Mark Stoops "impressed" with Kentucky's attitude in practice this week
Following Saturday’s 44-14 season-opening victory over Ball-State, Mark Stoops said he was pleased with his team’s effort but frustrated by the number of mistakes they made throughout. Fine-tuning fundamentals has been the focus of Kentucky’s practice this week. Thankfully, the Cats have responded to Stoops’ challenge.
“I was very impressed,” Stoops said on today’s SEC Teleconference. “Mondays are always hectic because there’s so much to do. We have a mandatory day off one day a week and ours is Sunday so Monday, there’s a lot to cram in. We have to look at the mistakes and watch the film and introduce a new opponent.
“And then Tuesday is a heavy work day. Full pads and very physical and gotta get a lot of things in and I felt like it was an improvement. I really do. I feel like they can see it. I felt like our team was not satisfied with every aspect but as I told them after watching the film, if we play with that same type of intensity and continue to try to be physical and prepare the right way, good things will happen. We’ve just got to detail things up here this week.”
Offensive coordinator Liam Coen gave a similar review of the team’s mindset following Tuesday’s practice.
“The theme of the day was details, details, details,” Coen said. “I thought the guys played hard [vs. Ball State], but we didn’t always play very smart.”
“Averaged seven yards per play and did some good things from an explosive standpoint, but the consistent execution, the consistent details, snap in and snap out. You could tell in today’s practice that there was a more sense of urgency from a communication and detail standpoint.”
“Door’s always open” at Stoops’ basement bar for EKU friends
All week, we’ve been telling you about the connections between the Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky Football programs. Colonels head coach Walt Wells was on Mark Stoops’ staff at Kentucky for two seasons and EKU assistants Maxwell Smith and CJ Conrad both played for and coached under Stoops. Not surprisingly, the ties between the programs came up on today’s teleconference.
“I won’t think much of it when the game starts,” Stoops said. “I know those guys and have a ton of respect for them. Maxwell Smith was one of my first quarterbacks when I got here. He ended up transferring and having a good career at San Diego State and maybe one other and then years later, came back and worked with me and I enjoyed having him.
“Then CJ Conrad, heck, it feels like CJ was with me basically my whole time. He may have come in year two or three, so he’s been with me I want to say maybe the last eight years as a player and as a graduate assistant. I love CJ and his family and of course, I’m close to Walt as well. Great respect for those guys.”
I especially loved this quote because I’m 100% certain it’s true.
“I know they’re competitors and we’re all going to be trying to beat each other’s brains in on Saturday and after that, heck, they know where my house is and where my basement bar is. The door’s always open for those guys.”
I have a feeling the Wm. Tarr bourbon will be flowing in Stoops’ basement on Saturday night.
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