
UK Athletics Photo
Why does Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops monitor hazing to make sure it is not a problem in his program?
“Hazing is not permissible, period. You used the word ‘hazing’. That’s 100 percent not permitted within our program,” Stoops said Friday at UK’s Media Day. “There’s probably different definitions on that, right, but I’ve always been that way.
“I just believe players are different. I’ve always prided myself on relationships with players. People come from all different areas, all different backgrounds. How comfortable they are within the situation…”
Stoops said he believes in “taking care of young people.”
The Kentucky coach would not talk about “any other situation” knowing that Northwestern had recently fired head coach Pat Fitzgerald because of hazing allegations.
“I have a lot of respect for the person who is going through that, you know what I mean?” Stoops said. With us, to my knowledge, it’s never been an issue.
“I know going forward it never will be because it won’t be tolerated.”