UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 21, 2024 Lexington, Kentucky, USA Coach Mark Stoops Press Conference Kentucky – 41 , Ohio – 6

 

MARK STOOPS: Okay. You know, it’s good to get back into the win column obviously. I feel like the last couple of weeks our guys have worked hard to get some things corrected. Had the right mindset in their preparation. We want to be more consistent, obviously today was far from perfect. Many mistakes out there but a lot to get corrected. I think it was important to play a lot of guys.

There was players who worked extremely hard. A lot of young guys got in there tonight and I think that’s extremely important. The first half, I wish we could have got a few more points and got some guys to get a few more snaps but we pulled away late and I told you that all week it was going to be like. And I think our team had that mindset. They knew that you have to go beat ‘em. You have to go win the snap. It was going to be methodical in some ways. They are a good team and well coached and they keep things in front of them and they play extremely hard and they mixed up some pressures and they were adding on guys that got some pressures. A lot to fix but I thought we were very balanced. I don’t know what the stats were in the first half but I know we had a lot of yards and a lot of first downs but I wish we had a few more points. We screwed that up at the end of the first half and it’s on me and I knew better. I knew I should have kicked it on third like I was going to and it’s on me. We had to kick it with no timeouts – we had to kick it there. Good to see Gavin get some reps. I thought Brock did a really good job as well and played tough. Got some yards. You know, it’s good to get some yards and get the ball in the air a little bit and obviously we got to work some protection. Defense played really well most of the game. If we don’t give in that field position we would probably get the shut out. Defense had good efort. I will open it up to questions.

 

Q A bunch of the passing game, they struggled the last two weeks that you could – that they have made the strides over the past few games? 

 

MARK STOOPS: Yeah. I would imagine the big one was called back as well. That was him that caught that. Right? Yeah. So, I think it just shows for all of those guys, you know, they all as a group work really hard and their timing and they are running hard in practice and you know it’s been hot and they are grinding and running and running and sometimes the ball doesn’t find you and sometimes it does. If you do things right and you continue to work really hard eventually that ball will find you. Obviously, we need to do things to protect and put them into position. I think it’s just a testament to how consistent he’s been. The way he’s worked and the way he has just put his head down and got better.

Q Offensively talked about how there was some mistakes that you guys would like to fix. Looking at an offensive standpoint. What are some of those mistakes that you hope to address as you guys head to the road for the first time?

 

MARK STOOPS: The ball on the ground. Penalties. Pre-snap. Holding. There is a lot of things that we could do better. All of those things.

 

Q Coach, You guys, Last week you used Jamarion (Wilcox) a lot a lot and this week you got a lot of runs and what have you seen out of him the last few weeks? He’s a young guy and it seems like he’s running his heart out.

 

MARK STOOPS: Jamarion is a guy that I have been – you’ve heard me say many times that I believe in his talent. He is a very good player. We are leaning on him to be consistent on and of the field. And you know, do things right. Be on time to meetings and little things. Know all of the protection. As he gets more snaps, he will be more engaged and he’ll get better with opportunities. As far as all the little nuances to the ofenses and the protection in thing of that nature. As far as running the ball, he’s tough as nails. A week ago – you guys probably don’t even see it but he’s on kickof running people over on kickof team getting to the football as a running back. You know, he has the toughness. Last week and this week just the way he runs it. He’s been very eficient and tough and trying to be more accountable in all ways.

 

Q Mark, The end of half one, then another time where you – it looks like you were going to link up for a field-goal and you called time-out, and then going for it. So, is there -?

  

MARK STOOPS: We were right on that cusp honestly. We had the timeouts. At the end of the first half is obviously diferent than at the end of the game. I had the timeout and I thought it was wisely used to discuss it. And talking with our special-teams guys, it was right on the cusp. I put a lot of pressure on the outside thought. I thought that was about a yard or two and we felt like the wind at that point was in our face and we felt a little bit as it was swirling. And we decided to go for it.

 

Q Mark, how big was – then the fumble -?

  

MARK STOOPS: Yeah, that was really good. It took us a while to get that fumble. I still had to shake my head as it was going through. I was like really – it was good. It was important at that moment too. To buck up and keep them out of the end zone and get that turnover and get decent field position and get back up field and Maxwell’s was a really nice play and a nice call and you know, the defenders really played it well. Pop really passed it and pushed through the zone so it looked like man but we were actually in the zone and rolled up on it and it was a nice play the way we executed it.

