The excitement of the Will Stein hire has been palpable. The introductory press conference was a love fest, filled with stories about his childhood fandom, his family, and his dream of coaching the Wildcats. But buried in the good vibes was a chilling message for the current players on the roster: Get ready to work, because life is about to get very difficult.
Stein was asked about the current state of the team and what he sees as their greatest assets. He complimented their toughness, noting that football is a hard game. But then, he pivoted immediately to what comes next.
"My goal is to make this the hardest off-season we’ve ever had here," Stein said, deadpan. "The hardest. Has to be. If we want to beat the people that we want to beat... it takes freaking work. It’s a grind. If you don’t want to wake up in the morning, you got to wake up. You got to show up and show out."
Kentucky football better be ready 'to wake up'
This is exactly what the program needs. Toward the end of the Mark Stoops era, there was a feeling that complacency had set in. The edge was dull. Stein seems intent on sharpening it immediately. He isn't bringing a "player-friendly, take it easy" approach from the West Coast. He is bringing a boot camp mentality.
Stein referenced the viral "Feed the Studs" video from his time at Oregon, emphasizing that players make the plays. But players can only make plays if they are physically dominant. "Excited about the strength and conditioning this winter," Stein said. "Setting up a great plan for these guys to get bigger, faster, stronger."
This warning serves two purposes. First, it sets the standard for the guys currently in the locker room. If you aren't all in, the transfer portal is right there. Second, it tells the fanbase that this isn't just about drawing up cool plays on a whiteboard. Stein understands that the SEC is a line-of-scrimmage league won by the most physical teams.
The "Rent is due" mantra wasn't just a catchy slogan for a t-shirt. It was a warning shot. The hardest offseason in Kentucky football history starts now. We will find out very quickly who really wants to be a Wildcat.