This weekend will give us another chance to see what Kentucky’s really made of.
The No. 13 (5-0, 3-0 SEC) Wildcats travel to Texas A&M (3-2, 1-1) for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff Saturday, a tough road test for one of college football’s most surprising teams this year. Kentucky is riding a wave of momentum that began when it ended its 31-year losing streak to Florida on Sept. 8.
With home wins against then-No. 14 Mississippi State and South Carolina since then, the Wildcats look like the best challenger to No. 2 Georgia in the SEC West. But first the Wildcats must get through the Aggies this weekend, and coach Mark Stoops previewed what that game will look like during his appearance on Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference.
Here’s what he had to say about the matchup:
How do you view this month of the season?
- It’s just one week of the time for us. It is different that we have a bye coming up, it’s the end of the first half, but we take it one week at a time and challenging our guys to take it one day at a time. … That’s what we really pound into their head; we want to have a good Wednesday.
What is the focus for your team this week?
- With the mentality, staying on track, learning from your mistakes and getting that corrected. Focus and preparation as you move forward in the areas that you need to.
On the Florida game and how the team handled the road environment:
- These venues, they are very difficult. Kyle Field is one of those that is at or near the top of difficulty, and we have to embrace that challenge. We have played three home games and it’s time to get on the bus and play on the field. … We need to eliminate penalties; we had too many last week. … We know this will be a real test on the road, and it’s about executing this week.
How has your team prepped for this environment?
- You have to embrace the challenge, you against the crowd, and it has to unite you.
How important is it give a coach time?
- I think it’s about what has to be done. … I don’t think I’ve ever been in a position to be fired. … We’ve taken steps in the right direction from Day 1, and you can’t cut corners. … That’s something I learned from (Texas A&M) coach (Jimbo) Fisher. … Size and recruiting to build up the program/ … It’s important to give people time to build if they are doing it right. Progress cannot always be measured in wins and losses.
On Fisher hiring him as defensive coordinator at Florida State in 2010:
- He made me wait a little awhile (laughs) … It was a good meeting and it went down pretty quickly, if I recall.
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
