Jacob Kauwe hit a 44-yard field goal to force overtime against Texas. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Clearly, Mark Stoops understood how much Kentucky needed a Southeastern Conference win and a feel-good victory.
That’s why he gambled on fourth down on UK’s first possession rather than going for a field goal and did the same in overtime, less than a yard from the end zone. Both times Kentucky was stopped, and that enabled Texas to escape with a 16-13 win over the underdog Cats.
“We have got to get the ball in the end zone. I will remember that for the rest of my life. Got to get it in and came up short,” Stoops told Tom Leach on the UK Radio Network postgame show.
Kentucky could have kicked a field goal on fourth down in overtime to take a 16-13 lead, and with the way the UK defense was playing, it was not a given that Texas would be able to score a game-winning touchdown. The Longhorns went 3-and-out on most drives in the second half and had only two first downs in the second half. But Stoops wanted to win and believed his team could score from inside the 1-yard line even though Texas easily stopped running back Dante Dowdell.
“I felt like a lot of pressure would have been squarely on them (if Kentucky scored a touchdown). We had been playing very good (on defense),” Stoops said. “Lot of calls and things to second-guess yourself about, but that is not one of them. I don’t regret going for it there.”
Stoops did take the “safe” way out at the end of the first half and again at the end of regulation when he sent Jacob Kauwe out to attempt field goals with enough time on the clock to run at least one more play before trying the kick. He was wide left from 53 yards at the end of the first half and made a 44-yard field goal to force overtime.
Even though Kentucky lost, there was no questioning Kentucky’s effort in this game. The Cats played hard from the first snap and never let up. Kentucky had seven tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks on defense, but also ran for 135 yards — Texas had 44.
“I told them (UK players) how much I appreciated how much they invested and how hard they have worked,” the UK coach said on the UK Radio Network. “We expected to play well tonight, and it hurts. They are very hurt and they are very emotional, but in a very good way.
“There were guys who spoke up who were really passionate about continuing to do it the right way to get the results we want. I appreciate them and the way they stepped up. It matters to them. We have improved. I hurt for them because we are not getting the result we wanted.
“Our guys really put a lot into it. I appreciate their mindset and effort. They were very confident going into this game and left it on the field.”
Stoops knew two Texas punt returns that went for 88 yards and led to 10 easy points against UK’s defense changed the game.
“Credit them. They have dynamic return guys,” the Kentucky coach said. “We had our opportunities. We have been good on coverage because our kickers have been good, but you have to make some tackles in space against elite guys, and we didn’t get that done tonight.”
Kentucky Radio Network analyst Jeff Piecoro, a former UK football player, was even more blunt than Stoops about the punt coverage, even though UK came into the game ranked 101st nationally in punt coverage before it completely broke down Saturday night.
“Neither punt return had to happen. Two mistakes by gunners that led to 10 points. That is what is so frustrating about this game,” Piecoro said. “Close isn’t good enough. They (UK players) are going to be upset, and they should be. They played really, really well.”
ESPN analyst Brock Osweiler called it a “massive mistake” when Kentucky gave Texas a chance to break the second punt return that led to the field goal that broke the 10-10 tie with less than a minute to play.
“That was a massive mistake by Mark Stoops and his special team unit. You either need to corner that ball or just put it out of bounds,” Osweiler said.
26 Responses
Just one question: When you run a specific play 5 times and net1 yard, what makes you think that you can run it three more times on the goal line and get three yards?
RJohn, you nailed several key issues and this one is a no-brainer. Of course, “up the gut” has been a favorite call on multiple occasions after it has failed over and over. It’s a Stoops favorite. If it doesn’t work time & again, just fail at it one more time for good measure.
UK play-calling was one of the best tools TX had last night!
Bill Curry said, it will work one of these times so we will keep doing it!
Bill Curry was another DC who was out of his league when he became HC. There is a big jump to HC and not every Coordinator has the ability or the willingness to expand to understand both sides of the ball. He kept All-American Tim Couch on the bench until UK went to the swamp before he decided to start him. What a pathetic decision to begin your career on the road in the swamp when FL was a power house!
This was my question exactly. Why wouldn't you kick a field goal and try to get a turnover or force them to make a field goal. When your defense has held them to under 200 yards and there only point came on field position we basically gave them I just dont understand it. Another thing before half Stoops really wanted to kill the half. McGowan had two nice runs and it changed his mind. Then we had the worst clock management I've ever seen. With 13 seconds left didnt try to get it a little closer for the field goal kicker. I dont blame him it was a 53 yard field goal. That's no gimme. We should have ran a 7-8 yard pass out of bounds to get him in 45 yard range. Or even a toss sweep for 4-5 yards to get him on his comfortable side of the field. Stoops has gotten terrible at clock management when it matters. We play with a losers mentality. We had the ball at the 1 and ran it up the middle 2 times for 3 yards. Thats a losers mentality you have nothing to lose your the underdog and your going to give them terrific field position. It's drives like these that lose the game for us. I just hope Boley sticks around another year or two because I think next year he could be one of the best QBs in the SEC. He's better than Manning. Manning has the best line the best receivers the best running backs. By best im meaning the most expensive and mostly 5* players. Put Manning on Kentucky and give him Kentucky's line and playmakers and he woild be the worst QB in college football. He grew up with a silver spoon and doesn't have the drive that grandpa Manning and poppa manning had. He isn't ever going to be a NFL QB unless they let him in just becaude of his name. Boley is already better than Manning. Next year he will be much better than Manning. I just whoever we get when Stoops is fired can retain him. Which I think he will stay hes a Kentucky boy and he will be the starter the next 2-3 years. I like Rodriguez too. He's a tough guy. The Boley to Rodriguez and Boley to Gilmore connection will only get better and better every game.
