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Everything Mark Stoops Said After the Ole Miss Loss

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After tonight’s brutal loss to the Ole Miss Rebels, head coach Mark Stoops met with the media to discuss the loss.

Here’s everything he said:

MARK STOOPS: Very difficult way to lose a football game. It’s been a crazy year, and this season is going to be different. It’s going to be difficult playing a ten-game SEC schedule, and games are going to be close.
We have to make those plays in critical moments to win us football games. I was proud of the way — the
game was a struggle. We knew it was going to be. We went through some patches where we overcame
some adversity, got the game into overtime, and then to lose it that way is difficult.
As I mentioned, it’s just we have to find ways to execute better in critical moments. We did that for a
large portion of the night. Any time you rush the ball for 400 yards, you usually feel pretty good that
you’re going to have a good opportunity to win. This offense was extremely explosive, extremely fast.
They get you off kilter. This week and next week’s going to be like that where it’s a different style of
offense.
You have to get stops in critical moments. We did not play very good defense tonight. That’s on us. We
have to get them in position and play better. Offensively, I thought we did some good things at times,
certainly controlled the game and ran the ball very well.
Terry (Wilson) was efficient, 14 of 18. But we just — we’ve got to make plays in critical moments and play better as a team to get these victories.
Q. Mark, where do you go with the kicking situation from here? Obviously, PATs have been an issue
the last two years. Just kind of where things are at with that.
MARK STOOPS: Yeah, we’ll continue to work both guys. We’ll continue to work Matt (Ruffalo). We’ll
work Chance (Poore). If we feel like Chance gives us a better opportunity, then we’ll go with him.
Q. Mark, could you talk about what impact it has when A.J. (Rose) makes a mental mistake and then a
physical mistake so early like that in the game, you go ahead and go back to him. What does that kind
of say? Does that send a bad message when you’ve got a guy like that that does that?
MARK STOOPS: Yeah, it definitely doesn’t help. We’ve been a very unselfish football team through the
years, and that’s a mistake that you can’t have. A.J. means well. He’s a great young man. I’m not going to give up on him for one mistake. We will certainly point out and show him, and he understands that, that it’s not acceptable. That’s not how we do things. That’s not how we’re going to do it.
Fortunately, we got the ball back in great field position and went back and scored, but it definitely has
an impact. It’s definitely not the right message. It’s not OK, but I’m also not going to give up on him for
one mistake.

