Kentucky didn't have to beat LSU to prove itself. The Cats did anyway.
Kentucky football still has its share of doubters. But, with victories like Saturday over LSU? Will Stein's squad is proving them wrong a win at a time
Lexington — Kentucky football didn't need a win over No. 10 LSU to prove its worth. In its first five games, the Cats and rookie coach Will Stein showcased their capabilities. They faced Alabama in Week 2, matching them play for play, before the Tide eventually prevailed. The Cats then traveled to Texas A&M and defeated the team ranked in the top 10.
On October 3, they overcame the largest road deficit in program history to defeat South Carolina. Thus, they didn't need to defeat LSU to establish themselves nationally. But why not? The Wildcats went on to do just that, beating LSU in overtime, 35-34. Might this team become known as the "Cardiac Cats"? They continue to stop hearts in Kentucky.
The senior coach, Will Stein, joked he has "run out of lives" after yet another last-second triumph. The SEC and the rest of the nation should be grateful. Stein is only getting started. Each week, he is matching or setting program records. He is the first UK coach since World War II to begin his debut season with a 5-1 record. Additionally, Kentucky has victories over two top-10 opponents in the same season for only the fourth time.
Since the introduction of overtime in 1996, the Wildcats are the first FBS team to achieve consecutive one-point wins in extra frames. However, one might question whether the Cats rely more on luck than skill. They faced LSU and their coach Lane Kiffin, who turned to trick plays twice to score touchdowns on this windy night. After removing those two touchdowns from the Tigers' tally, the final stats look different.
Stein admitted that Kiffin didn't trust his unit to generate points the traditional way. He emphasized the need for better defense and creating scoring opportunities. Earlier in the day, Kiffin and his supporters questioned Kentucky's chances. Stein saw the skepticism and showed it to his team, encouraging them to continue questioning themselves.
LSU's fans predicted a victory for their team. Stein took a picture and displayed it to his players, saying, "Keep picking against us. I appreciate that, it gives us fuel." The Cats have silenced doubters with their performance. Kiffin had a 3-3 record through six games at Tennessee in 2009, finishing 7-6 that season. In contrast, Stein has just one loss in his first six games as a head coach.
Kentucky's fans should be proud of their team's continuous successes. Stein and the Wildcats keep stacking victories, week after week.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
