1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: Comedy Off Broadway in Lexington. Welcome's Jay Darena March sixth 2 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: through the eighth, Then catch club favorite and f You 3 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:10,399 Speaker 1: Tommy March thirteenth through the sixteenth, and don't miss Michael 4 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: Pallisak March twenty first and twenty second. Comedy Off Broadway 5 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: opened in downtown Lexington in nineteen eighty seven, and they're 6 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: still bringing the best and stand up comedy to the 7 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: area thirty eight years later. Four tickets call eight five 8 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: nine two seven one joke or visit Comedy Off Broadway 9 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: dot com Off Bway. 10 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 2: Welcome everyone, Kentucky Sports Radio, Tuesday, March the eleventh. I'm 11 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 2: Matt Jones here in studio in Lexington. You give Sewan 12 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 2: the Clark's Pumping Shop phone line. We will We'll close 13 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,319 Speaker 2: the phones for right now, but we will open them later. 14 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 2: A five nine two eight oh twenty two eighty seven. 15 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 2: A Vision Auto glass Tex machine is seven seven two 16 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 2: seven seven four five two five four in this edition 17 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 2: sponsored by the TJ. Smith Office. If you call TJ, 18 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 2: he'll make them pay. We are happy to have in studio. 19 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 2: We rarely Ryan start things off with an interview. I 20 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 2: can't I can't think of how many shows that's ever happened? Ever, 21 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 2: can you no? 22 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 3: Because you like to talk, so we like to talk 23 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 3: to like to. 24 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 2: Talk for a minute. But it's pro day for UK football, 25 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 2: So Mark Stoops was nice enough before March Madness gets 26 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 2: rolling to join us in here right off the top, Mark, 27 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 2: how are you doing? 28 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:22,759 Speaker 4: I'm doing great, Matt. Good to be in studio, good 29 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 4: to come talk with you guys. I know this is 30 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 4: a little late for us usually, Yeah, we usually. 31 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:27,559 Speaker 3: Do it early. 32 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 4: But you had surgery, is that right? I did have surgery. Yeah, 33 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,399 Speaker 4: I had to have ankle surgery. And I'm doing much better. 34 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 4: It feels much better. However, today I woke up and 35 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 4: it's a little sore, but hey, I'll work through it. 36 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 2: So you you had to have surgery? What right after 37 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 2: the season, wasn't it? I did? Yeah, you were kind 38 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 2: of limping around a little bit. 39 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 4: There, I was. I definitely was. It's just wear and 40 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 4: tear on the ankle. There wasn't any one injury. 41 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 2: You know. 42 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 3: I had to have knee replacement surgery. 43 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 2: You get in a while and I tell you, yeah, 44 00:01:58,280 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 2: those it adds up. 45 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 3: You and I. 46 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 4: We were all just talking about my son and whether 47 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 4: he's going to play college bon and he's not. And 48 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 4: I'm totally okay with that, you know. I mean, I'm 49 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,639 Speaker 4: not the biggest guy. And so the body takes its 50 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 4: wear and tear, and ankle was next. So I had 51 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,919 Speaker 4: to have ankle replacement surgery. That does not happen too often. 52 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 2: I don't think I've ever heard of that, have you? 53 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 2: Have you ever heard that? I've never heard that before. 54 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:24,799 Speaker 2: So ankle replacement. Why. I hope you're doing well, and yeah, 55 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 2: thank you for taking the time spring practice. What started yesterday? 56 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 3: It did? 57 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 2: And how's it going? You like in the group? 58 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,919 Speaker 4: I definitely do, I think, you know, let's be honest. 59 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 4: You've heard me talk many times. I'm never going to 60 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 4: come on here and think, oh, this guy's fallen. But 61 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 4: I love the group, you know you and I'll get 62 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 4: into the weeds here. We'll talk about many things. Obviously, 63 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 4: I was not very happy with the way of the 64 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 4: year was. Who was nobody that cares about the cats? 65 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 4: So things didn't go well. So you had to take 66 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,399 Speaker 4: a deep die, have a deep look at every thing 67 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:04,279 Speaker 4: in the program again and strip it all down and 68 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 4: and take a good hard look at at the things 69 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 4: you know, that we've done well over the years. You know, 70 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 4: where did we fall short last year? 71 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 3: Why? 72 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 4: How do we get better? How do we coach better? 73 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 4: You know and put put our guys in position to 74 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 4: be successful? H you know, how do we get into 75 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 4: the leadership factors and and bring that out of the 76 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 4: team and and you know, and grow in that area? 77 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 4: And then how do you build the roster? And well, 78 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 4: I love the roster for this year. Let's put that Well, 79 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 4: let's talk. 80 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 2: I want to kind of do this in two parts. Yeah, 81 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: maybe start with last year, kind of put it to bed, 82 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 2: and then talk about what's what's upcoming. Sure, Uh, let's start. 83 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 2: You know, let's start with with last year. It was 84 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 2: obviously a year that was disappointing for a lot of fans. 85 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 2: I'm sure it was disappointing for you as well. When 86 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 2: you look back on that year last year and you 87 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: say to ourself, Okay, it did not go how we 88 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 2: wanted to go. Why do you think that happened? Why 89 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 2: do you think it was? I think Mitch Barnhardt said 90 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 2: a one year blip. But if that is what it is, 91 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 2: why do you think it happened? 92 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 3: Well? 93 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 4: I think there's there's many reasons you know that it happened. 94 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 4: And you know, I think that's a very broad based 95 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 4: question right there. I mean, obviously there's many factors that 96 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 4: go into it, clearly, you know, And I'm not just 97 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:21,799 Speaker 4: saying this. I know people get tired of it after 98 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 4: being here twelve years, thirteen years talking to you. You know, 99 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 4: it falls on my shoulders and all that. People are like, 100 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 4: blah blahlah blah. I understand, but it truly is, you know, 101 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 4: you have to look at why that happened. I mean, 102 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:39,919 Speaker 4: it starts with myself and making sure the leadership was 103 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 4: what we needed it to be, you know, and you know, 104 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 4: with myself, with our staff, with strength and conditioning, with nutrition, 105 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 4: you know, x's and o's, you know, everything you know 106 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 4: that we do in the organization, and making sure we're 107 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 4: all on the same page. We're you know, pushing our 108 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 4: players to the best of their. 109 00:04:58,320 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 2: How do you think that might have fallen short? 