Kentucky Frustrated Bye Week Lessons Didn't Result in a Win

Even though the game played out like many previous games against Tennessee, something felt different about this Kentucky football team. The team that lost to Missouri played undisciplined football, they struggled to complete passes and they failed to respond to adversity. It’s clear Kentucky learned from those lessons, but it wasn’t enough to leave Kroger Field with a win over the Vols.

The game started as bad as the last one ended. The offense went three-and-out, then four-and-out, while the defense allowed a Volunteer touchdown on their fifth offensive snap. Kentucky could’ve spiraled trailing 10-0. Instead, they rallied around one another. The Cats rattled off a 10-play drive that resulted in points and breathed life into the stadium.

“I also wanted them to be much more selfless and just play more united. I felt like we were that way, we were pulling for each other,” Mark Stoops said in his postgame press conference.

“Tough game and I think the team responded offensively. When we fell behind, they picked it up and scored. The defense had a couple of big stops. It was hard. We didn’t get some at critical moments, I know, but it felt like we grew in that area. Then we talked about playing smarter as well as the third point of emphasis and we definitely were better in that area.”

Kentucky committed 14 penalties for 122 yards against Missouri. They were only flagged four times for 21 yards Saturday night.

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Kentucky Showed Maturity Despite Shortcomings

The Kentucky locker room felt about how many fans feel right now. Dane Key described the loss as “sickening,” Devin Leary used the word “frustrating” multiple times. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen shared a similar sentiment.

“I just feel kind of gut-wrenched and sick for the kids because they prepared so hard, they practiced so hard, they were so in-tuned with each other, the chemistry, the connection throughout the course of the week. Then obviously tonight, they played well enough for us to win and I’ve gotta be better for us,” Coen said after the loss.

Devin Leary threw for 372 yards against the Vols, more than the previous three games combined. The offense took personal accountability during the bye week and rallied around one another to turn a corner.

“I think we definitely matured. During that off week we took it upon the players to step up,” said Leary. “We understand that losing isn’t acceptable, but at the same time, we’re the ones on the field, we’re the ones that need to execute… It hurts walking away from this game with a loss, but within the building players really stood up and took a leadership role.”

The Cats stepped up the effort and energy in practice. It wasn’t an aberration. They actually translated it onto the field Saturday night because when it hit the fan early, they were not rattled. Kentucky remained confident and that will be the case through the final four games of the season.

“The way everybody was playing for the guy next to them, it really showed tonight. I really feel like that’s how the offense is starting to come, and it’s finally starting to click,” Dane Key said after the loss.

“Coach Stoops says it all the time, ‘This isn’t a league for babies.’ What we gotta do is keep playing for our brothers and keep building and playing for each other.”

This is an imperfect team, but it’s finally one that’s playing for each other, no matter how difficult the circumstances may be.

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