UK's Opponents Thinking 'How Are We Losing to These Guys'

By Ed Peak

I find it funny and a bit interesting that every team Kentucky beats is bad. Coach Will Stein relayed the message during his Tuesday's news conference.

The opponents in the Southeastern Conference really believe Kentucky should bring up the bottom of the standings.

Will Stein coached the Wildcats to a major victory over LSU last Saturday at Kroger Field. UK is off to a great start with a 5-1 mark this season. (Photo by Wayne Mason)

How good are Texas A&M, South Carolina and LSU? Time will tell. This week the Wildcats go to Oklahoma (3-2, 1-1 SEC) for a Saturday night (7:30 p.m. ET) game on the SEC Network.

Paul Finebaum, the voice of the SEC Network, knocked LSU coach Lane Kiffin down a few notches. He was unimpressed with just about everything LSU did losing to the Cats.

At Kroger Field, I watched Kentucky (5-1, 3-1) continuously get knocked around by the bayou bengals.

UK kept punching and punching. At no time did the Wildcats show they were beaten.

It’s tough to stop those guys (LSU),” Stein said. “(QB) Sam Leavitt is really good. They’ve got big backs. They were throwing it all over the yard.”

Stein is off to a 5-1 start, the best start for a first-year Kentucky head coach in over a century. since 1913 when Alpha Brumage started 6-1.

The first-year UK head man is not satisfied with where he and his team are and he’s going to continue to push the Cats and himself. Kentucky has won back-to-back overtime victories in two straight weeks.

“I’m just trying to be my best every single day and give it my all for this university,” Stein said. “It took a chance on me and I’m going to give it all for my players, who have done an unbelievable job at this point.”

Stein also knows that there’s still half of this season left and his team has some goals left to attempt to accomplish.

“It’s not about wins,” Stein said. “We’re 5-1, which is great, and we have more opportunities ahead.”

Stein’s guts have put the Cats in a position to win the last two games and to get off to a great start.

The UK head coach continues to set new standards for first-year coaches at Kentucky, and he has another signature game on Saturday in Oklahoma. The Sooners are fresh off a win over then-No. 1 Texas. Quarterback John Mateer did just enough and the Sooners defense the rest.

After the Oklahoma game, the Wildcats will host Vanderbilt on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Would a win over OU means the Sooners aren’t very good. Hey, they just beat No. 1.

Ed Peak is a longtime sportswriter from Louisville.