110 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 4: Well, I just think of it starts with us, right, 111 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 4: It starts with us, and so we you know, like 112 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 4: one of the things we did when we got back 113 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 4: together as a staff and brought everybody in a room, 114 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,359 Speaker 4: we got off site and put us in a big 115 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,840 Speaker 4: you know, circular table and you know went at it 116 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 4: as far as having a meetings for for six eight hours, 117 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 4: you know, however long it takes just to you know, 118 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:24,600 Speaker 4: hear from every department and the things again where we've 119 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 4: done well, where we fell fell short? Why And there's 120 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 4: a lot of a lot of things that we could 121 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 4: have done better, and you know we have to look 122 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 4: at those things. Everything from again from x'es and os. 123 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 4: You know leadership, accountability, you know strength and conditioning, you 124 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 4: know nutrition, you know anything. And you know you've heard 125 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 4: this same you know many years. If you do the 126 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 4: little things, the big things aren't so big, right and 127 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 4: and last. 128 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 3: Year the little things were big. 129 00:05:57,520 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 5: Well. 130 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 2: Give but I think for fans there would be some 131 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 2: value in specifics. I mean it's I think a lot 132 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 2: of fans here they hear you say that and say, 133 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 2: take responsibility. But give us some examples of like when 134 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 2: you got in that room with eight hours and you said, okay, 135 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 2: this needs to be better than that. Like what what 136 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 2: are some examples of that? Oh? 137 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 4: I think you know again, hear me when I say this, 138 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 4: because if I say any one thing in particular, one 139 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 4: thing I did learn last year when you lose and 140 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 4: everybody you know, and it's bad. Whatever I say gets 141 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 4: absolutely ripped apart. Right, I have to be a little 142 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 4: bit broad stroke there. You can understand that I can. 143 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 2: But fans want to hear, like our fans, SEC fans 144 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 2: in general, they know football and they want to hear. 145 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 2: I do think they want to hear more than a 146 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 2: broad stroke of what what what could have been bad? 147 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 2: Let's just take discipline. Did you feel like the discipline 148 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 2: was where it needed? 149 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 3: I mean no, how can I say it was okay? 150 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 4: And and but I don't need that to be You 151 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 4: can understand my point of view saying Mark Soup said 152 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 4: this one was the absolute proble. That was one of 153 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:05,720 Speaker 4: many problems, right, And and when when I say discipline there, 154 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 4: there's there's different layers of that. Right, It's not like 155 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 4: our team went rogue and you know that's never going 156 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 4: to happen under my watch. You know, was it is 157 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 4: is dialed in as we needed to be clearly not, 158 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 4: you know, clearly not. And and I understand that I 159 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 4: take responsibility for that. That doesn't mean everything was all 160 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 4: I loved our team was it was it where we 161 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 4: wanted to be? No? No, absolutely not. We we didn't 162 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 4: coach good enough, we didn't play good enough. We weren't 163 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 4: disciplined enough, you know, we weren't physical enough. There's a 164 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 4: lot of things, and so that is part of it 165 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 4: that that I have to look at. And so again, 166 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 4: if you let you know, a little thing, you know 167 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 4: what I mean, slip by or if things go unchecked, 168 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 4: then then it can become a bit. 169 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 2: Do you think that you think of that? I think 170 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 2: do you think there was some There was some There 171 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 2: was some chatter that would come out from the from 172 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 2: the you know, just people around the program that said, 173 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 2: you know, maybe there's not been as much attention to 174 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 2: be on time. Do your reps do all these things? 175 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 2: And that maybe some things got were let to slip. 176 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 2: Is that fair or no? 177 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 3: I think that's fair. 178 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 4: I have to take that kind of criticism, you know, 179 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 4: and when things unravel like they did and you have 180 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 4: the season like you did, you have to be accept 181 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 4: all that. And again, do I think it was completely 182 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 4: rogue and things were No, that's never gonna happen. That's 183 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 4: never gonna happen under my teams. Was it as dialed 184 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 4: in or as tidy as it needed to be? Clearly 185 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 4: not the results weren't there, and little things became big things, 186 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 4: and so you know that you know that can't happen. 187 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 2: There was obviously struggles with let's just start with offense 188 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 2: on the offensive line. Some of that may have been 189 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 2: like personnel were there. Other I mean, when did you 190 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 2: realize you had an offensive line problem? It clearly wasn't 191 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 2: what it has been a lot of the time you were. 192 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:04,559 Speaker 4: At Yeah, I think it was Game two, you know 193 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 4: what I mean, When we go in there and and 194 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 4: have the struggles that we had, I think, you know, 195 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:17,720 Speaker 4: we didn't anticipate that, and uh, you know, I think 196 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 4: you know, Coach Bush, you know adjusted after that, you 197 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 4: know what I mean to some extent, you know what 198 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 4: I mean, Let's be honest. I mean, if you get behind, 199 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 4: if you're getting in predictable pass You've heard me talk 200 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 4: about this a lot. Certainly, if it's not a strength 201 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 4: and you're not holding up, you know, and so you know, 202 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 4: I think, you know, we went into the season, you know, 203 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 4: trying to get the depth that we needed, the continuity 204 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 4: that that I haven't had on the offensive side, and 205 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 4: with the offensive line and with the offensive coordinator clearly 206 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 4: caught up to us. You know, at a point and again, 207 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 4: that's that's not fun, that's not good to go through. 208 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: And something was Yeah, I mean, I know you didn't 209 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 2: think you'd have that turnover at offensive coordinator. You went 210 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,679 Speaker 2: and you got basically a completely new offensive line and 211 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 2: that may be something that just happens a lot in 212 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:15,840 Speaker 2: the portal era. Do you think this group will meld 213 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,680 Speaker 2: and has a talent level maybe that last year's group didn't. 214 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 2: I mean, do you feel better about that position because 215 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 2: it felt like we were a number of steps back 216 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 2: last year? 217 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 4: Fair you know, agree, I think we're better and definitely better. 218 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 4: One thing that was a point of emphasis. We had 219 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 4: to keep our good players that you know, are good 220 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 4: young guys in place. Malachi Abba, you know, you know, 221 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 4: we had to keep the Jagger, you know, and he's 222 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 4: not young, but the guys we had inside, Jalen Farmer. 