Mark Stoops says he’s not leaving UK, previews Murray State matchup
Stoops was asked about the possibility of leaving during his Monday press conference
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- When asked about speculation that he would step down at the end of this season, Mark Stoops didn’t mince words about the chances.
“Zero,” said Stoops as he shook his head. “Zero percent chance that I do that. Next question.”
Regardless of the online chatter, the facts state that Kentucky has a football game this week and Stoops’ chances to keep his bowl game streak will improve with a win.
Scouting Murray State
Credit- Dave Winder, Murray State Athletics
Head Coach of the Racers, Jody Wright, is enduring a tough first season at the helm with a 1-9 record.
A 59-8 win over Mississippi Valley State is his only win. The Racers have played one SEC team this season, a 51-0 loss to Missouri.
In Murray State’s nine losses, the defense has given up an average of 55 points per game.
“We’ve shown that we can play with anybody, but we can also lose to anybody and there’s a lot of teams like that,” said Stoops. “We always respect our opponents, but anybody will tell you it is truly about us and our mentality and how we prepare and how we play and all those things that go into it, turnovers and just different things.”
Ballin’ for a Bowl Game
At 3-6 Kentucky can only make a bowl game if they win out. That means beating Murray State needs to be just the beginning. Wins versus Texas away and Louisville at home are needed too.
Stoops has taken the Cats to a bowl game in each of the past eight seasons. His chances at nine in a row will either look better or worse after Saturday.
Coming off of a loss at Tennessee, “winning football,” which Kentucky played in Knoxville, is the recipe for a win.
“I was encouraged with the way they competed, played. I thought physically we showed up a little bit against really high competition in a tough environment,” said Stoops.
An update on injured Quarterback Brock Vandagriff is expected this week.
If the Georgia transfer can’t play then Stoops has confidence in both Gavin Wimsatt and Cutter Boley.
Injury Updates
Cornerback Maxwell Hairston will return to game action barring any setbacks after five games out injured.
“(Maxwell) has been working his way into it, obviously non-contact and off the side and last week was working his way in with no contact,” said Stoops. “He has been working and running, conditioning, footwork. He’s been doing that and last week doing football drills, so hopefully he can be near or close to 100%.”
A laundry list of Wildcats made up the last SEC availability report before the Tennessee loss and UK was down at least ten starters by the end of the game in Knoxville. Stoops was tight lipped on the availability of other players.
“We will update you later in the week. I always try to be as forthcoming as I can, it’s just there is a lot going on and for me to get in all the little nuances of that doesn’t make sense right now,” said Stoops.