Agreed… The issue wasn’t to go for it or not – it’s the clown calling the offensive plays. ANY play call on 4th down would have had a better chance than the indefensibly stupid call of going up the middle again.
Stoops wanted to maintain consistency this year by not firing OC. Well, he’s got it… we’re consistently losing due to coaching failures.
Very well stated Graefenburg Cat:
“Stoops wanted to maintain consistency this year by not firing OC. Well, he’s got it… we’re consistently losing due to coaching failures.”
Running up the middle has been the losing tactic for a dozen years. It has cost UK a lost of games.
Special teams will beat you every time unless you work on it!
Special Teams has been consistent under Stoops
It has consistently given opponents an advantage..
Stoops have never addressed the need for a quality dedicated Special Trams coach!
Good News: Kentucky looked like a decent football team last night. One piece of advice to Cutter Boley: Work on your foot speed. He's a great one in the making.
Mark should have had one (won) regret. You had the game won but didn't. I hurt for the players. You have nothing to be ashamed. You left everything on the field. Accept defeat graciously and victory with a humble heart. Greater things ahead.
The defense played well enough for us to win. The offense has a way to go. Boley's decision making has to get better. Maybe this is the year to invest in him getting the experience he needs and not worry about winning games. so much until next year.
Again, the latter point very a very reasonable suggestion. We still have a chance to L out, but if we play UT like we did yesterday we will have a chance and who knows from there. We don't need to be sending Sympathy cards to either Stoops or Hamden…..just Retirement cards.
I have no regrets about his overtime decision to go for the touchdown but I do have regrets about his inability to call plays to take advantage of what Texas’ defense was clearly doing!
Naked bootleg
UK players were giving their 110%.
UK staff does not even have 50%.
Special Teams has been in desperate need of genuine coaching for 12 1/2 years. Even one year, Stoops admitted not having a Special Teams Coach cost UK some games. Yet he has never made a serious effort to right this wrong!
Those 2 punt returns were gifts to TX! Gifts from the HC who has never taken Special Teams seriously!
Cutter Boyer played an excellent game against a very good TX defense. 400 yards of UK offense. Three FG’s not attempted were the 9 points that would have secured a W.
Stoops has 9 million reasons why has no regrets!
STOOPS MIDDLE NAME IS ‘keep it close but never win’.
Unfortunately, the hillbilly mafia ‘son of a Mitch’ and Captain Capilouto are hell bent on UK trading places with Vandy as the worst team in SEC FOREVER.
I would take Cutter Boley over Manning any day of the week. Boley will end up being much better. I think he's already better than Manning. Manning hasn't improved at all. Boley looks better every game. If we had a little bit better of a offensive line and a playmaker like Wandale Robinson we would be unstoppable. Because we have a great defense they just don't get any help. The name of the game is to score points. Our defense played outstanding.
Like I have said before, it is not the players; never has been. It is the inability of whoever is in charge to put the players in position to be successful. Bone headed play calling has been worse this year than the last couple of years. Stoops never takes the blame, nor does he see it as a problem, when the coaching staff cannot make decent decisions on play calling.
One would think that a head coach and his offensive coordinator would have THE PLAY CALL when the team absolutely must have 1, 2, or 3 yards.
One would think that a head coach and his offensive coordinator would be turned into the game circumstances to realize when the game DEMANDS THE PLAY CALL THAT WILL DELIVER THE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY 1, 2 OR 3 YARDS.
On Saturday night, we learned what THE PLAY CALL is when the team absolutely must have 1, 2, or 3 yards!!!! A QUARTERBACK SNEAK WITH THE DEFENSE HAVING 11 PLAYERS IN THE BOX.
NOT ONCE
NOT TWICE
THREE TIMES ON THAT LAST POSSESSION.
However, that is not the end of this craziness. These coaches had used this SPECIAL PLAY CALL several times prior to this monumental final chapter, and EVERY TIME THE CALLED THE QB SNEAK, IT FAILED TO GAIN EVEN 1 YARD.
What the heck do these coaches do for their inflated salaries?
They lose games for their inflated salaries.
Barnhart must get a % of contracts where coaches are overpaid by millions.
The play calling gets worse as the seasons go by! They never learn anything from their repeated mistakes!
The UK Players fought harder then a top opponent and except for the special team play outplayed them in all other facets of the game But this football game like so many others in crunch time have been lost because of the decisions coming from the sideline. Stoops is NOT a good coach!
Yes! The UK players gave their top effort and were stripped of a victory because of very pathetic play calling!
UK would have more success letting Cutter call his own play in those situations.
Definitely agree, OldFan!