Skip to main content

Mark Stoops' Wildcats Finding the Right Balance at Citrus Bowl Practice

by:Nick Roush12/27/18

@RoushKSR

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1024"] @UKFootball[/caption] For the Kentucky football team, Mark Stoops hopes the third time's the charm. After coming up short in two straight postseason bowls, Kentucky's journey to its first Florida bowl victory began today.  KSR was on the sideline when the Cats took the practice field for the first time at West Orange High School in nearby Winter Garden, Florida. "It's great to be here in Florida, beautiful weather," Stoops told KSR.  "A year ago we were in some cold weather.  This year it's really nice to be down here." Before the team got to work, they were free to enjoy the sun by the pool, something they could not do last year in Nashville.  Stoops believes his players should be rewarded for their 9-3 season, but they cannot forget there is still unfinished business from this season, and the last two bowl losses. "I want them to enjoy this experience," he said. "When we get free time, enjoy it, but when it's time to lock in at meetings and at practice, be locked in and be energized.  They got off to a good start today.  I feel good about that.  It is important to get that balance and get that energy that it takes to win." Finding balance was a bit more difficult ahead of the TaxSlayer Bowl.  It was UK's first bowl game in years, filled with a depth chart of underclassmen.  This year's group of seniors has become familiar with the bowl setting.  They've been to the outings. They've eaten the big meals. They've picked up the swag bags.  There's only one thing they haven't done. "We didn't walk off the field with a trophy." If Stoops' squad maintains the right balance over the next week of festivities in Orlando, the upperclassmen will check one final box off the to-do list. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW68BXf5PoE [mobile_ad]

Discuss This Article

Comments have moved.

Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.

KSBoard

2024-11-27