Mark Stoops appreciates longevity at Kentucky but continues to focus only on this team

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Mark Stoops is close to completing his eighth year at UK. Only Alabama coach Nick Saban has more years at his current job among SEC coaches than Stoops. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Mark Stoops’ longevity at Kentucky as he nears the end of his eight season is something the UK coach appreciates but really was not in any mood to talk about Monday. His team has to play at No. 1 Alabama on Saturday and is coming off a win that included a less than stellar defensive performance by the Cats.

“I always appreciate the job that I have and I’m going to concentrate on this job and I have a lot on my plate. I don’t mean to be disrespectful to the answer because there will be a time when you can look back on some good things. I appreciate the players that have helped us rebuild this. I appreciate the coaches, including coach John Schlarman who has been here with me since day one, but I’m really just focused on what we can do to improve our team today and to get through and find the right words of motivation through a difficult time within our family,” Stoops said.

Schlarman passed away last week a little over two years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“I’m grateful to this place and the support and the players and coaches but we’re focused on what we can do and really not in a very good mood as far as that’s concerned as far as our play. What we’re dealing with is a part of life and we’ll try to find the right words and lead through that the right way. But as far as improving our football team I need to continue to concentrate on that,” he said.

While he has to keep his focus on coaching he’s not going to forget about Schlarman’s family. The coaches’ wives and children were close and often together.

“It’s tough because the personal relationships are strong. You know within this building we don’t just say that, it’s not just lip service to say that we’re all a family. We are,” Stoops said. “We spend an enormous amount of time together. (Stoops’ wife) Chantel and LeeAnne (Schlarman) spend an awful lot of time together and our boys.

“It’s difficult, it’s a tough time for everybody and we just want to be supportive and be there and during this time but also for years to come. As I’ve mentioned, John’s legacy will live on for a long time because that’s the type of man he was.”

Believe Stoops when he talks about the family atmosphere. One tradition he started his first year at UK was a weekly family dinner at the football complex where coaches and their families ate together and with the players. That has not been able to happen this season due to COVID-19 protocols.

“There is no way to do it safely, to get all of us here with all of our kids and all of our families, there’s no way that can be safe,” Stoops said. “We have done it with our position groups and our coaches doing it with their position groups. That has been the best way we can do it.

“There is no way to all be together and do it as a great big football family. There is over, I wouldn’t even know, there has to be 250 of us once you get all family and everybody and all that together. So, have not been able to do that this year, no.”

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