Mark Stoops, 3 Other SEC Coaches Among Only 10 in Nation that Take Live Questions on Radio Shows

Vicky Graff Photo

Major college football and men’s basketball coaches have done weekly radio call-in shows for years to give fans access to the coaches.

That started well before coaches all seemed to be making a zillion dollars like most are now. However, more dollars has meant more pressure and many coaches have bailed on letting fans actually call and ask live questions on air.

Associated Press sports writer John Zenor published a story this week noting that only 10 of 80-plus schools responding to an Associated Press survey said they still take live calls for coaches on radio shows.

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops is one of those who will take calls. Three of the other nine football coaches who take calls are those at SEC schools Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee.

It certainly makes you wonder if four SEC coaches can take the heat from weekly calls from fans why others cannot.

Stoops can be as passionate as any coach. He can get upset/peeved by media or fan questions he does not like. But he does not duck calls.

“I’ve been on both sides of it,” Stoops told the AP. “There’s obviously some moments that are uncomfortable. It’s not predictable but it goes with the territory. You have to go face the music sometimes, and that’s not easy.”

Surprisingly South Carolina coach Shane Beamer, who has not had great success, told the AP he enjoyed questions from fans.

“I don’t mind (callers) asking the questions. They have the right to call in. If they think I’m doing a crappy job, they have every right to call in and question what we’re doing,” Beamer said.