Mark Stoops and the Cats hope to celebrate again this week like they did after beating Auburn last week. (UK Athletics Photo)
Billy Gonzales might be the interim coach at Florida but he sounded like a veteran head coach when asked about facing Kentucky Saturday night in Lexington.
Both teams come into the game with 3-5 records but Gonzales certainly did not make UK sound like a team with a winning record.
“I’ve got a ton of respect for coach (Mark) Stoops. He’s the longest tenured coach in the SEC, he’s in his 13th year as a head coach. I have a ton of respect for him as a coach, but he’s done a great job recruiting players, and the most important piece, he’s done a great job developing them,” Gonzales said on the SEC coaches teleconference.
“If I take a look at his roster, I believe he’s got 19 players drafted over the last five years including two in the first round, four in the second round, so he’s done a fantastic job of recruiting to his system and developing.”
The Florida coach was just getting warmed up.
“You talk about toughness, I think he’s tried to do a great job both offensively and defensively. What do they do well on the defensive side? I think they do a really good job of stopping the run game. I think they do a fantastic job from that standpoint,” he said.
“And then again on offense, what do they do well? I think they run the ball extremely well, they control the ball, they rank 22nd in the country in time of possession, they’ve got an experienced group up front, four of the five are returning starters up front.
“He’s always done a fantastic job both offensively and defensively, he’s developed a culture of toughness. It’s a tough place to play. ”
12 Responses
Billy Gonzalez IS full of it.
Ole ball coach used to say , they ain’t very good , should come outta there with an easy win .
Everybody should check out Zack Calzadas video on X.
He's showing all the money he's is ripping off of us in a 3-5 season.
Who is making roster and nil decisions? Why did we waste $ on him when we've had Cutter all this time?
Flashing money will get you in trouble. I hate it when players do that.
So do I Cats79
Some of the $
Would this be a "for cause firing offense?"
Steve Spurrier is rolling over in his recliner at these comments. I honestly loved Spurrier because he was honest. I remember one time he was recruiting someone who was going to Kentucky and he said have fun working at car washes. Haha only spurrier. He also quit after he lost to Kentucky nobody had to fire him he stepped down.
We will win this game. Florida is thw best team we will play the rest of the year on paper. Nobody has thw talent they have. Vanderbilt allowed 34 points in a loss to Texas last week. I'm not impressed they have the easiest schedule in the SEC. Maybe behind Tennessee. If we had there schedule we would be 4-4 or 5-3 they aren't much better than us. Louisville is a rivalry game anybody can win. We need this Florida game and I think the team wins it for Stoops.
When are people going to be held accountable?!
There is no transparency. The money he is fanning around and throwing on the floor is from hard working class people that love their Cats!
1.25 million wasted. He didn't even pass for a single touchdown. Stoops says "pony up more."
I know a fan that hasn't missed a home football game in over 30 years and he is infuriated with our football program.
Now he gives us a little "I'm sorry" and he'll dress out tomorrow night and everything is supposed to be hunky dorey!
If we're ok with this then we are stupid people that get what we're going to get.
Kentucky Football on three. Ready. Break!
1. Super easy for Pres. Capiluto and AD Barnhart after two dubs to simply run it back with Coach Stoops in ‘26 given the huge buyout, but will “continuity” be the theme for the staff and the program? The answer should be a resounding NO!
2. IF it’s me, renegotiated contract for Coach Stoops, some staff shakeup (Brad White may leave anyway) to help the offense and with personnel decisions (a GM). Once again, easy to say “continuity” with Hamdan and Boley, but the offense needs a change. 3. If Stoops wants to be the coach at Kentucky in ‘26, it is only under these conditions. Otherwise, attempt to negotiate on the buyout and part ways. Not personal, given the reportedly amicable Barnhart-Stoops relationship, it’s the business of college football in 2025. After all, it’s no secret, Jon Sumrall IS the short list for Kentucky football. The institution can’t miss on Sumrall AND, AND simply maintain status quo with Stoops going into 2026.
TOUCHDOWN, KENTUCKY!