UK Athletics Photo
Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops didn’t sugarcoat his team’s lack of success last season, but also doesn’t want a sequel as he prepares for his 13th season at the helm.
“It’s fair to say after coming off a season where we were not very pleased, failed to meet our expectations, our own expectations, and didn’t play at the level that we wanted to, that we have to have a heightened sense of awareness, and we’ve got to just have a greater sense of urgency,” Stoops said during the team’s media day press conference Monday.
“(We had to) take a good, hard look at all the systems and processes and things that we have in place and make sure we’re doing things right — just attack those with urgency. We didn’t want to just move past it. We had to look at everything, turn over every stone, and make sure that we were doing things to the best of our ability. I feel like we’ve done that.”
The Wildcats went 4-8 last season, including a 1-7 mark against Southeastern Conference foes. A total of 31 players transferred, while quarterback Brock Vandagriff retired from the sport. To help absorb the losses on both sides of the football, Stoops signed 26 transfers and added 22 prep signees to this year’s roster.
“I love the additions,” Stoops said. I’ve also talked about the turnover in roster. After you are coming off a season like that, I feel like it was needed in certain places, and that’s a good thing. We needed to continue to develop the young players in our program, and obviously we needed to attack the portal, like most people.
“Obviously, that’s a higher number than we’ve ever had here, but again, I felt like it was necessary. I feel very good about those changes.”
As for last year’s downfall, Stoops added he can’t “dwell” on the lack of success but is fully looking forward to the future.
“You’ve heard me talk for years about building a program, building the culture, building a program,” he said. “That is still true, but it’s also very true that you have to just build a team. Year-to-year, you have to build a team. That’s where we’re at.”
5 Responses
When you are paid $9+ million a year, there can be no down years.
You know it’s hard for stay success in SEC football like Kentucky with no Down year. Unless you Georgia or Alabama
I think we will be a much better team this year compared to last year. If Stoops doesn't make a bowl he needs to step down. Back to back years of not winning 6 games will destroy the stock of any team. When your in your first couple seasons you have a little excuse. In 2025 athletic directors are giving coaches 2-3 years and then are firing them if they aren't doing there job. Barnhart gave Stoops basically a lifetime contract and he should have never done that. Stoops got lazy and the culture took a nose dive. Weve also had 0 continuity on offense. Defense Brad White has been here for awhile now. I think he's excellent with the defense other than the 3-4 defense. I hope we play more 4-3 defense this year. I like 2 defensive tackles and 2 defensive ends, 3 linebackers 2 cornerbacks and 2 safeties. A normal 4-3 defense. You get pressure on the QB more. Stoops likes playing 6 defensive backs basically and when a team is powerful running team they blow the line back. Stoops said he was going to run a 4-3 some this year. My fingers are crossed.
It's been a long time since UK FB has been at this low a level. I want, and sincerely hope, that UK returns to bowl status this year, but I am still not willing to consume that Stoop's 2025 motivation speech is going to bring about that much change. The SEC has gotten much stronger last couple yrs while UK has gotten weaker during same span. To see Vandy out-recruiting and out-ranking us preseason is not easy to accept. It is hard to believe there is a weaker HC/OC tandem than what we have
Mike , it maybe low . but not as low when Joker left it.