Tag: Will Stein

Forgive Me, Father, for I Have Doubted

Forgive Me, Father, for I Have Doubted

I owe Will Stein an apology. And possibly a fruit basket.

Shortly before kickoff against South Carolina, Kentucky’s first-year head coach told Tom Leach that his team had enjoyed a productive week of practice. The players were focused, their mindset was right, and everybody was ready to play.

Seventeen unanswered points later, I suggested on social media that the right mindset and focus must have missed the team bus. Perhaps they were still enjoying the complimentary hotel breakfast. Whatever the case, they certainly weren’t anywhere near Williams-Brice Stadium.

Apparently, they were just running late.

Kentucky 35, South Carolina 34 in overtime. It was the largest come-from-behind road victory in Kentucky football history, courtesy of a team that evidently believes the first quarter is optional and a fan base that has collectively exhausted its supply of blood pressure medication.

I’ve followed Kentucky football for more than half a century. I’ve witnessed enough heartbreaking losses to qualify for federal disaster assistance, watched promising seasons disappear faster than complimentary food in a press box, and spent countless Saturday evenings wondering why I continue subjecting myself to this particular form of recreational torture. So cut me some slack if I remain a tad bit cynical.

Just when I was ready to pronounce the patient dead, somebody brought out the defibrillator.

Kenny Minchey deserves a substantial portion of the credit. His final numbers won’t necessarily send Heisman voters scrambling for their ballots, but 28 completions in 41 attempts, 272 passing yards, and three touchdowns tell only part of the story. With the running game struggling to establish itself, Minchey had to help bring Kentucky back through the air.

And he had plenty of accomplices. Kenny Darby caught 12 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, while Nic Anderson contributed five receptions for 80 yards and another score. Willie Rodriguez added five catches for 57 yards before delivering the two most important points of the afternoon.

With Kentucky’s comeback hanging in the balance, Rodriguez hauled in the decisive two-point conversion that turned a remarkable rally into a historic victory. Somewhere across the Commonwealth, grown men were hugging strangers, frightening household pets, and making promises to the Almighty that they’ll conveniently forget before next Sunday.

Will Stein called them his Comeback Cats. He also talked about a band of brothers, an expression I’ve generally associated with coaches who have run out of original material for their motivational speeches. But I’m beginning to believe him. This team has now demonstrated an unusual ability to absorb punishment and regroup without surrendering.

I’m not suggesting that spotting SEC opponents 17 points is a sustainable business model. In fact, I’d strongly recommend against it. But there is something rather intoxicating about watching a Kentucky football team refuse to accept the inevitable.

Which brings us to LSU.

A week ago, the Tigers’ upcoming visit might have inspired the usual combination of cautious optimism and gastrointestinal distress. Now I’m contemplating possibilities that would have seemed certifiably insane when South Carolina was running roughshod over Kentucky’s defense.

What if this team is actually good? What if Stein has assembled something special? What if the Wildcats can somehow defeat LSU and turn the remainder of this season into an extended celebration of everything we’ve spent decades believing Kentucky football could become?

Somebody confiscate my computer before I start researching College Football Playoff hotel accommodations.

Of course, there’s a rather significant difference between believing you can beat anybody and actually demonstrating that you can play four competent quarters against somebody. Kentucky has developed an impressive capacity for surviving adversity, but I’d prefer that the Wildcats occasionally experiment with avoiding it altogether.

Still, two extraordinary road victories over Texas A&M and South Carolina have changed the conversation. The dream that seemed so improbable when the season began is suddenly alive and well.

And if the Comeback Cats somehow knock off LSU next Saturday, I may have to reconsider my entire philosophy of Kentucky football.

Just one request, Coach.

Next time, please make sure the mindset and focus arrive before kickoff. My cardiologist and I would greatly appreciate it.

Dr. John Huang is a retired orthodontist, military veteran, and award-winning author. Currently serving as a columnist for Nolan Group Media, he invites readers to follow him on social media @KYHuangs. Explore his latest, Whining for Posterity, and all his books at Amazon.

Because of Me?

Because of Me?

When Will Stein was asked at SEC Media Days why Kentucky football will succeed now after years of inconsistency, his answer wasn’t long.

“Because of me.”

That’s certainly one way to grab a headline.

My first reaction? I actually laughed.

