Kentucky Football playing "For the Team" with Schlarman and Oats in 2021

Photo by UK Athletics

Kentucky fans became all too familiar with tragedy in 2020, mourning one loss after another from the UK Athletics family. Mark Stoops’ program was hit especially hard, starting well before the season when Chris Oats suffered a medical emergency that debilitated the starting linebacker. Months later, John Schlarman’s fight with cancer reached a crescendo. Grief engulfed the Big Blue Nation.

“I think our team, I just credit our team with perseverance and strength to continue to fight through that. There’s no denying, it was very difficult. It was difficult on everybody,” Stoops said last week at SEC Media Days.

“It could have been easy for our team to fold the tent, and they didn’t do that. So I have great respect for them and the coaches in our program. I think we learned to persevere and continue to fight through.”

There’s no tried and true way to grieve loved ones. Some try to put the past in the past and move on. Even though the Wildcats hit a refresh button this offseason by bringing in a slew of new players and coaches, they aren’t leaving behind Schlarman and Oats.

“With all of the loss that we did take, especially with Chris Oats and Coach Schlarman, that’s something that you don’t really want to put in the rearview mirror because you want to keep them next to you. Those are two great guys and two great competitors,” said Josh Paschal.

“I know Coach Schlarman, he had the motto ‘for the team.’ Coach Schlarman was always — that’s what he stood on. He was going through the most difficult time of his life, but at the same time, he did it all for the team. He showed up to every practice. No matter what he was going through health-wise, he always put the team first. And that’s something we always want to keep next to us and keep on our mind.”

Three words from Schlarman will stick with the 2021 Wildcats forever: “for the team.” A quote from the former UK offensive linemen in an interview with Kyle Tucker, Darian Kinnard invoked his coach’s words when he announced he would return for one final season in Lexington. It has stuck with Kinnard and Stoops ever since.

“He was asked, ‘Why are you continuing to go out there and coach this football team?’ And he just simply said very matter of fact: For the team. Just for the team. Obviously, that’s a mantra that stuck with me and stuck with our football team that we will carry forward, and it’s also a reminder during these times, during these turbulent times of college football and college athletics in general, it is still about the team and doing things right,” Stoops said.

I’m heartbroken by the news that John Schlarman has passed away.

He was the toughest man I ever met. He fought until the very end.

His story touched me like none I’ve ever told. Rest In Peace, John. https://t.co/I6cgEXsFBu pic.twitter.com/rJzmx07Psk

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) November 12, 2020

Schlarman’s cancer diagnosis coincided with Paschal’s. After fighting to beat cancer, he’s overjoyed to have an opportunity to play for his coach and teammate this fall.

“It means a lot,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot to get here, but I’m blessed to be standing where I’m at and I can’t thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ enough to be here and be able to represent the great state of Kentucky.”

The Kentucky football program will honor Schlarman and Oats throughout the 2021 season. Nos. 22 and 65 remain vacant on the UK roster. Players are still raising money to help cover Chris Oats’ expensive medical bills as he continues to fight, just like Paschal fought. No matter what they do symbolically, the greatest way to honor each is by playing For the Team every single day.

⏳ pic.twitter.com/XPaS8Rx2tS

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) July 28, 2021