Mark Stoops knows fans are frustrated but Cats need them to come back

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops knows even passionate fans can be frustrated like UK fans are now. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Before he did his weekly press conference Monday, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops asked two members of the UK media relations staff “what’s going on” with fans after UK’s 44-6 loss at Tennessee Saturday.

Many Kentucky fans are upset with UK’s 4-3 record, especially with the lack of offense against Tennessee — a team that ranks next to last in pass defense in the nation but yet limited UK to 205 total yards after the Cats got over 600 against Tennessee in 2021.

Fans have been unforgiving with their criticism of offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello considering the praise that has been heaped on UK quarterback Will Levis, running back Chris Rodriguez and several receivers.

“I understand not being happy and frustrated, that’s fans, that’s good fans. There are some passionate fan bases and we just saw one too (at Tennessee), and they haven’t always been happy. And ours hasn’t always been happy,” Stoops said.

“There’s going to be good and there’s going to be bad. Again, much like the players, we’re all in this together, we accept that, we own it. We still need them (the fans). Anybody that’s going to jump off that quick, frustration, yes, but just come back and cheer again.

“You can throw darts at me after the next one. Just keep on being fans. I appreciate them, they’ve been awesome this year and I’ve never shied away from it, the criticism that comes with the territory.”

“I’d be condescending if I said I liked it because I want to win. It doesn’t deter me. I know what it is. Nobody needs to be harder on us than us.”

Ten years ago Stoops told fans that the Cats were “not going to flinch” when things were not going well. He says that won’t change after three losses in the last four games, all against SEC competition.
 
“We’re not going to be fazed, we’ve got to get right back at it this weekend and I understand that. Fans are having their coffee and reading your articles and I don’t read them,” Stoops said.

“I’m sure there is criticism, I don’t take offense to that. That’s your job. It’s not good enough. What more can I (say)? I’ve been hit on the chin many times, believe me. I accept it and I’ll come right back.”

Kentucky didn’t come right back when it lost at Ole Miss. Instead, the Cats — playing without Levis — were flat and lost at home to South Carolina. Stoops doesn’t want a repeat at Missouri Saturday after the blowout loss at Tennessee.

 “You’ve covered the sport, you understand I would hope, there’s not a lot of teams that are going to play on point every game. I’d like to see one. You have to be good enough to coach better and overcome it when you don’t,” Stoops said Monday.

“We weren’t that night. No excuses. I didn’t do my job and others didn’t as well. Again, I just said it three different ways, were all in it together. Nobody’s going to point fingers, but you’ve got to accept it and understand it and it is what it is. I can’t think back to that exactly and put any one finger on it.”