By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
Mark Stoops isn’t sure what to expect going into his team’s season opener Saturday at Southern Mississippi but is certain Kentucky has improved during the past 12 months.
However, as Stoops knows, the first game of the season can produce a few unwanted surprises, such as last year’s 44-35 loss to the Golden Eagles, the first of two straight setbacks to open his fourth season at the helm.
Although the loss was a letdown and deflated the team’s early optimism a year ago, it was a turning point for Kentucky, which rebounded and finished 7-6, losing to Georgia Tech in the TaxSlayer Bowl.
“You have to learn from every situation,” Stoops said. “There are things most definitely that we’ve taken from that, that have changed us, the whole program.”
Although a lesson learned, it doesn’t make things any easier for the Wildcats in the opener, which Stoops said isn’t the same as any other game during the regular season.
“When you go into the first game, it’s definitely a little different,” Stoops said. “You feel the confidence, the preparation and the work that’s gone into it for an entire year, but it’s just different in Game 1.”
Stoops admitted his team is more prepared for Southern Mississippi than they were a year ago, but added a few question marks remain to be answered in the opening encounter.
“I think we’re a much different team than we were in Week 1 last year,” Stoops said. “There are a lot of unknowns. There are players that are gonna be playing that really have no played a significant role.”
Stoops and his staff will get a rematch against Shannon Dawson, Kentucky’s former offensive coordinator, entering his second season as the Eagles’ offensive boss. Dawson served as the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator during the 2015 campaign before taking similar post at Southern Miss. Stoops said he has no ill will toward Dawson.
“We’re passed on that,” Stoops said. “Shannon is a good football coach or I wouldn’t have hired him. He’s a vary good coach and he’s done well. He proved that a year ago right here (at Kroger Field).”
Overall, Stoops said his team produced positive results during fall workouts and likes the team’s chances against the Golden Eagles, despite playing on the road.
“I think we got better,” Stoops said. “We had a physical camp and we feel like we developed some depth and I like where we’re at. I really do. I feel like we’re an improved football team.”
The improvement across board added depth to the team’s roster during the off-season. Stoops said at least eight incoming freshmen — Josh Paschal, Quinton Bohanna, Cedric Dort, Isaiah Epps, Lynn Bowden, Josh Ali, Bryant Koback and Naasir Watkins are expected to see playing time in Hattiesburg.
“The nice thing about playing freshmen is because they jump out at you, not because you need them,” Stoops said. “That’s the big difference. If a freshman can come in and help because he jumps out at you, that’s what we’re looking for — guys that are prepared to come in, play and help you. We have some of those guys in this class because the depth is certainly there. We’re not playing guys because they have to fill a role.”
Stoops doesn’t expect perfection this weekend, but said his coaches have a game plan to succeed and will need to make adjustments accordingly.
“Those game plans change very quickly at times. We have to make sure we rely on the responsibilities, the keys and the system that we have on offense and defense and make sure we do that,” he said. “A big point of emphasis that we’ll be drilling into our players this year is doing their job. You have to have a trust. You have to have a great amount of trust in the system, and you have to have trust in the guy next to you.”
Gametracker: Kentucky at Southern Miss, 4 p.m., Saturday. TV/Radio: CBS Sports Network, 98.1 FM WBUL.
Keith Taylor is sports editor for Kentucky Today. He can be reached at keith.taylor@kentuckytoday.com or twitter @keithtaylor21.