Mark Stoops Press Conference
Mark Stoops News Conference
Post-Florida, Pre-Auburn
October 21, 2024
Opening statement…
“Get started by acknowledging and saying our prayers for Lonny Demaree (long-time media member who passed away last week). Really sad to hear the news about him last week. (He was) A man I really respected and liked. Of course, I don’t get to see the Browns gear any more in here. (media calls out – “Or hear his cell phone”). Yeah, somebody’s gotta leave their ringer on, just to break it up for me a little bit (laughter).
“Looking forward to getting back at it. We have another challenge this week with Auburn. Auburn is a team, you look at the record, and everybody’s going to think that it’s a bad football team. Comes down to turnovers for them, they are a very good team. Turnover margin has been the big issue. For us, another big challenge. We have to worry about ourselves and getting better and putting it all together and playing a good football game.”
There has been so much talk about home/road games, do you do anything differently this week to shake up the routine…
“Yeah, I do some. I tried the last home game to talk about that and address it a little bit. I think I do look at a few things yes, especially with pre-game, when we get there and things of that nature.”
On Florida’s long pass plays…
“There is a combination of things, one or two, like the late one. Good coverage, unbelievable catch. I don’t know if you saw the catch on TV but you look at it closely, one-handed catch, very good throw and catch there. I think some of the other ones, I mentioned it briefly after the game, but when they are having the success they had in the run game, it opens some things up. One set in particular, we obviously got to play it better, have played it better. Even the same set, same play, same shots, have played them better in the past and played them better this year. With the weakside run game out of the unbalanced (formation) on one set and it shorted our middle player and didn’t get as much help on one of them, so it is a combination of things, with the run game opened up some things. One of the over routes, you look at it on film, a really incredible throw and catch. So, I want to credit them and DJ (Lagway) for the way he played. His arm talent was quite impressive watching the film. The way he could throw off the back foot, throw a little bit unbalanced, change his arm angle and still drop it over people was impressive and we need to play better. We were close on some, weren’t close on others. Just need to play better and credit them for some of the good things they did as well.”
On feeling close to finding more on offense…
“Yes, we have to finish plays and finish drives. Once again, as I have mentioned it is not quite as magnified if, with the opportunities that we have, if we get them in the end zone. There is no excuse for not getting it in on third-and-short or fourth-and-short. We have to get the ball into the endzone, we are close and we have to finish drives a little bit better and we will have an opportunity to score more.”
On finding the balance in short-yardage situations, you don’t want to risk a bad play but lining it up and running it wasn’t working and then you hit the one pass…
“The pass in the open field is a little different, you have a little more room (than) the one- yard line. Sure, there is a balance there. Later, we had it from the three and we were going to throw the ball and that’s really the only time, I know everybody thinks — I am not opening up myself here for criticism, criticism is fair and I don’t get involved with play calls. But they did ask me on the three, when we had first-and-goal from the three and I absolutely said, ‘Pound it, pound the rock’ and we did and we scored. Let’s not get cute now, we can be physical, we can run it in here. I told them they had four downs because it was first-and-goal. Let’s not out-think this. On the others I didn’t say a word, call what you want to call. I thought he made a great call on the fourth-and-two. When we were discussing it, I told him to go for it. I said ‘What are you going to do?’ And he said ‘Throw it’ and I said ‘Do it’ and he made a good call.”
On Chip Trayanum being a physical running back…
“I think he can. I would like to see him work into that. He is coming off two surgeries on one hand. I think that’s a fine line also. If I gave it to him on the one (yard line), I think you’d be asking me why did I give it to him on the one if he fumbled. I think that would be a fair criticism. I think that is something that we have to balance and make sure he can do.”
On what Trayanum showed in his carries and his potential…
“He helps, he is just a good guy. He is one of those players that (is) very mature, brings a toughness and a maturity that you’d love to have for the entire year. We haven’t had it. It is good to see him back in there and hopefully he’ll continue to grow and get more confident and help us.”
On message to Stoops critics…
“I’m talking about play calls, go for it or not, those are — I critique myself and things of that nature. The outside noise, I can’t bother myself, zero, with that. I have been around here a long time, you can face a bad day and tough times with a good attitude and that’s what I’ll do. We will go to work and I think you know that. I’m not going to sit up here and flinch.”
On if Florida moving UK off the ball…
“I think, you know, Florida is strong, big. Again, our guys are getting beat down a little bit; we’re getting hurt, we are getting thin, but no excuses. It is what it is, it’s a fact, that’s it. We need to play better.”
