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.

 

[Blouman]

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

That proves it right there! Stoops is obviously greater than Bear Bryant!

It's time to build the statue. We can call it The Monument to Mediocrity!

 

[B.B.H.]

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

That proves it right there! Stoops is obviously greater than Bear Bryant!

It's time to build the statue. We can call it The Monument to Mediocrity!

Glad you agree that winningest coach in school history is mediocre. That’s precisely the point. We haven’t been mediocre very often.

 

[Cat_Man_Blue]

Bear coached 8 years at UK and was 60-23-5, so yea him and Stoops are on par.

 

[B.B.H.]

Bear coached 8 years at UK and was 60-23-5, so yea him and Stoops are on par.

No one thinks Stoops is on par with the greatest college football coach of all time

 

[warrior-cat]

I keep seeing some people post this year as being like the only bad year and he deserves more time. Not so, his last 2 years of 7-6 (both) were winning seasons because of bowl victories. These years were also losing seasons in conference play. In his 11 years we have only had 2 winning seasons in conference play. Overall wins we have had 2 seasons of 10-3 wins, 4 seasons of 7-6 wins and the rest were losing seasons. So 6 of the 11 were above 500 but only 2 well above. Overall, we are 77-73 with Stoops. Barely above .500. Yes, historically this is better than before but not by much.

For the amount of money we pay him, we deserve better.

 

[BlueRaider22]

#1 - Stoops has elevated us to mediocrity. We were NOT even mediocre before him. Mediocrity is no where near where any of us want us to be, but do not be mistaken about what he has been able to do.

#2 - When Stoops leaves - If we are able to maintain Stoops' average or better in the post-Stoops era, it'll be because of the foundation that Stoops and Brooks built. They would absolutely deserve credit for that.

#3 - When Stoops leaves - If we are not able to maintain what Stoops built and we go back to winning 4 wins on average every single year.......going to a bowl game once every 10-12 yrs.......not having respect nationally.......not putting players in the NFL.......etc, then it will be a cautionary tale.




For the record, I do think that it's time for a fresh start from all sides. I think Stoops needs to move on with a refreshed attitude. I think UK needs to a fresh start as well.

 

[B.B.H.]

#1 - Stoops has elevated us to mediocrity. We were NOT even mediocre before him. Mediocrity is no where near where any of us want us to be, but do not be mistaken about what he has been able to do.

#2 - When Stoops leaves - If we are able to maintain Stoops' average or better in the post-Stoops era, it'll be because of the foundation that Stoops and Brooks built. They would absolutely deserve credit for that.

#3 - When Stoops leaves - If we are not able to maintain what Stoops built and we go back to winning 4 wins on average every single year.......going to a bowl game once every 10-12 yrs.......not having respect nationally.......not putting players in the NFL.......etc, then it will be a cautionary tale.




For the record, I do think that it's time for a fresh start from all sides. I think Stoops needs to move on with a refreshed attitude. I think UK needs to a fresh start as well.

I appreciate that even though you are ready to move on, you showed respect for what Stoops has done. Well spoken, brother.

 

[BigBlueFever]

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 ?

This hasn't been talked about enough.

For all the night games we've had and the support the fans have shown, this is inexcusable.

Brings up the question of program culture. My assumption is that we let our guys do whatever they want the night before home games and that has been reflected in our home win/loss record the past 2 seasons.

If I remember correctly, during the Brooks era, he had the team stay at one of the downtown hotels in Lexington the night before home games. There was a curfew and no one was out late partying.

Something really needs to change with whatever the current routine (or lack of routine is) because a 1-11 SEC home record in the last 12 is ridiculously bad. We should have won the Auburn game and the Vanderbilt game last season.

 

[B.B.H.]

I love rich brooks….that said 16-40 in the SEC. Went .500 once and that’s it. Respect what Stoops has done

 

[TucsonCat]

I keep seeing some people post this year as being like the only bad year and he deserves more time. Not so, his last 2 years of 7-6 (both) were winning seasons because of bowl victories.

Absolutely amazing.

We went 7-5 in those two regular seasons and lost the bowl games.

 

[Cat_Man_Blue]

No one thinks Stoops is on par with the greatest college football coach of all time

I no that. I was being facetious. I was trying to show that Stoops being the all time wins coach at UK is not all that impressive. It took Stoops 12 years and the win percentage is not good and Bear did at a time when schools only played 10 or fewer games a year.

 

[TucsonCat]

Number 1, the bounce back year were going to have next year will only add to his legacy.

Number 2, college sports is filled with coaches that trended down on their way out. They're remembered for the glory days. Stoops will as well. Only maladjusted dickheads remember Tubby more for 2007 than 1998.