My second reaction? I’m still not sure what to think.

On one hand, I appreciate confidence. You don’t become an SEC head coach by doubting yourself. If you don’t believe you’re the right person for the job, why should anyone else? Fans have spent years begging for coaches with swagger, vision, and the ability to convince recruits that Kentucky can compete with anyone.

Will Stein clearly believes all of that.

In today’s college football landscape, maybe he almost has to.

Coaches aren’t just coaches anymore. They’re CEOs, fundraisers, recruiters, salesmen, and motivational speakers rolled into one. Every microphone is another recruiting pitch. Every quote is designed for social media. Every appearance is another chance to create momentum.

Perhaps “Because of me” wasn’t really directed at reporters.

Perhaps it was directed at every high school recruit listening.

Still…

There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance.

Stein has already made comments suggesting that everyone wants to play for Will Stein. Now comes, “Because of me.”

At some point, the words begin to pile up.

And eventually, they demand results.

The Bible offers a timeless warning: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Those words weren’t written for football coaches, but they apply remarkably well. The higher you build yourself up publicly, the farther you have to fall if things don’t work out.

That’s what gives me pause.

Kentucky football doesn’t have the luxury of making bold proclamations without consequences. This isn’t Alabama. It isn’t Georgia. It isn’t Ohio State.

National audiences are already skeptical of Kentucky football. Many expect the Wildcats to finish somewhere in the middle or bottom of the SEC. Every confident sound bite becomes another receipt waiting to be pulled out if the season starts 2-3 or 3-4.

The internet never forgets. Neither do opposing fan bases. If Kentucky wins, Stein will look like a genius. If Kentucky struggles, those same quotes will be replayed endlessly. The memes practically write themselves.

That’s the risk.

Personally, I’ve always preferred coaches who let their teams do the talking.

Nick Saban rarely made games about himself. Mark Stoops built Kentucky largely by embracing an underdog mentality. Even Mark Pope, as energetic as he is, usually redirects praise toward his players, the program, or Big Blue Nation. Most coaches instinctively redirect the credit away from themselves.

Stein’s approach feels different.

More personal.

More confrontational.

More “watch me.”

Maybe that’s exactly what Kentucky needs.

Maybe the program has spent too many years trying to prove it belongs instead of acting like it already does. Confidence can be contagious. Players often reflect the personality of their coach. If Stein genuinely believes Kentucky is about to become something special, perhaps that belief spreads throughout the locker room.

I’d love nothing more than to look back in December and say his confidence was completely justified.

In fact, Kentucky fans should hope that’s exactly what happens.

Because if Stein backs up every word with victories, nobody will care how bold his quotes sounded in July.

Winning has a remarkable way of turning arrogance into leadership.

But until then, I’m reserving judgment.

Confidence is essential.

Cockiness is entertaining.

Results are everything.

One thing is certain: Will Stein has ensured that people are paying attention.

Now comes the hard part.

Living up to “Because of me.”

Dr. John Huang is a retired orthodontist, military veteran, and award-winning author. Currently serving as a columnist for Nolan Group Media, he invites readers to follow him on social media @KYHuangs. Explore his latest, Whining for Posterity, and all his books at Amazon.

The Best Will Stein Interview Yet?

The Best Will Stein Interview Yet?

There was a time, years ago, when I somehow found myself as editor of the Just The Cats website. When the radio show took a temporary hiatus, the website went totally defunct—but man—I sure do miss those days.

I also miss working with Michael Bennett.

Even back then, Michael had a gift. Not necessarily for subtlety—but for making every conversation somehow come alive by circling back to Michael Bennett. If there were a tornado warning in Louisville, Michael would somehow mention he once interviewed a meteorologist at a charity golf scramble while standing near a buffet line at Valhalla.

So hearing Michael interview new Kentucky football coach Will Stein this morning on “Just the Cats” felt strangely comforting. It was football talk mixed with a humble brag TED Talk. Part sports radio interview. Part “This Is Your Life: Michael Bennett Edition.”

In other words, it was “radio gold.”

Within the first two minutes, Michael had already managed to mention:

  • Churchill Downs Turf Club access
  • meeting Stein outside a men’s restroom
  • horse ownership
  • heading to the Preakness
  • Mark Stoops being his friend
  • Vince Marrow being one of his closest friends
  • his lifelong sales background
  • volunteering his phone number for NIL fundraising duty

Honestly, it was magnificent.

