Mark Stoops: "We need to get this collective rolling"

It’s been a busy 48 hours when it comes to Kentucky Football and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). On Monday, Mark Stoops described what a “major player” NIL has become in recruiting, both with high school and transfer prospects, and how Kentucky needs more support to stay competitive in the SEC. The next morning, Matt Jones shared what he heard about the administration’s conservative approach to NIL, which prompted fans to write the athletic department in hopes of fixing the system. According to Matt on this morning’s show, UK is listening, and a “massive change” is on the horizon for how fans and businesses can donate money for NIL purposes. AKA, a collective.

NIL even made its way to today’s SEC Teleconference. Mark Stoops was asked about the staff’s approach to NIL and whether it’s been positive for the program or not. Stoops said he’s doing the best he can with the resources he has, but made it clear he needs more. He even used the term “collective,” telling reporters on the call that Kentucky needs to get it rolling soon or it will fall “way behind” its SEC competitors.

“That’s hard to say whether it’s been a positive thing for my squad this year as we are knee-deep in coaching and practicing and playing and things of that nature. So our concentration is on the things that I just touched on as far as us improving and playing. It is what it is. We do the very best we can. That’s all I’ve ever done is try to concentrate on Kentucky. As I mentioned, I’ve been here a while and had to overcome a lot of things and this is another thing that you have to battle and compete and fight.

“It does me no good to whine or cry or complain about anybody else. I can’t control anybody else. But I can control our program and we’re doing the very best we can and yes, I think just like most people we need the support. We need more. We need to get this collective rolling or we’re gonna fall way behind in this league because you know and I know the way things are going with some others here in our league.”

Watch the latest Mark Stoops press conference on the KSR YouTube Channel.

“Massive Change” coming to Kentucky’s NIL infrastructure

As mentioned, Matt Jones said on today’s show there’s been a positive shift to the administration’s approach to NIL in the past 24 hours, with changes expected in the coming days.

“I think by Monday, if not sooner, the fanbase will see a massive change,” Matt said. “We’ll see the infrastructure for a massive change. The infrastructure that has not been there and the infrastructure that was lacking and a lot of the things that I was sitting there going, ‘Where is this,’ you’re going to see it in place.”

As Stoops said on today’s teleconference, the shift comes at a pivotal time. With the regular season wrapping up, players will soon begin evaluating their options in the transfer portal. National Signing Day is just around the corner as well, scheduled for Dec. 21.

“I think everything is going to be a lot easier,” Matt said. “Now, if it ends up being that doesn’t happen, you’re going to hear me midweek next week starting this again but I actually feel so much better about the situation today at 10 a.m. than I did yesterday at noon.”

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