By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
Kentucky has braved the elements of preseason camp, and first-year coach Will Stein is anxious to see the finished product in the season opener against Youngstown State on Saturday.
“I thought our guys competed very well,” Stein said during his weekly press conference Tuesday. “They braved the heat. They braved practice, but that’s what you sign up for when you play football. That’s what it is. Our guys were really good over the last three to four weeks.”
During camp, Stein said the Wildcats “created toughness in our unit” and discovered themselves.
“I thought we found out who we are in all three phases of the game,” he said. “We’ve got to continue to find out who is accountable and who is capable. That’s a difference. Who knows their job? Who can line up correctly and then who can actually perform at a high level? We’ve done it in practice. We’ve done it in scrimmage situations. Now it’s time in a real game.”
In order to enjoy a successful debut, Stein said the Wildcats “have to own the football in all three phases.”
“(We have to) protect the football on offense and on special teams recover the ball when they punt it back to us or kick it to us. We have to end with the ball in our hands and then we have to create takeaways.”
In addition, Stein wants to see “relentless effort” in all three phases of the game.
“That’s what I want to see our guys playing whistle to whistle, all four quarters, however long it takes and again, playing to our standard,” he said.
Weather factor
Temperatures are expected to be in the 90s, with the heat index higher at kickoff and Stein said the Wildcats are prepared for the soaring heat.
“We’re expecting it to be hot, but that’s why we also get heat acclimatization throughout fall camp and practice in the afternoons three days a week,” Stein said. “I feel like our guys are in shape.”
Stein added that “getting into playing shape” in full gear also helped prepare Kentucky for the season opener.
“You can run all you want in the summer (buy) until you put the pads on, actually, go and practice,” he said. “It takes seven to 10 days to really get into football shape. Where we are now is completely different from where we were then (to open camp), and these guys are ready to go compete.”
Dry run
To help ease the gameday unknowns as coaches and players, Stein said a recent dry run “was great” and served a meaningful purpose.
“We did a fake Catwalk,” Stein said. “We actually had fans out there, which was awesome. We had our cheerleaders, our dance team, our band … we did everything. We went to the hotel. We saw our meeting rooms. We did a walkthrough at the hotel. We bussed over (to Kroger Field). We put the game clock on exactly how it was going to be and guys are waiting in the locker room just like they would pregame. It was critical because now on Saturday it’s not going to be the first time.”
Stein added the Wildcats have practiced the routine three times since he was hired as coach last December.
“(Gameday) should be smooth, and it will take all the focus off that and (put it) just on the playing,” he said.
Honoring Smith
The Wildcats will honor former player Nic “Happy” Smith, who passed away over the summer by wearing a sticker on their helmets.
“We’re playing for him,” Stein said. “He’s on my mind a lot, and we’ve left his seat open in our team room, and it’s just a reminder that life is precious and nothing’s guaranteed.”
Stein said Smith’s death was a “tragic thing.”
“I think everybody realizes that mental health is real, and people need you and us to say, ‘Hey, we love you and we’re here for you.’ We will always remember Nic.”
Keith Taylor is sports editor for Kentucky Today