Something going terribly wrong in Lexington

[2330859]

It’s always a good week when UL wins and UK losses; but the way things played out in Kroger Field last night suggests that Stoops and UK have some under-lying issues that suggest that more than just injuries and poor performance are contributing to their decline. If there was ever a time to beat Auburn it was this season, and the way Auburn abandoned their pre-game strategy of passing the football in favor of running against UK’s “vaulted front four”, it exposed more than just UK’s defense. Stoops and his staff have lost control of their team.

I watched UK give both UGA and Ole Miss much more than I had ever expected, and it raised concerns as to just how UL would be able to win. Everything has changed, as it appears the players may “have packed it in”. For those UL fans questioning our own fundamental tackling, there is some consolidation in watching UK give up 220+ yards to Hunter when most of the yardage was after contact.

It’s a long way off, but we must beat UK this year regardless of what we do between now and then.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Right now they have no QB. With all emphasis on the D and run they just assume they can get enough from QB to win games with 13-20 points. But their D isn't good enough for that strategy, in today's game not sure any D is.

Hopefully neither QB turns it around. We are still their SB.

 

[beantowncard]

Well, my first response to reading the title of this thread was “so what else is new?” It may be a bit of a leap to conclude that the Yuts have packed it in, everybody has a bad game here and there. I think they will still be a handful, but I also think this is our best opportunity in the past five years or so to win back the GC. Let’s go beat Clemson.

 

[earsky]

For those UL fans questioning our own fundamental tackling

I saw a different group against BC than the one that we saw against Miami-big strides forward.

 

[dac244]

I think they will stomp a mud hole in us and I tell ya why. Seems like every time we play them they are mega pumped and we play like it’s just another game. 😡

 

[2330859]

BEAN: if you think that “thingd have not changed” within UK football, you can be excused as having little or no interest in our in-state rival’s football program. The Stoops era was on the cusp of moving well ahead of South Carolina, Missouri, Florida, Vanderbilt and regrettably UL: fortunately I now see that trend ending.

 

[beantowncard]

BEAN: if you think that “thingd have not changed” within UK football, you can be excused as having little or no interest in our in-state rival’s football program. The Stoops era was on the cusp of moving well ahead of South Carolina, Missouri, Florida, Vanderbilt and regrettably UL: fortunately I now see that trend ending.

The “so what else is new” comment refers to the title of the thread. Something is ALWAYS terribly wrong in Lessinton. Porky needs a great OC to have a good team. Currently he does not.

 

[CommodoreCard]

Maybe Pitino’s check bounced..

 

[shadow force]

 

[TopCatCal]

Right now they have no QB. With all emphasis on the D and run they just assume they can get enough from QB to win games with 13-20 points. But their D isn't good enough for that strategy, in today's game not sure any D is.

Hopefully neither QB turns it around. We are still their SB.

UK plays in the SEC. They play names like Georgia, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Texas, Auburn & Florida. Other years they play Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU. Playing those teams, UK has lots of Super Bowls. We don't have much success against these teams. But like I said, UK has lots of Super Bowls.

 

[73Card]

UK plays in the SEC. They play names like Georgia, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Texas, Auburn & Florida. Other years they play Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU. Playing those teams, UK has lots of Super Bowls. We don't have much success against these teams. But like I said, UK has lots of Super Bowls.

Yes but that doesn't explain Deone Walker's and others play this season. Walker was a legit 5 star and last night got his first sack of the year. Walker will be one of the first defensive tackles taken in the draft.
I have said this about a few UL players, guy takes more plays off than not. Last night when the Barners had it 4th and goal from inside the 5, Walker was not on the field.
This morning on WVLK Larry Vaught called out the entire team and staff for quitting. Vaught, now an independent journalist, was a beat writer-columnist for 30 years for various Kentucky newspapers covering UK. He is literally Blue to the Bone but a nice guy none the less.

 

[2330859]

TopCat: The OP is not about the SEC super teams you mentioned, as UK has never been mentioned in the same breath as those that you mentioned. The Stoops era was trying to move ahead of South Carolina, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Missouri and the recent collapse of Florida. My consultations are consistent with what most UK fans acknowledge themselves when being honest.