223 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 4: You know, we had to keep the nucleus of the 224 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 4: good players. We had keep them here and then add 225 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 4: to it and in particular tackle, you know, we had 226 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 4: to get better at tackle and we certainly did that. 227 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 4: We certainly addressed that issue and we had to, I mean. 228 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 2: You guys win a different way, at least from an 229 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 2: outsider's perspective in the portal, Whereas I think a lot 230 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 2: of the times in the past you'd gone and gotten 231 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 2: guys in big programs, maybe didn't play as much as 232 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 2: they like, et cetera. It felt like you went and 233 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 2: got maybe mid level program, but guys who had performed 234 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 2: started a lot of games. Was that a change in 235 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 2: philosophy at all? 236 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 4: You know, it was I think finding the right guys 237 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 4: to come in and you know, fit in our culture, 238 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 4: fit and play for us. That that that you know, 239 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 4: had the physical attributes that that we clearly have to have, 240 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:39,719 Speaker 4: but also you know, you know, socially, the way they 241 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 4: fit in the way they adapt to our program was 242 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:47,560 Speaker 4: certainly important. I think I don't know how much, you know, 243 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 4: you've really dove into the weeds, and I really don't 244 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 4: want to get into too much. But I mean, with 245 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,960 Speaker 4: the changing landscape, we've all talked about that for three years. 246 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 3: It is what it is. 247 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 4: But this last recruiting cycle for football, it'll go through 248 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:05,479 Speaker 4: that one more recruiting cycle for basketball. From what my 249 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 4: my understanding is, you know, come July one, I think 250 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 4: they're trying to put some guardrails around this thing. And 251 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:14,680 Speaker 4: so this last recruiting cycle, you know you had to 252 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 4: make a move or you you know you were gonna 253 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 4: get completely left. 254 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:21,439 Speaker 2: Do you feel like Kentucky going forward? I mean when 255 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 2: I hear fans, I asked fans yesterday. I was like, 256 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 2: all right, what questions do you want me to ask? 257 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 2: Mark Stoops? And the one that came up the most was, 258 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 2: you know, we're entering a new era. I say this 259 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 2: all the time, like, this is a completely new era 260 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:37,680 Speaker 2: of college sports. You know, coaching, the x's and o's 261 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 2: may still be the same, but the off the field 262 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:43,680 Speaker 2: stuff's completely different. Do you feel like UK and Mark 263 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 2: Stoops specifically are do you feel like you're ready? Do 264 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:51,440 Speaker 2: you enjoy I mean, whether you enjoy it or not, 265 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 2: Are you ready for this new era? Is Kentucky ready 266 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 2: for this new era? Because it's a different sport in 267 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 2: a lot of ways? 268 00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 3: Absolutely? 269 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 4: I think the last these three seasons have been absolutely, 270 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 4: unequivocally the most challenging. You know, at this point, you know, 271 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:13,559 Speaker 4: come July one, we're supposed to have some guardrails around 272 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 4: this thing. True authentic name, image and likeness. If a 273 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,199 Speaker 4: young man can earn money, you know with his name, 274 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 4: image and likeness, by all means he. 275 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:23,959 Speaker 3: Should be able to do that and go do that. 276 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 4: The era of just truly donors pouring twenty thirty million 277 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 4: dollars into rosters and just paying for play, that's been 278 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:40,679 Speaker 4: the last three years. That's gone okay, So again this 279 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 4: has to happen. Now the judge has to rule on it. 280 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:46,960 Speaker 4: And in Hyeah, you know that has to happen. And 281 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 4: you know, we have to actually get this third party 282 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 4: entity that can you know, have some teeth and monitor 283 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 4: you know, whether this is a true, authentic nil deal 284 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 4: or not. 285 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 3: Otherwise it's just who's going to pour the most money. 286 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 2: Into But is in that system? Do you feel like 287 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 2: Kentucky can be competitive? Are you eager? I guess it's 288 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 2: a different way to put it. Are you eager to 289 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 2: play in this system? Because I kind of wonder like 290 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:13,319 Speaker 2: if you're not, Like if coaches aren't, is it gonna 291 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:15,960 Speaker 2: work for them? Like? Are you are you ready to 292 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:17,560 Speaker 2: sort of go to war with these guys? 293 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 3: One hundred percent? You know we went to battle this year. 294 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 3: I do. 295 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 4: I do love the team that I put together. You know, 296 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,840 Speaker 4: you know we will see. We went through one spring practice. 297 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 4: I love and I'm not just saying this is not 298 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 4: lip service. I love the way they have attacked the 299 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 4: off season, you know, coming in and attacking the weight room, 300 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 4: having the accountability, having the discipline, having the work ethic, 301 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 4: you know, attacking the day truly, you know what I mean, 302 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 4: watching all their weights, making sure everything's you know, buttoned up, 303 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 4: so to speak. You know, I feel like it's been 304 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 4: a great winner. Guys have attacked it. 305 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 3: You know. 306 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 4: We went into our fourth quarter drills, which we you know, 307 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 4: basically challenge them physically and mentally and do some drills 308 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 4: with them. And early in the morning they did that. 309 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 4: You know, they attack that. You know, we started springball. 310 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 4: We're off to the right start. I hear you. You know, 311 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 4: I agree with you. You know, there's there's no defense on 312 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 4: some of the things you know, and you know specifically 313 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 4: or broad strokes, however you want to say it. Definitely 314 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 4: some things needed to be readdressed. And I think, you know, 315 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 4: we are off to the right start. I think we 316 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 4: attack this portal. I think if you go back, if 317 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 4: you look at it in a segment, we all hope 318 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 4: as coaches, the most challenging time in our history has 319 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 4: been the last three years. 320 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 3: We hope we can move forward and attack it. 321 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 4: And yeah, we have the rev share, you know, if 322 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 4: that if that's then then we'll be on equal playing 323 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 4: field with everybody. 324 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 3: If if it works that way, we're. 325 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 2: Going to take a break. Be right back. Got more 326 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 2: questions from Mark Stoops. We're also going to get ready. 327 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 2: The SEC Tournament is coming. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. 328 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 2: Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio. If I'm nine 329 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 2: two eight oh two Edy seven on the text machine, 330 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 2: let me give some quick hitters to you that people 331 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 2: want to ask. One person rates I want to ask Mark, 332 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 2: do we have a general manager? You hear people getting 333 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 2: hired as general manager for the football team. Is there 334 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 2: an individual with that role at Kentucky. 335 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, we don't. It's none of the title, but it is. 336 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 3: It's Eddie Grant. 337 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 2: So Eddie Grant is kind of our general. 338 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 4: Works with me, works with the budget. You know, he 339 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 4: does many he wears many hats, he helps. What he's 340 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 4: really worked hard at the last three years is raising 341 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:33,360 Speaker 4: the money that we've needed to get paid some of 342 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 4: these players. 