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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:08 >> Chris, can you speak to the speed of, I think,
00:12 Red Bull seemed like he's caught us loaded by surprise.
00:17 We didn't realize he was as fast as he was.
00:19 >> Well, I'm glad he caught you guys by surprise because he definitely didn't catch
00:22 me by surprise.
00:23 I mean, he's a, I mean, what can you say?
00:26 I mean, he's just a kid that works his tail off every day.
00:30 Really puts in the work, the study's been.
00:32 He's got a track background.
00:35 Like I said that last time, he ran a 10.5 as a senior in high school.
00:40 Played a lot of receiver, mostly receiver, actually all receiver.
00:43 I'm serious, his hands are really good.
00:45 He's just put on a few more pounds over the years.
00:47 But definitely knew he was capable of running very fast.
00:52 He's worked on some other elements of his game, being more powerful,
00:55 more physical through contact.
00:57 And I really think he's really done a great job in that department.
01:00 But it always helps when you have an old line like we have that just fades away.
01:04 And I think we've got some backs that if we get some space,
01:07 we can take it to the house.
01:09 And he's got to be a pleasant surprise for us for sure.
01:13 >> Chris, you're a local guy, grew up in Louisville, you know what this rivalry
01:16 means.
01:16 Tell us in your words, what does it mean to be able to coach in this game?
01:21 >> Man, it's an honor.
01:23 I never had the privilege of playing in the game.
01:25 But growing up in this city,
01:27 I was definitely well aware of the magnitude of the game.
01:31 From having some former teammates that I played with in high school,
01:36 that played here.
01:37 And some guys I coached with that coached in the game.
01:42 And there's no doubt about it, this is a Super Bowl.
01:46 And I think we're well aware of the ramifications of the game.
01:52 And I think our kids are chomping at the bit,
01:54 because they understand how important this game is as well.
01:56 I think when you have a staff of men from the city played here,
02:01 have familiarity, I think that it takes on a little bit more meaning.
02:06 And I told them, I said, guys, it might be a little different if you guys go to
02:09 Walmart wearing your stuff and all of a sudden you lose the game.
02:13 I mean, they might not let you win Walmart.
02:16 >> [LAUGH]
02:18 >> You might close it down until you
02:19 leave.
02:20 But actually, now I was just messing with them, but
02:22 I definitely want them to understand this game is,
02:25 it means everything to these fans, this community.
02:28 >> Yeah, Chris, have any of the players who have been around for
02:41 a while talked about any frustration in terms of being able to beat Kentucky
02:47 since it's been, since 2017?
02:49 >> Yes, I mean, guys like Charles, I mean, he's never beat Kentucky.
02:54 I mean, most of the guys I think in this program,
02:56 obviously, have never had that honor of beating those guys.
03:00 And so that's something that we want to make sure we make a priority.
03:05 And I think that's something that we've really been on the agenda since we got
03:08 here.
03:09 We understood the assignment from day one.
03:12 We've had a lot of execute.
03:13 And we understand how much this game means to this fan base, to the city.
03:18 And it has been a while, too long, to be honest with you.
03:21 And we feel as though we've got a lot of work to do.
03:25 They've got a good football team.
03:28 They've had some ups and downs, but the world coach, I think,
03:31 Martin Stoops, does a great job defensively, especially.
03:34 He's got a defensive mind.
03:36 I actually played in college with their defensive coordinator.
03:40 He was my linebacker, Brad White, played in college together.
03:43 I'm very well familiar with him.
03:45 He's a brilliant mind, understands football.
03:48 He's a coach at the professional level as well.
03:52 So he's gonna be a challenge for us.
03:54 But I like our team, and I like where we are right now.
03:58 I think the guys are locked in, and they understand what's at stake.
04:02 >> Chris, they've got a pretty good run defense.
04:08 Can you just speak to their defensive front,
04:09 what you're seeing from them and that linebacker corner?
04:12 >> Well, the front is, they're massive.
04:14 I mean, they've got some size up there.
04:16 They're disruptive.
04:17 They like to get and play the game across the line of scrimmage in the backfield.
04:22 They've got some really big men up there, and
04:25 they're strong at the point of attack.
04:27 They do a good job of running some certain line stunts that can possibly
04:30 free some of the guys up, create some more gaps.
04:32 And I think they do a good job with their hands.
04:36 They pursue the football.
04:37 They're well coached, you can tell those things.
04:41 And so we have a great challenge in front of us to deal with the front.
04:44 I mean, the linebackers, they make plays.
04:46 They run well.
