Kentucky isn’t ignoring Alabama, the Wildcats are just more concerned about themselves going into Saturday’s contest against the top-ranked Crimson Tide.
“We’re going to get back to work and we’re going to worry about ourselves,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said Monday. “I want to see us continue to worry about us, continue to (make) progress and continue to improve in the areas we need to improve on.”
Despite two straight setbacks to open the season, Kentucky has pieced together a pair of back-to-back victories, including a 17-10 triumph over South Carolina to help ease the two early-season disappointments, including a 45-7 loss at Florida in the Southeastern Conference opener.
Although the critics were in full force after losses to Southern Mississippi and the Gators, Stoops has been pleased with his team’s ability to bounce back during the past two weeks.
“When the season doesn’t start the way you want it to, there’s always going to be a lot of outside noise and distraction,” Stoops said. “I was very proud of the team and the coaching staff (for) focusing on the task at hand. We know who we are, what we’re capable of and putting our head down and going to work. I was proud of the effort and I was proud of the outcome (against South Carolina).”
Stoops admitted Alabama will be a difficult task for the Wildcats and considers the Crimson Tide “an amazing team” and “amazing program.”
“(They’re) the No. 1 team in the country for a reason,” Stoops said. “They are absolutely a quality, quality team from top to bottom. It will be a real challenge, but it will be exciting. … (We) know what we’re up against. We’re worried about getting better. We’re worried about preparation to get our football team in a position to win that game.”
Like Alabama’s football program, Stoops admires Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban, who recruited Stoops while he a position coach at Michigan State. Stoops chose Iowa over the Spartans but has always respected Saban and his coaching abilities.
“This coaching profession is built on respect and it starts there (with Saban),” Stoops said. “I have a great respect for what he’s done and how disciplined he is and the work ethic that he has. I always (respect the fact) that he does things right, does things with class and treats people the right way. How could you not admire that?”
Stoops and his family have a history with Saban and recalled a story in which his uncle Bob Stoops, a high school coach in Youngstown, Ohio, and Saban were in an establishment talking “Xs and Os” and totally unaware of their surroundings.
“They had no idea somebody came in and robbed the place at gunpoint,” Stoops said. “They were talking and drawing plays on a napkin and the police are coming in asking, ‘what happened?’ They said we didn’t see anything. They were working on football.”
Saban and Stoops have been in recruiting battles recently, with the Alabama coach landing former Madison Southern High School standout Damien Harris, top rusher for the Crimson Tide. In four games this season, Harris, ninth in the league in rushing, has gained 345 yards in four games and is averaging 8.6 yards per carry.
Stoops hasn’t been surprised by Harris’ numbers this season and is what the Kentucky coach expected two years into his collegiate career.
“He’s a very talented guy,” Stoops said. “He looks very explosive … the great vision and the great jump cuts you see out of him. That’s what you see on film.”
While Alabama has gotten a boost from Harris this year, Kentucky’s running game has been bolstered by veteran Stanley “Boom” Williams, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the last two games, including 123 yards and a score against the Gamecocks last week. Williams ranks third in the SEC in rushing with 464 yards, an average of 116 yards per game.
“He’s really grown up (and) he’s really maturing,” Stoops said. “It’s great to see Boom (do well) because this game is so mental. It’s such a big part of it. He’s always been a talented guy but he’s more detailed in his runs and his mentality is much better.”
SEC honors: Kentucky defensive end Denzil Ware was named SEC defensive lineman of the week Monday following his performance against the Gamecocks. Ware finished with five tackles and a pair of sacks, including the game-clincher late in the fourth quarter.
“I really felt like he played his best football of the year,” Stoops said. “We really needed him to step up and he did.”
Kickoff time set: Kentucky’s game against Vanderbilt, set for Oct. 8 will kickoff at 4 p.m. and will be televised by the SEC Network.
Gametracker: Kentucky at Alabama, 7 p.m., Saturday. TV/Radio: ESPN, 98.1 FM WBUL.
Keith Taylor is a senior sports writer for KyForward, where he primarily covers University of Kentucky sports. Reach him at keith.taylor@kyforward.com or @keithtaylor21 on Twitter