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Jesse Palmer played quarterback at Florida from 1997-2000 and threw for 3,755 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also never lost a game to Kentucky.
Now he’s an analyst for ESPN and was in Lexington Saturday when UK beat Florida 33-14. It was Kentucky’s third straight win over the Gators — something that has not happened since 1951 — and fourth in sixth years since ending Florida’s 31-game win streak over the Cats in 2018.
“When I played at Gainesville, this game was a W (win) for us,” Palmer said on ESPN during the game. “But what Mark Stoops has built from the expectation level and created here at Kentucky and when you beat a Florida ranked team twice in a row, that just increases the expectations.
“It is the mindset and expectation he has created that makes what he has done so special.”
Stoops has indeed been special. The only SEC coach with a longer tenure is Alabama’s Nick Saban. Stoops has outlasted 24 SEC head coaches who have fired in the last 11 years.
Palmer is a Stoops backer and praised UK’s play constantly during the game Saturday.
“Kentucky’s defense in every facet has looked outstanding,” Palmer said when UK was dominating the Gators. “We expected Florida’s defensive line to dominate but the Big Blue Wall showed up and they have been way more physical.
“Their physicality will get tested at Georgia but look down the schedule and there are no gimmes but this was a show-me game. That was a big statement for Kentucky and it has been pretty impressive to watch what Mark Stoops has done here at Kentucky.”
5 Responses
If you know and like FB you have to like Coach Stoops!
Stoops has done a great job at Kentucky. I hope he realizes that this is where he belongs when schools start throwing money at him.
I didn’t realize that Stoops gets a $9,13 million salary making him the eighth highest paid coach in the NCAAF. If we finish with a 10 win season, look for Michigan State to throw a $10.5 million salary at him.
Big time win Sat against the gators. UK sent that bunch packing. What is wrong with the UK QB? That is the issue right now? I don’t think UK can beat Georgia without a balanced attack. My guess is the dawgs will be prepared to stop the UK ground game, so I think UK has to find a way through the air to put some pressure on the Georgia defense. The UK defense is a unit of head hunters. They go to work and get results. Love this UK defense. Don’t get the big head though Cats. Stay hungry.
Agree Pup. got to be able to hit some big pass plays to win