Photo by Mark Cornelison
2020 was not the first year of giving up. Before the coronavirus forced top prospects to reconsider playing another year of college football, the word double-O affected some college football programs that were played in non-New Year’s six-bowl games. The trend initiated by Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey never reached Lexington.
Mark Stoops said Sunday night that turnout was 100% when the players returned to campus this weekend.
“We are good. We have practiced,” he said. “We have had two good practices in the last two days. We are 100%. The boys are all there and they train, work hard and have fun.”
Of course, that doesn’t include Kelvin Joseph, the defender who chose to stay before the regular season finale, or any player who entered his name on the transfer portal. Even so, it’s impressive that in Stoops’ fifth consecutive bowl, a new school record, players didn’t choose to bypass what some might consider an exhibition game to preserve potential stock design. He talks about the culture that Stoops created in Lexington, but he gives all the credit to the players.
“I think it says a lot about the players. First, he tells them individually and collectively that we have the right players here, for us, for the University of Kentucky, and I think they answer each other. You’ve heard me talk about this many times, that I want to be a player-led team. I want him to lead the right way. We know that we may have been short in some areas this year, but we are really proud of the good things they have done for many years. We have a strong leadership, strong players at the top and I think that’s what their commitment to each other is all about, ”he said.
“It makes me proud because it’s very easy to score, very easy to give up. I just think it talks a lot about them and their character and the responsibility they feel for each other.”
Re-energized since the end of the season two weeks ago, players will practice a few more days before Stoops offers them a Christmas break. Instead of spending a week in Florida, they will report back to campus on December 27, allocating only a few days in Jacksonville before the Gator Bowl begins on January 2.