Kentucky has tried to establish a running game but is that the team's ID? (Vicky Graff Photo)
Running back Anthony White amassed 3,278 yards rushing and receiving — an average of 5.9 yards on the 558 touches he had — and 19 touchdowns from 1997-1999 at Kentucky while playing with quarterbacks Tim Couch and Dusty Bonner.
White ran for 1,758 yards and 11 touchdowns and averaged 4.8 yards per carry.He caught 194 passes for 1,520 yards and eight scores while averaging 7.8 yards per catch during those same three years.
I’ve done WLAP Sunday Morning Sports Talk with White for over 20 years and one thing he has always hammered home to me is that a football team has to have an identity. Not every team has to have the same identity but a team has to have something it can count on.
I thought about that Monday when Stoops was asked at his weekly press conference what he thought was the identity of his team which is 2-3 this season after going 4-8 last year.
“The biggest thing for us, what I love about them, is they do have a very much of a steady mindset,” Stoops said. “They’re working very hard every day. I think it’s a hard-working group.
“You know what we want our football teams to look like, what I want them to look like each and every year. I feel like this team is very united, working extremely hard and very much passionate about getting better each and every day. And if we stay that way then we’ll see the results eventually.”
United, working hard and passionate about getting better have always to me been code words coaches use when they are trying to avoid talking about team weaknesses and don’t have a lot of team strengths to mention.
Kentucky’s 2024 offense was among the worst in the nation overall and Stoops said things would be better this year after he reloaded the offense via the transfer portal — or thought he did. However, only running back Seth McGowan has been a big-time addition through five games.
Instead, offensive coordinator Bush Hamden’s second year numbers are as bad as last year. Kentucky ranks 127th nationally in explosive plays of 20 yards or more. Kentucky is 94th nationally in scoring at 24.4 points per game and 103rd nationally in third down conversions.
Stoops said Monday that numbers don’t always tell the true story but my guess is that most UK fans believe the UK offense won’t buy that.
“Not so much look at a plan — what may look good on a grease board — but what we can execute. And we could have some success. I do feel like we’re getting better. I know some people will pull up stats or numbers and whatever and throw them right back in my face but I know what goes on in the building,” Stoops said.
“And I know guys are working hard and trying to put a good plan together to help us achieve our goals and winning some games.”
Again, “trying to put a good plan together” sounds good but the “trying” has not turned out very well the last two seasons and probably will not against Texas Saturday night, either.
9 Responses
No matter how hard you work or how hard you try, if you don't have the God given ability to reach those upper levels, you never will. If Hamdan doesn't have the ability to design a successful game plan, it doesn't matter how hard he works or tries. He has not shown the ability to scheme plays that utilize the abilities of his players.
I am 64 years old, it doesn't matter how hard I work or how hard I try, I am still not going to outrun most 20 year old men. I might beat one if he's on crutches, if I can trip him at the start.
As I have stated on here before, Stoops' problems have been pretty consistent no matter who the coaches or players are. In the end, it still comes back on Stoops.
Numbers don't tell a true story? I've always heard numbers don't lie. Maybe this has been Stoops problem all along.
With you Mr. Know It All
The numbers don't lie. This is the weakest UK team under Stoops since his first 2 teams after inheriting an empty cupboard from Joker.
This program is in decline since 2020, and the number clearly tell that story.
Time for Stoops to do the right thing, for once, and resign.
Stoops is his own worst enemy when it comes to keeping up with football strategy. It would be nice if football has not changed since the days of grass turf, no facemasks and pick-up games. It's business now. Business does not reward purists, it rewards success. I have often stated that defense wins football games and offense sells tickets which is pretty much true; but, you do have to sell tickets.
Replacement Mindset should trump Steady Mindset. Stoops to VT would top my wish list. That is a laugher.
UK offense is averaging around 💯
Just look at those stats, all hovering around 100th in the nation.
The UK AD needs to quickly give the OC a life-time contract before some elite program wants to hire him to be their OC.
Steadily getting worse.
Boycott Homecoming!