Kentucky football won 10 games last season for the first time since 1977, but to begin this year, the Wildcats are merely 2-2.

The outside perception of the Kentucky football program this season is it’s gone back to being an average team, and actually, if one takes away last year’s record, the Wildcats are just 28-38 under head coach Mark Stoops.

But Stoops didn’t really want to hear any of those facts Wednesday, saying the outside perception isn’t important to him. He said what is important is “for us and everyone in this building, more than anyone outside” and added that “we have won a lot, and we will continue to do so.”

To be fair to Stoops, Kentucky is playing without starting quarterback Terry Wilson, who is out for the season with a knee injury. Kentucky is also still 12-5 since the start of last year. If they win just four more games and finish .500, the Wildcats will head back to a bowl game and will have their most wins over a two-year span since 2006-2007.

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

  • On defending Kylin Hill: I have great respect for him, had it going in and coming out of it that much more. He is a very difficult guy to tackle… he has a toughness to him, very talented player.
  • On Ryan Hilinski: he has looked very very good at times. I think that has a lot to do with all of us. there are times offensively they look very good and times you wish you could do it over. He has made some unbelievable throws against great competition… He will wow you…
  • Xavier Peters: He is practicing like everyone else, he is a first-year guy, he is practicing, he is getting more in tuned with the defense and he will get more and more reps.