D'Eryk Jackson on comparing Kentucky programs: 'I think football has grown to where basketball is'
Kentucky‘s basketball and football programs have added another opinion to their friendly competition. At the 2024 SEC Media Days, senior linebacker D’Eryk Jackson weighed in on how the two programs compare.
“I really never had a personal relationship with anybody on the basketball team, but I think football has grown to where basketball is,” Jackson said. “I think both programs were good. I just think just keep building the brand of both of them.”
While the programs still have friendly banter, the competition between the two wasn’t always good-natured. In 2022, then-Kentucky men’s basketball head coach John Calipari started a whirlwind after stating Kentucky was a “basketball school.”
Kentucky football head coach Mark Stoops didn’t take kindly to Calipari’s remarks, tweeting, “Basketball school? I thought we competed in the SEC?” Stoops commented further on Calipari’s statement at a press conference.
“When you start talking about my program and others that we compete against — me, I don’t do that,” Stoops said. “I stay in my lane. So that’s in defense of my players, in defense of the work that we’ve done.
“And believe me, we want to continue to push. But don’t demean or distract from the hard work and the dedication and the commitment that people have done to get to this point. I don’t need to apologize for that, and I won’t.”
Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart reined in Calipari and Stoops in short order. However, since then, the question has lingered in Kentucky fans’ minds: is UK a basketball or football school?
Historically, there’s not much argument for football. Alas, since the spat between Calipari and Stoops, neither program has edged ahead.
In the past two seasons, Kentucky basketball has gone 45-22 and won one NCAA Tournament game. In comparison, Kentucky football has posted back-to-back 7-6 campaigns and two straight bowl game losses.
In April, Calipari moved on from Kentucky and was replaced by head coach Mark Pope. Stoops spoke on his relationship with Calipari at SEC Media Days.
“With coach Cal, I wish the best for him. Really,” Stoops said. “He and I have had a really good relationship for a long time. There was one little blip on there, but we’re both big boys, we’re both friends and have spoken.
“I’m sure he’ll be successful at Arkansas and wish him nothing but the best… Matter of fact, his son, just saw Brad in Lexington a couple weeks ago, he was there recruiting or doing something and spent some time talking with him. So they’ll do very well.”