 

Q Mark, with Brock (Vandagriff) and really how much duress he’s been under in the pocket. How hard is it for – he really hasn’t played very much to sort of make normal progression under these circumstances. 

 

MARK STOOPS: Obviously, he was 17 of 24 but that doesn’t count running from his life on six or eight sacks. But to him, you know we have to speed up and he has to go through a progression for us to progress, you know, we have to get some time. That’s why late in the game there, I was saying let’s continue to throw the ball. Even with the negatives. It got a little sloppy. I thought there was a couple of questions. In defense, the right tackle. I thought a couple of those weren’t great calls but that’s me. You know what I mean, at the time you feel like, you know, it’s really sloppy. After watching it on the iPad I have to defend him a little bit on that. And overall, we know there is improvement to be made. We were trying to just work on that thing. When Gavin got in I wanted to see him and give him an opportunity to throw the ball and run our offense. I thought that was important just to do that.

 

Q Mark, You guys got Gavin (Wimsatt) in early in the game – With options. Is that something we are going to see moving forward or is that just getting some things worked out or just how did that look -?

 

 

MARK STOOPS: We had been working that for weeks. As I mentioned, we understand the week before it was not the right time for it. The way that game was played was so important. And today I think we just have the mindset to get it going. Get them in there and get them a few snaps.

Q To get more explosive – to talk earlier in the game. But those didn’t turn into touchdowns, I think except for – at the very end. Because you did have a good setup for some field goals. Do you like the direction they took from an explosive standpoint?

 

MARK STOOPS: Its improvement. You know, its improvement. Going into this game, it’s been our mindset to continue to improve. I told you prior to week three game with UGA everybody was more focused trying to improve. You always have to play with attitude and efort. Right? That’s nonnegotiable for us. But I think we need to play disciplined and more focused. And today – I thought at times we were and obviously, we have some limitations and we have some areas where we have to get better. We try to work on those things as we understand we are going to move to the league here now.

Q Mark. You mentioned you had a lot of guys break up and hit the quarterback. What has stood out to you about those two guys?

 

MARK STOOPS: Both of them. Terhyon had a little hammy late in camp that showed him a little bit but he’s showed lot of promise and – is just relentless and played extremely hard and has some natural pass and rushing ability and it’s good to get him in there.

 

Q Because of his size – And to wiggle just enough to mitigate any sort of size? 

 

MARK STOOPS: It is. I think we as an organization, we want some guys that are beyond size and we want some guys that just have some attributes and he certainly does have that looseness, that wiggle, he has a good feel for the game and he is relentless. There have been some great ones that have been on the shorter end too.

 

Q Mark. Did you joke with J.J. (Weaver) when he came of the field after that mirror fumble back?

  

MARK STOOPS: No, I didn’t. I was just still shaking my own head.

 

Q Mark. More time for Aidan (Laros) out there today. Was it wanting more distance?

 

MARK STOOPS: Yeah. We just have been working Aidan and I think I told you we were getting closer and closer and we will continue to work and he hit that one pretty good. We didn’t even sky it that’s why none of the guys went to the ball we he didn’t hit it that good.

 

Q Mark, you guys got to get out of SEC play and now you have to jump back into it. What does it look like for you guys to ramp up and defend that first –?

  

MARK STOOPS: As I told the guys it was kind of nice for them. Obviously, it was a hot day and I appreciate the fans being out there just sitting out there in that kind of heat. So, thank you once again. For our players, it was a hot day. We needed that to test us and push us because it’s nice in a way because we play very early next week. I don’t need them out all night and I need them getting some rest and getting some sleep and we need to have a great week of preparation because we know the challenge that lies ahead. They are going to tax you in all ways and stress you and in a lot of ways and we have to be on point from the beginning of the week.

Q On fourth down midfield. Was that the right play?

 

MARK STOOPS: Yeah, they squeeze and scraped of the zone read. I didn’t see how the ball whether it was the exchange or whatever but they chased the back. So, he wasn’t going to make it. So he could pull it but I didn’t see what happened but the tackle has to get to the backer on the squeeze and scrape. In real time that’s what it appeared to me that it was. Somewhere in between there the ball went on the ground. I don’t know if he hit him or pull it. It was the right read. Again, we should just take our time and get in the right set. You know what I mean? We are trying to draw them of sides and we are in that set and the play clock is going. I wish I would have gave better direction. I would rather give a big set and hand the ball straight downhill, you know what I mean.

There are times when you have a quarterback who could run and we have some good plays and we have some follows. We have some good design plays that can get some sort yards we just didn’t get there.

