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Are the Wildcats seeking revenge? C.J. Conrad and Benny Snell Jr. answer that question

Running back Benny Snell Jr. speaks to the media following practice on Tuesday, Photo courtesy of UK Athletics

 

Mark Stoops and his Kentucky Wildcats are set to open the 2017 college football season at Southern Mississippi on Saturday. The matchup will be the first true road game opener for Kentucky since an opening season loss to Louisville in 2012, the final season with Joker Phillips at the helm.

 

Kentucky will make the trip to Hattiesburg with one goal in mind, start fresh and not dig a hole like last season. Following Tuesday’s practice, some players mentioned the revenge factor while others brushed off the word revenge.

 

“No revenge — It’s just the first game and we are trying to win every single game that we play in,” said C.J. Conrad. “We don’t want to go down 0-1 like we did last year, no matter who we are facing — We are excited for the opponent we go against, but no revenge, just trying to get a win.”

 

Starting running back Benny Snell Jr., who didn’t see action in last season’s opening loss, shared his thoughts on whether or not the team mentions revenge.

 

“We’re not trying to not use it,” said Snell. “We’re not trying to let that be our main motivation, or our main thing that we’re focused on.”

 

Revenge might not be a public goal for the team, however, Snell seeks revenge personally for how last season’s loss affected the team in the locker room.

 

“Revenge is one of the things that I see cause me not playing, me seeing the faces of the guys in the locker room, especially after that loss and me just watching the game,” said Snell. “That’s just something that I have in mind that I want to definitely get.”

 

Most of the guys will shrug off the question of revenge, but you know it’s on their minds. After blowing a 35-10 lead a year ago, Coach Stoops will have his guys focused and ready to go on Saturday.

 

The Wildcats face a tough road test, but it will prepare them for a road trip to South Carolina in week three. Picking up a win and getting off to a good start is crucial for the program to take that next step. Revenge or no revenge, a week one win is the most important thing right now.

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