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Often coaches try to “pretend” they don’t pay attention to social media or outside criticism. At least Kentucky coach Mark Stoops isn’t doing that.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisan’s team is favored by 20 points over Kentucky in this afternoon’s game but he has praised the Wildcats all week. Stoops called that “mutual respect” from a coach he once almost worked for.
“He knows our team can play at a very high level. I think most people know that. We haven’t had the consistency, I admit that. I don’t like that about the year, the ups and downs, I’d like to be more consistent. I’m working hard on that,” Stoops said Thursday.
Unfortunately, Kentucky has been consistently bad with execution and discipline. That is why it is 4-6 overall and 1-6 in Southeastern Conference play going into today’s game against No. 3 Texas.
That has led to a lot of speculation about Stoops’ future at UK but once again he made it clear — as of today — he has no plans to go anywhere.
“Regardless of what anybody is saying about my future, I am busting my ass trying to win out and really play down the stretch,” Stoops said. “It gives me a lot of juice and a lot of energy just working on the pieces for the future as well, just because you kinda have to do that.”
Key words to me are “busting my ass trying to win” because he knows fans are not happy and “working on the pieces for the future” because he plans to be back.
“Things happen so fast right now with the end of the year, with the (transfer) portal, and with (national high school) signing day that if you’re not prepared, you’re in big trouble,” the UK coach said.
“You have to balance those things and that makes it exciting. Again, nobody take that as we’re not putting everything into this game. It’s just you have to. Let’s be honest, you have to worry about the big picture when you’re sitting in my chair. And that excites me and motivates me, to be honest with you.”
However, Stoops wasn’t done expressing how being questioned is motivating him.
“No time to whine or worry, it’s more like, let’s get some shit done,” he said.
Sounds good but might also be a lot easier said than done today at Texas.
6 Responses
The only reason he keeps talking about the future is because he’s worried about it. Otherwise it wouldn’t come out his mouth. Everything he says we already know. Tell us something that we don’t already know Stoops. This is your team and your to blame for the last 3 years. Quit blaming NIL MONEY. teams like Indiana get way less nil money than us. Yes the conference isn’t as strong as the sec but they are undefeated and have beaten Michigan who is one of the top teams in nil money. Its not fair to us to blame the same rules given to other teams and he can’t keep up. He needs to fix it or leave quit talking about the same thing every week. It seems like his team also gave up on him this year as well.
If UK’s offense can move the ball just a little so the defense can get some rest at key times in the game, I think UK can keep it close. If there a bunch of 3 and outs, UK’ s defense will get worn out and it won’t be pretty.
That’s exactly what is happening!
Larry V. I was surprised to see Boyle Co get beat last night.
Its 7-0 we just went 3 and out. Brock took off running with 2 wide open receivers down the field. His career here is over. Its time for Cutter Boley. He has terrible vision. He’s to antsy. He needs to sit on the bench. He will never be a starting quarterback in the SEC. It’s almost embarrassing that we put this product on the field we need to run the ball 75% of the time. We cannot execute pass plays. Its disgusting to watch.
They are cheating dude hit hairston and hairston touched him and got a penalty im fuming. Cheating bs.
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