Trophy Game: Kentucky Wants to End the Season with Positive Momentum

Mark Stoops has said his fair of coach speak after more than 10 years in Lexington. “It’s just another game” is a familiar refrain from him and many of his SEC peers. Tomorrow’s matchup between Kentucky and Clemson is not just another game.

The team that leaves the field with a win in Friday’s Gator Bowl will be adding a trophy to their collection. That piece of hardware means something to each program.

“I think it’s really important to try to end on a good note,” Stoops said at Thursday’s Gator Bowl press conference.

“I told them before the Louisville game that the last two games of the season are the only two games all year that we’re going to either walk off the field with a trophy or without it. I can tell you from experience, it feels a heck of a lot of better when you have to stay and have one of you present us a trophy to take back home. That’s what we’re looking to do.”

Stoops has been a part of ten trophy presentations at Kentucky, a winner in four bowl games and six Governor’s Cups. Trophies matter. They provide tangible evidence of success. Even though the Cats left meat on the bone with a few losses during the regular season, the Gator Bowl provides the team with an opportunity to end the season on an upswing.

“It says a lot about leadership of this team. I think everybody wants to finish on a positive note. They know we have a real challenge, facing a very good football team in Clemson and the respect that we have for them,” said Stoops. “We’re trying to finish with a victory and bring home a bowl trophy.”

It means more for some than others. Ray Davis took a long and winding path from San Francisco to two other schools before landing in Lexington. A Kentucky victory over Clemson could provide the perfect capstone to the running back’s successful collegiate career.

“It was hard during the past four years. Just mentally I felt so much better (at Kentucky). It’s like everything just was set right and it’s all coming full circle,” said Davis.

“This is my second bowl game ever. To be out there, to be able to come out here and play and hoist up a trophy potentially is a great moment.”

WATCH: Kentucky Gator Bowl Press Conference

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