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Kentucky Football Players and Parents Publicly Voice Frustration on the Program

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Frustration is high around the Kentucky football program following a loss to South Carolina
UK Athletics

Mark Stoops has brought Kentucky football to new heights that it had not ever seen before. Kentucky recorded two 10-win seasons in the span of four years under Stoops from 2018 to 2021, something that had not been done since 1977. However, after going 7-6 last year in disappointing fashion, the BBN wanted to see Stoops get things turned around. That hasn’t happened, and now there are many people upset about the direction of the program.

Parents of Current Players

It was no secret that a ton of Kentucky’s key players struggled in Saturday’s loss. After all, that’s how you lose games, from not playing well. However, star RB Ray Davis’ lack of production wasn’t a means of struggling necessarily, but he had a lack of touches against South Carolina. Davis’ father, Raymond, commented on the issue as well, saying, “One of the best running backs in the country w 12 carries crazy.”

In addition, Donte Key, the father of Dane Key, expressed his own thoughts on X during the game. His statement was simple, saying, “This is f******* awful!” Despite Dane having four receptions for 51 yards, his father had to talk about the elephant in the room. Unfortunately, the parent frustration doesn’t end there.

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Anonymously, a parent of a former player talked with KY Insider, and they had some pretty damning things to say about the UK football program. “Seems like the last two years there’s been a lack of grit and toughness that was kind of their calling card the previous 4 or 5 years,” the parent said. A lot of people are upset about the program, even from within.

Former Players

Yup, even some of Stoops’ former players aren’t happy with him and the direction the program is taking. The former Ole Miss turned UK LB Jacquez Jones was one of the players most upset with what he was watching. Jones also kept his feelings comprised in a simple post.

Then, one of the best to put on the Kentucky uniform under Stoops also let his voice be heard. Current LA Rams LB DeAndre Square also took his frustrations to X/Twitter on Saturday night. Square posted, “We gotta get our fight back .. idk where we lost it but we gotta get it back #BBN.” It would be nice to have some of the veteran leadership that Jones and Square brought to the team.

Ray Davis and Dane Key

Aaaaaaaand last, but certainly not least: Ray Davis. Just like his father, Davis was also frustrated with his lack of touches against South Carolina. After being one of the best running backs in the SEC all season long, Stoops and Coen went away from their fifth-year star. On X, Davis said, “it is what it is. Thought I was the bell cow”.

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Davis has only gotten 172 carries this season compared to 232 as a Commodore last year. Despite having 990 yards on the ground and 17 total touchdowns, Kentucky went away from Davis during the most critical time of the season. Only Stoops and Coen can answer why, but it’s easy to see why Davis (and his father) aren’t happy.

He is not the only current player to make their frustration public either. While not publishing his own post, star wide receiver Dane Key liked a tweet from his brother that said “Free 6.”


Stoops brought back Liam Coen who was the OC in 2021’s 10-3 season. He brought in the No. 1 ranked QB in the transfer portal. He brought in RB Ray Davis, who set numerous records at Vanderbilt. Barion Brown, Dane Key, and Deone Walker all came back. All of those things happened, but Kentucky is just 6-5 coming off of a 21-14 loss to a now 5-6 South Carolina team.

The regression is apparent and because of that, there are A LOT of folks frustrated around the program.

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Louisville Football Player Charged With First-Degree Strangulation, Days After Committing Game Losing Personal Foul

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Louisville Cardinals defensive back Tayon Holloway (20) reacts to his defensive play.
Eric Canha | Imagn

On Monday, Louisville football defensive back Tayon Holloway was detained and charged with first-degree strangulation and fourth-degree assault.

This comes just days after the former four-star prospect committed a costly personal foul to put a 2-7 Stanford team in field goal range and upset Louosillve 38-35 with a walk-off field goal.

As expected, Holloway has been indefinitely suspended from the team.

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“The University of Louisville is aware of the arrest of football student-athlete Tayon Holloway,” the university said in a statement. “As we gather more information, Tayon has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities.”

Things Cardinals seem to be in a downward trend as the Commonwealth Cup nears, November 30th.

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Kentucky snaps four game losing streak defeats Murray State 48-6

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Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops talking to Murray State football coach Jody Wright.
Jordan Prather | Imagn

Kentucky gets a much-needed victory over Murray St 48-6 to snap its four-game losing Streak. Brock Vandagriff led the way for the Cats, going 12-19 for 183 passing yards and two touchdown passes to Hardley Gilmore IV and Ja’Mori Maclin. 48 Points is the most points Kentucky has scored in a game since 2021 when the Cats scored 51 points against Louisville.

The defense held Murray St. without a touchdown. For the second time this season, Kentucky’s defense has held an opponent without a touchdown.

Freshman Standout today:

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For the second time this season, Kentucky breaks the 40-point mark as three freshmen make impacts for Kentucky. Jamarion Wilcox had 13 carries and 124 yards with a touchdown in the 3rd quarter.

Receiver Hardley Gilmore IV had two receptions for 72 yards and caught the 52-yard touchdown pass from Brock Vandagriff on the game-opening drive.

Four-star quarterback Cutter Boley started the second half for the Cats, going 10-14 and passing for 130 yards with two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, both touchdown passes to sophomore receiver Anthony Brown-Stephens.

Defense Bounces Back:

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After giving up over 475 yards of total offense each of the last three games, Kentucky’s defense holds Murray State to 256 total yards of offense while also having three takeaways from the Murray State offense

Defensive Lineman Tre’vonn Rybka led the way for the defense with five tackles and the only sack of the game for Kentucky’s defense. Jordan Lovett had two takeaways in the first half for Kentucky and one in the red zone in the second quarter. Jackson Schultz had the final takeaway, picking off Jim Ogle’s pass late in the fourth quarter.

Box Score

With the win today over Murray St., Kentucky moves to 4-6 (1-6 SEC) with two games remaining. They look to keep their bowl eligibility alive as they travel to Austin, Texas, and face the No. 3 ranked Texas Longhorns at 3:30 pm on ABC. 

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Mark Stoops Responds to Retirement Rumors, “Zero Percent Chance I Do That”

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Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops responds to retirement rumors amidst disappointing season. "Zero percent chance I do that."
Jordan Prather | Imagn

To say there is unrest in the Kentucky Football fanbase would be an understatement. With a 3-6 record overall, and 1-6 in the SEC (15th out of 16) things look bleak, and there is still a quarter of the season to go. Considering the regression from the previous two seasons as well, it’s difficult to be optimistic about the future.

Over the last few weeks, rumors have circled that head coach Mark Stoops has considered retiring at the end of the season. Optics wise it makes sense, his older brother Bob Stoops surprisingly retired from Oklahoma at just 56, and Mark, now 57, has expressed a desire to spend more time with his children.

At his weekly press conference, Stoops was asked directly if there is any chance that he would walk away from Kentucky and retire at the season. To which he responded, bluntly:

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“Zero percent chance I do that. Next question.”

Mark Stoops is still owed more than $44 million on his contract. That’s A LOT of money to leave on the table and is the reason that the decision will be Stoops’ to make, as Kentucky cannot afford the buyout.

If Stoops holds true to his word and returns next season, NIL fundraising efforts may be the most difficult it has been for him. However, he hopes it sparks motivation to donate.

“I’ve seen it at other SEC schools,” Stoops said. “I want to stay away from that. I really get tired of — I don’t want to be like I am whining, I am crying. It is reality. You have to have dollars.”

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