I am more convinced If it’s gonna happen it’s going to be this year. Fan base is the most negative it has been in a long time, Oklahoma and Texas coming in next year changes what the ceiling can be. Also some job openings I could see him taking Michigan state, or if Iowa opens up. It will be interesting but this off-season for the Cats will be one of the most important in awhile.

Heard tonight it’s UK. Don’t crucify me if I am wrong- but that’s what he is saying.

Hello HOB. I'll be following along with the Stoops radio show tonight and sharing the major talking points here in this thread for those of you who may not be able to listen in live. Show starts at 6 ET. Stay tuned...

* Reiterates from today's press luncheon that they have to be more physical up front and in the run game.

* Gotta look at some schematic things for these last two games to make sure they're putting guys in the best position to succeed and win two really important games. Not averse to make some changes if they need to.

* On SC being motivated having to win two more games to reach a bowl... Played well last week, they have some momentum going, and they'll be in a place where they have a good environment that is tough on other teams. Will have to go in there with a tough mindset.

* SC's Rattler is a similar guy to ALA's Milroe but with more snaps under his belt. Very good mobility, can extend plays and buy time, making people miss. These guys give a lot of people trouble. He seems to play a lot better at home, too. Feeds off that crowd.

* On the psychological aspect of coaching the team at a time like this... He has asked for help, brought in a guy from West Point who lives in town, had been a really good resource on subjects like this. Stoops said he called him yesterday and they met for a while. He likes having some people to bounce things off that might have a different perspective.

* Caller asks about Avery Stuart and Grant Godfrey... Future is bright for both of them. Godfrey was really looking good early in camp, then got injured, so never got a chance to play. Stuart got dinged up a little bit, too. Hasn't had a chance to get in there yet. Also noted that Nasir Addison is coming on, showing some good things.

* Ramon Jefferson is really getting back to his old self. It was good to see him get in there and make a big run Saturday.

* Caller asks if the league is tougher than what he thought... Stoops says no, he had a pretty clear vision of it coming in. Notes that a W this week will help put them in the upper half of the SEC, which is still something to feel good about in this league. Disappointed it couldn't be more, but not gonna dwell on losing to the caliber of teams they've lost to.

* UK-SC is a lot like UK-MIZ, Stoops adds. Usually comes down to who makes the key plays.

* Caller says he thinks the middle of the field, short stuff, seems to be the place where they need to be operating, but Devin is throwing a lot of high-risk, low-reward passes all the way to the sidelines... Also asks how Mizzou was able to hold Tennessee to 7 points, what are they doing schematically to allow that? Stoops says there are some valid points on the first question. Threw that pick against ALA on one of those. Agrees that they had some stuff available in the middle of the field and missed a couple. Missed an explosive play on one of those. You can't constantly live in there, but there were some opportunities. ... On the second question, sometimes it's just matchups. You have to match up well on the perimeter, and Mizzou did that. We let guys run right by us.

* Stoops passes along his thoughts and prayers to longtime UK radio network sideline reporter Dick Gabriel, who had triple-bypass surgery last week. Tom notes it was a strange feeling not hearing his voice on Saturday.

* Caller asks why they're not using the Australian method of punting ... Stoops says it mostly has to do with protection.

In Nashville for a conference. Where downtown do I watch the game tomorrow. Thx.

CB for JQ to Kentucky on TOS.

Looks like that sexy Kiffin cooked offense produced an almost identical score that Kentucky had with a rowdy night dog crowd.

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MARK STOOPS Q&A:

* Stoops say he’s not Alabama’s PR person or anything, but if there’s 3-4 better teams than that one, he’d like to see them. Just gotta tip your cap to them and put it behind you. Notes the Cats haven’t lost to anyone bad. They’re all Top 10 teams.

* South Carolina has a QB who has been around for a long time. Defense has made a few changes in the last couple of weeks that UK has to be prepared for. Always good on special teams. Tough environment.

* Knows there are some good teams out West and Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten, but he’d put ALA and UGA against anyone.

* On concerns with secondary… Gotta have better pass rush to begin with, and guys in coverage have to do a better job on the back end. We’re not as hard-headed as some people think. Constantly looking at ways to improve what they’re doing, but sometimes there aren’t magic calls you can make to just fix things, guys have to make plays.

* SC wideout Leggette is a big, strong guy who can really run. Makes competitive plays.

* SC creates a lot of explosive plays, even on early downs. Dangerous on 1st and 2nd down as in the predictable passing situations.

* Hopeful that they’ll have DB Andru Phillips back this week.

* Off-schedule plays have really hurt their defense, and Rattler is a guy who can make some of those.

* On a chance to keep SC out of the postseason: “Zero. None for me.” The only motivation is UK’s bowl position.

* This is a game you have to be your most disciplined with your eyes, not just against the SC offense but also SC special teams.

* On personnel changes and punter in particular… At this point in the season, if he thought there was somebody better, they’d be out there. Actually thought they were a “touch” better in punt game vs. Bama, at least with he net.

* On slow offensive starts in the games that have gotten away from them quickly… Not getting the chains moved early in the game. It gets frustrating. It’s execution and fighting for extra yards.

* On the Jimbo Fisher situation… Has not spoken to him. Friends with Jimbo and some of their staff, though. Same with Zach Arnett at Mississippi State. Just focused on his team and getting them ready this week.

