You think Kentucky is the only team that has penalties and makes mistakes? You see mediocrity in year 11 of stoops but let me tell you what you are seeing. You are looking at the golden age of Kentucky football. Like it or not, it’s true and irrefutable. Our fans have an identity crisis. They think Kentucky football is something that it’s not. It’s never been what our fans want. Honestly, it may never be what they want. I’ve made this point several times this past week in a few threads.
I’m not happy to accept “mediocrity”. But by Kentucky standards and with Kentucky’s resources and recruiting footprint, we are not mediocre. By Georgia, Ohio state, Texas, and Alabama standards Kentucky is mediocre. But those guys that coach those programs can hop in their car and go recruit 5 star studs in their home state and still be home for dinner. You think stoops get to do that? Our state produces less than 10 D1 prospects each year and most are 2 or 3 stars. This state is not a football hotbed. Our best high school teams will travel one state away only to get blown out (just ask Fredrick Douglas). A lot of our high schools don’t even have turf fields or LED lights or heat in the locker rooms. Stoops has to compete with basketball for NIL money no one else has to do that to the degree stoops does. You think this state is willing to let some stud point guard go elsewhere so we can pay more for a right guard?
2 10 win seasons in the last 5 years, beating Florida on the regular, owning Louisville, beating ranked teams every year, 8 straight years with a bowl appearance, top 30 recruiting classes, good attendance, sending kids to the NFL, hiring sought after assistant coaches and keeping them, etc. These things are massive accomplishments for Kentucky.
I get pissed when we lose too. I pissed at the offense too (and the D, and the special teams), But what stoops has done here is remarkable and I didn’t think it would ever be done at Kentucky.
