Mark Stoops describes the feeling in Kentucky's locker room after Florida win
Kentucky fans had plenty of reason to celebrate after the Wildcats defeated No. 12 Florida on the road in Week 2. The players were feeling pretty good afterward, too, and the celebration began in the locker room.
Their head coach didn’t show as much emotion, though. That’s what Mark Stoops said in the press conference, at least.
“I’ve been pretty even-keeled this year,” he joked. “Can’t you tell that?”
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Although Stoops toned it down, the Kentucky players had their own party in the locker room following the 26-16 victory. He enjoyed it, especially because he didn’t sense much celebration after the Wildcats’ Week 1 win over Miami (Ohio).
But now, and he wants his team to focus on finding ways to get even better heading into Week 3.
“When I went in there, I let them have their fun for a while,” Stoops said in his weekly press conference. “They had their music going and were enjoying it. They should, they work hard. As I mentioned, the first game, we [walked] in there and I’m like, ‘What’s going on here, man? It’s not like we lost.’ That’s a good sign.
“I think they were like, ‘OK, we’re ready for the next step.’ Just like I addressed after game one, let’s get to work, let’s improve, let’s get ready for game two. Now, the challenge is how do we keep that energy? How do we keep that consistency to prepare, to be the best team we can be and continue to build?”
Mark Stoops explains how win at Florida could help Kentucky develop SEC momentum
Mark Stoops notched his second win over Florida in the Swamp last Saturday. All of a sudden the Kentucky Wildcats are a top-10 football team, according to the AP Top 25.
Earning a marquee victory over a team no one expected them to beat so early in the season, Stoops believes the Florida win gives them the momentum needed to jumpstart their SEC slate in 2022.
“When you’re playing an SEC team on the road, it’s a big game, and man they are,” Stoops said in his Monday press conference. “And we know how competitive it gets. We needed to improve, we needed to come down there and win. Really great for our team to put it together. I had a good feeling all along, we really played very good. I just think it was set up well for us.”