Mark Stoops' message to fans following Tennessee loss

Saturday night’s loss to Tennessee sucked for everybody, coaches, players, and fans alike. Dreams for a special season were already dashed with the loss to South Carolina, but seeing the Volunteers beat the Cats like a drum was truly deflating. In his press conference today, Mark Stoops shared this message to fans who have stuck by the program through the highs and lows.

“I understand not being happy and frustration. That’s fans. That’s good fans. There are some passionate fan bases. We just saw one too, you know, and they haven’t always been happy. And ours hasn’t always been happy. There’s going to be good and there’s going to be bad. Again, much like the players, we’re all in this together. We accept that. We own it. And we still need them.

“So, anybody that’s going to jump off that quick, you know what I mean? Frustration, yes, but just come back and cheer again. And then you could throw darts at me after the next one. But you know, just keep on being fans. And I appreciate them. They’ve been awesome this year and I’ve never shied away from it, the criticism that comes with the territory.”

Social media was pretty ugly after the loss on Saturday night. You’ll be happy to hear that Stoops has been too busy to pay any attention to it.

“We’re not going to be fazed. Like I said, we’ve got to get right back at it this week. I understand that. Fans are having their coffee, reading their articles. I didn’t read them. I’m sure there’s criticism. I don’t take offense to that. That’s your job. And it’s not good enough. What more can I [say]? I’ve been hit on the chin many times, believe me. I accept it and I’ll come right back.”

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

“I feel surprisingly frickin’ jacked up and great. Why?”

Fans may need a few more days to get back on the proverbial horse, but Stoops and his team don’t have that luxury. The Cats hit the road this weekend for an early kick vs. a Missouri team (4-4, 2-3 SEC) that’s coming off wins over Vanderbilt and South Carolina and considers Kentucky its rival. Beating the Tigers is imperative to getting the season back on track, and Stoops is making that message known throughout the practice facility this week.

“There’s no ifs, and, or buts. You have to put it behind you,” Stoops said. “It is what it is. NFL bad beats, SEC bad beats. I mean, do you just fold up the tent? Do you just give up after some tough losses? There are five teams in the SEC with a better record than us and there are some elite, I mean elite, as good as anybody in the country.

“So, our players understand that nobody’s gonna give us anything, nobody’s gonna feel sorry for us. You’ve got to get back to work. That’s the only way around it. I said after the two losses going into Mississippi State and our team responded but you know, we have to go play well, because this team is playing well and they bounced back from some tough losses and really have done a good job and we have to respond to that.”

The last time Kentucky went to Missouri, the Cats were flying high after a 34-7 win over No. 18 Tennessee in Knoxville only to lose to the Tigers 20-10. DeAndre Square reminded the team of that loss after the game in Knoxville on Saturday night. Stoops brought it up today to reporters.

“The last time we went up there, I didn’t like our approach and we got our butts kicked. So, we’re playing an early game. We got back late Saturday, but so what? It is what it is. The situation is what it is, so we’re gonna pick it up. We’re gonna work. We’re gonna punch the clock this week.

“And, you know, I was telling Susan [Lax] walking over here, I feel surprisingly frickin’ jacked up and great. Why? Because you have to be. You have to be. You have to be. Yeah, I felt like crap. All night, Saturday night and all day Sunday but today, I’m freaking jacked up ready to go.”

A visit from Eli Capilouto

Stoops also credited his positive attitude to UK President Eli Capilouto, who stopped by his office last night to offer his support.

“I gotta say I gotta give Dr. Capilouto part of that because I was exhausted and tired and worked all day, didn’t sleep, and late last night I think Doc was coming in from out of town and stopped in my office about 9 p.m. and I was in there half dreary and he was like, ‘I just wanted to pick you up, you know what I mean, pat you, just say get back in the fight.’ And I appreciate that.

“It means a lot you know, it just like — because I was hitting a little wall. I was like, give me some more coffee. Give me some more. It does because as the leader of this football team, you’ve got to set the tone. And I’m fortunate to have great leaders in the administration that helped me and pick me up that way. And we’re all in this together and so it meant a lot.”