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Everyone knows that Will Stein grew up a Kentucky fan, and that his dad, Matt, played for Jerry Claiborne in the 1980s. At SEC Media Days on Monday, Stein continued to hammer home his connection to the Bluegrass, telling reporters in the main room, “I am BBN.” He expanded on that in a conversation with another Kentucky native, Damien Harris.
The former NFL running back is now working for CBS Sports after retiring from football in 2024 following a scary neck sprain and head concussion he suffered during a game with the Buffalo Bills in the 2023 season. Harris, who grew up in Richmond, chose Alabama over Kentucky out of high school, so he knows all about Big Blue Nation. He asked Stein if he had a message for BBN heading into his first season. After sharing his background as a fan and how he wanted to play for Kentucky but ended up at Louisville, which led him down the path toward coaching, Stein got into the meat and potatoes of his message, delivering a line that will hit home with us all.
“I do consider myself as psychotic as Big Blue Nation because I am one of them,” Stein said. “I was a kid that would cry after games when we didn’t win, or rush the field when we did. That was me, and I’m excited to put a product on the field that they’re proud of, and understanding that it takes work, it takes dedication, it takes the right investment and the right mentality from top down, which I believe we have, and that’s the big reason why I came back here.”
Stein’s not lying. He was among the horde of fans who stormed the field when Kentucky beat No. 1 LSU in 2007, one year before he became a Louisville Cardinal. Now the head coach, it’s been fun to see him meet Andre Woodson and other Kentucky Football stars of his childhood. With that in mind, Harris posed another Bluegrass hypothetical: what is his dream Kentucky foursome in golf? Stein could pick anyone related to the state, whether it be a coach, player, native, etc. Harris even let him expand the group to five.
“Well, I just played the other day with Tim Couch, but I would go play with him again,” Stein said. “He was on the Mount Rushmore for sure.”
Stein added JB Holmes, whom he also recently played golf with, for some skill; Rick Pitino; and, from beyond the grave, former Kentucky and Alabama football coach Bear Bryant. Harris obviously liked that choice.
“I mean, Bear Bryant coached at Kentucky,” Stein said.
“Yeah, he did. A lot of people don’t know that,” Harris added.
“Maybe you bring Coach Bryant back from the grave up to play with me.”
Outside of Couch and Holmes, I’m not sure how good that group would be at golf, but it sure would be an entertaining day on the course. Check out the complete interview below, including Bryant McFadden talking up Stein’s days as a quarterback for the Cards.
