Coach Mark Stoops walks off the field with his sons after his 62nd victory at Kentucky on Saturday. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Mark Stoops normally tries to stay even keeled and not show a lot of emotions — except for maybe an occasional time or two on the sideline when he might disagree with what an official calls or feels his team is not playing hard.
However, you know he had to be emotional when he was with so many family members before the start of the Kentucky-Youngstown State game Saturday that UK won 31-0.
Stoops won his 61st game a week earlier at Florida to become UK’s all-time winningest coach with 61 wins and got to celebrate against hometown Youngstown State. Not only did he have family in for the pregame tribute, but also a lot of friends from Youngstown to see him and support the Penguins.
So what were his pregame emotions with his mom and family on the field with him?
“Yeah, to be honest with you, you know, at that point and really kind of getting ready for the game, I really appreciate that and the administration doing that acknowledgment and having my mother there and my brother, Bob, and all my sisters, my brothers, you know, everybody. It was really nice. And my boys,” Stoops said.
“So it was fun. And I’m glad it’s all, you know, behind us now. And really concentrating to move on to the next games. But great, great weekend. Great day. So, you know, that was fun.”
UK Radio Network voice Tom Leach asked Stoops on the postgame radio show if distractions had bothered him during the week with the win over Florida, No. 9 ranking, all-time winningest coach and family/friends coming to the game.
“Been looking forward to it. So many people in town. All kind of people are here to celebrate,” Stoops said. “There has been a lot going on to say the least. I felt very good about getting the victory.”
Good enough for an all-out celebration with family and friends Saturday night?
“I don’t know about a full-out celebration, but I’ve got a lot of family and friends in here and we’ll enjoy the evening and spend some time with my family and have some fun,” the coach said.
Stoops was glad the timing worked out the way it did on him becoming UK’s all-time winningest coach.
“Really appreciative that my whole family got here and was here to share in that. And, you know, it’s been a fun weekend,” the Kentucky coach said.