* On JJ Weaver tweeting that he’s let people down… Human nature when things are going bad. You can see some frustration from him. He’s been around a long time and worked really hard, been a good player. He may have been pressing to have a big year, and it’s not come together. With JJ, if he’s struggling, we usually go back to technique.

* Very disappointed in not being able to get to the QB on Saturday. That’s come up a couple of times today.

* On whether he’s noticed a rivalry between UK and SC fans… Jokes that he got a new phone not too long ago and can’t figure out how to get on Twitter and even read what people are saying. Points to his Apple Watch and mentioned something about needing this to make sure his ticker was working last week.

* On difficulty of grading players’ performance against a team like Alabama… There are definitely matchup issues, but you can always see competitiveness. That’s the big thing. Fans can see that, too.

* On relationship with Beamer being edgy... “I have no idea where you would get that.”

* Said the fans have a right to be disappointed now, that he’s disappointed too, but not defeated. Thanked the fans for their great turnout this season and is sorry they couldn’t come thru for them and win some of these big home games.

*****

UPDATED KENTUCKY DEPTH CHART:

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Got the crap kicked out of him by Michigan who lost of ton from last year. I know it’s just one game but the grim reaper ain’t making St. John’s elite. Better? Yes. Elite. Nah. UL was a top 5 program and they weren’t even elite most years.

Alabama or Georgia?? We have seen both.

Seems like the only one I found was Michigan and St. John's.

Anyone know of any others?

Cal at Memphis was 1-0 versus Self at Illinois

Self 1-0 at Kansas versus Memphis

The UK series as above.

Interestingly Kansas' 5 wins were by 6 in OT, 6, 4, 3, and 9. Average win margin of 5.6 ppg

Kentucky's 5 wins were by 10, 8, 32, 8, and 18; an average of 15.2 ppg

We NEED to start winning these games, but historically, UK is 5-10 versus #1 teams on neutral courts. Tall, Tall task.

Let me show you want profligate spending looks like to give an idea of scale

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Kentucky just isn't good enough in these games against the best teams they play. It would be easy to just say that Georgia and Alabama are two of the best teams in the country and they can do that to anyone. But Georgia and Alabama both beat Kentucky worse than any other SEC team that either of them has played this year. That isn't good.

Anybody watching that game could tell that Kentucky was just outclassed. It's Alabama so whatever on one level, but there's a persistent inability to rise to the occasion against the very best teams and these serve as reminders/downers for the fan base.

You can't come out and fall behind 21-0 in the first quarter. Bama's good but they're not that good. It was mostly the defense getting shredded early. The issue was Kentucky was so concerned with Milroe's running that he was able to hit wide open receivers and tight ends right over the linebackers' heads.

The crazy thing is Kentucky had opportunities to at least keep it a respectable game. They should have had a punt block. I thought they should have kicked a short field goal to make it 28-10 because it was two yards to go on a short field. They squandered great field position before halftime and had to punt. Just go down the list and they didn't play opportunistically. But they were also outclassed.

It feels like 11 years into the Stoops era things are very predictable. Not good or bad predictable, just predictable. They'll start (and schedule their way to) 4-0 or 5-0. They'll beat Florida or play well enough to beat them. That sets up UK-UGA, and it becomes clear they aren't at that level, and also when they play other top 10 teams. They'll befuddle most league teams with comparable talent thanks to scheme and identity but will have a clunker.

Defense needs an overhaul in personnel at some spots IMO.

They are ranked #1 in most polls and we have 21 feet of kids who will not be playing that would make it a whole different situation. Now, can we win if things go a certain way? YES. Will it kill me if we lose? YES. But I think come March we will be a better and deeper team than them if we finally get healthy. Being patient is hard.

Shoulda been fired for Herm Edwards

It’s the same thing over and over again with this team and coaching staff. They’re never ready and prepared to play in any big games that matter.

Don’t tell me about bowl games, I don’t give a s*** about bowl games. I want to come out and compete in games against teams like Alabama and Georgia. That’s not too much to ask for 11 years into a tenure as a coach. Period.

Big Ten Network

Won’t be announced until after this weekends games are complete.

Saturday, Nov. 25

• Wake Forest at Syracuse, 2 p.m. ET on The CW Network
• Florida State at Florida, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Georgia at Georgia Tech, 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC
• Clemson at South Carolina, 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network

The following four games will be flexed as six-day determinations:

Saturday, Nov. 25

• Kentucky at Louisville
• North Carolina at NC State
• Virginia Tech at Virginia
• Pitt at Duke – Noon or 3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network

He's originally from Irvine Texas which is 2.5 hours from College Station. He's only 42 and has major upside.

He was 38-15 at Mephis and is 10-0 currently at FSU.

FSU lost Jimbo to A&M and it will happen again.

With a 76 million dollar buyout

We seem to think we have elevated our football program? We never beat teams we aren't supposed to and if you take out the cupcake games we only win 2-3 SEC a year against the lower echelon of teams. We will never be better without a different approach on offense and defense.

Hypothetical, we all know it ain't happening, but just curious how much he would be owed this year and next etc?

For those who attend games and listen to Tom and Jeff on 98.1 or 630, I’m assuming that all radio now is iHeart related and internet based with a delay? For years, I have listened to them in real time but the 2 games I attended (Mizz and yesterday), there was a full minute delay from the action on both stations. Don’t want to pile on what turned out to be another miserable game at CWS but now it looks as if we can’t even enjoy that aspect of a live football game. Just wondering if others experienced the same?

IU just pulled one out against Army at home.
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