What will this past season and what many fear next season will be like do to the legacy of Mark Stoops tenure at Kentucky ?

[Uncle Adolph]

First the good: Stoops took over a program that was at that point an OVC football program playing in the SEC. He upgraded the talent level, the facilities were upgraded drastically, we had a couple of 10 win seasons and 8 straight bowl games. Pretty amazing for what has always been considered a BB school playing in a FB conference. He made us respected if not feared in the college FB world.
Second the bad: This past season was dissapointing to say the least. Our offence was painful to watch. Like enduring a trip to the dentist. The defence did not live up to billing. We had a player at the hot dog stand during the game. Matt Jones has as much as said that they got fat and sassy and discipline fell off.
The SEC has always been a meat grinder and now you add Texas and Oklahoma. Stoops makes 9 million a year. Some have called for him to donate some of that to NIL as other coaches have done but so far silence on that.
So here is the question. If we have a season next year like we had this will it erase in people minds what he did the first 8 years he was here ?
I love KY FB and hope we bounce back but I do wonder if he can do it. My fear is next season may be ugly also. I pray I am wrong and will GLADLY eat crow if I am.

 

[B.B.H.]

Nothing. He’s going to finish as the all-time win leader at the school and I fear we will look back at some of his coaching achievements as the good old days when we move on due to “the grass is always greener on the other side.” I really hope, of course, that I’m terribly wrong.

 

[R.O.T.Muckinfush]

Nothing. He’s going to finish as the all-time win leader at the school and I fear we will look back at some of his coaching achievements as the good old days when we move on due to “the grass is always greener on the other side.” I really hope, of course, that I’m terribly wrong.

Is he still actually the all time win leader after having those wins vacated? I know he is still the all time leader in losses, not sure about the wins though.

 

[B.B.H.]

Is he still actually the all time win leader after having those wins vacated? I know he is still the all time leader in losses, not sure about the wins though.

“He will finish as”. I’m aware he isn’t currently. I know you said it’s a loser mentality. Man, I grew up with UK football and I’ve seen how it has been before Stoops. We didn’t always expect a bowl game and the conference is only getting more brutal. We are one coaching miss away from being stuck in the toilet again

 

[doc4UK]

And we are only one great hire (as we did with Mark Pope) from becoming the next Indiana or South Carolina? Same logic. Accept mediocrity with a 9 million dollar coach and an annual low end bowl invite or shoot for a spot in the expanded play offs ?

One SEC home win in our last 12 contests. 9 million dollar pay day. Top 10 paid coach in the country. Last place offense in the SEC. Did not score more than 20 points in any SEC contest this year. Same schedule next year. Expecting a different outcome? How many SEC teams would keep a coach with Stoops record over the last two years and the outlook for 2025 looking just as bleak ?

“He will finish as”. I’m aware he isn’t currently. I know you said it’s a loser mentality. Man, I grew up with UK football and I’ve seen how it has been before Stoops. We didn’t always expect a bowl game and the conference is only getting more brutal. We are one coaching miss away from being stuck in the toilet again

 

[bballcat4]

And we are only one great hire (as we did with Mark Pope) from becoming the next Indiana or South Carolina? Same logic. Accept mediocrity with a 9 million dollar coach and an annual low end bowl invite or shoot for a spot in the expanded play offs ?

You realize that Beamer was on the hot seat going into last year. Many UCjr fans calling for his head after ‘23 debacle. He doesn’t seem to be able to create consistency. They have a very bad year and follow it up by exceeding expectations. Beamer may be an example of why you don’t get rid of coach too soon. (BTW - Same can be said for his dad, but that was a different generation.)

For most people over 40, we realize the amazing job Stoops has done at UK. Football people across the nation said it could not happen at UK for many reasons. (The Indianas of football don’t come close to facing the challenges that UK faces.)

Now, Stoops CANNOT rest on prior success! He has to right the ship or UK will have to move on. He certainly deserves a chance to fix what happened this season. Moving on this year would have been a terrible move noticed by other coaches. (Trust me, they notice how coaches are treated!)

This is a critical year. I wish him the best and will support him. However, he’ll have to produce on the field.

 

[BradleyCrawford08]

Is he still actually the all time win leader after having those wins vacated? I know he is still the all time leader in losses, not sure about the wins though.

He still is. 67 wins at UK, 7 more than Bear Bryant’s 60.