 

Q Do you feel like after four games that you have a better idea of what you want the operation to look like?

 

MARK STOOPS: I think that’s a fair point and good point and that’s where with Bush and I talking on the headset. For him, I think he has a good understanding of who we are and what we are and I also want to make sure that we are trying to push to get better and trying to improve and get better’s where we are not as far along as we would like to be. It’s hard for him and for us. There is a lot of firsts, right. It’s really hard when you come in the spring and camp and I tell our players this and tell you this, there is no possible way we could put in all the scenarios that happens. There is a lot of firsts. That’s what I told him in here a discussion at halftime. That’s on me. There is no discussion. I’ve been here for 12 years. I know the BS that happens sometimes. You know, I should have known better and kicked the dang ball. I know, I’ve been here. You know what I mean? Where other places, you could drop back on third and 12. The way we are protecting right now it showed I have got the three.

 

Q I do we ask about another week with the field – How much piece of mind does it give you as a coach knowing that Alex (Raynor) – he has miss?

  

MARK STOOPS: Well, It’s really important. You know, it’s good. I made one good decision today when I went for it on fourth. Instead of putting all that pressure on making that streak going. Was it going to be. 56. That’s right on that. I think I told you it’s right at 55 I feel comfortable. Six in a low breeze. That’s putting a lot of heat on him.

 

Q Protection issues you are having right now. Can you put your finger on one of the two things causing those?

 

MARK STOOPS:  A couple today there was one or two add-ons where the backers just triggered in the back has to pick it up and be firm and give them some space. I will have to look at that on film to see whether Brock could have then stepped up or if it chased him completely out of the pocket.

Obviously, the tackles, we can’t constantly chip. You have to be able to protect and some one on ones and I know there was a couple that speed got us of the edge again with tackles. It’s been everybody. Again, I’ve said that in – South Carolina with the edge guys they had we got beat inside. Everybody’s had a turn. We have to continually work to have a continuity of the ofensive line. They all could do it We just got to work together. It’s not like some big massive scheme problem or anything like that. We just have to continue to work and be on the same page and strain and finish our box.

 

Q Mark, it look like – was getting some run. Is that-?

  

MARK STOOPS: Yeah. We had planned on getting him and Malachi in there and we wanted to get him some reps today, regardless.

 

Q Mark, you tried to get – early on – did it finally worked toward the end of the game? You got around that sweep. How important is it going forward to be able to get him involved with that speed?

  

MARK STOOPS: That’s part of the game. You see it in the NFL and you see it in college. You know, if you are like me when the ball is on the perimeter it doesn’t work it’s like that is enough of that shit on the perimeter. And then there is times when it works. You know, I think even if you look at last week and look at this week if we continue to be effective. I said it early on with this team with the slicing and dicing that they do we have to hit it with some gaps games. They made it hard in the run game. I don’t know, we might have been more efficient running the ball last week at downhill runs in between the tackles. We knew it was going to be hard. That is part of the game getting the ball on the perimeter. And part of it – some of it is it reads too. When Gavin was in there, we thought we would probably hit the downhill and that’s more like Q power which is inside but the read told him to give it – I would assume. Real life out there look like they took both away. You know what I mean?

 

Q Taking the game on the ground. Do you love that boat? To have so many different guys doing that? Does that help you dictate the game even more?

 

 

MARK STOOPS: Again, it is part of it. With this offense there is a lot of pre-snap and there is a lot of motion and there is perimeter run game, but we hit it downhill as well. There’s a lot of guys that have done that. With AB. Earlier in the game he bounced one of the perimeter run and I got on him and jumped him during the game. I said dude, stick your foot in the ground. There was 5 yards. There is a big difference between second and five and second and 15. Later he did that. You saw two or three tough runs and he looked me right square in the eyes and he knew exactly what I was talking about and you got to get dirty runs. You get that ball in the perimeter like that and get your foot down, you get 4 or 5 yards of tough yards. That’s good. That’s efficient. Folks, thank you very much.

 

KENTUCKY FOOTBALL POSTGAME QUOTES
KENTUCKY VS. OHIO
KROGER FIELD – LEXINGTON, KY.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

UK Student-Athletes

#12, Brock Vandagriff, QB

 

On responding to what needed to be fixed this week …

“As far as the pre-snap and getting our personnel out there, Coach Hamdan did a great job of getting the calls in fast, so we were able to get out there and get on the ball fast. As far as winning the pre-snap, we were pretty solid on that this week. Obviously, that’s something we stress every week, but we won’t really know that until we go back and watch the film. I think we executed the game plan that we were trying to go out there and execute. We played fast [but] had a couple of penalties that were drive-killers. So, it just comes down to being disciplined, and – and the end of the day—I thought it was a good ball team. If we were able to execute our plan, then obviously we’d be able to get in the endzone a few times.”

