Hello HOB. I’m over at Kroger Field today for Mark Stoops’ press conference to discuss Kentucky’s invitation to the Gator Bowl and a matchup with Clemson. Stoops is scheduled to address the media at approx Noon ET. Stay tuned for updates…
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MARK STOOPS Q&A:
* Reps from the UK Childrens Hospital and Kentucky For The Kids foundation are here today before the press conference to present a check for $635K added for a total of $1.1M to help those charitable efforts. Stoops notes that this effort began under Rich Brooks and continues today with help from dedicated assistants like Eddie Gran.
* Stoops says Clemson has a physical team, built very much like a lot of SEC teams they face.
* Likes the way this team has finished the season and stuck with it, finding a way to bring the Governor’s Cup back to Lexington and getting invited to this bowl game.
* It’s been a hectic time. Spent a good portion of last week meeting with just about every player on the team. Assistants have met with all the players. Came away encouraged by the feedback. Quite a few want to come back and feel like they still have things to accomplish here. Thinks participation will be close to 100% for this bowl game.
* Follow-up question on Ray Davis… They knew all along this was probably a “one-and-done” situation. Anticipated this all along, that he would enter the draft. Does not write off the possibility of Davis changing his mind on playing in the Gator Bowl. They may have another talk about it soon.
* Need to hit the portal hard at some spots on the offensive side of the ball. Fairly stable on the defensive side. It was important, though, to get Eli Cox and Marques Cox back on the O-Line. Gives us a great nucleus For that unit.
* Devin Leary is excited to play in a bowl game and to have one last opportunity with this team.
* On WR depth and recent losses to the portal… Have to go get some guys just for numbers and building depth. It takes 5-6 guys contributing throughout the season.
* On having something to prove vs. a program like Clemson… Thinks the whole team is. These games often come down to who’s willing to put in the work from now until the game begins.
* On big-name QBs in the portal…. Not going to talk about guys individually, but they’re on it. Working on guys.
* On Dabo Swinney… Knows him just from crossing paths, but not much of a personal relationship. But can’t help but feel like he knows him from him being on the national stage.
* On attracting RBs with the success they’ve had… Should be able to do that, and also thinks they’ve got quality guys in the program right now.
* This time of year runs 24/7… Has good friends in town and has to tell them you don’t have time to do anything. It’s probably the busiest time of the year between now and Dec. 20th or so. It’s hectic.
* On extra practice time… Challenging while recruiting at the same time, being on the road so much. It’s a balancing act for a couple of weeks.
* On the portal and tampering concerns… If I say something, everyone’s going to blow it out of proportion, but use your common sense: it’s inevitable.
* RBs Ju’Tahn McClain and Ramon Jefferson both plan to play in the bowl game. Has changed his opinion on that over the years. Thinks a guy like McClain has contributed so much to the program. Has done everything they’ve asked of him. Both guys deserve an opportunity to show what they can do.
* Not sure if any of the younger guys might play in the bowl game yet.
* On what he’s looking for in a WRs coach… Not ready to say much about that yet, doesn’t want to be interpreted as saying something that Woody wasn’t doing right.
* On reaction he’s received to the Texas A&M situation… None whatsoever.. We moved past that in like 5 minutes. He got one phone call from “one very large human being” (currently on the team) wanting to know what the situation was, and both sides assured each other they are coming back.
* They've had talks with Liam about going more up-tempo. Want to find a way to do that and stay clean with the operation. I want to go faster. I don't like to be standing by the official all the time. The last time he was here, we played faster. That doesn't mean it's going to be warp speed like some schools do, but we want the ability to go faster at the LOS.
* Hopes that they have a chance to get Wilcox in the bowl game at RB. “I want to see it… He has some super upside.”
* Doesn’t want to speak for Dru Phillips, but believes he’s playing in the bowl game even though he’s declared for the draft.
* Likes the upcoming 12-team playoff for 2024. Think that's the good number right now. When you're arguing about teams 12 or 13, they're not really in the hunt anyway. But there's a very real argument between teams 4 and 5 right now.
* Important to win any bowl game, but thinks it could give them an even bigger boost going into next season by beating someone like Clemson. It’s always a much better feeling to walk off the field after having a bowl trophy handed to you. A complete opposite reaction if you walk off the field after losing.
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