If Will Stein’s opening statement was the emotional hook, the Q&A session that followed was the knockout punch. Standing before the media for the first time as Kentucky’s head coach, Stein didn’t rely on coach-speak or clichés. Instead, he gave Big Blue Nation a raw, unfiltered look at exactly who is taking over this program, and it started with a realization of just how massive this job really is.
“I was floored yesterday when we landed,” Stein admitted when asked about his most surprising moment so far. “I’m not kidding, there were 15 cop cars ahead of our car and 15 cop cars behind our car… I have never seen anything like that… this is a big-time gig.”
That realization didn’t seem to intimidate him; it energized him. In fact, Stein admitted that his first meeting with the players earlier in the day might have gotten a little too spirited. “It was great to see the players… Might have said an f-bomb or two, sorry Mitch [Barnhart], I did,” he joked. “Everybody on the team I am excited to coach.”
Will Stein lets everyone know what Kentucky football is about, ‘If the first conversation is about money, probably not the place for you’
Stein also laid out a clear blueprint for how he intends to build this roster, and it might surprise those who think the Transfer Portal is king. “I think it all starts at the high school ranks, the first thing you have to win is Kentucky,” Stein declared. “The portal is a great supplemental tool… [but] I would like to think it starts with the high school ranks.”…