FOUR DOWNS: Takeaways from Stoops at SEC Media Days
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops addressed the crowd at Thursday's Q&A session at SEC Media Days in Dallas. (Brett Patzke/USA Today Sports)
Jeff Drummond • CatsIllustrated
Managing Editor Edit
@JDrumUK
In this edition of Cats Illustrated's "Four Downs" feature, we highlight four of the main takeaways from Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops' appearance on Thursday at SEC Media Days in Dallas.
1. STOOPS WANTS MORE
It was crystal clear that Kentucky's 7-6 campaign in 2023, including a loss to Clemson in the Gator Bowl which saw the Wildcats squander a lead in the final two minutes of play, has stuck in Mark Stoops' craw since the season ended. The off-season saw some key staff changes, and bouncing back in 2024 seems to have reinvigorated the UK boss. "I was really kind of coming in with a little edge, a little attitude about our team because we just want more," said Stoops, noting that SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey mentioned that UK was one of just eight teams in the country to make eight consecutive bowl game appearances when he introduced the coach to the room. "That's not nothing," Stoops said, "but we want to improve. That's the message to the team, ultimately. We've got to get better. We've got to find a way to make those plays in critical moments to push us over the top. We're not interested in just existing." Kentucky posted 10-win seasons in both 2018 and 2021 but has slid back to 7-6 in each of the last two seasons and is riding a two-game losing skid in bowl games after winning the previous four.
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CatsIllustrated - FOUR DOWNS: Takeaways from Stoops at SEC Media Days
UK head coach wants more in 2024.
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