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Q. Mark, especially the second half, was there anything in particular that Ole Miss was doing that was
giving you the most trouble?
MARK STOOPS: They were doing what they wanted to do, to be honest with you. They really had us off
balance. They spread you out. They go extremely fast. We’ve got to play better. We got it to a two
touchdown lead, and then from there, we really played poor on defense, and they scored so quick that
momentum can shift.
You’re going to go through stretches in these games this season, again, with the margin for error is
small. You have to do things right, and you definitely knew that going into the game that a team like that
could put the foot on the gas and go extremely fast. Again, it will be very similar this next week.
Q. Hey, Coach, obviously last week Terry had the high number of pass attempts. Coming into tonight,
it seems like he had really great rushing. Was that something you guys wanted to bring into the game
plan coming in, or was that something that just started working at the end of the game and just
wanted to keep with it?
MARK STOOPS: Yeah, I think just like you said at the second part of the question. It was working. We had to stay ahead of the chains. Certainly, every possession, as you know, in a game like this, possessing the ball, getting yards and scoring points, they’re all important. With the way we were rushing the ball and creating explosive plays in the run game, it gave us the best opportunity, and it certainly added to that when we played such poor defense.
It kind of puts pressure on myself and on the offense to where every possession was so important.
Possessing the clock, but also scoring points is important. There comes a time when you get off balance like we were, you have to play as a team. I thought our offense responded several times tonight.
Obviously, there’s things they could do better, but there were times they responded really well, where
they had long drives and gave the defense an opportunity to kind of get over there and do some
adjustments and try to get their feet up underneath them and play better.
We just didn’t play very good in the second half. We’re holding them to 14 in the first half. We felt like
we were just ago at this point.
Q. Mark, you’ve already said to us that the team that wins the rushing yards is in pretty good shape,
and almost all the SEC games over the years. You’ve done that two weeks in a row in a pretty
dominant fashion. Do you feel like this is kind of an anomaly, or is something changing in the
dynamics?
MARK STOOPS: Both. I think both. Certainly, with this style of offense and next week — next week it
won’t matter as well. Time of possession won’t matter in the — obviously, you want to possess the ball,
but you need to score points, and we need to be explosive.
When we were stopped tonight, if you really look at it, it’s hard for me to be exact here right now. A lot
of things are running through my head. But there are times we shot ourselves in the foot, whether it be
a penalty or one or two drives way backed up. We came up a half yard short early in the first half. There’s more plays and yards out there. It’s
important, but it’s not the end all, be all. We know that. When you’re playing Ole Miss who can go as
fast as they can and they’re so explosive. But they’re very balanced. They’re a team that they rushed for
139 tonight. That will be low for them. They’ll rush for — they’re generally going to be a team that rushes
for around 200 and throw for around 300. That’s what they’ve been averaging.
If you look at their coordinator, where he was at UCF, and what they want to do, they put pressure on
you in that run game, but they also can throw it and get explosive plays outside.
I think that was still a good recipe for us. You rush for 400 yards, it’s going to give us an opportunity to
win the game. However, we have to play better defense than that, or you’re not going to win. So we had
our opportunities and got to make some stops.
Q. The television cameras at the end of the game showed you chipping back at officials. Was that just
an accumulation of officials or something that happened in that instance?
MARK STOOPS: I just wanted to talk to one of them about a specific play, but no.
Q. Kelvin’s (Joseph) a guy that you guys have obviously had high hopes for, and you still do. It seems
like in these first couple seasons he’s done a fair amount of chattering and has had some struggles
when it comes to the actual plays, especially in the end zone. What have you said to him about that? I
know you want corners to be confident and that swagger is part of what makes them good, but just
the balance that you’re looking for with him.
MARK STOOPS: You were cutting in and out, but I think I got the gist of your question. He, like a lot of
our players, we need to play better and more consistent. I thought he did good things a week ago.
Tonight just watching it out there, they were so extremely fast. I know there were some plays that stand
out in my mind right now that he needs to do a better job of.
I agree with you as far as that goes, really across our whole team. We don’t have time to get into it with
chattering. These opponents, especially with teams that go so fast, you’ve got to focus in on your job
and taking care of your business, and I’ve got to do a better job of coaching our team on that.
Q. Mark, obviously, 0-2 is not the start you wanted. How do you feel about the leadership on this
team? Do you feel like you’ve got good leaders that can pick guys up and get them ready for next
week?
MARK STOOPS: I do, John. I said just that in the locker room. I expect our leaders to step up. We knew it was going to be a challenge. Our players knew it was going to be a challenge. It’s going to be a
challenging year. I’m going to lean on them, and we have to get back at it and get to work on Monday.
We play at home next week again. It will be good to be back home, and it will be another challenge, as it will each and every week. But that’s also what makes it exciting. Every week is a big game, and you
really, truly got to look at it — and I also told the team this. If it went the other way, and we’re in there
celebrating and dancing and having a good time and everything, you’ve still got to go right back to work
on Monday. It’s going to be a long, challenging year, and you’d better have your feet up underneath you and be focused and come to work each and every week. We’ll get our team back and get them ready to play again next week.

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REPORT: Liam Coen Leaving Kentucky for NFL Offensive Coordinator Position

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UK Athletics

On the eve of a huge recruiting weekend for Kentucky football, the program has received some bad news. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen is leaving for the NFL again, this time taking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator position.

When Coen returned to Kentucky last offseason from the Los Angeles Rams, for his second stint as offensive coordinator, he talked about Lexington being a place that he and his wife had missed. In his return press conference, on January 12, 2023, he went as far as saying he wanted to be somewhere for a “few years”, at least.

“I want to go somewhere, make a real impact. Plant some roots for a little bit. Be somewhere for a few years — at least — that you feel really good about. I’m excited about being back in Lexington… I’m not in a rush to go anywhere.”

