Stoops, Cats Ready to Get Back on Track This Week

After losing at No. 1 Alabama on Saturday, Kentucky returns to action this week with another difficult task. The Cats visit No. 5 Florida at the Swamp at noon on Saturday.

UK head coach Mark Stoops had a shorthanded team on Saturday due to injuries and contact tracing due to COVID-19. That, combined with the funeral for offensive line coach John Schlarman at the beginning of the week certainly could have contributed to the Cats’ performance. However, the head man says that was not the reason for what happened in Tuscaloosa.

“No excuses, we need to play better,” Stoops said during his Monday press conference. “A very difficult week, start to finish. I wish we had played better.”

Stoops did admit that his players have had a tough year, and that last week was even more difficult than most.

“It is difficult for the players, there’s no getting around that,” Stoops said. “Very, very difficult and trying week, trying year. The players, I do feel for them. They’ve had to deal with a lot. It’s difficult on them. John Schlarman was close to everyone on this team. Our team did the best they could responding to difficult times.”

Now, Stoops is hoping that his team can get things back to normal as they prepare for a trip to Gainesville.

“Definitely need to hit the reset button,” Stoops said. “There were things out of our control last week. As far as our players’ mentality, we have to reset and get back to playing the way we’re capable of. And yes, we’re excited about us and our play. Hopefully we can have a normal week and get back on track.”

Stoops hopes the reset can also help change the outcome this week.

“Hopefully, we will bounce back and respond. We need to,” Stoops said. “We need to change that outcome this week. Hopefully, we will respond better. We need to improve in a lot of areas. Excited to get back out on the practice field this week and get going.”

As for what the team will be working on in practice this week, Stoops hopes to get back to the things that UK has done well so far this season.

“We need to continue to run the ball and do what we do well and we need to keep some balance,” Stoops said. “We need to get the ball in the end zone. We moved it well. We’ve got to get back to having some balance. The running game is hugely important to us.”

One of the bright spots in the Alabama game was the play of tight end Keaton Upshaw, who Stoops is happy to see emerging.

“He is definitely growing. He’s getting better,” Stoops said. “We had high expectations for Keaton the entire year. I feel like he’s finally taking steps. He’s a big target, he’s getting open and we need to continue to look at him.”

As for this week’s opposition, Stoops has seen a lot of growth in Florida quarterback Kyle Trask.

“Just a guy that’s getting more and more comfortable,” Stoops said. “He’s a special talent. He has gotten better with every opportunity. He’s playing at a really high level.”

Stoops knows that the Florida defense will present a challenge to his team.

“It doesn’t surprise me that they’re getting better each week,” Stoops said. “(Defensive coordinator) Todd Grantham does a great job. He can be elaborate at times with exotics. They are getting better each week. He gets them to play hard. It’s a good group.”

Stoops and his team will get back to work and try to iron out the mistakes from Saturday. And the head coach knows that he can get the Cats through the difficult times.

“There’s nobody giving up around here. We’re going to get better,” Stoops said. “We’ll get through this. We’ve been through difficult times before.”