Playing at road is rarely regarded as a good thing. Of course, unless a coach can spin it to be, which Kentucky coach Mark Stoops successfully did in his Wednesday press conference.

One thing that playing away from home does do is it encourages team bonding. Stoops says their road trip to Mississippi State, which will be Kentucky’s first away game of the season, will be “fun” and help bring the team “united.” He added the Wildcats are “excited for the opportunity.”

Kentucky went 2-1 in its first three games at home, beating Toledo and Eastern Michigan in the first two weeks before losing to Florida this past Saturday. Kentucky will play three of its next four games on the road with the last away matchup during this stretch at No. 3 Georgia.

Here’s what else Stoops said during his Wednesday press conference:

  • On Lynn Bowden: Lynn obviously has come in and had a big impact from Day 1, he gets better and better with every week. He is an athlete, he can play everywhere, I wish I could rep him at DB at the moment… he can step in at QB and do a heck of a job and he continues to improve as a WR…
  • On Calvin Talyor: Calvin was one of those guys we came across late… it was very late, but he had that length you look for but you knew if he couldn’t play DL, he could play OL, but he has developed so well on the DL… he is constantly worried about what he has to do to improve… he has come in here and been a heck of a player for us… it took him years to develop and get on the field but he did it, he put in the work and he has become a leader on our team.
  • Would Bowden really play DB? Well, we are a little too far down the field… we got some guys back… I was really just joking, he’s doing too much, returning kicks, playing WR, QB, RB, but he could do it.