Again, something is going terribly wrong in Lexington.

 

[Thecycle27]

It is a brutal conference. UK is the most northern school in a football crazy conference. The expansion is going to bury the lower level teams. Almost every team they play has more talent than UK.

 

[the artist FKA zipp]

Absolutely hate it for ‘em. They’ll just have to console themselves cashing $EC paychecks.

LPT Football: We’re good when you’re bad…

 

[jalovell23]

Kentucky is the new Vanderbilt of SEC football

 

[Louis III]

I will say they were missing a ton of starters in that game!! Either way their QB play is not good!!

 

[Beagle11]

I have logical explanation for the clock and play management in the last 8 minutes of that game down 2 TDs. Stoops ran the ball, wasted minutes of valuable clock huddling between downs, and did not take a single timeout before the pick on 4th down. You have to truly wonder if Stoops is trying to place pressure on Mitch to let him go after the end of the this season and may him $44M not to coach. Since his contact extension in 2022 was an extension of his 2012 contract, he would have to coach 2 more years for his buyout to go from 80% to 60%. Unless another team is wanting to hire him, UK is stuck with Stoops for at least 2 more years. I think Jimmy Sexton pulled off a similar Houdini sales job on A&M like he did with Cincinnati and Satterfield before the A&M fans, seeing Sexton's stage trick from the seats, smartly revolted against the Stoops hire and spoiled their exit before he was exposed and cash in a big payday. Now Stoops has been exposed because he has talent and can't coach them up.

Stoops is a fraud and can only succeed by having bagman Marrow and scheduling a creampuff non-conference schedule between a historically weak SEC division. NIL and the change to the SEC schedule has eliminated his program's crutches. A&M was a school that has enough silly booster NIL money to allow Marrow to continue to hold his recruiting advantage. Stoops knows he can't compete under the new scenario at Kentucky. It isn't a coincidence that his plea to "pony up" was his first response to losing.

If Stoops can phone it in and force Mitch to pay him for the next 4 years not to work, he can go commentate, rebuild his brand, and Jimmy Sexton will convince a BIG12 school in a few years to hire him for $4-5M a year. The players know the staff has checked out. They know the staff has never been loyal. Over the past years, there were always posts ripping the staff by players when things don't go well. The tweets were quickly deleted and after another Music City Bowl, all was forgotten.

The problem is that Mitch is going to be forced to risk what happened at Louisville by allowing Stoops to remain. UK fan support this season by all measures was tremendous. We saw first-hand how quickly a few bad seasons can destroy that support and change fans' priorities when it comes to investing in a football program. Does Mitch keep Stoops and risk him continuing to phone it in, or does he finance the $44M buyout and the investment in a new coach? Time will tell.

 

[cardrock]

Well, my first response to reading the title of this thread was “so what else is new?” It may be a bit of a leap to conclude that the Yuts have packed it in, everybody has a bad game here and there. I think they will still be a handful, but I also think this is our best opportunity in the past five years or so to win back the GC. Let’s go beat Clemson.

I agree but you know as well as I do, UK might very well have packed it in. But they almost always play one of their very best games against us regardless. They will not go away quietly against us. We will have “A STREET FIGHT BETWEEN THE WHISTLES”

 

[CardHack]

I think Stoops might be topped out but still have to tip my hat to how he has constructed UK's program with a model unique to the SEC. Getting quality recruits out of the heart of Big Ten territory in Detroit and Ohio in particular. In a physical league he has built a program based on physicality but to be outmuscled by a Hugh Freese team is embarrassing. That's like getting shoved off of the Incline bench at the gym by Richard Simmons.

They'll have their L's down locked and loaded for us since they'll have to suppress their base instincts to throw Horns down all over Austin the week before.

 

[2330859]

The “so what else is new” comment refers to the title of the thread. Something is ALWAYS terribly wrong in Lessinton. Porky needs a great OC to have a good team. Currently he does not.

More specifically, Stoops was successful putting together a very disciplined Offensive Line that provided for several very physical RBs to enjoy yardage and use of the clock.

 

[2330859]

Bingo; we have a winner! Beagle said what I was reluctant to say!