 

[B.B.H.]

I no that. I was being facetious. I was trying to show that Stoops being the all time wins coach at UK is not all that impressive. It took Stoops 12 years and the win percentage is not good and Bear did at a time when schools only played 10 or fewer games a year.

Ok I get you. Personally, I will always love Stoops. I used to cry literal tears after games, such as when LSU beat us with the walk off hail mary, the stupid Doering garbage catch that was nothing but horrible luck. We have had an amazing run under Stoops and we have every right to be pissed about the team giving up and not fighting but I’ll always show respect to the man who gave us hope when this program had to use “Why Not?” as a catchphrase.

 

[warrior-cat]

Absolutely amazing.

We went 7-5 in those two regular seasons and lost the bowl games.

Yeah, I screwed that part up. Thanks for the correction. I forgot about the bowls being losses. I stand corrected. I was looking at the overall records.

 

[PhattyJ4UK]

Stoops legacy is a drunk grifter who spent at least 13 seasons taking us to the exact place he found us.


Though we actually put effort into the program and have so many advantages that past coaches did not- he just couldn’t do anything with them.

If he did the honorable thing and worked a reasonable buyout this offseason- his legacy could have been saved.

 

[bigbluedon]

I love rich brooks….that said 16-40 in the SEC. Went .500 once and that’s it. Respect what Stoops has done

Way less talent and the sec was way tougher. Brooks had none of the advantages that Stoops has. He would coach rings around Stoops. I wish he were still our coach today. This team would not have been 4-8 under Brooks.

 

[R.O.T.Muckinfush]

Way less talent and the sec was way tougher. Brooks had none of the advantages that Stoops has. He would coach rings around Stoops. I wish he were still our coach today. This team would not have been 4-8 under Brooks.

Brooks could coach em up... did more with less. Stoops does less with more every time.

 

[Supafuzz75]

Stoops won 10 games once far as I'm concerned.. If most here give Louisville hell for still claiming a title in 2013 after it was revoked then it should be the same here..

 

[BigBlue1992]

“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

We’re last place in the SEC currently. We’re already in the toilet.

 

[doc4UK]

We’re last place in the SEC currently. We’re already in the toilet.

Next year we will be lucky to go 5-7 so is that enough improvement ?

 

[Lost In FL]

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.

Yes he is. He is 77-73 counting the vacated wins, which is bullshit. IMO

The Bear is 2nd with 60 wins.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Yes he is. He is 77-73 counting the vacated wins, which is bullshit. IMO

The Bear is 2nd with 60 wins.

Bear lost 23 games or so. Stoops has lost 50 more. Dang.

 

[Girthang]

#1 - Stoops has elevated us to mediocrity. We were NOT even mediocre before him. Mediocrity is no where near where any of us want us to be, but do not be mistaken about what he has been able to do.

#2 - When Stoops leaves - If we are able to maintain Stoops' average or better in the post-Stoops era, it'll be because of the foundation that Stoops and Brooks built. They would absolutely deserve credit for that.

#3 - When Stoops leaves - If we are not able to maintain what Stoops built and we go back to winning 4 wins on average every single year.......going to a bowl game once every 10-12 yrs.......not having respect nationally.......not putting players in the NFL.......etc, then it will be a cautionary tale.




For the record, I do think that it's time for a fresh start from all sides. I think Stoops needs to move on with a refreshed attitude. I think UK needs to a fresh start as well.

Well said.

 

[Girthang]

Number 1, the bounce back year were going to have next year will only add to his legacy.

I hope you're right

Number 2, college sports is filled with coaches that trended down on their way out. They're remembered for the glory days. Stoops will as well.

At UK? We'll see

 

[Girthang]

Stoops won 10 games once far as I'm concerned.. If most here give Louisville hell for still claiming a title in 2013 after it was revoked then it should be the same here..

Most here know the difference between using hookers to recruit and reward players vs a couple players making themselves ineligible by not showing up to their jobs, and hurting their team. Some don't, but the ones who do know the difference are reasonable people.

 

[Girthang]

This hasn't been talked about enough.

For all the night games we've had and the support the fans have shown, this is inexcusable.

Brings up the question of program culture. My assumption is that we let our guys do whatever they want the night before home games and that has been reflected in our home win/loss record the past 2 seasons.

If I remember correctly, during the Brooks era, he had the team stay at one of the downtown hotels in Lexington the night before home games. There was a curfew and no one was out late partying.

Something really needs to change with whatever the current routine (or lack of routine is) because a 1-11 SEC home record in the last 12 is ridiculously bad. We should have won the Auburn game and the Vanderbilt game last season.

