Mark Stoops reacts to late hit on Brock Vandagriff vs. Tennessee: 'No place' for those actions in football

During Saturday’s first quarter in Knoxville, Kentucky QB Brock Vandagriff ran into the Tennessee sideline during a play before being knocked down by Omarr Norman-Lott. The defensive lineman was not on the field and was seen extending his arms before shoving Vandagriff in the helmet/facemask area. No flag was thrown at the time by the officials.

A few days later, Kentucky’s Mark Stoops revealed he sent the play to the SEC offices in Birmingham but did not share the feedback he received. Stoops went on to speak in general terms but said there is “no place” for those kinds of actions. Clearly, he was not happy with the moment involving his quarterback.

“It is something I sent into the SEC office,” Stoops said. “That’s it, I can’t even tell you what was said or the information that I got back. I’ll just say, in general — not about that player but in general — there is no place for anybody striking anybody in the head at any place. Before after, during, anytime during a game.”

During the broadcast on SEC Network, Tom Hart was describing the play but only saw one angle where Vandagriff was knocked to the ground. After getting another look via replay, he wondered why there was not a penalty called on Norman-Lott.

“He got popped as he came to the sideline by Norman-Lott, who put his hands out,” Hart said. “Omarr Norman-Lott is a defensive lineman and acted like one on that two-yard run. He said ‘Do you want to come over here? Meet my hand.’… That is a big miss by this officiating crew.”

Color commentator Jordan Rodgers was in agreement with his play-by-play man.

“I’m a little surprised a flag wasn’t thrown here,” Rodgers said. “You got to flag that. It wasn’t ‘You ran into my extended hands.’ He was extending the hands.”

Vandagriff stayed in the game for the time being but after a strip sack in the third quarter, was forced to leave the game. Either way, Stoops is not happy with the first quarter incident.