Stoops conceded the game to Auburn; QB change was a surrender and surprised their fans and media failed to respond.

 

[EKYCard643]

Furthering on what @Beagle11 said:

I've been saying all year that if you're a UofL fan, you want Stoops in Lexington. I know he's had success against us, and that's probably changing, but Stoops is who he is. We have 12 years of data on Stoops; he isn't changing. He's—at best—a mediocre coach. With Stoops in town, you keep Marrow, who's sucking up a large salary and doing absolutely nothing but recruiting and being embarrassing on social media, looking like a hunched-over goblin and talking smack on Twitter with numerous misspellings on his freezing cold smack talk.

You don't want Jon Sumrall in Lexington.

Currently, Mark Stoops is owed $44 million, and the amount will not significantly drop for two more years. He's signed through 2031.
DC Brad White signed a contract extension last year. He's signed through 2026 at $1.7 million annually. $3.4 total owed.
Vince Marrow signed an extension in 2023. He's signed through 2026 at $1.3 million annually. $2.6 total owed.
OC Bush Hamden signed his contract in 2024. He's signed through 2026 at $1.35 next year and $1.45 in 26'. $2.4 total owed.

It's hard to find contract lengths for the rest of the staff, but I did find an article saying that all staff was signed at least through the 2026 season. So, let's assume everyone has two more seasons at their current rate.

Mike Stoops, Linebackers Coach, $675,000. $1.35 total owed.
Jay Boulware, Special Teams Coordinator, $550,000. $1.1 total owed.
Anwar Stewart, Defensive Line Coach, $500,000. $1.0 total owed.
Frank Buffano, Safeties Coach, $415,000. $830,000 total owed.
Christopher Collins, Defensive Backs Coach, $400,000. $800,000 total owed.
Eric Wolford, Offensive Line Coach, $350,000. $700,000 total owed.
Daikel Shorts, Wide Receivers Coach, $300,000. $600,000 total owed.

$13,830,000 in assistant salaries.

Based on my math, it would cost UK $57,830,000 to fire Mark Stoops after this season.

There's no real way around it as keeping the current staff in place for 2 more years without signed extensions is impossible but the best case scenario for UK is enduring 2 more years of Stoops, having the staff contracts all expire and then paying him 60% of his remaining salary and that would still cost roughly $26 million and be the second highest buyout ever paid.

 

[earsky]

I think they will stomp a mud hole in us and I tell ya why. Seems like every time we play them they are mega pumped and we play like it’s just another game. 😡

Those days are over with regards to the pigskin. Yet to be proven on the field,we have a coach now who like many on this board,grew up battling for the Cards with uk fans in our city. He only has to make his players feel what he does. It’s coming and hopefully soon.

 

[EKYCard643]

Those days are over with regards to the pigskin. Yet to be proven on the field,we have a coach now who like many on this board,grew up battling for the Cards with uk fans in our city. He only has to make his players feel what he does. It’s coming and hopefully soon.

For Brohm, it was just bad, bad luck. UK averaged 6 penalties per game. They were called for 0.
Louisville was 56th in turnovers committed per game at 1.3. They committed 3.
Kentucky was 93rd in turnovers caused per game at 1.3. They forced 3.
Jawar Jordan had rushed 166 times that year and UK was the first time he fumbled. He only has 3 fumbles in his career. 420 touches. He only fumbled twice at Louisville. UK game last year and FSU in 2022 when we lost by 4. So when he fumbles he makes sure its back breaking.

UK was 114th in yards per game, and as poor as that is, the UofL defense held them under their average. (Averaged 308/gained 289)
UofL outgained UK by 114 yards.
Gained 7 more 1st downs.
Held the ball for 13 more minutes.

Brohm did everything he possibly could and beat UK in every aspect of the football game besides the one that matters most.

 

[bigloucards]

UK plays in the SEC. They play names like Georgia, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Texas, Auburn & Florida. Other years they play Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU. Playing those teams, UK has lots of Super Bowls. We don't have much success against these teams. But like I said, UK has lots of Super Bowls.