Agreed. Should've won the USC game as well. Played to their strengths with our offense.

 

[Deeeefense]

Historically since the departure of Bryant Kentucky for the most part has treated football like the bastard step child. The change came when Mitch Barnhart was hired here and set Kentucky on a course to be competitive in all sports. He started down that path with Rich Brooks who provided some level of success but didn't really get rolling until they brought in Stoops. What Stoops brought to table was a big time football name. Barnhart oversaw a complete revamping of facilities and modernization of the football program. Stoops and his side kick Marrow brought recruiting to a level never seen before. Kentucky started beating teams like Florida, South Carolina, even Tennessee that usually used Kentucky as their home coming game. By year 5, fans like me that suffered through 4 decades of mostly bad football were living a dream. For the first time people weren't referring to us as "just a basketball school".

But then the program started heading south in 2022. The team that was built on being physical especially in the trenches and having a winning culture started coming apart at the seams as we saw less physicality and more undisciplined behavior and you could see something wasn't quit right as the losses continued to roll up. Unfortunately that trend continued and now here we are sitting on a 4 win season with Stoops on the hot seat.

The number of bowls is a meaningless stat since it only requires winning 6 games, or saying he's the "winningest coach" is like saying someone is the tallest midget in the room. What IS important is Stoops brought respectability to Kentucky football. If he can bring back the things that brought respectability - toughness, discipline, winning attitude etc. then his legacy may be salvaged. 2025 is IMO his last year to right the ship, if the team doesn't return to something resembling previous years, then his tenue ends here, if he rights the ship then the down years will be viewed as just a bad cycle in a most successful career.

 

[B.B.H.]

Stoops legacy is a drunk grifter who spent at least 13 seasons taking us to the exact place he found us.


Though we actually put effort into the program and have so many advantages that past coaches did not- he just couldn’t do anything with them.

If he did the honorable thing and worked a reasonable buyout this offseason- his legacy could have been saved.

This is a laughable lie. He found us at MAC level talent and a 2 win season. We are now absolutely LIVID at not being bowl eligible for the first team in a freaking decade. Be angry about the year we had all you want but being a liar is an ugly, ugly thing. Be honest in your criticism of Stoops…there is plenty of it that is fair and valid.

 

[bballcat4]

Way less talent and the sec was way tougher. Brooks had none of the advantages that Stoops has.

I agree with you that Brooks coached up his players. Unfortunately, his recruiting was not much better than his predecessors.

Gotta disagree with you regarding the state of SEC play today versus Brook’s day. We just put 3 teams in the new 12 team playoffs. (We played all 3 of them.) 2-3 other SEC teams were on the bubble. Ole Miss, Vandy, SC, and several other programs were not as good as they are today. Fla is the only team that comes to mind as being worse today. The amount of television $ made/spent today has improved many SEC schools from where they were when Brooks was at UK.

Stoops lifted the program to new heights. However, there’s no disputing the boat is taking on water. I agree with you (or whoever posted) that it actually began a couple years ago. I do believe Stoops deserves one more year to see if he can right the ship. If not, it will be time to hand it over to someone else.

 

[Girthang]

Historically since the departure of Bryant Kentucky for the most part has treated football like the bastard step child. The change came when Mitch Barnhart was hired here and set Kentucky on a course to be competitive in all sports. He started down that path with Rich Brooks who provided some level of success but didn't really get rolling until they brought in Stoops. What Stoops brought to table was a big time football name. Barnhart oversaw a complete revamping of facilities and modernization of the football program. Stoops and his side kick Marrow brought recruiting to a level never seen before. Kentucky started beating teams like Florida, South Carolina, even Tennessee that usually used Kentucky as their home coming game. By year 5, fans like me that suffered through 4 decades of mostly bad football were living a dream. For the first time people weren't referring to us as "just a basketball school".

But then the program started heading south in 2022. The team that was built on being physical especially in the trenches and having a winning culture started coming apart at the seams as we saw less physicality and more undisciplined behavior and you could see something wasn't quit right as the losses continued to roll up. Unfortunately that trend continued and now here we are sitting on a 4 win season with Stoops on the hot seat.

The number of bowls is a meaningless stat since it only requires winning 6 games, or saying he's the "winningest coach" is like saying someone is the tallest midget in the room. What IS important is Stoops brought respectability to Kentucky football. If he can bring back the things that brought respectability - toughness, discipline, winning attitude etc. then his legacy may be salvaged. 2025 is IMO his last year to right the ship, if the team doesn't return to something resembling previous years, then his tenue ends here, if he rights the ship then the down years will be viewed as just a bad cycle in a most successful career.

Agreed, and I've stated similar.