343 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 2: And so the extent that so we don't have that 344 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 2: as a title, but for practical purposes, that's him. Okay, 345 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 2: I don't know that people have known that I had 346 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 2: heard that is so when you're trying is that I 347 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 2: assume that's an all year job of watching players, trying 348 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 2: to figure out where you're gonna go. Who makes the 349 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 2: kind of final decision of all right, this is it? 350 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 2: Because I know you don't have time to watch all 351 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 2: these who who we're gonna take that guy inste this guy? 352 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 4: So you know, Eddie will Eddie's the general manager as 353 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 4: far as helping me, you know, prepare the budget, raise money, 354 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,679 Speaker 4: you know, and then you know, decide where we're going 355 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 4: to allocate those funds. And then we have a personnel 356 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 4: department as well, where the guys in there with many 357 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:18,040 Speaker 4: people in there, you know, crew of people, and they're 358 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 4: watching players all year long. So they watch high school 359 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:22,360 Speaker 4: and college. 360 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 2: Okay, so there are people whose job is to look 361 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 2: at who's out there on the scene. 362 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 3: Exactly, and then it's like, let's say, okay, we need 363 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 3: to tackle. 364 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:32,640 Speaker 2: So is the final choice of there's this kid from 365 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 2: northern Illinois and then there's this kid from Colorado State. 366 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:37,880 Speaker 2: We're going to take the Northern Illinois kid. Is that 367 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 2: you who makes that call? 368 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 4: We we make that call as a group. Okay, obviously 369 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 4: if it's an offensive alignment. Eric Wolford, you know grand 370 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:50,960 Speaker 4: offensive coordinator myself. I will say this. You know, with 371 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 4: the free agent market in football this last cycle and 372 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 4: the cycle before, it was kind of out of control, 373 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:00,399 Speaker 4: you know what I mean, what the value and what 374 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 4: people were going. It's like free agency in football right now. 375 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:07,400 Speaker 4: I mean, you know, when you have eighty five free 376 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 4: agents on a football team. 377 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:11,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, things could get out of hand in a hurry. 378 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 2: So let me ask you about another person here writes, 379 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 2: has Mark ever considered having a clock management person? I 380 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 2: will say from my and you, you know, I'm a 381 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 2: big fan of yours. My one criticism over the years 382 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 2: of your coaching has been the clock mayorgs. But sometimes 383 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 2: I feel like there's just somebody just to go, hey, 384 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 2: if we call it time out here, it'll be thirty 385 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:34,119 Speaker 2: five cent just literally math. Do you all do you 386 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 2: have someone in your ear giving you that information during 387 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 2: the game? 388 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:38,159 Speaker 3: One hundred percent? 389 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 2: Okay? 390 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 4: I have absolutely, unequivocally, you know, go to the analytics 391 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 4: on that on when to call it time out, when 392 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 4: not to and all those things and when to go. 393 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:49,800 Speaker 2: So how does that work on game day, is there 394 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 2: someone going okay Mark here. 395 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I'm I'm far ahead of it. You know, 396 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 4: when we're going into the series, you know, whether we're 397 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:00,919 Speaker 4: going on offense or defense, He'll he'll be right in 398 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:03,439 Speaker 4: my ear saying, do not take one until the four 399 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 4: minute mark. Okay, you know, and it's so uh that 400 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:08,719 Speaker 4: that you know, and so at that point, I clearly 401 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:11,159 Speaker 4: I go directly by analytics. 402 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 2: What about like decisions on punt no punt? I used 403 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 2: when you were here early it always felt like Mark 404 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 2: Stoops is gonna put. Sometimes I would be going, gosh, 405 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 2: I wish they would go for Mark Stoop's gonna put. 406 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 2: In the last couple of years, it seemed like that's 407 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:29,120 Speaker 2: been more. I think you've made decisions sometimes I've heard 408 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:30,879 Speaker 2: you after games go I wish I hadn't done that, 409 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:32,919 Speaker 2: Like how do you decide in a do we go 410 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 2: for it or not? Situation? 411 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:38,119 Speaker 4: I do listen to the analytics first, okay, and I 412 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 4: will look at those. I think you have to look 413 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 4: at what you know, who you are a little bit too. 414 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 4: What what do you think you can you can do? 415 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:48,439 Speaker 4: You know who you're playing, what are their strengths, what 416 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 4: are your strengths. You know, where is that I accept that. 417 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:56,199 Speaker 4: I mean, there's gonna be that criticism. You know, I 418 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:58,360 Speaker 4: don't take offense to that, you know what I mean? 419 00:19:58,680 --> 00:19:59,959 Speaker 4: You go for it on fourth or not? 420 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 3: You know what I mean? 421 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 2: I do you consider yourself aggressive? Conservative? Like? How do 422 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 2: you consider yourself? As a coach? 423 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:11,600 Speaker 4: I play things usually by the book, you know, for 424 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 4: the most part. I think I think the big one 425 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:17,959 Speaker 4: last year was the the Georgia game, and you know, 426 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:22,160 Speaker 4: and that's it's really fairer, you know, criticism. I could 427 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 4: also sit here and say we were in that game 428 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 4: because well, well we were in that. We were in 429 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 4: that game because of defense and field position. 430 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 2: Do you so? So fans will say to me. Fans 431 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 2: will say to me, how does this and what's your 432 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 2: answer to this? How does the same team that played 433 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 2: Georgia to the final play wins at Old Miss? Plays 434 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:45,919 Speaker 2: Texas really well, a little bit on the road for 435 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,680 Speaker 2: a lot, a good part of that game. Then have 436 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 2: the results against Vandy the kind of way it fell 437 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,920 Speaker 2: apart against Louisville, Like, how did you just as a coach, 438 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 2: how did you explain beating Old Miss on the road 439 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 2: and then losing to Auburn at home. I mean like, 440 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:03,399 Speaker 2: how do you how did you explain yourself? 441 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 3: Well, well, Auburn at home. 442 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:06,959 Speaker 2: I mean just but just in general, I mean, there 443 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 2: was wildly inconsistent result. 444 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 4: Fair, fair, fair criticism. I think you know, the the 445 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 4: you know you go play. I've said this for years. 446 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 4: I think people sometimes latch onto it. 447 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 3: Sometimes you don't. 448 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 4: When you play people in this league, you see weird 449 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:24,199 Speaker 4: stuff all the time. It is extremely taxing on our 450 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 4: players mentally and physically. You know, where you hit something, 451 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 4: where you're playing, where you're at right there, what your 452 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:33,919 Speaker 4: headspace is, what you're like physically factors into it. I 453 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:37,240 Speaker 4: can't always see that coming. You try to head things off. 454 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 4: You try to make sure you're ahead of things. 455 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 3: You know. You look at Bandy and and they had 456 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:42,400 Speaker 3: a really good year. 457 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 4: They brought in a quarterback that had a great spark, 458 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:46,640 Speaker 4: They brought in some players that were used to that system. 