Kentucky’s football surge has changed the temperature around the program, and Mark Pope made it clear he’s feeling it too.
During a press conference on Friday to preview Kentucky’s upcoming exhibition matchup with Texas Tech, Pope was asked about the work Will Stein has done since taking over. His answer was direct and enthusiastic.
"I'm pulling for Will like crazy. He's doing an unbelievable job.
He took on, you know, a huge job here, and he's performing at a great level. I think our athletic department is really unified.
I think that's important."
That kind of public support stands out in Lexington. It’s not often that the basketball coach and football coach are this openly aligned in the same direction, and Pope’s comments only reinforce the sense that the mood inside the athletic department is working in Kentucky’s favor.
The timing is unusual, too. Normally, by this point in the year, Big Blue Nation has already shifted its full attention to basketball while football drifts into the background.
This season feels different. With Stein’s team rolling and sitting at 6-1, the football program has grabbed enough momentum that even a ranked exhibition game in Rupp Arena isn’t dominating the conversation the way it usually would.
Pope’s praise also fits the broader picture around Kentucky athletics right now. Stein has even joked about Craig Skinner being the goat, and baseball coach Nick Mingione has spoken about how much the football team’s success helps his program.
Add in the arrival of J. Batt as athletic director, and the sense around Kentucky is that the department is moving in a more connected direction.
Stein, who is a die-hard Kentucky fan, will be in Rupp Arena this year backing Pope’s basketball team just as loudly. For now, though, he’s the one drawing the spotlight - and Pope made sure to let everyone know he’s firmly in his corner.
In Other News...
Kentuckys SEC Title Push Just Took A Brutal Hit
Kentuckys bid for a 10th straight Southeastern Conference regular-season volleyball title took a sharp turn Thursday night in Knoxville, where the Wildcats couldnt close out Tennessee after building a two-set lead. Kentucky looked in control early, taking the opening sets with command, but the Volunteers flipped the match with a steadier rhythm and a more balanced attack as the night wore on.
Brooklyn DeLeye still powered Kentucky with 25 kills, but the Wildcats had trouble matching Tennessee over the final three sets as the pressure mounted. The loss doesnt end the chase, but it does put Kentucky in a tougher spot as it tries to hold off the rest of the SEC in a race that suddenly looks a lot less comfortable. [Read more 🡒]
Kenny Minchey Still Has One Loyal Voice In Vanderbilt Territory
Justin Geisinger has a foot in both camps heading into Kentuckys meeting with Vanderbilt, and that makes this week feel a little more personal than most. A former Vanderbilt player who now coaches high school football, Geisinger also helped guide Kentucky starter Kenny Minchey during his prep days, giving him a direct line to one of the Wildcats most important players while still carrying the ties of his own college past.
Geisingers connection to Vanderbilt runs even deeper because he once shared a locker room with head coach Clark Lea, which only sharpens the conflict of loyalty. He has made it clear he has affection for both programs, and with Minchey under center for Kentucky, the matchup brings together several strands of his football life at once. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Has A Vanderbilt Problem Will Stein Wants Solved Now
Kentuckys strong start has put the Wildcats in a good spot, but the next test comes with some history attached. Will Stein has been making sure everyone inside the program understands what is waiting with Vanderbilt, a matchup that has not gone the way Kentucky has wanted in recent seasons even as the Wildcats have stacked up quality wins this fall, including the upset of Oklahoma. With the team sitting at 6-1, the timing of this one matters too, because it arrives as the final game before Kentuckys bye week.
Stein also knows the atmosphere should help, and he has pushed fans to turn the home crowd into a factor for a sellout game with a Blue Out theme. Kentucky has already shown it can handle pressure and momentum this season, but this one carries a different kind of edge because of the opponent and the recent results between the schools. For a team trying to keep its footing in the SEC race, ending the pre-bye stretch on the right note would go a long way toward quieting a problem that has lingered a little too long. [Read more 🡒]