers and who they played last year. You watch them on film and they are good, well-coached teams. They have beaten two power-five (teams) in the past two or three years. So, it is not a big deal to them. Believe me. They went up to Kansas last year and put a beating on Kansas. They are used to playing power fives. They are used to playing very good football teams. They are a winning program.”
Like UK, Central Michigan’s featured piece is in the backfield. Junior running back Jonathan Ward ran for 1,019 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, adding 48 catches for 470 yards as a receiver.
“He’s a big time player, he really is,” Stoops said. “Running back, number five, very, very good football player. Jonathan Ward, he’s dynamic. He will play football for a long time. He has great vision, great patience, he’s strong, he’s explosive. He’s a very good football player.”
UK will also have to contend with a dual-threat quarterback in the form of 6-foot-7 Tony Poljan, who saw spot duty under center and also played wide receiver as a true freshman last year. Those are the kinds of challenges a defense returning nearly all of its starters from last season should relish.
“We’re excited to play this weekend,” linebacker Josh Allen said. “Playing against a good team, a good team in the MAC, Central Michigan. We’re just looking forward to executing our play calls and I feel like we prepared well for this season, for this game. We just can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next.”
The way Allen, one of UK’s senior leaders, talks, it sounds like the Cats have healthy respect for their opponents. That comes as no surprise to Stoops.
“I could beat them over the head with words this afternoon, at Monday meeting but it has to come from them,” Stoops said. “They have to have this sense of urgency and the importance to prepare and play that way. I totally expect that.”