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That “few years” was just a year, but to be honest, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. After many games last season, Coen talked to the media with frustration about fundamental things such as lack of discipline and dropped passes. Even then, it always felt he was holding his words back. With his name circulating around multiple NFL jobs, it was clear this was the direction it was heading.

Now for Kentucky, it’s about getting the next hire right. In a time where offense is becoming the premium in college football, going through five offensive coordinators in ten seasons is not ideal. Paying $1.8 million to Coen, they have shown they will pay amongst the top in the country. Now, go get someone who keeps this core of offensive talent, can recruit, and brings much-needed consistency.

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A Piece of Will Levis’ Historic NFL Debut Displayed in NFL Hall of Fame

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Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis after his NFL debut.
© Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

During last year’s NFL Draft, Will Levis was one of the last players left in the green room after dropping to the second round. That moment fueled Levis, and he’s since earned the starting quarterback spot with the Tennessee Titans, appearing to have a bright future with the team.

Entering the season with no shortage of motivation, Levis entered the franchise as QB3 and wasn’t even on the active roster for the first six weeks of the season, being deemed the “emergency quarterback.” However, following an ankle injury to Ryan Tannehill in Week 6, the Titans gave their rookie quarterback an opportunity.

Levis certainly capitalized and had one of the best debuts in NFL History, throwing for 238 yards (19/29 passing) and four touchdowns. From the game, Levis has been put in the Hall of Fame. Well, at least his Houston Oiler throwback helmet from the performance has been placed on display in the Hall of Fame’s “Pro Football Today Gallery.”

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Levis started his career with a bang and had his moments. The former Kentucky Wildcat will look to build on his rookie campaign, going into a year where he should be the starter under new head coach Brian Callahan.

Also published on A Sea of Blue.

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Cutter Boley Opens up on Playing for Kentucky, “This Is Where My Heart’s Always Been”

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Four-star quarterback prospect Cutter Boley signing with Kentucky football.
© Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

With the early National Signing Day for the class of 2024 being over, Kentucky’s newest signed quarterback Cutter Boley discusses why he committed to play at Kentucky.

“Just growing up in the state, you know, I’ve grown up a fan I feel like this is where my heart’s always been, and just the offense that Liam Coen runs and the job coach (Mark) Stoops does as head coach is phenomenal and I wouldn’t want to play for anybody else,” Boley tells Kentucky Insider.

Kentucky needed to get some quarterbacks after three players either graduated or transferred with Devin Leary graduating, Destin Wade transferring to Colorado, and Kaiya Sheron electing to transfer as well.

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Kentucky was able to load up in the quarterback room by landing the Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff, Georgia Southern transfer Beau Allen, and then signing Boley in the class of 2024. Boley is ready to compete against them and he recognizes their talent.

“I couldn’t be any more excited to learn from them. They’re two really good quarterbacks, like I said, and they’ll have countless things to teach me from the places they’ve been and the offense that they’ve been in,” Boley tells us. “I just can’t wait to learn the things they know and just be able to work and get to work with them.”

One of the reasons why Boley committed to Kentucky is due to him having a connection since he has lived here his whole life.

“Just growing up in the state, you know, I’ve grown up a fan I feel like this is where my heart’s always been, and just the offense that Liam Coen runs and the job coach (Mark) Stoops does as head coach is phenomenal and I wouldn’t want to play for anybody else,” said Boley.

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As for finally signing his National Letter of Intent, Boley feels relieved to have it finished.

“It’s definitely a relief to finally put the pen to paper and make it official,” said Boley. “It’s been a long time coming so I couldn’t be any more excited about my decision and where I’m going to be for the next four years.”

What Boley is most focused on is how the offense is run, as at this time he feels like his play style is made to play professionally.

“I’m really hoping to develop into that pro-style quarterback, but I feel like I’m definitely a pro-style quarterback right now, but really develop into just being able to play in that offense at a very high level and get really comfortable in the offense, and I just want to develop all parts of my game and really be a quarterback that the NFL looks for and that type of quarterback they want to have,” Boley tells us.

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With Kentucky having a chance to develop within instead of the transfer route, fans will have a chance to see a quarterback finally develop into potentially starting in the future.

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