 

On getting comfortable as the weeks go on …

“[Getting comfortable] is definitely a thing. But what I will say—with the stuff that Coach Hamdan has done, the stuff he talks about—his main thing is he doesn’t want it to look like a first-year operation. He thinks that is definitely going to get better as we go. We’re just fine-tuning some stuff with personnel groups and the people we want out there. And the O-line is playing well, the runningbacks are playing well, stuff like that.”

 

On the difficulty of playing quarterback at this level and being under duress in the pocket …

“I think we’re able to utilize different things, being able to chip and stuff, our backs. And some of that stuff is on me. If it’s taking a while to develop down the field, then I’ve got to find my outlets and stuff. Not all that is on the O-line at all. They played their butts off today. I definitely could do better back there and help the team out, being able to find those check-downs faster. Maybe the coverage is telling me to throw this certain route, but if there’s pressure, it doesn’t matter. You’ve got to be able to get the ball out. So, I take the blame for some of that stuff, at the end of the day. I’ve just got to be better when it comes to that.”

 

#1, Maxwell Hairston, DB

 

On how the secondary will prepare to face Ole Miss …

“We’re accepting the challenge. Ole Miss has a very explosive offense but we are going to come ready, watch the film, and do what we have to do. But we are accepting that challenge. [We] can’t wait for it.”

 

On knowing what it takes to put together a strong defense ..

“Last year opened our eyes because we knew we came up short, but it showed that we can go at anybody. Going up against the No. 1 team in the country and giving them a fight makes us feel better and makes us know that hard work does pay off. Like I said, we came up short, but that was a step in the right direction.”

 

On what the defense does well..

“I feel like this defense is so close and tight that it gives us confidence. It makes you go out there and play faster because I know that my brothers to the left and to the right are going to do their job. They’re going to play hard and aggressive, and I trust them and they trust me, so the belief system that we have with one another is just amazing.”

 

#35, Steven Soles Jr., LB

 

On seeing the field so much this early …

“Not really. I just went to practice every day, worked hard, and got blessed with opportunities.”

 

On being ranked the highest recruit for his size and if he carries that with him when playing…

“I would say a little bit, but I don’t really pay attention to my size, or what people say about my size. I just go hard and play 100 percent every time I’m on the field.”

 

On his mindset when being asked to come in at a challenging time…

“I would say I really don’t think about too much. I just know my assignment and try to execute it to the fullest. It’s just like I said, ‘one-hundred percent every play, every down’.”

 

#6, Dane Key, WR

 

On his career day and how it felt to get in the rhythm…

“First off—I just want to thank God for allowing me to be able to come out here and do what I was able to do today, but it all just fell into place today. I was just out there trying to play for my team, and the ball just found me, so I am just thankful that the ball was able to find me.”

 

On his hurdle…

“I said it a couple of weeks ago—I was like—‘Man, against Southern Miss, I got tackled, and I should’ve jumped over’. Throughout the weeks, I was like ‘I need to jump over somebody’, and I saw him getting low, and I was like ‘here it goes’. I was able to do it.”

 

On 4^th down and chemistry with Brock on the field…

“Yeah, I know when Brock gets out of the pocket, he wants to make a big play. I saw nobody was deep, so I was like ‘okay, let me go deep’. Then, I did, I think we made eye contact, and I saw the ball coming, and I was like ‘okay, let me make this grab’.”

KENTUCKY FOOTBALL POSTGAME QUOTES

KENTUCKY VS. OHIO

KROGER FIELD – LEXINGTON, KY.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024

 

Ohio Head Coach Tim Albin

 

Opening Statement

“I just want to start by congratulating Coach Stoops and his staff. His team did very well today. It was a big stage, great crowd, and a beautiful day. To beat them, we would’ve had to play basically flawless.

 

I said this earlier in the week, but I do not see a weakness in Kentucky’s defense, and I stand by that statement. They are very athletic, and we had trouble adjusting to their speed on both sides of the ball. It’s impossible for us to simulate the speed of those guys but I did think we settled in well after the first quarter. We had too many missed tackles on defense but the guy who had the ball in their hands had a lot to do with that.

 

I could sit here and say from this angle or that angle but they’re athletic. They did a nice job on some play calls and kept us kind of off balance. We had trouble catching some deep over routes and zone coverages. We have some first downs that we have to get cleaned up.

