Notebook: Cats Striking Right Balance between Fun, Focus

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A bowl trip is a departure from routine.

During the season, road trips last barely a day with the game being the only priority. A bowl trip, on the other hand, lasts the better part of a week. The game, of course, remains the prime focus, but there’s added time for practice, team activities and touring a new city.

For a team full of players who have never experienced a bowl – like Kentucky – coping with it all could be a challenge. According to their coach, the Wildcats have handled the lead-up to the TaxSlayer Bowl well.

“I think our team has found a good balance,” Mark Stoops said. “They know when to work and they know when to have fun. I think we all like to be around each other. We enjoy each other. This team has grown awfully close.”

After traveling to Jacksonville, Florida, on Christmas Day, the Cats have spent the week practicing at the University of North Florida. They’ve spent their free time at a team welcome dinner, on an outing at the Mayport Naval Station and playing Topgolf.

“The bowl game is a great time to spend with your teammates,” linebacker Courtney Love said. “It’s always good to get to a postseason, get extra practices for young guys to show coaches what they got. Just to get out here with our coaches and their families, just create a better bond.”

Stoops has always known UK is a tight-knit group, but this time has only brought the Cats closer.

“I think we all like to be around each other,” Stoops said. “We enjoy each other. This team has grown awfully close. The staff is very good. I think, like Courtney mentioned, just to get to come here and spend time with each other, more time around each other, have some fun, the experiences that this bowl has put together for this team has been wonderful. It’s been a great experience.”

Senior Sendoff

UK does not have a large senior class. Actually, it’s the smallest in the country.

That doesn’t mean the Wildcat veterans don’t mean a lot to their team. In fact, they are one of the main reasons why it was so important for UK to make its first bowl game since 2010.

“I know for this team, it’s been a while since we’ve been to a bowl game,” junior quarterback Stephen Johnson II said. “For the seniors, it means a lot to come here and have these 15 extra practices, play in an extra game to finish off the season. For the team and seniors, it really does mean a lot.”

Reaching the TaxSlayer Bowl seemed a long way away when UK was 0-2, but the Cats managed to pull it off. Again, those seniors are a main reason they were able to.

“I’m proud of this group in general,” Stoops said. “I think we’ve come a long way. I’m proud of these gentlemen up here, the leadership they’ve shown, the rest of our seniors. Again, how far we’ve come and the adversity that we faced.”

With that adversity in the rearview mirror, the Cats are looking ahead to both the game against Georgia Tech and what will come after that. That’s even true of the seniors who will suit up for the final time on Saturday.

“It’s obviously new territory for Kentucky as a program in our recent history,” Jon Toth said. “I think it is a good thing that we’re getting these extra 15 practices. That helps develop the younger guys, and also the older guys, because everybody is still trying to be better players. It helps lay a foundation for the future of the program. I think it is advantageous that we’re in this position. I think it will be beneficial for the program.”

Cats Taking Notice of Big Blue Contingent

Walking the streets of Jacksonville, it’s clear Kentucky fans are doing what they normally do and traveling en masse to support their team.

“It really means a lot, not only for this team to get this extra win or game we have, but for these fans as well,” Johnson said. “They’ve been yearning for it and waiting for it for a long time. They’re out here in full force to see the football team in an extra game. Really happy to have such great fans behind our backs.”

Even after seeing the Big Blue Nation deliver over and over, the Cats are amazed.

“It’s always surprising to me when I see so many fans show up to the out-of-state games,” Courtney Miggins said. “Glad we have a strong fan base to support us through our ups and downs.”

That fan base has been a constant source of motivation for this team all season. That will be the case again on Saturday.

“I promise to our fans, like the players just mentioned, we’re happy to have them here,” Stoops said. “It’s a very passionate fan base. These players have worked extremely hard to make them proud, to try to go and finish this the right way.”