Kentucky fans are running out of patience with coach Mark Stoops. (Vicky Graff Photo)
The negativity is overwhelming toward the Kentucky football program after another Southeastern Conference loss Saturday night.
Tennessee almost scored at will to demolish Kentucky, the Cats 15th loss in their last 17 SEC games. It was the fifth straight loss for Kentucky (2-5, 0-5 SEC) to Tennessee.
“We had some important people out today, but even with that we have a lot of faith in the guys that we have on our defense. I think that they did a great job bringing in the people they needed to bring in,” said UK linebacker Daveren Rayner.
He claimed the outside noise was not bothering him or his teammates.
“I would be lying if I said we listen to it,” Rayner said after the loss “Anything you do you’re going to face some type of criticism, it’s part of it. So, we don’t pay attention to it at all.
“We just keep being better and focus on the things that we need to focus on. Monday we are going to go back to work and handle the things that we need to handle.”
Rayner said even after giving up a last-minute touchdown drive at the end of the first half to let the Vols extend the lead to 35-21 that UK “never wavered” in believing it could win.
“We never went into halftime or any other parts of the game feeling like this wasn’t a game that we could win,” he said.
Kentucky fans were different. They felt UK was beat after it fell behind 28-7 and coach Mark Stoops knows many Kentucky fans are ready for a coaching change now.
He was asked after the game what he would tell UK fans to make them believe the situation is maybe not as bleak as they believe after another loss.
“I understand, it’s a results business. The results have not been there. For me, I can’t get caught up and worried about all of that. I get frustrated,” Stoops said. “I hurt for our team, I hurt for our fans.
“There’s a lot of people that invest a lot. Including all of us. I understand that. But the fans, and anybody else, has every right to be frustrated, mad, whatever it is. But for myself, I hurt for the team and we’ve invested a lot.
“I think we are getting better in certain areas. It was a tough matchup for us. They are very explosive offensively. We didn’t play good enough and they had a lot to do with that.”
Bottom line, Kentucky just has not played “good enough” in many SEC games the last three seasons and UK fans are out of patience, especially when they see other SEC teams already making coaching changes because performances have not been good enough.
10 Responses
If that's the case, be wise for him to step down.
The coaching staff is the best at stopping UK. Opponents don’t need to do much but wait for the next HC & OC blunders!
UK had cut the score to 21-28 with less than 2 minutes before the half. TN got to the UK 47 with just 15 seconds on the clock and no timeouts! So what does UK do?
UK calls a Timeout with 15 sec on the clock to give TN time to consider their best plays. A 10 yard pass for 1st down at the 37.
UK calls ANOTHER TO with 10 seconds left to give TN yet another break !!! Thai time it’s a 24 yard pass and TN is already prepared for their 13 yard TD pass with only 5 seconds left!!!
That was “dumb squared” to call TWO TIMEOUTS when TN was out of them!
The players lost a lot of heart & confidence then because they knew it was UK players vs TN
AND…
UK Coaches doing things that help TN !!!
Fire AD, HC & OC !!
RELIEF COMING FOR UK !!!
LSU, Penn State & FL will get into a bidding war to try to hire Stoops!!!
Since Stoops is another set up with about a $50 Million Buyout, he must be among the elite coaches. Look at all the Conference Tiitles & New Years Day Bowl wins & games in the CFB playoffs!
That's funny!!! LB
I don't which one of is the drunkest!! You for saying it or me for believing it!! Hillarious
Thanks, OldFan!
The only way this joke could become a reality is if Barnie is cloned & becomes the AD at LSU & Penn St
Let's get serious. LSU spent $54 million to get rid of a good coach who happened to lose 3 of his last 4 games against the SEC's best. Stoops hasn't won an SEC game in over a year and Barnhart refuses to do his job. Fire Barnhart, hire a proven AD, and then have him fire Stoops. LSU was quick to pull the trigger to protect their winning tradition as that affects recruiting and NIL support. Barnhart is going to let Stoops totally destroy all that he accomplished in his first 11 years and leave the program so deep in a whole that any good coaching replacement will look at and say No Thanks. FIRE BARNHART!!!
Kentucky has been willing to be the doormat of SEC football in exchange for the big annual check.
The administration, Barnhart and up, don't care if UK wins or loses, only give them the money.
So true! You have proclaimed this for years – that the admin at UK was not serious about making UK FB a winner. Then when it finally put money AND seemingly administrative support behind UK FB, it was content to settle for a few years of success (by UK low standards) in win in winning 10 games twice, and then just watch it slide into the SEC cellar again while blowing Tena of millions by letting a pathetic AD give away money in one-sided contracts.
I would take Brian Kelly out of all the coaches that got fired. He's a offensive mastermind who could take Boley to a higher level than any other coach we are going to hire. I would take Kelly first and Sumrall second. I do believe any of these coaches would love to have the Kentucky job. 6-6 is the floor and 10-2 is the ceiling. As long as you can stay in that threshold we will build you a statue. Kelly could come here and I think we would win 7-9 games next year. 2027 we will be in the playoffs with Boley as a redshirt junior in 2027 and Kellys offense we will be almost impossible to stop. Plus wherever Kelly goes the recruits will follow. He could bring in some dynamic playmakers to surround Boley. If we could keep Brad White or even get someone better we will be in great hands. I would also take Saben but i doubt he ever coaches again. Hes making to much money on TV. With commercials and his appearance he makes millions.
Barnhart would not hire Kelly because of his mouth and attitude. Notre Dame almost fired him because of his mouth and I don't see Barnhart going for that.
Part of the problem is Barnhart and Stoops are both waiting for NIL to disappear and go back to the way it used to be. I think they are crying on each other's shoulder and I really don't look for Barnhart to make a move this year.