On possible changes with the offense, such as being more aggressive or giving Gavin Wimsatt more opportunities to throw the ball…
“I think it’s looking at all options, what gives us the best opportunity to move the ball, what gives us the best opportunity to win.”
On how to assess Barion Brown…
“I think he’s a guy that means well, that has improved, that’s worked really hard. Eventually, you are going to see that pay off on the field for him. Just like anybody, if you keep on putting your head down and going to work, eventually you will see that come to fruition.”
On accountability for players in the last couple of weeks has that been an issue…
“I was proud of the fact that we limited our penalties. In a very hostile environment, I thought that was a good improvement. I thought the guys practiced well. I believe I mentioned that after the game. I appreciate our players, I think there’s things we can all do better, and you know that ownership will always stay in our program, and accountability. We will keep on grinding it out, going to work, and people will say that’s redundant, but it’s the truth. What else are you going to do? There’s no mercy. Again, we are playing a team this week that is a good football team. I know their roster, I know the way they recruit. I see the front seven, I see the guys on defense, their offense, the weapons that they have, the explosive plays that they create. We can’t count on just, you know, the turnovers have set them back. Like I told you before there’s a thin line between success and failure. They are the same way. This is a good football team. I don’t care what their record says, I know the players that they have on their roster, so we understand that for us it’s just getting back to work and doing things the best we can.”
On how Auburn’s receivers will challenge Kentucky…
“They’re talented; they have a lot of explosive plays, and they can go. I think with (quarterback Payton) Thorne, he’s really settled in, and you see a confidence and a comfort level at the quarterback position, where early there was some instability, but I think he’s really solidified himself with some really talented receivers and a really physical, really talented, running back.”
On if you are pleased with Malachi Wood’s advancement…
“I am. Yeah, I was pleased with him, yes.”
On the morale in the locker room…
“We’ll be fine. Again, it’s a tough business, it’s a tough league. Our guys understand that. they physically got to get healthy, we’ve got to get treatment. We’ve got to balance that, but we’ve got to get prepared to play another really good game.”
On Payton Thorne in the run game…
“He’s more mobile than you think and like I said I can see him settling in. They had every opportunity to beat a very very good Missouri team on the road and had every opportunity to win that game, and so you can see it coming.”
On assessment of Alex Afari…
“Alex is doing some good things, moving him around a little bit, playing that outside, the medium position, playing some inside, still getting acclimated to the inside reps, but doing some good things. Like anybody, it seems like defensively, it’s a person here a person there, one play, it’s not any one group, it’s not any one person, and you’re not going to be successful that way, we have to be really consistent.”
On if Florida’s shot plays were communication issues…
“I can’t think of any communication issues. There’s problems within the scheme of who, whose zone and who’s carrying the 3-up. There’s things within there that happen that people can play better. I wouldn’t call that communication, I’d just say, play it a little better. It all works together, there’s time and operation are involved as well, with pressure and things of that nature, so defense all fits together.”
On if the defense will bounce back…
“I don’t ever take anything for granted, you know as far as what they, nothing happens automatically. We have to put in the work. We will, as always, hold them accountable, show this film and own our own issues and move on.”
On what Cutter Boley will learn from the last two drives…
“I think he will learn a lot just from that. I told him afterwards, I’m sorry I threw you right into, tough sit(uation) — and the thing about him, and I knew that going into it, is he’s not a fragile young man, like there’s nothing fragile about him, you know especially with his mind. He’s a strong kid, and he’ll learn from it. After the first play I think he settled in and he really ripped some balls but he’s got to slow down a bit. He threw it really hard and you know he can throw the football. It’s just like, slow down a little bit and that just comes from experience and playing.”
On if the official heard Stoops on the play near the goal line when it looked like you had a first down…
“No, he heard me. (Did he understand you?) Oh yeah, he understood me. Really don’t have any other comment.”
On if Stoops could challenge ball placement…
“That’s part of my discussion with them, was like, are they looking at it (reviewing)? What happens is I lost the challenge a week or two before. If they don’t stop it, if they don’t see anything on there I’m not going to win the challenge anyway. I did call the timeout there and part of my discussion was is it worth the challenge? Essentially, they’re looking at it anyway. So, whatever the result, whether I challenge it or stop play, they are looking at it. So, if it was going to be reversed, they would buzz it and reverse it. Generally speaking, I think you know this, anything that’s called on the field in those types of situations is what’s going to happen.”
On explanation from the league if the Florida play near the goalline was a touchdown…
“I have not. I have not heard back yet. I generally will get those probably tonight. Although, I have a feeling they’re quite busy, so it might be tomorrow.”
