Big night for the CMS show as I'm sure he'll be eager to talk about his new long-term deal with UK. I'll share all the major highlights here for those of you who aren't able to listen along live...
* Stoops is out on the road recruiting tonight, but joining Tom Leach via phone.
* Stoops says word of his new deal started spreading earlier than he thought it would, but they wanted to go ahead and get it out there to put an end to all the speculation that was going on. They went ahead and announced it, even though everything hasn't been signed off on yet. The attorneys are finalizing a few things now. Stoops said Mitch Barnhart is a man of his word and gave him what he needed to agree to a new deal.
* Stoops said he's excited about the feedback they're getting on the recruiting trail. Nice to be back out in full force after the Covid year affected recruiting in 2020.
* Josh Paschal is dealing with an injury from the UofL game that they'll have to keep an eye on in the days/weeks ahead, Stoops said. Sounds like more than just being dinged up. Probably a good thing that a bowl game is still a month away.
* On the transfer portal... Stoops says they have to be really active with it this year and leave room to add guys who can help them. To that end, UK will be as helpful as possible to kids who are buried on the depth chart and want a chance to play somewhere else. It's a win-win for both sides, Stoops suggested.
* On the balance they found in the offense (averaging 200+ passing and 200+ rushing for first time ever) Stoops said he is "very pleased" with how things are progressing and evolving under Liam Coen.
* On the schedule in December... Players will be getting treatment and focusing on weights early in the month. Stoops said they know that they're going to be facing a big, strong Big Ten team (sounds like they think it's Citrus or Outback as well) so they better keep up with the weights.
* UK notes that Thursday, Dec. 2, is the deadline for season ticket holders to get in their reservations for priority bowl game tickets.
* Jacquez Jones joining the show... Leach asks him how long it took him to learn how big the UofL game was. Says it wasn't too long. He didn't realize it was as intense as the Egg Bowl was down in Mississippi, but it was. He laughed and pointed to the altercations that happened Saturday.
* Will Levis is also on the show... Says he got a sense for how intense the game would be from the fans leading up to game week. He was fired up to play (obviously). He joked about getting the Schnellenberger MVP award -- a cool baseball bat from Louisville Slugger -- saying it's probably the only time he'll get a baseball bat for winning a football game.
* Jones said the whole defensive focus was placed on Cunningham on Saturday. They knew that if they carried out their assignments on him, the Cards did not have other people who could hurt them.
* The QB run game worked way better than UK had anticipated going into the game, Levis said. It was part of the plan, but not THAT big a part until they saw how effective it was.
* Caller asks if Jones and Levis are coming back to UK next season... Both say they are going to sit down and think about it after the bowl game.
* Asked about the mindset of approaching the bowl game, Levis said you need the same kind of preparation that they had week in and week out this season. You have to treat every game like the most important game. Jones said they are looking forward to some mental rest and healing these next few days to get their bodies and minds right, but when it comes time to get back to work, this team will be ready for that.
* Jones said some of the guys were playing basketball in their free time today. It was his first time hooping with some of the guys. Said Kaiya Sheron shocked him. "He was dunking!" LOL Levis said Earnest Sanders is the best hooper on the team.
* Stoops is out on the road recruiting tonight, but joining Tom Leach via phone.
* Stoops says word of his new deal started spreading earlier than he thought it would, but they wanted to go ahead and get it out there to put an end to all the speculation that was going on. They went ahead and announced it, even though everything hasn't been signed off on yet. The attorneys are finalizing a few things now. Stoops said Mitch Barnhart is a man of his word and gave him what he needed to agree to a new deal.
* Stoops said he's excited about the feedback they're getting on the recruiting trail. Nice to be back out in full force after the Covid year affected recruiting in 2020.
* Josh Paschal is dealing with an injury from the UofL game that they'll have to keep an eye on in the days/weeks ahead, Stoops said. Sounds like more than just being dinged up. Probably a good thing that a bowl game is still a month away.
* On the transfer portal... Stoops says they have to be really active with it this year and leave room to add guys who can help them. To that end, UK will be as helpful as possible to kids who are buried on the depth chart and want a chance to play somewhere else. It's a win-win for both sides, Stoops suggested.
* On the balance they found in the offense (averaging 200+ passing and 200+ rushing for first time ever) Stoops said he is "very pleased" with how things are progressing and evolving under Liam Coen.
* On the schedule in December... Players will be getting treatment and focusing on weights early in the month. Stoops said they know that they're going to be facing a big, strong Big Ten team (sounds like they think it's Citrus or Outback as well) so they better keep up with the weights.
* UK notes that Thursday, Dec. 2, is the deadline for season ticket holders to get in their reservations for priority bowl game tickets.
* Jacquez Jones joining the show... Leach asks him how long it took him to learn how big the UofL game was. Says it wasn't too long. He didn't realize it was as intense as the Egg Bowl was down in Mississippi, but it was. He laughed and pointed to the altercations that happened Saturday.
* Will Levis is also on the show... Says he got a sense for how intense the game would be from the fans leading up to game week. He was fired up to play (obviously). He joked about getting the Schnellenberger MVP award -- a cool baseball bat from Louisville Slugger -- saying it's probably the only time he'll get a baseball bat for winning a football game.
* Jones said the whole defensive focus was placed on Cunningham on Saturday. They knew that if they carried out their assignments on him, the Cards did not have other people who could hurt them.
* The QB run game worked way better than UK had anticipated going into the game, Levis said. It was part of the plan, but not THAT big a part until they saw how effective it was.
* Caller asks if Jones and Levis are coming back to UK next season... Both say they are going to sit down and think about it after the bowl game.
* Asked about the mindset of approaching the bowl game, Levis said you need the same kind of preparation that they had week in and week out this season. You have to treat every game like the most important game. Jones said they are looking forward to some mental rest and healing these next few days to get their bodies and minds right, but when it comes time to get back to work, this team will be ready for that.
* Jones said some of the guys were playing basketball in their free time today. It was his first time hooping with some of the guys. Said Kaiya Sheron shocked him. "He was dunking!" LOL Levis said Earnest Sanders is the best hooper on the team.
