(Vicky Graff Photo)
It was not an all-out apology from coach Mark Stoops for comments he made on his radio show about Kentucky fans needing to “pony up” more money for NIL to help UK beat a team like No. 1 Georgia. Instead, it was more of an explanation trying to let UK fans know exactly what he meant and that he definitely was not criticizing the fan base like some interpreted his comments to mean.
“To me, I was responding to one person (caller) at a radio show. And that was one part that was taken completely out of context,” Stoops said on the SEC coaches weekly teleconference Wednesday. “I love our fans, whether they give one cent, one dollar or a lot of money. It doesn’t matter.
“I love our fan base. I think we have a great relationship with myself and the fan base. We need them here this week (when UK hosts Missouri Saturday night). We’ve got to get back on track. We’ve got to have a great week. We need that environment rocking.”
Kentucky is coming off a 51-13 loss to No. 1 Georgia. Stoops insisted on the teleconference that he took “full responsibility” for the UK meltdown at Georgia.
“(Georgia coach) Kirby (Smart) and I are friends and colleagues. I respect every aspect of what he does and how he runs his program,” Stoops said.
Stoops emphasized again he was just as unhappy as UK fans were over the way Kentucky played against Georgia.
“I’m not happy about it either. And you know me, I always take that in stride. I always agree. I don’t take any offense (to fan criticism),” Stoops said. “I’ve been around this league a long time. So I don’t flinch when that stuff happens. I take it in stride. I accept it, I own it and try to move on.
“I simply really was trying to rally people. Basically, one person was questioning me and the program and getting over the hump. I really simply should have said, ‘Hey, dude, I got over a lot of humps. That’s not a hump; that’s Mount Everest.’”
Stoops said his comments might enable Smart to raise even more money at Georgia.
Stoops joked that Smart was probably happy Stoops said what he said because it may help Georgia raise even more NIL money.
“I didn’t ask for this. Kirby didn’t ask for this. It’s a way of the world and if you want to move the needle, that’s one way to do it,” Stoops said.
One Response
Sportsgrid has Stoops as No. 2 on their overpaid coaches list behind Jimbo Fisher. It justified that ranking with his 34 – 51 record in the SEC. The Georgia loss was an embarrassment, but not a shock. The rest of the season will tell us a lot about what kind of coach we have.