Kentucky Wildcats Football: “Vanderbilt is Next”

“Vandy is next” was the theme of the week it seems for UK football. Each player and coach we spoke with this week stressed that they’re worried about whoever is “next” on the schedule and doing everything in their power to beat them- this week Vanderbilt is next. Kentucky has not won a conference game since 2011 and after coming incredibly close at Florida and falling short, they are going into the Vanderbilt game with a whole new determination. Patrick Towles said, “We need a win period- we still have a bad taste in our mouth from Gainesville. We’re working every day for a win. An SEC win is important, we haven’t had one in awhile and we’re just going to do everything we can to win this football game on Saturday.” When Bud Dupree was asked how it felt to have never beaten Vanderbilt- no one on this team has, he said, “We haven’t beat a lot of teams in awhile, Vanderbilt is next on the list and everybody has to go out and make plays.”

Nov 16, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Kris Kentera (82) scores a touchdown against Kentucky Wildcats cornerback Fred Tiller (3) and Kentucky Wildcats safety Ashely Lowery (5) during the second half at Vanderbilt Stadium. Vanderbilt won 22-6. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Towles recounted the last time Vanderbilt came to town- his true freshman season “Yeah I do (still have a bad taste from the last time Vandy came to town), it was 40 to nothing. I remember I split reps half the game with Jalen (Whitlow). I remember it sucked. I remember being at a concert that night and somebody sitting to my left was like ‘Gosh, man Kentucky REALLY did not play well today.’ And he had the score, I was sitting right next to him and he had no idea. It just wasn’t good…it wasn’t good. But we are miles past that…miles ahead of that. We’re going to do everything to win Saturday.”

Fun Fact: the concert was a Bruce Springsteen concert with his mom.

Sep 13, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Patrick Towles (14) claps during the first quarter against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Bud Dupree was asked if anyone had “trash talked” Kentucky in front of him unknowingly, “Well when I walk around people know I play football so they won’t really say anything…but I do see it on social media”

Sep 13, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive end Za

Needless to say, I can’t stress enough how badly Kentucky needs this conference win. This is the first SEC game Kentucky has been favored to win in awhile- and by more than one touchdown at that. If Kentucky can’t pull it off, they drop to the bottom in essentially every SEC ranking out there and can all but kiss bowl eligibility goodbye barring some BIG upsets. They’re back at home and this is almost a do-or-die situation even though its just game 4. Coming off the bye week they are all rested, healthy and are hungry to get back onto the field and avenge the loss at Florida. They need the momentum too- after this they get South Carolina, ULM then go to Baton Rouge for LSU, a tough stretch for this young squad. There’s confidence and a little swagger in the air as the Commodores get ready to come to town and the players have taken to twitter to let the BBN know they are ready and want to see them pack Commonwealth this weekend.