Kentucky is down to 10 days before its season opener, and the program marked the moment by dropping another All-Access look at fall camp.
The new video comes from the third week of practice and gives fans a mix of everything: Mark Stoops speaking to the team on three separate occasions, clips from practice and the second scrimmage, plus interviews with Brandon Roberts, UK’s Director of Football Sports Performance, and Devin Harris, Director of Football Performance Nutrition. Freshman wide receiver Prince Jean also checks in after a practice and points to the “explosive plays” and “great team ball.”
The on-field snippets are brief, but the bigger takeaway is easy to read between the lines: Kentucky is trying to bottle the energy of camp and carry it straight into the opener. Stein’s message is the loudest part of the package.
“There are only so many opportunities in this game to play this game,” Stein says at a practice. “And when it’s over, fellas, it’s over.
You ain’t putting the pads on anymore once it’s done. So, remember that.
What would young you think about you playing at UK? You’d probably be pretty freaking fired up.”
Later, in the film room, Stein thanked the team for how it responded after his criticism of the first scrimmage. He also brought up redshirt freshman Nic Smith, who died in June, as part of his reminder to the team about making the most of the moment.
“Nothing is guaranteed. Take the field with a certain energy and enthusiasm, passion, love of just life.
That’s real. That’s real.
Nic was on my mind, Big Happ, and I want you guys to know nothing has been guaranteed.
“Talk about reflection. We talked about that the other day.
I’m very proud of this group based on the reflection we had as a team after scrimmage one. I straight up told you guys that was not good enough, and the way you guys attacked this week was elite.
We had a great Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. We had a great one.
We had an elite Friday yesterday. You guys are rolling.
Take that energy into today. Take it into today.”
Kentucky says there’s more in the video, and fans can expect to hear from Stein again on Tuesday at his first weekly press conference of the season.
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