Mark Stoops on dealing with basketball school criticism in recruiting: I'm not in third grade

Tensions have been boiling between the Kentucky football and basketball team recently after comments made by John Calipari. Mark Stoops has had to defend his football program both in the media and on Twitter, pointing out the success they’ve had over the past few years. Football season is nearly upon and Stoops can make a big statement with a solid 2022 season.

Once again asked about Calipari’s comments, he was asked specifically about how the subject comes up when recruiting. Stoops said the basketball team’s history is something to be proud of. However, he understands that the football team is just starting to build up their resume and there is still work to be done. Stoops wants to take the next step forward and get some postseason wins.

“I mean, I’m not in third grade,” Stoops said. “You know what I mean? We understand history. That’s great, I embrace and love it — the history of our basketball. I’m proud of it, I love it. I didn’t have that history. We understand we’re creating it. I also know people want to win now so it’s my responsibility to get to the postseason and win.”

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Kentucky was able to put together a top 15 class nationally during the 2022 cycle. Even more impressively, the Wildcats were fifth in the SEC and attracted multiple top 100 rated players to sign their national letter of intent with Big Blue Nation. Stoops seems to be doing well recruiting.

Outside of the pandemic 2020 season, Kentucky has been a winning program in recent times under Stoops. They have won four straight bowl games and appeared in six consecutive. Before then, the program has never accomplished something of that nature.

A 10-3 record last year was one of the best in the Wildcats’ history, being only the fourth double-digit season of all time. Point being — Stoops has run a good program in Lexington and will continue to climb the latter.

Mark Stoops ‘done’ with football vs. basketball war

The Big Blue Civil War has only just begun, it seems. Stoops addressed the situation publicly for the first time since John Calipari’s comments that UK was a “basketball school.”

During a press conference Saturday afternoon, Stoops said that he’s “done” with the situation and has addressed it with his players, though he hasn’t talked to Calipari directly about the situation. Now, his number one focus is getting his team ready for the season opener on Sept. 3 and nothing will derail the Wildcats this late into the offseason, especially right in their own back yard.

Still, Stoops found a second to throw in a back-handed comment, “some may, but this program didn’t wake up on third base.” The football coach is seemingly referencing the basketball program’s blue-blood status, while UK football has been a historic SEC bottom-feeder.