 

In terms of all three phrases, it’s a tough, tough call. You don’t want No. 7 [Barion Brown] touching the ball because that puts big pressure on our kickers. Jack [Wilson] and Gianni [Spetic] had a big day today trying to make up for that.

 

That being said—there is nothing in this game we are going to hang our heads over. We have a locker room that is disappointed. Your hearts hurt when you invest as much as our guys continue to, and they are going to continue to have that hurt, but that’s just part of us. I stand by the ‘one game at a time’ outlook. That is something that I say frequently. We’re going to correct the things that we can control. There are things, whether it’s leverage, keeping the cup, how we catch the ball, and not turning it over we are forging ahead on and going to work to correct.  We are going to take a full twenty-four hours but then we look forward to getting back to Athens for homecoming and starting league play. It’s tournament time so every game counts and we want our guys playing our best ball. I may get some questions on injuries and that is something I don’t know a whole lot on right now. What I do know is tomorrow we’ll get through that, the sun is going to come up, and the staff is going to continue to coach and inspire these guys and were going to keep going.”

 

On QB Parker Navvaro’s injury status…

“We had him down as questionable. He practiced early in the week and then, midweek, he couldn’t finish practice. I’m going to say soft tissue—that’s the truth—is what it is. We just didn’t feel like moving forward. That’s the thing to do. They’ve got some reps last week and we’ll see where he’s at.”

 

On Nick Poulos’s performance

“I thought on this stage, against that defense, there’s a lot of good and there are some things he’ll clean up and learn from. That one-shot play within the third quarter, got a little too deep on his past set, the pick-six took a lot of air out of our sails. After scoring, the covers weren’t empty, we didn’t pass on. I said the same thing earlier, different coverage. He’s got to go take off. But back to Nick, it’s very promising. His style fits our style of offense. The whole quarterback room has got basically the same skill set and he’ll just keep getting better and better.”

 

On Nick Poulos’s preparation for the game

“I think just the reps. Again, it’s a big stage. It looks sold out to me, beautiful day, and his first game with crowd noise on third down. This week I upped the crowd noise this week from the lesson from the first week and he got some reps there. But I just think, the second week, he is just more comfortable”

 

On Bradley Weaver’s injury status

“I’d like to wait till Monday but it’s not serious. Our medical team felt like the best thing for him to do was for him not to play today.”

 

On Ohio’s backfield confusion

“The point where we lost was [run-pass option] basically and then there’s penetration. We had a little eye candy with the motion with Coleman (Owen) and it’s unfortunate. You can’t have those kinds of mistakes. Down there, on the road, in person, this is a quality opponent and it’s unfortunate.”

 

On Shay Taylor’s return…

“That’s great for us. I talked to him towards the end of the game, I think his rep count got to 40, maybe a little over 40. We’re watching him closely with a soft tissue [injury]. Shane is an established player [who] has a lot of experience [so] I’m happy to get him going. But also, I say Stalin came in there and relieved Shay in the fourth quarter. He’s running around hitting people. He’s going to get better and better. Hopefully, we can get Reise Collier back a little bit for some practice this week, which will help the depth in the linebacker room.

 

On Marcel Walker-Burgess’ performance…

“He has been here since mid-June. 43 guys took their first bus ride for this trip, so it is up to 37 from Syracuse. It’s where we are, he is one of those guys who will be there, he is a grad transfer and he’s fitting in well and we want him to keep playing well.

 

On the evaluation of his team after non-confernce play…

“They want to be good, and they take to coaching. You can see it in their play. So, the big thing is, in a game like this, with the stuff in the fourth quarter, and the tough second quarter, as a coach you get rabbit ears. You want to hear what they’re saying, and I like what I’m hearing. It’s a new season, put the non-conference to bed in 24 hours, and then we’re going to come out with some energy and put a smile on our face and not talk about it again and keep moving forward.”

 

On Jacob Winters…

“I think in the room, all the quarterbacks pretty much have the same skill set. So you don’t have a list like Curtis versus CJ, or Parker, or Jacob. The offense is a little bit easier because of the skill set. But those guys, they come to work. I see Nick. I’ve described Parker and his winning a start, and his note taking and the things he did to prepare, while Curtis was a returner and all those things. I see those same characteristics in Nick and Nick started today and finished the game last week. I see the same characteristics in Jacob. I referenced Parker, and those are the expectations of this coaching staff and those become standards. So, it is good to see and I anticipate that to not change moving forward.