The more physical Kentucky plays, the more Mark Stoops likes it. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Ask almost any Kentucky football fan what is the preferred Mark Stoops and the likely answer would be a punishing running game with only occasional passing. Most college football analysts likely would agree.
So does Stoops believe there is a misperception about what he wants on offense?
“You absolutely want what we’re seeing at times right now lately is balance and some excitement in the offense. You have to be able to do that. Otherwise, you drop back and you get wrecked and that doesn’t look pretty, right? That’s not what you want,” Stoops said. “You have to be capable of it and you have to work towards it. We’ve always tried to have that balance.
“Again, if we can drop back and throw it 50 times a game and be extremely efficient and be exciting and throw it around then, hey, let’s do it. It’s pretty hard to do for just about everybody.”
Stoops knows the popular theory is that he handcuffs and over manages the offense no matter who the offensive coordinator has been during Stoops’ time at Kentucky.
“You could write what you want. Handcuffing him … that’s what everybody wants to say. I’m the head coach. I’m responsible for it all. I can take anything that’s written. But I think it’s fair to say, I’ve made no bones about it since I’ve been here, we need to be physical and I want to be physical,” Stoops said.
“And if we weren’t, I wouldn’t have been here this long. You know what I mean? So, that I know. We want to do all things well.”
Quarterback Cutter Boley said after last week’s win over Florida that the team wanted to win for Stoops because of the criticism he’s been getting from fans and media.
“I want to win for them, so I appreciate that. We’re all in this together. I’ve always said that. I’ll tell you this, you remember I said it a long time ago in here, they do not have to worry about me. I will not flinch ever and I’ll be fine,” Stoops said. “I want to win for them and they want to win for we, us, all of us. And that’s a great mindset.”
Yes it is and it has changed the mindset enough that a team given up for dead at 2-5 is now 4-5 after wins over Auburn and Florida going into Saturday’s game against Tennessee Tech and again talking about earning a bowl bid by getting to six wins.
“I don’t deny the things that are right in front of you that are true, that are real. It is important, but let’s just win this week and that’s not coach-speak, that’s truth,” Stoops said. “You keep on stacking good things on top of good things and you know the results will be there.”
3 Responses
Im proud of this Kentucky team. They are young and have continued to fight and not give up. Football gets less than basketball. We are the only school in the SEC that pays basketball more money. So Mark Stoops has a harder job than what people think he does. Im proud of him and this team. We should have a sell out crowd to cheer this team on and let them know BBN is behind them. It would also give the younger players more encouragement to come back next year and build something special at Kentucky for the next 2-3 years. We are at the start of a special run that wouldn't have happened if Barnhart would have pulled the plug. Let's Go Kentucky Beat Tennessee tech and let's take care of business and continue to get better every week and every practice. By the time we play Louisville Boley is going to be playing like a sophomore. I've never seen a QB improve so much in less than a year. We played Louisville not even a year ago and he looks like a completely different QB. Now imagine how great he's going to be getting all the first team reps from now until the first game next season. If he stays the next 3 years he will shatter all the Kentucky QB records. He should end this year with at least 2,000 passing yards and close to 20 TDs. Throwing it 67%. Next year he should be around 70-72% which is incredible for a sophomore. He should also pass for about 3,000-3,500 yards and probably around 30 TD passes. This is if he just improves about how he should. He's improving much more than this but this is a basic evaluation of what should be expected for next year. If he does this and has a even better junior season he might be gone after his junior season to the NFL. If he stays his senior season he will shatter all the records. Gilmore, Rodriguez, Patterson, DJ Miller, and Cam Miller will be a big part of this. If they stick together and come together and say we are going to the playoffs. We will take this team to the playoffs we have more than enough young talent. We can also get some guys in the portal to help out. We have a good recruiting class coming in next year so we are set to have a great season.
What I have read from interviews with different players they are not happy with the football bennies. They are playing for Stoops, each other, and the True Blue Believers. Like the ones packing the Stadium on Saturdays. I remember someone calling for fans to boycott the games.
Get your Cocoa Cocoa Puffs out.
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