04:47 They've got some size.
04:48 But I think they really try to win a lot of scrimmage.
04:52 I mean, in the SEC, that's kind of how you have to make a living,
04:55 is they do a lot of scrimmage.
04:57 They've done a really good job over the years of really beefing up that line.
05:01 So we're gonna have to really do a great job of scheming them up and
05:04 really trying to find some ways to gain some advantages.
05:06 But we're looking forward to the challenge.
05:09 Certainly, they're well coached and assignment sound.
05:14 Disciplined football team, they're gonna make you earn yards.
05:17 So we're excited about that opportunity.
05:20 And I feel like we've experienced a lot of growth over the season.
05:24 I think particularly since the NC State game,
05:26 I think we really were challenging that game.
05:29 I know from a personal standpoint,
05:30 my unit really, I think, has grown tremendously since that game.
05:34 We needed that game to stifle us so that we understand how to be more
05:39 detail-oriented, how to attack certain defenses that maybe
05:43 kinda condense running lanes and we wanna put a lot of people close to a lot of scrimmage.
05:47 And so we've had to take on a different mentality.
05:50 We've seen a little bit more of those type of defenses and
05:52 I think you've seen some more success as a result.
05:55 So we're definitely looking forward to it, but
05:56 it's gonna be a challenge this week.
05:59 >> Chris, ever since Jordan suffered that hamstring injury,
06:02 it seems like he hasn't been as consistently explosive, lost maybe a slight step.
06:07 How limited has Jordan been since he suffered that injury and
06:10 how has that impacted what you guys scheme up as an offense?
06:14 >> I mean, I think he's, you're right,
06:17 he did get nicked up a few weeks back and he's been battling through some things.
06:22 His game is predicated on speed a lot of times.
06:26 And if you got a bad wheel or something's not quite feeling right,
06:31 I mean, yes, it can have an impact on his game.
06:34 I think he has been able to give us everything he has for the last couple weeks.
06:39 And that's what I respect most about the kid is he hasn't shut it down.
06:43 He's battling through it and I think his teammates understand he's battling through
06:47 it and they just love the fact that he's out there at war with them.
06:51 And I know us as coaching staff, we appreciate everything he's given us.
06:55 I think he's getting healthier by the day.
06:57 I just think that we haven't quite seen him back to full strength yet.
07:00 I think his, whatever he is, is still effective.
07:06 But we've been blessed with the emergence of Isaac Rendo to kind of spell him and
07:11 give him some, take some off his plate, if you will.
07:14 And so I think that as he continues to get healthy,
07:17 I also have to give a shout out to Marvin Stern.
07:20 I thought he did a really good job last week as well, on special teams as well.
07:23 He's chomping at the bit to get going.
07:24 So I think we've got plenty of pieces back there to get the job done.
07:29 If a guy's nicked up or maybe not quite 100%, but I feel good about Jowar and
07:33 where he is and where his availability comes second.
07:36 >> Chris, with this being a holiday week, how do you all handle Thanksgiving?
07:41 Is it a team Thanksgiving meal?
07:43 Is it position groups?
07:45 Are you taking with your family?
07:46 >> It's a little bit of both.
07:48 It's a little bit of both.
07:48 We definitely have something for the team.
07:52 And then, excuse me, I know myself, I like to have the guys over to my house,
07:58 around my family, around my kids, holding my kids, putting my dog.
08:02 I always cherish that and value that.
08:04 I think it's about more than football.
08:06 I think it needs to be about that when you deal with young people.
08:08 I think you connect with them that way.
08:11 And also, I want them to see my family.
08:14 I want them to see structure.
08:15 I want them to see some things that they may not have seen growing up.
08:19 Me interact with my wife, my children.
08:22 Maybe some things that they maybe missed coming up.
08:25 Some of my kids don't have fathers in their lives.
08:26 Some of my kids maybe don't have moms in their lives.
08:29 So I want them to see what the dynamic looks like and how it functions.
08:33 Because again, I think it's about more than football with those young men.
08:37 And they know I love them.
08:38 I see it every day after practice.
08:40 And I wanna make sure that we're putting action behind the words.
08:43 And having them over to the house and inviting them in.
08:47 And just the one rule I have when they come over is there ain't no football.
08:50 We don't talk football.
08:51 We just gonna leave that at the office.
08:53 But let's just talk life.
08:54 Let's be people and let's be real.
08:57 And so I think that it really resonates with them and it means a lot to me.
09:03 >> That's it?
09:05 >> All right.
09:05 - Excellent.