'Dialed in' Kentucky is ready for heavyweight fight against Georgia

The talking is just about over. We are less than 48 hours from kickoff when No. 11 Kentucky will face No. 1 Georgia at Sanford Stadium. First place in the SEC East is on the line as one of the biggest games in the modern era of Kentucky football approaches.

On Thursday, Mark Stoops met with the media for a final time before the game on Saturday. The ninth-year head coach has a focused and rested team that is ready to go take a swing at top-ranked Georgia.

KSR has put together a practice notebook as the talking is almost over.

Kentucky hasn’t lost focus

After the huge victory at Florida, the Wildcats had one of the biggest wins in program history. Kentucky beat the Gators at home for the first time since 1986 and was the talk of college football. There were media hits everywhere while many national and local pundits thought Kentucky might sleepwalk against LSU.

That did not happen.

The Wildcats thumped the Tigers at Kroger Field to set up the monster matchup with Georgia. Stoops is proud of his team after another great week of practice.

“It’s been a really good week,” Stoops told reporters. “Seems to have gone extremely fast. As I’ve just told the players, I’ve been very pleased with them. They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do. We’ve had a gorgeous week of weather, and so it’s been really good practices.”

“Guys have been very dialed in, very motivated, and seem to be in very good spirits. So we’re anxious to get going tomorrow.”

Turns out the Big Blue Nation isn’t the only collection of people that is anxious. The team appears ready to roll.

Rest and recovery

Playing football in the Southeastern Conference can be a grind. Games on Saturday are very physical and depth is tested almost weekly. It is imperative for players to take care of their bodies during the week so optimal performance can be reached on Saturdays.

Mark Stoops is making sure his guys are gassed up and ready to go on Saturday.

“Just get some treatment, get some rest, get some sleep, watch a little extra film. Just do whatever they can do to put themselves in the best position, said Stoops. “Anytime you go on the road it takes a little out of ya.”

Road trips are different and the trek to Athens causes some issues. Kentucky will have to fly into Atlanta before moving over to Athens. That can bring some fatigue and Stoops knows Kentucky cannot have that this week.

“I’ve been putting a lot of pressure on them to try to sacrifice just a little bit as far as getting their sleep,” said Stoops.

Georgia wants to play football in a phone booth. Kentucky must be ready for a fistfight between the whistles. Rest is the key to making sure the Wildcats give themselves a great shot at victory.

“You better be prepared and focused on what you gotta do and rested up,” Stoops said.

Darian Kinnard is banged up, will play

In the win over LSU, Darian Kinnard suffered what appeared to be some type of knee injury. After laying on the turf for a few minutes, the All-American tackle sprinted off to the sidelines and was on the field for the next series.

However, that wasn’t the only issue for Kentucky’s top draft prospect.

Kinnard appeared to get hurt again on the last series and was seen hobbling back to the huddle. Mark Stoops confirmed that the star right tackle is hurt but not injured.

“He’s really done a good job,” Stoops said about Kinnard. “We’ve been very cautious with him. He’s definitely not 100 percent, so really appreciate Darian giving it everything he can and I know he will. I really greatly appreciate, Darian. Last week it would’ve been easy — with a future that he has — you do get a legitimate injury and get hurt. He was hurting — different from injured — we would never let him play injured. But it was definitely one of those things where it hurts and so he’s really fought through that last week and he’s fought through it the best this week. Really appreciate him, and the sacrifices he’s making for the team.

Kinnard will not be at full strength, but it sounds like he’ll be out there with the offense when Kentucky takes the field on Saturday afternoon. Thankfully, the bye week begins after the game with Georgia is over.

Mark Stoops vs. Iron Mike

Who had Mike Tyson making an appearance at a press conference involving Mark Stoops on their bingo card? If so, it’s your lucky day.

The head football coach was asked about his team taking a punch from Georgia and spun it in a unique way. Not sure if this story is true or not.

“You know, I’ve spent some time with Iron Mike,” said Stoops. “I went at with him pretty good. I think I could’ve lasted 10 seconds probably.”

Stoops the fighter.

Kentucky is not taking the bait

Four years ago, Kentucky hosted Georgia in a game that determined the SEC East. The Bulldogs jumped on the Wildcats early and Kentucky never was in the game during that 34-17 loss. Not surprisingly, that has been a huge talking point this week.

Mark Stoops isn’t ready to compare the situations yet.

“It feels different because it just is different,” said Kentucky’s head coach. “I don’t like to put comparisons on them because I have admiration for that team that we had, and I like this team. We’re right in the middle of it, so it’s definitely different, I don’t necessarily want to try and compare it.

That answer may be different in the postgame if Kentucky can pull the upset.

Quick Hitters

• Jeremy Flax is back in the lineup and will backup both tackles spots on Saturday after serving a one-game suspension against LSU for a disciplinary issue.
• D.J. Eliot was spotted in Lexington for the LSU game, but Kentucky’s former defensive coordinator was just here as a friend, per Stoops. Eliot was visiting for the weekend and also spent some time with Kentucky during fall camp.
• Josaih Hayes, Justin Rogers, Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald, Kahlil Saunders were all mentioned by name during the press conference. Expect each to get a shot at boundary defensive tackle as Kentucky looks to replace Octavious Oxendine.
• Stoops complimented the team’s businesslike approach. The Wildcats seem locked in and ready for Saturday.