Mark Stoops (Vicky Graff Photo)
Mark Stoops didn’t mince words about Saturday’s Kentucky-Louisville rivalry game.
“It is important to myself, it’s important to the team and to the BBN (Big Blue Nation) and the state. We are going to try to represent us the right way and work exceptionally hard this week and be prepared to play a great game,” Stoops said Monday.
He also sounded like a Kentuckian after being UK’s coach for 13 years now.
“Feels like all the ones I’ve been involved with. It just really does, because it’s important,” Stoops said about the rivalry compared to other rivalry games he’s been part of. “This is where I’ve lived for a long time. You know as I mentioned, whether you like it or not, I’m a Kentuckian now. I’ve been here as long as anywhere I’ve been.
“I left home at 17, haven’t been back. This is home, and I care and it’s a rivalry that’s important to both teams. It’s important to the state, it’s important to your fans, so it’ll be important to our team.”
The Cardinals drilled UK 41-14 in Lexington last year and controlling emotions in a rivalry game is not always easy to do even though both teams have not had the seasons they were hoping for.
“There’s always a fine balance there, right? Last week, Vandy obviously played with an edge and an attitude, and give them credit. It’s hard not to respect it, but when you’re on the wrong side of it you don’t like it, right?” Stoops said. “But, you know, there’s always a fine balance there.”
The Kentucky coach admitted last year’s beatdown by Louisville adds to Saturday’s road game for his team.
“So much that’s happened between now and then, and it feels like so long ago, but yes it’s important. You go back and have to watch the tape, it is definitely not a good feeling, but for us it’s always that week-to-week,” Stoops said.
“It’s pretty easy for me to compartmentalize things. It’s pretty easy just to be really excited and motivated on a Monday just for this week, because last week’s gone. Let’s just look for solutions moving forward. But it is definitely a piece of it, you can’t ignore that.”
Kentucky also cannot ignore that associate coach/recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow left UK to become the general manager of Louisville football. Stoops said Monday he had some “very short” conversations with Marrow after his departure from Kentucky after being with Stoops for 12 years.
“We had some mutual friends, mutual tragedy, things of that nature. Some personal things, briefly,” Stoops said about his interactions with Marrow.
Stoops isn’t sure if players recruited by Marrow still at UK will have — or need — any extra motivation for Saturday’s game in Louisville.
“It feels like so long ago that there is a lot that has transpired between now and then. The game is important, the response is important. There are a lot of things that are important and that personal touch on it, I think, no. I don’t think there is anything there,” Stoops said.
“I wish we always knew the right buttons to push. I think it is hard throughout the year. In this game, it is the last game and you have to empty the tank, right? This is the last game of the year, both teams are hurt with important players that are down. It is always the ‘next man up’ mentality.
“Both of us have programs with capable players to step in. Both teams are definitely beat up and you have to respond and give it everything you have here for the last week.”
12 Responses
That's good because his future at Kentucky rides on winning 2 more games this season.
No it don't.
**One small step for Stoops…
**One GIANT Step for UK FB…
••STOP whatever you are doing/saying before games & at Halftime, which has out UK in a trance to start most games & last at least a couple of series.
••SELECT former player(s) to speak & inspire UK players to start each H with vigor in their step & movement!
I’m sumple terms..,
Wake up Stoops &
Stop putting players to sleep
Wonder what the first offensive play call will be? Stoops said Vandy had an edge and attitude. Why didn't we and why would we expect this week to really be any different? This is probably the most important game of Stoop's tenure here.
I say this every week but that's how this schedule works out. This is by far the biggest game of the Stoops tenure. Alot is riding on this game. First off it's a instate rivalry. That's always fun. Secondly we have a traitor sitting on the other sideline. Stoops and the players should be extra motivated for this game. We got destroyed by Louisville last year and we already got beat by Louisville in basketball. It's time to flip the series. Little brother is looking more like a twin brother lately and if they win in football they might end up being big brother. Louisville had a easy road to the playoffs. Brohm knows that this is probably the last year Louisville beats us for awhile in football
Next year Boley is going to be much better and we play them at home next year. So Brohm knows the series is about to go out way for the next 2-3 after this year. This is his last chance to beat Stoops for awhile. They are losing most of there team and all of there production. Remember Marrow went to Louisville to " compete for championships" lol yeah right. Money money money money moooooneyyy. Stoops will want to win this game more than he's ever wanted to win a game. The team will want to win the game for Stoops. The seniors will want to win because it means playing one more game. To win this game we will need to play much better on defense and we will need to put pressure on the QB. If we only rush 3 lineman and set everyone else back in a zone they will beat us. Really it's all on Moss. If Moss plays they have a chance. If he doesn't play we should easily win. Then again theyhave put in backups before that came in and desteoyed us. I remember the QB they had from Lexington came in the second half and brought them all the way back and they beat us. This won't happen it was just a fun fact. Also to win the offensive line is going to have to leave it all on the field. They are going to have to play a good game and give Boley some time to throw the football. If Boley throws for over 250 yards and McGowan or Dowdell have a good game we will win
McGowan hasn't looked like himself the last couple of games
Idk if he's hurt or what's the deal. I would start Dowdell because he will be our feature back next year. Dowdell and Patterson will be back next year. They need as many reps as possible. Gilmore also needs to have a big game. Keep getting Rodriguez the ball. He always makes something happen. He will end up being the best tight end we've had in a long time. He's better than CJ Conrad. That is probably the best tight end in the Stoops era. Rodriguez will end up being on Whalen's level. He might lead the team in receptions next year. Boley and Rodriguez are going to be a big connection the next couple of years. Also Gilmore and DJ and Cam Miller will also be very good next year. I'm still waiting on Quisenberry to have a big game. I think he will make a big catch against Louisville. Does anyone know what happened to Stellato? He played in 2 games all year. Are they redshirting him or did he quit the team? He might be transferring why else has he not played? Before the year all I heard about was how he had the best hands on the team. He has one reception all season. Maybe Stoops said get healthy and let's run it back next year like how he did with Rayner and now Addison and Waller. We have the pieces to be a great team next year. The only position I worry about is the offensive line.
If we lose Stoops we will be worse off than now. We got great numbers of playmakers that would return on both sides of the ball to build on what we got now if Stoops sticks around. If Stoops leave the ship will hit rock bottom.
But Cats79 even if Stoops stays, some schools can make top young players such big offers they might still leave. What kind of sucks about college athletics now
Basketball can give football some NIL money. Stoops got 11.2 million for 85 players and Pope got 22 million for 15. The only player Pope has worth a million hasn't even seen the floor.
Cashzada has plenty of money. He threw $20,000 on the floor and made some Benjamin Franklin carpet.
True Larry, its definitely ruining college sports.
with you on that Cats79
Stoops is going nowhere for now. So, I say as fans let's get behind this team and get no. 6 come Saturday. NIL has absolutely destroyed college football. It is absolutely insanity in high gear!!!.
Comments are closed.