They may be uk super bowls but I know uk isn’t their super bowls

 

[CommodoreCard]

They may be uk super bowls but I know uk isn’t their super bowls

UK is their Homecoming opponent.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

UK plays in the SEC. They play names like Georgia, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Texas, Auburn & Florida. Other years they play Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU. Playing those teams, UK has lots of Super Bowls. We don't have much success against these teams. But like I said, UK has lots of Super Bowls.

Not SBs. Your SEC funerals are meaningless, none of the games ever matter.

But you have tons of players on your roster every year from KY that are raised to hate Louisville from day one just like your fans.

 

[Cardiac Red]

As to the title of the OP, I see nothing terrible about it, I think I would go with glorious..

Regardless, I'll be more than pleasantly surprised if we go into Lexington and pull off a win. They were limping down the curb when we played them here last year and let them walk out with a win. Regardless, their winning streak needs to be snapped.

 

[LeFors4Ever]

Stoops whole era they've been bad in their passing attack. They've never had high level QB play other than when Wan'dale and Levis had something going.

What they did always have was Benny Snell, Lynn Bowden, Rodriguez, and the Davis kid that's with the Bills now. They had a running back that could go out there and make plays. They don't have that and in the SEC you cannot get away from that fact. They have a lot of talented guys on their roster, but it takes more than that to beat good football teams.

I would say we'll beat them and it could be an easy win, but that's because I think they'll quit. Go look at their history in the game, years when they do not make a bowl game they lose to us. Now we kept them from a bowl twice, but it's not often they beat us when they don't have a team that didn't make a bowl and maybe only happened like 1 time in the 30 year series.

If they were motivated to beat us, I would say they'd worry me a bit because our OL versus their defensive line plus they have some talent in their secondary. But? I think they'll quit by Thanksgiving weekend. Their top players will be ready to transfer or go to the draft. The stadium will be empty and maybe our biggest Card fan contingent ever in Lexington? Stoops is done and I don't think the players or him will care by that game.

My one fear is that it's announced he's stepping away and knows it's his last game and they fight hard to send him out with one last win. But I don't think that's going to happen.

 

[PushupMan]

It’s always a good week when UL wins and UK losses; but the way things played out in Kroger Field last night suggests that Stoops and UK have some under-lying issues that suggest that more than just injuries and poor performance are contributing to their decline. If there was ever a time to beat Auburn it was this season, and the way Auburn abandoned their pre-game strategy of passing the football in favor of running against UK’s “vaulted front four”, it exposed more than just UK’s defense. Stoops and his staff have lost control of their team.

I watched UK give both UGA and Ole Miss much more than I had ever expected, and it raised concerns as to just how UL would be able to win. Everything has changed, as it appears the players may “have packed it in”. For those UL fans questioning our own fundamental tackling, there is some consolidation in watching UK give up 220+ yards to Hunter when most of the yardage was after contact.

It’s a long way off, but we must beat UK this year regardless of what we do between now and then.

Likely fools gold… when Stoops lost to Vandy, the plan for the season (just like last year) changed to “get everybody healthy and rested up for the Governor’s Cup.” They have “packed it in”, but not for the season - just for the games that UK fans care a lot less about than the UofL game.

If you paid close attention to that second half, Deon Walker played sparingly. That was by design and I do not expect UofL to get that same treatment.

 

[the artist FKA zipp]

Stoops whole era they've been bad in their passing attack. They've never had high level QB play other than when Wan'dale and Levis had something going...

Heard a good stat on the Maddie Bangs show yesterday... In the last hundred SEC games, LPT has had a QB pass for 300+ yards a total of TWO times...

 

[Thecycle27]

Stoops is smarter than his fan base. He knows as long as he wins the Louisville game he is safe. They have always played better in that game. Their talent level is better than Louisville at least the last 5 years plus he is a good motivator.

I think he built the program correctly by focusing on defense instead of offense. With that said a Top 20ish defense paired with an offense ranked in the 100’s is going to lose in the SEC.

Same applies to Louisville you can’t win consistently with a Top 20-30 offense paired with a defense in the 70-80’s. Not in a conference where talent is even distributed. When you have both units in the Top 40 on both sides you can be really good.

