Mark Stoops sends heartfelt message to fans following upset win

Nakos updated headshotby:Pete Nakos10/02/21

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Kentucky pulled off its first win over Florida in Lexington since 1986, thanks in large part to the home-field environment. With a capacity crowd of 61,632, Wildcats fans were loud all night, causing problems for Florida’s offense.

The 20-13 upset win over No. 10 Florida improved the Wildcats to 5-0 on the season. The win will have them in the top 25 when the AP poll drops on Sunday.

But before the focus shifts to LSU coming to Lexington next week, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops opened his postgame press conference thanking Big Blue Nation for the impact they made on Saturday night’s game.

“I’d like to start by saying thank you to the BBN, that’s for you,” he said. They really showed up in a real big, big way today and had an impact on the game. They affected the football game in a very positive way, and I really can’t thank you enough. I’ve been working hard for a very long time to provide that type of team. That’s what we need it like every week.

“We could recruit players when our stadium is like that. Our players will play hard and it affects the offense like it did tonight with some of those pre-snap penalties. Really, big shout out to you. I really mean it. It defintley affected the game, and playing at Kroger Field was a home field advantage tonight.”

Kentucky was making big plays all over the field Saturday night. Trailing 10-7 early in the second half, Kentucky’s special teams unit stepped up in a huge way to give the Wildcats the lead. They forced a 48-yard field goal attempt, which was blocked by Josh Paschal and returned by freshman Trevin Wallace for 76 yards and the score.

Kentucky trolls archrival Florida after historic win

The Kentucky defense came up with the game-saving stop late in the fourth quarter Saturday night to secure the upset win, too. Gators quarterback Emory Jones dropped back to pass but Wildcat linebacker Jacquez Jones reached out to deflect the ball and cause a turnover on downs, sealing the win over No. 10 Florida. 

So, the Wildcats had to celebrate in style with a classic Twitter troll. Kentucky dropped a video just minutes after of a man trapping an alligator in a trash can. With the Wildcat mascot’s head thrown on top, it makes the troll. 

The incredible video is actually real, too. Per WESH2, the gator trapping actually happened earlier this week.