Wan'Dale Robinson excited for first bowl game, old rival

DrewFranklinKSR

Kentucky Football practiced at a local Osceola County high school on Monday in preparation for the Wildcats’ upcoming Citrus Bowl game against Iowa. After practice, star wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson spoke for Kentucky’s offense in a Q&A session with reporters from Kentucky, Iowa, and the local scene in Orlando.

Throughout the post-practice discussion, much was made about Robinson’s connection to the Hawkeyes from his time at Nebraska. Robinson played Iowa twice as a Cornhusker, both one-possession losses for the now-Wildcat.

On Monday, Robinson said he and his Kentucky teammates watched tape of last year’s Iowa-Nebraska game so he could show them certain things Iowa may do. While he and Kentucky put the finishing touches on the game plan, he admits to thinking of his former Nebraska teammates too.

“I still have some friends out there at Nebraska and I know they will feel a little bit of this one, especially if we come out with a win,” Robinson said. “Playing a little bit with them on my side and just want to get a win for my teammates.”

For the third time to be a charm, Robinson and Kentucky’s offense will have to play well against an Iowa defense that forces a lot of turnovers. In fact, Iowa leads the country with 24 interceptions and ranks third in takeaways. For Robinson, he runs into cornerback Riley Moss, a consensus All-American and the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Asked about the matchup with Moss, Robinson would only say, “I’m always out there to compete. At the end of the day, I’m going to go out there and go against the man; whoever it is, it is.”

Robinson did throw one log on the rivalry fire, telling reporters the SEC is better than the Big Ten.

“Coming from the Big Ten, I definitely think the SEC is a little bit better,” Robinson said. “But that’s just my opinion. We’ll see on Saturday.”

First (and maybe only) bowl game

Old Big Ten rivalries aside, Robinson is excited to be in Florida as a member of Kentucky Football. The weather is nice and the players’ lounge has a Playstation 5, two positive takeaways from Robinson’s first 24 hours in Orlando.

Later this week, he will play in his first career postseason football game.

“It’s definitely special,” he said. “I know for me, this is my first one. I never got to experience this, to play in January or anything like that, so I’m really excited for that. I’m just going to take it all in and hopefully, my teammates do the same.”

The Citrus Bowl will be Robinson’s first bowl appearance, but will it be his last? Before Robinson left practice for that PS5, one reporter shot his shot with a question regarding Robinson’s departure for the NFL or return to Kentucky for a senior year.

“We haven’t decided,” Robinson said. “No decision on that one yet.”