Kentucky coach Mark Stoops says running back Chris Rodriguez made a mistake like mistakes many others also have made. (Vicky Graff Photo)
After speculation all summer about the status of running back Chris Rodriguez, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops likely will explain Monday at his regularly scheduled pregame press conference what lies ahead for the star running back.
Rodriguez was charged with DUI after spring practice ended and pleaded guilty to the charge. He’s also been rumored to have been part of some other incident that may lead to a suspension.
Rodriguez ran for 1,378 yards and 10 touchdowns and added three more scores as a receiver in 2021. He had nine 100-yard rushing games and is 1,134 yards away from breaking Benny Snell’s all-time rushing record at Kentucky.
Stoops did acknowledge on BBNGameDay on WLEX-TV Saturday morning that Rodriguez is going to miss at least part of the season.
“Chris will be out there at some point this year,” Stoops said. “He is a guy who has done a remarkable job for us for years.”
“I will be extremely loyal to Chris forever because nobody’s perfect and people make mistakes here and there. I think everybody’s human, but we all appreciate what Chris has done for this university for a long time and the leader and player that he is.”
“People make mistakes and he will bounce back from that. We have great depth at that position. Our expectations are to go play at that level.”
Stoops did not say anything about what other “mistake” Rodriguez made and likely will never reveal that. But he emphasized nothing has happened that should take away from what the senior running back has done for UK.
“He is a remarkable young man, he is a great leader on this team and he is a great football player,” Stoops said. “We have others. Guys will step up and we will not miss a beat.”
“There is going to be nothing to demean his career. It is what it is. There is a mistake that we have all done. We have all made mistakes. He is a great young man and I am proud to be on this team and coach. We will move past this.”
9 Responses
How serious is a DUI?
Just a MADD parent who lost a child to a drunk driver.
Fortunately CR did not do that but he voluntarily put himself in that potential situation.
Hopefully CR learned a valuable lesson and he will apply it whenever is tempted to drive after "a few drinks" the rest of his life.
Good luck to CR I and hope that he will return to the field in time to break the UK career rushing record and lead UK to another successful season.
No doubt DUI very serious and I think Chris fully understands that
A bit of a tragedy on all fronts.
The guys need to gather themselves and beat the Gators – the rest may possibly fall into place.
Yeah love CR Jr. But we have to answer for our behavior. Best to him in the future. UK football is bigger than any one player.
CRod handling his situation way you would hope
I hope he gets to play in the Florida game.
I dont think anyone is downplaying the gravity if the situation but standing by Chris and helping him get back on track is the right thing to do.
So the kid loses his job for a DUI? That’s not a common result for most people…
Chris there’s more to than the DUI he got, it just not been reveal. Stoops just announce that C-ROD will be suspended for the first game and the way Stoops talk there maybe more.
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