Kentucky football: Stoops ignited by passion leaves the fireworks to others

Stoops on the brink of becoming Kentucky football’s winningest coach

Yet Stoops was undeterred by the building task before him and now he stands with a 59-53 record at Kentucky. The Wildcats open at home against Miami of Ohio and the most assured win will tie him with Paul “Bear” Bryant for the all-time wins at Kentucky.

They travel to Florida the following week to take on a Gator team that can take a lesson from Stoops trying to restart a culture that Will Muschamp destroyed. A win on a big stage in a major SEC game would make for an amazing return to Commonwealth Stadium the following week.

One fan, in particular, who will be rooting hard for Stoops is his mother Evelyn. His brother Mike is on the UK staff already and no doubt his other brother Bob will be on hand as well.

"“With the record, I appreciate you bringing it up, but it’s not a time to really reflect on that too much. I do, honestly, just personally think about my mother. I want her to be there, and for her to have 2 sons that have the all-time wins at Power 5 programs, with Bob at Oklahoma and myself at Kentucky, that’s really the only focus I have is on my mother to be able to be there and share in that moment.”"

Coach, you are too modest you have all of Big Blue Nation pulling for you, especially against the Gators in particular. The Cats beat Florida in Lexington last year 20-13.

These are just two more bricks in the culture of success Stoops has built and he knows it’s a tough road to accomplish what he has thus far.

"“I know how difficult it is to walk into this league with the great coaching, with the recruiting and starting 6 feet below 14. Then trying to climb that ladder as high as we can. I am proud of that and I appreciate the work, however we’re not satisfied.”"

Just keep climbing coach you have a lot of people holding that ladder and extending it another rung each and every week.