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Tuesday Post-Practice Interview Notes

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Photo by Jacob Noger - UK Football

While the Big Ten and the Pac-12 chose not to play college football this fall, the SEC and the Kentucky Wildcats are gearing up for a very difficult schedule. One that includes five preseason AP Top-25 teams.

What is the best way to gear up for the challenge ahead? Practice. Practice. Practice.

We caught up with the offensive side of the ball on Tuesday afternoon including offensive coordinator Eddie Gran, and key seniors Justin Rigg and Josh Ali.

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Eddie Gran

“For Sure, We Want to Develop the Passing Game”

While Lynn Bowden and the Wildcats enjoyed much success with the running game last season, Gran wants to get back to a more balanced attack with a healthy Terry Wilson. For comparison, in 2018 Wilson threw for 1,889 yards alone, while Kentucky only threw for 1,478 yards last season.

“Since I’ve Been Here, This Is the Fastest We’ve Installed [an Offense]”

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Gran emphasized how quickly this team has picked up the offense, five practices to be exact. This a feat that Gran explained has never happened in his time at Kentucky and is promising after missing practically all of spring practice.

Beau Allen Has Done Some “Really Special Things”

Accuracy, Ball Delivery, Understanding the offense. Three things that Gran complimented a freshman Beau Allen on. Gran emphasized that he “loves” what he has seen thus far, and that Allen is a “[football] junkie”. Sounds like good things are to come when Allen is given his chance.

Justin Rigg

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Expect to See Two and Three Tight End Sets

Tight End has been one of Kentucky’s strongest positions in recent years, and this season does not appear to be much different. With proven players Justin Rigg and Keaton Upshaw, and top-20 recruit and now redshirt sophomore Brenden Bates, the offense will have a lot of versatility.

Justin Rigg Is Ready for Movies

For tight end Justin Rigg, one of the biggest consequences of the coronavirus has been the shutdown of movie theaters. While movie theaters are looking into opening back up, Rigg is does not think he will be able to go given the circumstances. However, he is hoping to be able to stream new movies from home and so are we, erll maybe not the new Batman movie.

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Josh Ali

Terry Wilson and Josh Ali Have Been Rekindling Their Connection Throughout Quarantine

In his interview, Gran said that Ali is “certainly is the number one guy out there right now”, and it is important for him and Terry to find that chemistry once again. Ali explained that they have just been “playing catch”, finding their timing and perfecting route since the start of summer.

Ali Claims His Is the Best Defensive Back Group in His Fours Years at UK

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“I feel like out of all four years, this is the best (defensive back) group that I’ve had competition with. Brandin Echols, Fats — I don’t know his real name, we just call him Fats — Kelvin Joseph from LSU. He’s doing really great, he’s really physical. Vito (Tisdale) is doing really good right now, he’s really physical. Even the front four is crazy. Sometimes we don’t get off plays because of those guys. I feel like the defense all around is doing a great job.”

That’s a heck of a statement, when you consider that Ali has lined up against the likes of Mike Edwards, Lonnie Johnson, Derrick Baity, Chris Westry and Darius West in practice. Just WOW!

The product has yet to be truly seen on the field, but Stoops and company could very well have their most talented roster in his time at Lexington. Yet, early on it sounds like iron is sharpening iron at practice. It’s getting exciting in Lexington!?

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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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