459 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 4: They played, you know, extremely hard. You know, we made 460 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 4: that is a game that that we brought up earlier. 461 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:57,400 Speaker 4: The the you know, discipline and the problems. I mean 462 00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:02,160 Speaker 4: I had remarkable players for me making making incredible mistakes 463 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 4: early in that game. And you know that's hard. You know, 464 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 4: that's hard. There's no excuse for it, you know what 465 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:09,720 Speaker 4: I mean. We should have scored the first three times 466 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 4: we had the ball, and you know that that we 467 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 4: didn't do it just didn't happen, you know. And then 468 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:16,400 Speaker 4: the Louisville game, you know, I think by that time, 469 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 4: I don't know. It's again, it's indefensible. We've had a 470 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:21,440 Speaker 4: really good run. Yeah, but we are players, understand the 471 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 4: importance of it. We embrace it. We we embrace that challenge, 472 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 4: you know, we we were You don't hang it. We 473 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 4: didn't play very good. 474 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 2: Thirty seconds real quick? Do you want Do you want 475 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 2: that game to keep going? If you go to a 476 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 2: nine game sec Ski? 477 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:35,120 Speaker 3: Yeah? I do? 478 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:36,119 Speaker 2: You want to keep playing? 479 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 3: I do. I think it will be a real challenge, 480 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:38,120 Speaker 3: but I do. 481 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 2: Okay, Yeah, I like that because I want to keep 482 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 2: Why can They may not do it, but I want 483 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:47,440 Speaker 2: them to do it. All right, we'll take a break, 484 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 2: be right back here with Mark Stoops Cancer. Welcome back, 485 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 2: take you sports radio. Let's talk for a second about 486 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:57,840 Speaker 2: this year with Mark Stoops. All right, So we I 487 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 2: was saying, I'm not sure there'll be a Kentucky foot 488 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 2: ball team that we like know less about as fans. 489 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,200 Speaker 2: So tell me about the quarterback position you're going to have, 490 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 2: Zach Calzada, you got cutter. How do you expect that 491 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:14,679 Speaker 2: to go. Do you go into spring practice saying I 492 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 2: think this will be our guy and if so, who 493 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:17,440 Speaker 2: would it be? 494 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 4: No? I think you you know, obviously it's an open 495 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 4: competition getting back to you know what we opened with, 496 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,360 Speaker 4: and you know you have to when you go through 497 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:30,439 Speaker 4: a year like that, you have to challenge every player 498 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 4: and say you're coming in here and you're going to 499 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 4: earn your position, right, no entitlement whatsoever. Everything's going to 500 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:39,840 Speaker 4: be earned, nothing's given, and we have to get back 501 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:40,200 Speaker 4: to that. 502 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:41,360 Speaker 3: That's the way it's always been. 503 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 4: Again, we address some of the issues that I take 504 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 4: full responsibility for, but that can't be like that going 505 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:48,719 Speaker 4: going forward. 506 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:51,360 Speaker 3: Nobody's going to be given anything. They better go win 507 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:51,879 Speaker 3: the job. 508 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 2: And so do you think in the process of getting 509 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:57,439 Speaker 2: players you had to promise stuff before that you just 510 00:23:57,480 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 2: decide you're not gonna do that anymore. 511 00:23:59,240 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 3: I don't think. 512 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 4: You know, yes, you know, in a way they feel 513 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:05,439 Speaker 4: like there's an open door, which there is anything anything. 514 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 4: Time I've told a player you have a great opportunity. 515 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:11,719 Speaker 4: And so if you go to the quarterback position, you 516 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:14,399 Speaker 4: have Cutter coming back, who we have great faith in. 517 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 4: But you know, let's be honest, that was the only 518 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:19,439 Speaker 4: one on campus. Bo Iron decided to come back. We 519 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:21,679 Speaker 4: love that just you know, to have that depth and 520 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 4: experience and a guy like that. But there wasn't much 521 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:27,720 Speaker 4: on campus. Right, We're bringing into freshmen. So you bring 522 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 4: in Zach Calzada. He's a six year guy. So I 523 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:34,440 Speaker 4: love that experience of that. Here's a guy that's played 524 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 4: a lot of football. You go to the portal, if 525 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 4: you go back a little bit of history. We took 526 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:41,159 Speaker 4: a shot on Will Levis's home run, right, yeah, you know, 527 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:44,480 Speaker 4: but didn't have much experience. You know, last year with Brock, 528 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:47,679 Speaker 4: you know, we brought Brock in, didn't have that much experience. 529 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:50,200 Speaker 4: Maybe you know, he could have played better, but maybe 530 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:51,440 Speaker 4: I could have done a better job. 531 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 3: I take my responsibility. I've never put that on Brock. 532 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 4: Right, we talked about oline issues, we talked about coaching, 533 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 4: you know what I mean, that's all of us. But 534 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:00,919 Speaker 4: it could have been better, you know that. You know, 535 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,400 Speaker 4: with Zach, you see a guy that's played a ton 536 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:06,119 Speaker 4: of football. So I like that part of it. 537 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 2: But like in Spring, are they both taking like QB 538 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 2: one reps? 539 00:25:09,560 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely. 540 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 4: And I'll be honest, I made this, you know, with 541 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:16,720 Speaker 4: with uh what little media appearances I've made so far 542 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:19,479 Speaker 4: talking about Spring, and I will throughout the Spring. I 543 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 4: really want to stay away from it. I don't mind 544 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:23,119 Speaker 4: talking about a little bit and all that because I 545 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 4: know you have, you know a lot of listeners that care. 546 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:28,240 Speaker 4: But right now I want to make everybody earn it. 547 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:29,920 Speaker 4: I want to talk about I want to talk about 548 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:32,160 Speaker 4: like the position, the quarterback position, you know what I mean. 549 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 4: They need to be a great leader. I love the 550 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:37,200 Speaker 4: arm talent of both of those guys. I mean, they 551 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 4: could rip it. Both of them could throw the heck 552 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:42,360 Speaker 4: out of the football. Both of them are passionate about 553 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 4: Both of them have leadership skills, you know. And bo 554 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 4: Allen gives me a great third, you know, because he 555 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 4: came back you know, to me, his arm is much fresh, 556 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:53,200 Speaker 4: you know, strong and fresh again. 557 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:53,720 Speaker 3: You know. 558 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:55,159 Speaker 4: I think Bo is the type of guy when he 559 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 4: first got here during during COVID, I think the guy 560 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:00,120 Speaker 4: works so hard, you know what I mean, he he 561 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 4: you know, set himself back a little bit, but he's 562 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 4: back to full strength and a guy that I believe in, 563 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:08,399 Speaker 4: and so I just feel like as a room and 564 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:10,639 Speaker 4: then the two freshman guys that will bring along. But 565 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:12,520 Speaker 4: I think as a room, I love it and I 566 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 4: love the top two guys wide receiver. 