On if Stoops wants a flag to throw like the NFL to challenge…
“We have one challenge. I don’t have that flag to throw, which is probably a good thing (laughter). So, no, I’m joking, but if I say any more, I’ll get annihilated. I like working with you all, I think we have a good — you understand me, we’ve been here for a long time going through this, but when I elaborate, somebody grabs something, and next thing you know, I’m complaining. I can’t be fun Mark today. You guys are professionals, just some people don’t listen to the whole conversation, they just grab a piece, and next thing you know, I’m whining and complaining. So, I want to make that very clear, I’m not.”
On his relationship with Hugh Freeze…
“Yeah, I know Hugh from his first go-around (Ole Miss 2012-16), then back in the league here a little bit. I wouldn’t say we’re as close as I am with some of the other guys in the league, but I really like Hugh, just hadn’t spent as much time with him here.”
On what makes a Hugh Freeze team…
“He’s a very good play caller. They’re an aggressive offense, and they have some dynamic guys. I know the way they recruit, and the team that he’s assembled, the weapons that are out there, so that’s real. There are some guys there. And I think, like I said, I really feel like they’re settled down at quarterback and settled in, and you can see that paying off for them, so they can create some explosives.”
On the goal line reviews, if there is a solution…
“I don’t know. You know, I don’t have one.”
On what the film showed about Brock Vandagriff’s play…
“Yeah, I think Brock did — there were times when he didn’t get help, there were times when he was a little sped up and maybe threw some things with not the touch or the accuracy that was needed in critical moments. And then, there were some times when he played well. I think in that situation, we all have to play well. We have to play better around him. I think we did protect a little better than we’ve been, but we all just have got to a little bit better.”
On if there is a message to players and fans for the last SEC home game…
“Yeah, it’s an important game. We’ve had incredible atmospheres. Again, I think you know the importance to myself and our team to play well everywhere, on the road and at home. Again, I know the great sacrifices that people make, and it’s important to us. It’s very important to go play well. So, we will be out there, and I promise you our team will work extremely hard and be prepared and ready to go.”
On the extra point that was missed…
“Bad kick, the snap wasn’t great. We did put in Walker (Himebauch) after that, we did put
another snapper on the next one, tried to just get some stability in there.”
On the thought process at the end of the first half when the ball was punted again…
“Turning the ball over. It was gusty and it was windy and there was 13 seconds left. It was pretty hard to get, with the way they punt, a punt return for a touchdown. That’s easier said than done, so we tried to block it.”
On Barion Brown not returning punts…
“I never said that was the reason – taking so many hits. I think the amount of work that he does, his conditioning … there’s a lot of things that come into play with that. Yes, there is definitely a consideration with using him back there because he is a dynamic guy.”
On the importance of keeping the bowl streak going…
“It is important. We’re in the right now and trying to win this game. That’s where we have to stay focused. Is it important? I think it is in the grand scheme of things. There’s only eight schools in the country that have gone to eight straight (bowls), there’s only four in the SEC. It’s not easy. It’s just not.”
On as tough as the final score was, and coming from behind all night, you were in the game…
“That is what is frustrating – sorry to cut you off there. But it’s like, yeah, that’s how it felt, got away from you, so close, but you are sitting there in the fourth (quarter) with a two-score game and the ball. But anyway, finish your question, I cut you off.”
Is that something you can emphasize with the team?
“Yeah, it is, like you’re not far off. You are not far off. Again, we have to finish drives, we know that. We all understand that. When you have the ball inside the three you have to get it in. We are not as far off as we think and even defensively there are some plays that looks bad but are fixable. So, we have got to get back, get some guys healthy. There is a fine line
this week with me, how we practice. I don’t generally mess with my practice schedule
in-season. But, I have to look at how much banging and how physical we are on Tuesday and Wednesday like we normally are, with good against good, because we’re getting thin. But we’ll have them ready to go.”
On Jamarion Wilcox not on the depth chart, is that part of the injury problems…
”No, he should be good to go by game time. He’ll continue to get carries. We need to get him the ball. We need to continue to bring him along in all areas.”
No team likes to play from behind but is there a way, maybe it’s a big-picture offseason thing, to where when you get behind it doesn’t feel so difficult to get back in the game…
”Yes, absolutely. We need to look at it. We need to be better. We are in this situation right now and we have to find a way to win. But, yes I would like it to look different as well.”
On the strength of the league…
“It’s quite ridiculous this year (laughter). Yeah, it’s quite ridiculous. There’s a lot of talent in this league. I feel like it’s only going to get stronger. I can’t control all of that, yes, we watch
- Yes, my colleagues and I talk, commiserate together. Some of those guys are crying on the yacht, you know what I mean?” (laughter)