To Stein’s credit, he handled it beautifully.

The poor guy probably thought he was doing a simple radio appearance and instead wandered into a verbal obstacle course where every answer eventually led back to Michael either:
A) knowing somebody important,
B) owning something expensive,
or
C) losing 50 pounds.

Still, beneath the accidental comedy, Stein said several things Kentucky fans should pay attention to.

Leave it to Michael Bennett to conduct the perfect Will Stein interview.

First, the recruiting momentum is real.

Stein downplayed the recent run of four-star commitments as merely “old school recruiting,” but the details mattered. He emphasized repeated contact, multiple campus visits, relationship building, and consistent communication with not just players, but parents, trainers, coaches, and agents.

That sounds simple. It isn’t. Just ask Mark Pope.

Kentucky football has often recruited like a program trying to convince players not to leave. Stein is recruiting like a program expecting elite talent to arrive. There’s a difference in tone there. Fans can feel it already.

And yes, part of that energy comes directly from Stein himself. The man sounds like a first-time head coach fueled by energy drinks and Navy SEAL motivational videos.

At one point, discussing preseason predictions that Kentucky could finish near the bottom of the SEC, Stein casually unveiled his team motto:

“F everybody but us.”

That’ll play in Lexington—especially after the last couple seasons where Kentucky football often felt emotionally exhausted before kickoff even started.

Stein’s confidence may ultimately prove justified or delusional. Nobody knows yet. But what’s undeniable is that the temperature around the program has changed dramatically in just a few months.

And unlike some coaches who manufacture swagger like a corporate branding exercise, Stein’s personality feels natural. Maybe borderline unhinged at times—but authentic.

That authenticity came through repeatedly thanks to Michael’s prompting.

When Michael asked how he approaches recruits, Stein didn’t launch into analytics jargon or culture buzzwords. He talked about relationships. About genuinely caring about players before selling them on football.

“It’s not slimy, weird, or scammy,” Stein said.

Considering modern recruiting often resembles international hostage negotiations conducted through collectives and Instagram graphics, that line probably resonated with fans.

Stein also revealed something else Kentucky desperately needed: obsession.

Not fake coach-speak obsession. Actual obsession.

When asked which game he’s most excited about, he didn’t bite on Tennessee, Alabama, Louisville, or revenge narratives.

“Youngstown State, September 5th.”

That answer sounds boring until you realize he means it.

Stein approaches football like a man who still wakes up angry about a missed block in eighth-grade Pop Warner. Kentucky fans have spent years begging for someone to inject life back into the program. Well, careful what you wish for. They may have hired a caffeinated football lunatic.

The most revealing moment, though, came when Stein discussed mindset.

“There’s never been a game I’ve gone into thinking we’re gonna get our asses beat,” he said. “If that’s your mentality, you’re a loser.”

Again—not polished. Not PR-approved. Probably not ideal for SEC Media Days.

But Kentucky fans are starving for somebody who sounds like they actually expect to matter nationally.

For years, Kentucky football’s identity was built around toughness and overachievement. Somewhere along the way, that edge dulled. The program started feeling like it was constantly explaining why it couldn’t compete instead of plotting how it could.

Stein doesn’t sound interested in explanations.

Now, does that guarantee wins? Of course not.

This is still the SEC. The schedule is brutal. And eventually the honeymoon phase ends. Stein himself even called it “the honeymoon buffet,” which may have been the perfect phrase considering Michael Bennett spent half the interview discussing food, cakes, Turf Club seating, and rich people.

But right now, Kentucky football feels alive again.

And honestly, maybe that’s enough for May.

And finally, Michael Bennett deserves some sort of broadcasting lifetime achievement award for successfully turning a Will Stein interview into:

  • a Derby recap,
  • a weight-loss testimony,
  • a horse ownership update,
  • a family therapy session,
  • and an NIL fundraiser.

All while reminding us he once met the Kentucky football coach outside a bathroom.

Honestly, elite broadcasting range.

Just like the good ol’ days.

Dr. John Huang is a retired orthodontist, military veteran, and award-winning author. He currently serves as a columnist for Nolan Group Media and invites readers to follow him on social media @KYHuangs. His latest book is Whining for Posterity, available on Amazon.