567 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:17,720 Speaker 2: You had two of the more explosive players we've seen 568 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 2: here in a long time in barry On and Dane. 569 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:22,760 Speaker 2: They ended up leaving. So what do you do? You 570 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 2: feel good about where you are at that position. I mean, 571 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 2: it's hard to replace guys like that, but what is that? 572 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:28,880 Speaker 2: What's the game plan? Well? 573 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:31,919 Speaker 4: You know, I think once again, you know, would bring 574 00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 4: Jamori Macklin back because he played so well late in 575 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:38,280 Speaker 4: the Citiason last year. And again, I think that's an 576 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:42,320 Speaker 4: area where if if there's some criticism, it's like, you know, 577 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 4: you had those two guys outside. You kept on waiting, 578 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 4: you know what I mean, you know, for them to 579 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:49,080 Speaker 4: do things, and they did certainly. Dane was you know, 580 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 4: very steady and reliable for us. And then you know, 581 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,080 Speaker 4: but then j mack we played inside, and then when 582 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:57,160 Speaker 4: we started playing him outside, we realized he's a better 583 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 4: outside guy. You know, you know, he'd made some really 584 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:04,400 Speaker 4: tough contested catches late in that season. And so I think, 585 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:06,879 Speaker 4: you know, once again, like I talked about with the 586 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:09,560 Speaker 4: the the offensive lineman that we needed to bring back, 587 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:11,639 Speaker 4: it started with j Mac too, because he played so 588 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:14,159 Speaker 4: good late and again he has a ton of experience, 589 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 4: so bringing him back, you got you know, you got 590 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:19,880 Speaker 4: Fred back. We brought in JJ Hester, you know from 591 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 4: Oklahoma that has some really good upside. That's a tall 592 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 4: guy that could really run, that that needs to you know, 593 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:29,120 Speaker 4: needs to produce for us. Uh, you know, you bring 594 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:32,640 Speaker 4: in Stiletto that's played a lot of football, especially when 595 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:37,120 Speaker 4: healthy from Clemson. You know, Kendrick Law that that gives 596 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:41,080 Speaker 4: us a strength in a build of a receiver that 597 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:43,879 Speaker 4: we had that I haven't had, you know, and you know, 598 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,919 Speaker 4: a ball and hand guy that's extremely strong and explosive, 599 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:48,040 Speaker 4: you know. 600 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 3: So you know, I like what we've added there. 601 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 4: David Washington was a guy late last year that we 602 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 4: felt like, you know, was going to be a good 603 00:27:56,280 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 4: football player. 604 00:27:57,160 --> 00:28:01,359 Speaker 2: You in terms of a coaching staff, you know, the 605 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:05,080 Speaker 2: fans tend to say they see a position struggle and 606 00:28:05,119 --> 00:28:08,239 Speaker 2: then they put it on that position coach. There's been 607 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:10,800 Speaker 2: a lot of talk about as we said the offensive line, 608 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:14,359 Speaker 2: but also other positions. How did you you kind of 609 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 2: kept a lot of your staff together. How do you 610 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 2: feel like, I mean, do you understand fans criticisms about 611 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 2: that or do you think it's not really fair to 612 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:25,160 Speaker 2: say the offensive line? Coach? 613 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:28,879 Speaker 4: I don't you know myself. And I don't mean to 614 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,439 Speaker 4: be oblivious to this, because I do talk to you. 615 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:34,879 Speaker 4: I talk to media like I understand the gist of it, 616 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:36,920 Speaker 4: and my head's not in the sand. 617 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 3: I don't listen to all that. 618 00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:40,880 Speaker 4: I can't right, you know what I mean, I can't, 619 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:45,520 Speaker 4: but I will say this, there's you. 620 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:46,960 Speaker 3: Know, I understand the frustration. 621 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 4: Heck, I was frustrated when Eric left the first time, 622 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 4: you know, and hen I go go back. 623 00:28:53,760 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 3: I can tell you this. 624 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 4: There's there's not a coach that I've ever had that 625 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:00,680 Speaker 4: I take more or calls for. 626 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 3: You know. 627 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:04,600 Speaker 4: The guy could go anywhere he wants at any time, 628 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:07,880 Speaker 4: and he knows the last time and he decided to 629 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 4: go work with Nick, and you know, and I understand that, 630 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 4: and it hurt us though, you know what I mean, 631 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 4: the continuity. He knows that when he came back, we 632 00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 4: had those discussions and you know, both professionally and personally, 633 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:24,360 Speaker 4: you know about the responsibility and what we need in 634 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:28,040 Speaker 4: the consistency and the continuity that I need. He understood that, 635 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 4: embraced that take. He's taken those bullets, He's come back. 636 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 4: He he just recruited as good as anybody have ever 637 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:36,720 Speaker 4: had any any. 638 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, you all did get you all did get a 639 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:39,440 Speaker 2: ton of guys. 640 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 4: But I guess what, I'm listen to me on this 641 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 4: in his defense, and I'm not, you know, I'm not. 642 00:29:45,520 --> 00:29:47,240 Speaker 4: I'll defend any of my guys if I believe in it, 643 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:51,360 Speaker 4: you know. But he's a guy that's on the treadmill 644 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:55,400 Speaker 4: at five point thirty six am every day, texting twenty 645 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:59,360 Speaker 4: five recruits all day every day, working his butt off, 646 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:03,600 Speaker 4: and can can literally I don't need to start naming names. 647 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:05,880 Speaker 4: But like the biggest of the big in our profession, 648 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:09,120 Speaker 4: all called to hire him this offseason, you know, every 649 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:10,160 Speaker 4: one of them. 650 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 2: So so you feel you feel confident. 651 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:15,200 Speaker 4: In that and his ability, yes, and his recruiting and 652 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:17,680 Speaker 4: is coaching in all of it. And and he's a 653 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:21,200 Speaker 4: he's a tireless worker, he's relentless, he's tough as nails. 654 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 3: Believe me. 655 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:25,800 Speaker 4: Yes, the inconsistency of the continuity has hurt us. Yes, 656 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 4: he was a part of that, but that you know again, 657 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 4: that's the side of it. We accept it, we know it. 658 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:34,080 Speaker 4: Now it's about what are we going to do moving forward? 659 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:37,320 Speaker 2: Right are you do when you look at your your 660 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 2: offense and defense, just philosophy, big time, big picture? Do 661 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:44,600 Speaker 2: you is there anything you want to change from what 662 00:30:44,680 --> 00:30:47,200 Speaker 2: you had last year? I remember after Liam left she said, well, okay, 663 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 2: we want to try to run the ball more, get 664 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:50,720 Speaker 2: back to some of that, and I think you did 665 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 2: some of that last year. Do you see anything going 666 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:56,160 Speaker 2: into this year where you're like, okay, I want to 667 00:30:56,200 --> 00:31:00,440 Speaker 2: see us move in this direction from a philosophy standpoint. 668 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:03,440 Speaker 4: I think just getting better at all things we did 669 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:07,120 Speaker 4: right last year. Again, getting back to some of the criticism. 670 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:10,120 Speaker 4: When you know, you we got into it a little bit. 671 00:31:10,160 --> 00:31:12,520 Speaker 4: You know that it's hard to get into everything is 672 00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:14,320 Speaker 4: as much as we need to. But when we talked 673 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 4: about old line issues early, you know, in the season, 674 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:18,840 Speaker 4: and we identified that it's and it's kind of like 675 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 4: package some things to what you can do right. 676 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:23,120 Speaker 3: We have to try to win games. 677 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:25,120 Speaker 4: I think we've done a decent job over the years 678 00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:27,040 Speaker 4: with that, right, not always perfect. I'm not trying to 679 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:30,040 Speaker 4: pat myself, but it's like adapt to what you can do, 680 00:31:30,520 --> 00:31:33,120 Speaker 4: and that's that goes into the factoring of what whether 681 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:34,640 Speaker 4: you go for it on fourth and ten or not, 682 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 4: and who you're playing, can you get it? 683 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:37,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know what I mean. 684 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:42,719 Speaker 4: And so but you know, I think offensively, defensively special teams. 