Kentucky is Flying Under the Radar at SEC Media Days, just what Mark Stoops wants

There are a myriad of reasons why 2024 might be the most anticipated college football season of our lifetimes. There are bigger conferences, a bigger CFB Playoff, and a new video game for you to simulate all of the action. The hype is reaching a fever pitch as the biggest names in the sport gather in Dallas for SEC Media Days.

When scouring through the storylines and talking points that are dominating the conversation around the SEC this week, you’ll have to scroll pretty far down the list to find the Kentucky Wildcats. It’s music to Mark Stoops’ ears.

The longest-tenured coach in the SEC is the last one to take the podium in Dallas. Most media members will be long gone by then. Those who remain will want to speak with Deone Walker. The enormous future NFL defensive lineman will produce a few stories in national and regional publications. He’s a great quote.

There are a few other talented players on the 2024 roster who are entertaining in front of a microphone. You never know what Barion Brown is going to do. Maxwell Hairston will be a preseason First Team All-SEC selection and the Detroit native is candid in conversation. Neither of them will be in Dallas.

This is not to knock on D’Eryk Jackson or Marques Cox. The former camped out in a car to earn an offer from Kentucky. A few years later he recovered from an Achilles injury in a matter of months to still see the field at the end of the season. Cox’s play will ensure Brock Vandagriff has a chance to succeed this fall.

Even so, it’s highly unlikely that either of those guys stirs up a big stink and that’s clearly been the offseason goal for Mark Stoops.

The Kentucky head coach has actively kept a quiet profile this offseason. After flirting with Texas A&M, we only spoke to him at the Gator Bowl and during spring practice. You may not have noticed because most of the BBN’s attention was focused on a basketball coaching change and the baseball program’s first-ever College World Series appearance.

Kentucky football isn’t just flying under the radar abroad. The program has kept a low profile this offseason in the Commonwealth.

During the few times we have spoken with Stoops, he shared that he wants his program to rediscover the mentality they had early in his tenure. His teams played with an edge. It helped them overcome a slim margin of error to win big games in the SEC.

The Cats got away from that in recent years. There was more talking than producing. It’s clear he knows the goal, so what’s the process to get there?

It starts with a more rigorous offseason training program. He can control that. You can’t fabricate the facade of an underdog. But, if you keep a low profile in the public eye, prognosticators will eventually forget about you and slide you down the pecking order.

The Cats are not a major contributor to the conversation at SEC Media Days and it’s just what Mark Stoops wants his team to see. The first step to building a chip on the 2024 Wildcats’ shoulders starts tomorrow in Dallas.

Talking Ball on Radio Row at SEC Media Days

KSR’s coverage at media days is presented by the team at Friends of Coal. Friends of Coal is dedicated to informing and educating Kentucky citizens about the coal industry and its vital role in the state’s future. They provide a united voice for an industry that has been and remains a critical economic contributor to Kentucky. By working together, they can provide good jobs and benefits for future generations.

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