“You want to win every single game. Obviously, the in-state rival in any sport is going to be a very high profile game,” Stein said. “It being at the end of the year, I think there’s a lot of implications with the playoffs and how that’s going to go, which is exciting.
“I was a part of the game at the beginning (of the year). Even as a kid, I remember it was at the beginning. I like the banter (between fans of both schools). I like the trash talk for seven months leading up to that week one or week two game. You’re obviously going to be the healthiest or the freshest earlier in the year.”
“We have to play the game. Why would you not play UK versus U of L? That would be, I think, a really poor decision for us.You’ve got to play the game, so I’m excited about it,” Stein said.
The Kentucky coach, who played at Louisville, had current Louisville coach Jeff Brohm as his first quarterback coach with the Cardinals. Brohm’s father, Oscar, coached Stein at Trinity High School. The UK coach knows Brian Brohm, Jeff’s brother, who is the current Louisville offensive coordinator.
“Got a lot of respect for him (Jeff Brohm) and that program, and he’s been pretty much a model of winning over the past couple years. It’s our job to match and exceed what he’s doing,” Stein said. “Our goal is to out recruit those guys, and I’ll play those guys whenever we are matched up against them.”
Stein admitted it was over his “pay grade” when the rivalry game is played. Instead, he knows it is the athletic directors and presidents at UK and Louisville along with SEC and ACC officials who determine when the game is played.
“It’s not just UK versus UofL. It’s Georgia versus Georgia Tech. It’s Clemson versus South Carolina. It’s these games at the end of the year where it’s really ESPN rivalry week,” Stein said. “When I was at Oregon, we played Washington at the end of the year as well. So I think it’s more or less the TV people.”