685 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,040 Speaker 4: Continue to build on the good things we're doing. And 686 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:50,160 Speaker 4: then yeah, we you know, situational football last year again 687 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:53,760 Speaker 4: not very good at times. And and let's look at 688 00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:58,320 Speaker 4: critical moments, some short yardage scenarios that really hurt us. 689 00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:01,120 Speaker 4: You know that I have to take response, but that 690 00:32:01,240 --> 00:32:03,480 Speaker 4: is going to be addressed in the spring. There were 691 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:06,680 Speaker 4: a lot of like third one, yeah, most definitely. Yeah, 692 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:07,920 Speaker 4: let me finish with. 693 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:12,120 Speaker 2: This because this is the I think this is probably 694 00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:17,800 Speaker 2: the sixty four thousand dollars question there are When I 695 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:21,200 Speaker 2: talk to average UK fans, here's exactly what they say 696 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:24,800 Speaker 2: to me, most of them about Marx Tuobes. And he 697 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:27,480 Speaker 2: has been amazing in what he's done here. He did 698 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:30,480 Speaker 2: stuff I never thought we could do at Kentucky, right, 699 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:33,640 Speaker 2: Like he recruited at a level that we didn't think. 700 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 2: He invents, brought in players that we didn't think. You know, 701 00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:38,480 Speaker 2: we had these ten win seasons, I didn't know if 702 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:41,240 Speaker 2: we'd ever do that, all these bowl games in a row, 703 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:43,400 Speaker 2: et cetera. And then they'll say, so he's done a 704 00:32:43,400 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 2: great job. Period next sentence, I am worried though about 705 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:52,040 Speaker 2: the future. How do I know he's going to be 706 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:54,920 Speaker 2: ready for this next era? How do I know this 707 00:32:55,280 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 2: next year is going to be better than the last couple. 708 00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:00,480 Speaker 2: If you were to hear that, and you were to 709 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:02,680 Speaker 2: try to give a message to the fan base, it's 710 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:05,560 Speaker 2: why they should still be excited and pumped up for 711 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:06,880 Speaker 2: the future of UK football. 712 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:09,120 Speaker 4: What would you take well, I would say Number one, 713 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:12,600 Speaker 4: I hear them and I accept, you know, the criticisms 714 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:17,640 Speaker 4: one hundred percent. I'm not, you know, so hardheaded where 715 00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:21,080 Speaker 4: you know I'm gonna I'm not going to try to 716 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:27,680 Speaker 4: embrace any challenge, any obstacle to get better. You know, 717 00:33:28,320 --> 00:33:31,400 Speaker 4: you could take this or leave it, Matt. And you 718 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:35,800 Speaker 4: know I've never been you know, as motivated as I. 719 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:36,400 Speaker 3: Am right now. 720 00:33:36,720 --> 00:33:39,360 Speaker 4: No, you know, if you know anything about me, I 721 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:42,239 Speaker 4: do not like an ass kicking and and you know, 722 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:46,280 Speaker 4: and we didn't play to our best last year, and 723 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:49,880 Speaker 4: you know, I could guarantee you since that season was 724 00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:54,680 Speaker 4: over when we lost on Saturday against Louisville. Our butts 725 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:57,920 Speaker 4: were in that office on Sunday and have not stopped since. 726 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 4: We're going to attack this thing. We have to put 727 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:03,960 Speaker 4: the pieces together. We have to strategically, you know, get 728 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:06,760 Speaker 4: better and put them in a position to be successful. 729 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:08,840 Speaker 4: But it came with building a roster. That was the 730 00:34:08,840 --> 00:34:11,480 Speaker 4: first thing I had to do. We've done that. Then 731 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:16,799 Speaker 4: it comes with absolutely demanding excellence from them and in 732 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 4: leaning on them twenty four to seven in a way, 733 00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:20,919 Speaker 4: you know what I mean, in a very positive manner, 734 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:25,040 Speaker 4: but you know, in keeping them accountable and making sure 735 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:28,799 Speaker 4: you know, they have the leadership qualities that it takes 736 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:32,840 Speaker 4: to be successful, to stay united through you know, challenges, 737 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:35,000 Speaker 4: because there's going to be obstacles when you play in 738 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:37,640 Speaker 4: our league. You're going to hit adversity and how do 739 00:34:37,680 --> 00:34:40,200 Speaker 4: you handle that? And do you have the roster, do 740 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:42,880 Speaker 4: you have the depth, do you have you know, the 741 00:34:42,920 --> 00:34:46,279 Speaker 4: preparation that it takes. We're leaving no stone unturned. We're 742 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:49,160 Speaker 4: working our tail off. I love this place. I've been 743 00:34:49,160 --> 00:34:53,320 Speaker 4: here twelve years going on thirteen, and I promise you. 744 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:55,080 Speaker 3: You know, I'll be honest with you. 745 00:34:55,120 --> 00:34:58,160 Speaker 4: I've never you know, I'm emotional right now talking about 746 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:00,239 Speaker 4: because Maas wants to get back to the office to 747 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:02,200 Speaker 4: work and make this team better. That's that's what I 748 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:04,719 Speaker 4: could guarantee you, and I could guarantee you that they're 749 00:35:04,719 --> 00:35:07,560 Speaker 4: gonna play with the same level of competitiveness, that we 750 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:10,760 Speaker 4: always have the same chip on our shoulder, the same discipline. 751 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:13,520 Speaker 4: We're not gonna be perfect, but we're gonna play hard, 752 00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:15,319 Speaker 4: and you know we're gonna do things right. 753 00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:17,960 Speaker 2: Mark. Thank you very much. I'll let you get back 754 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:19,960 Speaker 2: to your office to go do that. And good luck 755 00:35:19,960 --> 00:35:23,080 Speaker 2: with pro day today and uh, I hope it goes well. 756 00:35:23,160 --> 00:35:24,840 Speaker 2: Thank you very much for your time. Thanks for shuting. 757 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:26,279 Speaker 2: We're gonna take a break. We'll be right back to 758 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:32,719 Speaker 2: Kentucky Sports Radio. Welcome back. It is Kentucky Sports Radio AFI. 759 00:35:32,719 --> 00:35:35,040 Speaker 2: I'm nine two eight twenty two eighty seven. This segment 760 00:35:35,040 --> 00:35:38,840 Speaker 2: sponsor by Cornbread Hemp. If you need rest, relaxation and 761 00:35:38,920 --> 00:35:41,440 Speaker 2: all the great stuff from corn Bread Hemp, you make 762 00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:43,919 Speaker 2: sure if Daylight Savings time is messing up your sleep. 763 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:47,480 Speaker 2: Corn Bread Hemp Sleep Gummies full spectrum flower only Hemp, 764 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:51,120 Speaker 2: CBD gummies no next day grogginess. That gave some mounted 765 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:54,000 Speaker 2: our free at our show the other day thirty percent 766 00:35:54,040 --> 00:35:56,640 Speaker 2: off use my co KSR check out. It is corn 767 00:35:57,239 --> 00:36:00,440 Speaker 2: bread hemp. All right, So guys, Mark was here. I 768 00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:05,040 Speaker 2: thought he finished very strong with his sort of take 769 00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:07,279 Speaker 2: there at the end. What did you think of? What 770 00:36:07,320 --> 00:36:08,040 Speaker 2: did you think of? Mark? 771 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:10,040 Speaker 5: Just as a fan listened to him, I heard some 772 00:36:10,080 --> 00:36:11,680 Speaker 5: things I needed to hear. You know, he took it, 773 00:36:11,719 --> 00:36:14,759 Speaker 5: didn't didn't make excuses. You know, he took responsibility for 774 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:16,319 Speaker 5: a lot of things that happened last year. And if 775 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:18,520 Speaker 5: you're a media person in this town and you cover 776 00:36:18,600 --> 00:36:20,799 Speaker 5: UK football, there were some golden nuggets and what he 777 00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:22,279 Speaker 5: said there in forty five minutes, I mean they were. 778 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:25,960 Speaker 2: Mister media guy, what are the golden nuggets, mister scoop, 779 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:28,520 Speaker 2: I'm a respected member of the miya the football one 780 00:36:28,520 --> 00:36:29,520 Speaker 2: of the golden nuggets. 781 00:36:29,560 --> 00:36:30,920 Speaker 5: Well, like, I think that's the first time I think 782 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:33,840 Speaker 5: public he's talked about the problems with culture and the 783 00:36:33,880 --> 00:36:35,960 Speaker 5: problem with the offensive line. You know, I think that 784 00:36:36,080 --> 00:36:36,439 Speaker 5: was some. 785 00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:40,120 Speaker 2: He did acknowledge the culture, Yes he did, which she 786 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:42,880 Speaker 2: did I think is important. I think it is because 787 00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:46,319 Speaker 2: everybody around the program knew that, and like it felt 788 00:36:46,360 --> 00:36:49,560 Speaker 2: like nobody was saying it. Uh he did. I thought 789 00:36:49,560 --> 00:36:52,360 Speaker 2: that was good, Drew. Nice to have you here this 790 00:36:52,480 --> 00:36:53,200 Speaker 2: first time you spoke. 