 

[dac244]

Those days are over with regards to the pigskin. Yet to be proven on the field,we have a coach now who like many on this board,grew up battling for the Cards with uk fans in our city. He only has to make his players feel what he does. It’s coming and hopefully soon.

The 2016 game is forever burned in my mind I almost quit watching UofL football after that debacle! If we beat them this year I will be more then happy to eat crow!

 

[earsky]

The 2016 game is forever burned in my mind I almost quit watching UofL football after that debacle! If we beat them this year I will be more then happy to eat crow!

Not saying we're gonna win,Idk. I'm saying we have 2 coaches now who will pass on the importance of the game,the joy it brings their fans of winning the game. That much I'm certain of and we'll once again gain our footing in the rivalry.

 

[CardHack]

I don't think it's safe to project ahead to the UK game; heck by that point they may be sitting at 4-7 and have opt outs like we saw from Southern Cal and our bowl last year. We could have critical opt outs as well, especially when you consider we have in the neighborhood of 25 seniors who will have already had Senior Day against Pitt.

Hard to tell what motivations would be left for a roster under those circumstances.

 

[LeFors4Ever]

Not saying we're gonna win,Idk. I'm saying we have 2 coaches now who will pass on the importance of the game,the joy it brings their fans of winning the game. That much I'm certain of and we'll once again gain our footing in the rivalry.

I personally think Kentucky is so down this year that a Satt led team would beat them. They do not have any of that fire.

Other than the 2017 game, even in the early years we beat Stoops they always came into the game fired up and ready to beat us. They were never the most disciplined team, but they could just play hard and Stoops brought energy. He looks like Bobby 2.0 at the moment.

 

[2330859]

There are underlying issues with Stoops and his roster that are playing out in Lexington; ironically this started out as their most talented and experienced team. Injuries are partly to blame, but those close to the players say it’s about Stoops losing control.

 

[beantowncard]

Stoops is smarter than his fan base. He knows as long as he wins the Louisville game he is safe. They have always played better in that game. Their talent level is better than Louisville at least the last 5 years plus he is a good motivator.

I think he built the program correctly by focusing on defense instead of offense. With that said a Top 20ish defense paired with an offense ranked in the 100’s is going to lose in the SEC.

Same applies to Louisville you can’t win consistently with a Top 20-30 offense paired with a defense in the 70-80’s. Not in a conference where talent is even distributed. When you have both units in the Top 40 on both sides you can be really good.

Stoops is smarter than his fan base.

Your average tree stump accomplishes that.

 

[Thecycle27]

There are underlying issues with Stoops and his roster that are playing out in Lexington; ironically this started out as their most talented and experienced team. Injuries are partly to blame, but those close to the players say it’s about Stoops losing control.

SEC Expansion-NIL hurt UK more than most of the other teams. Two more programs with more resources and passion for the sport. While UK has money it doesn’t have the money being thrown around at these other schools. Even Vandy is going to be able to throw around money equal to UK. Really who are they going to outbid in that conference?

The slippery side if their recruiting is players aren’t coming to Lexington to win championships. They are coming to Lexington for the cash. Why did Walker stay at UK? Getting paid great and if the season goes sideways take it down a notch to get ready for the draft. Their corner that is hurt no way his agent lets him play again. The guys behind them aren’t that good. Hence the poor defensive play the last 2 games.

This isn’t a UK thing but it is really hard for programs like UK to avoid years like this. Louisville is beat up too with key guys leaving.

 

[2330859]

The SEC expansion is about revenue, ESPN recognized several years ago “that’s where the money is”; and in truth, it was never about attempting to provide any one member school with an advantage.

UK, Vanderbilt, Missouri and South Carolina join both MSU and Arkansas as “the perceived disadvantaged members, who in reality have just as much opportunity to be successful as the perennial favorites like Alabama, UGA, Texas and LSU. NIL and the Transfer Portal is the great equalizer; so if the folks in Lexington want to follow Stoops request for a whole lot more contribution……….. they can compete right along with the rest of the heavyweight SEC members. Having said this, the same goes for those in Nashville, Fayetteville and Columbia …….. just donate millions of dollars to your school and out bid the others.