791 00:36:53,239 --> 00:36:57,080 Speaker 6: I think, yeah, hell hello over on, Yes, good to 792 00:36:57,080 --> 00:37:00,200 Speaker 6: see everybody I got met, you know, mostly in you 793 00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:00,960 Speaker 6: was all right. 794 00:37:01,280 --> 00:37:02,840 Speaker 2: You know, didn't fire me up at the end. 795 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:04,480 Speaker 6: He got me fired up a little bit when he 796 00:37:04,520 --> 00:37:06,720 Speaker 6: said because a lot of people have questioned his motivation 797 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:08,480 Speaker 6: when he said, I'm emotional to get back to the 798 00:37:08,480 --> 00:37:10,480 Speaker 6: office to fix this right now. Yeah, I hate an 799 00:37:10,480 --> 00:37:13,080 Speaker 6: ass kicking. I thought that was a great answer. I mean, 800 00:37:13,120 --> 00:37:14,959 Speaker 6: we all know that he knows it didn't go well. 801 00:37:15,040 --> 00:37:16,880 Speaker 6: But I think there's been a lot of people wondering 802 00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:18,799 Speaker 6: how much gas is left in that tank. And I 803 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:20,640 Speaker 6: can tell you just sitting across the table, that is 804 00:37:20,680 --> 00:37:24,200 Speaker 6: a guy that is pretty motivated, or at least seemed 805 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:26,520 Speaker 6: that way to go fix everything that went wrong? 806 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:28,680 Speaker 2: Is that the first time? Am I right? That? Like 807 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:32,440 Speaker 2: it's been acknowledged that Eddie gran was the gum first 808 00:37:32,440 --> 00:37:35,560 Speaker 2: I've heard that. Yeah, I knew that that's what it was, 809 00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:38,640 Speaker 2: but I don't know that they've ever said that even 810 00:37:38,680 --> 00:37:40,319 Speaker 2: though he said it wasn't the title. 811 00:37:40,120 --> 00:37:41,960 Speaker 5: Yeah, not the title, but he's acting as the team 812 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:43,840 Speaker 5: general manager. Yeah, which in this day and age, you 813 00:37:43,840 --> 00:37:44,920 Speaker 5: got to have somebody like that. 814 00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:47,319 Speaker 2: Oh, you definitely have to have somebody. Yeah, I mean 815 00:37:47,680 --> 00:37:50,680 Speaker 2: you and and I think Eddie's been doing it a 816 00:37:50,680 --> 00:37:55,320 Speaker 2: lot on the fundraising side, but the picking players side, 817 00:37:55,320 --> 00:37:57,160 Speaker 2: I think is also a big part of that too. 818 00:37:57,680 --> 00:38:00,680 Speaker 6: Yeah, he's mentioned now helpful EDI's been in the past conferences, 819 00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:02,400 Speaker 6: and Eddie does do a lot of fundraising, but I 820 00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:04,920 Speaker 6: think that's the most open he's been about actual roster 821 00:38:05,040 --> 00:38:08,240 Speaker 6: management and Eddie's rolling that. But I know Eddie leading 822 00:38:08,280 --> 00:38:10,040 Speaker 6: the charge on getting the money for an ale. 823 00:38:10,280 --> 00:38:12,759 Speaker 2: Shannon, You're harder to convince on everything. What did you 824 00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:13,319 Speaker 2: think of it? 825 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:15,160 Speaker 7: I think Stoops is always at his best when he's 826 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:17,400 Speaker 7: on this show. He's just so open and honest. He 827 00:38:17,440 --> 00:38:21,080 Speaker 7: took responsibility, he sounded like he had energy. I think 828 00:38:21,120 --> 00:38:23,600 Speaker 7: his best segment was the last one. So we ended 829 00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:25,600 Speaker 7: on a hoigh cost and I think maybe the most 830 00:38:25,600 --> 00:38:27,640 Speaker 7: important thing I heard is that he would be interested 831 00:38:27,680 --> 00:38:29,800 Speaker 7: in keeping the lovel game on the schedule for next season. 832 00:38:30,280 --> 00:38:33,040 Speaker 2: Yeah. That was interesting. I mean, that was an interesting comment. 833 00:38:33,200 --> 00:38:35,319 Speaker 2: Like I don't know that anyone else at UK has 834 00:38:35,320 --> 00:38:38,080 Speaker 2: said that, but they need to be because. 835 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:39,799 Speaker 5: Another golden nugget at local. 836 00:38:39,560 --> 00:38:42,640 Speaker 2: Media there golden nuggets. Was there a bunch of old 837 00:38:42,680 --> 00:38:44,680 Speaker 2: golden nuggets? You like the golden nuggets? 838 00:38:44,680 --> 00:38:47,120 Speaker 5: He was just dropping them for you guys, making your 839 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:48,000 Speaker 5: job easy today. 840 00:38:48,239 --> 00:38:53,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I overall listen, I think it's very 841 00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:58,400 Speaker 2: difficult whenever you've had success to all of a sudden 842 00:38:59,600 --> 00:39:02,560 Speaker 2: have to deal with failure and and what you say. 843 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:05,360 Speaker 2: And I've always thought of Mark as like a guy 844 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:08,840 Speaker 2: who you know, I don't think he's stubborn in the 845 00:39:08,840 --> 00:39:10,960 Speaker 2: way that I thought Cal was stubborn, but he's also 846 00:39:11,160 --> 00:39:14,160 Speaker 2: like he wants to defend himself, and I think sometimes 847 00:39:14,160 --> 00:39:16,200 Speaker 2: it's hard for those people to just go, you know what, 848 00:39:17,200 --> 00:39:21,000 Speaker 2: it didn't work right, And I feel like he's getting 849 00:39:21,160 --> 00:39:25,560 Speaker 2: closer to that. That's not easy. It's not easy to 850 00:39:25,600 --> 00:39:29,080 Speaker 2: do something that fails when you're a successful person and 851 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:33,240 Speaker 2: just say this failed. I've talked about like when I 852 00:39:33,280 --> 00:39:36,880 Speaker 2: did worked at CBS, it just kind of failed. Like 853 00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:39,200 Speaker 2: I just the two people I worked with it was me, 854 00:39:39,760 --> 00:39:43,360 Speaker 2: Matt Norlander and Jeff Borzello. We were all hired at 855 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:46,799 Speaker 2: the same time. Those two guys are two of the 856 00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:49,959 Speaker 2: national college basketball writers, and I'm not it just didn't work. 857 00:39:49,960 --> 00:39:52,439 Speaker 2: But that just did not work for me. Sometimes that's 858 00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:55,640 Speaker 2: hard to just go, you know what, I just failed, 859 00:39:56,000 --> 00:39:58,480 Speaker 2: And I think Druy's getting closer to that because I 860 00:39:58,520 --> 00:40:00,000 Speaker 2: just don't know how you can look at last year 861 00:40:00,120 --> 00:40:02,640 Speaker 2: is anything except it didn't work. But in order to 862 00:40:02,760 --> 00:40:05,480 Speaker 2: make it better, I think you have to acknowledge the failure. 863 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:08,320 Speaker 6: Yeah, he did that as best he could. He didn't 864 00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:10,479 Speaker 6: get too specific on some things. I could have wanted 865 00:40:10,480 --> 00:40:14,000 Speaker 6: to hear more, but really just you got to give 866 00:40:14,040 --> 00:40:16,200 Speaker 6: the man credit for sitting here for fifty minutes. People 867 00:40:16,239 --> 00:40:17,640 Speaker 6: didn't hear this, but you said, how long do we 868 00:40:17,680 --> 00:40:18,960 Speaker 6: have you? He said, as long as you need me 869 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:20,480 Speaker 6: and as many questions as you have. Because they have 870 00:40:20,520 --> 00:40:22,319 Speaker 6: pro day at eleven, he's gonna be late for that. 871 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:25,080 Speaker 6: I know, we get accused. The defendant stoops a little bit. 872 00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:27,800 Speaker 6: Not many coaches would have just done what he just did. 873 00:40:28,040 --> 00:40:31,240 Speaker 2: And by himself. Okay, that's another thing. Like a lot 874 00:40:31,800 --> 00:40:34,239 Speaker 2: most of the time, if coaches come, there's gonna be 875 00:40:34,280 --> 00:40:36,560 Speaker 2: media people sitting here and they're gonna look at you like, 876 00:40:36,640 --> 00:40:39,560 Speaker 2: don't ask that He came here by himself, right he 877 00:40:40,560 --> 00:40:43,000 Speaker 2: You know, I do give him credit for that. Look, 878 00:40:44,719 --> 00:40:47,520 Speaker 2: I don't know him well. Like I talked to him 879 00:40:47,640 --> 00:40:49,399 Speaker 2: earlier today and it was the first time I'd talked 880 00:40:49,400 --> 00:40:53,560 Speaker 2: to him and you know, since the season ended. But 881 00:40:54,320 --> 00:40:57,359 Speaker 2: I also think like he seems like a guy who 882 00:40:58,120 --> 00:41:01,520 Speaker 2: when the when when the criticism, it does hurt him 883 00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:04,640 Speaker 2: and he really wants to show people he can he 884 00:41:04,719 --> 00:41:07,759 Speaker 2: can fix it. And you know, this year will ultimately 885 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:10,160 Speaker 2: decide the tail ran like it is what it is. 886 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:12,120 Speaker 2: The results are going to be what they are, and 887 00:41:12,160 --> 00:41:12,920 Speaker 2: we'll see what happens. 888 00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:14,680 Speaker 5: Yeah, you're right, whether you're a coach or whatever you're 889 00:41:14,680 --> 00:41:16,680 Speaker 5: doing in life, if you have great success and all 890 00:41:16,680 --> 00:41:17,880 Speaker 5: of a sudden there is a blip. 891 00:41:18,560 --> 00:41:20,839 Speaker 3: If you're a good leader, you do exactly what he did. 892 00:41:20,880 --> 00:41:23,520 Speaker 5: You take it head on, you don't take you take responsibility, 893 00:41:23,560 --> 00:41:25,680 Speaker 5: you don't make excuses, and you promise that it's not 894 00:41:25,719 --> 00:41:27,680 Speaker 5: gonna happen again. And I think we heard that from 895 00:41:27,719 --> 00:41:28,359 Speaker 5: our coach today. 896 00:41:28,560 --> 00:41:33,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, you always say our coach very much like if 897 00:41:33,600 --> 00:41:35,439 Speaker 2: it's funny how you say that, you you you're big 898 00:41:35,480 --> 00:41:38,640 Speaker 2: on our coach. Are he's our he's our coach From 899 00:41:38,680 --> 00:41:41,040 Speaker 2: being Mark Pope too. Yeah, it's like you do you 900 00:41:41,080 --> 00:41:43,120 Speaker 2: consider these people to be like your family. 901 00:41:44,160 --> 00:41:46,400 Speaker 3: I would welcome into my house for Christmas anytime. 902 00:41:48,040 --> 00:41:50,800 Speaker 2: The parties, that's true, the players are. I don't know 903 00:41:50,840 --> 00:41:52,680 Speaker 2: if we have a pull party this year. Dane left 904 00:41:52,719 --> 00:41:53,000 Speaker 2: the pool. 905 00:41:53,040 --> 00:41:53,839 Speaker 3: Parties may be over. 906 00:41:53,920 --> 00:41:57,080 Speaker 2: They would be weird if you did. Yeah for a 907 00:41:57,120 --> 00:41:59,960 Speaker 2: poll party. Yeah, I shut up, mister. Don't invite us 908 00:42:00,040 --> 00:42:02,560 Speaker 2: of the Christmas party. There's nobody that can talk about 909 00:42:02,560 --> 00:42:05,439 Speaker 2: that less than you. Al Right, we are gonna talk 910 00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:09,000 Speaker 2: basketball when we return. This is Kentucky Sports Radio. 911 00:42:10,680 --> 00:42:11,839 Speaker 3: Your mind did sound a little