Work the Cure for Post-Loss Blues
Like the rest of the Big Blue Nation, Mark Stoops couldn’t help but feel a little down on Sunday.
“I’ve always talked about that,” Stoops said. “Sundays are hard. Sometimes Sundays are difficult. There’s no doubt about that.”
Stoops keenly felt the sting of Saturday’s loss to Ole Miss, which came in heartbreaking fashion. He found there was only one way to dull it.
“But I felt better when I went into the office early yesterday and got back to work and looked at the film because, and I’m not saying this to give a silver lining or anything like that, but when I watched the film and see some of the good things we’re doing and position we’re in, that wasn’t always the case around here when I’ve been here,” Stoops said.
Stoops is in a bottom-line business, with the final score each Saturday serving as judge and jury. Ultimately, a 37-34 loss on a last-season touchdown doesn’t look any different on that bottom line from a blowout. That’s not quite the case on film, which tells a more complicated story of a program and football team that are still very much growing.
Almost, however, isn’t the goal.
“That’s not what we’re hunting,” Stoops said. “We’re hunting victories. But I like the way this team plays and I’m excited to get back to work. So once I get in there yesterday, get in there early and watch the film and see the issues and know there’s things we can get fixed, that’s the good and the bad. I know that’s the frustration. I accept that, it’s not OK.”
One of those positives is the way UK’s offense played against Ole Miss, amassing 455 total yards split almost evenly between the run (219 yards) and the pass (236).
“Definitely what I think we all would like is that that kind of balance, but certainly being able to throw the football and being efficient in the passing game helps,” Stoops said. “That’s also the byproduct of being able to run the football, as well. So I think now that we’re running the ball effectively, it’s opening some things up. So you have to be able to run, we’ve talked about that, but we are, we’re starting to be efficient in our run game and keeping people off balance and, you know, that’s what makes it difficult.”
UK’s offense also put together its second long go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes in as many weeks. The Cats also had another go-ahead scoring drive in the final minutes against Florida undone by a penalty, suggesting Kentucky has reason to believe anytime it needs a late score.
“I think it’s a big, a big deal,” Stoops said. “It’s definitely a confidence issue. There’s never any panic. I think there’s great confidence and I definitely think across the board offensively that we’re going to find the right plays.”
The Cats will carry that confidence into a trip to Nashville on Saturday, where UK (6-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) will face the home-standing Commodores (4-5, 0-5 SEC) at 4 p.m.
“Just a good football team across the board,” Stoops said. “Play hard in all phases, sound in what they do. They keep you off balance, offensively. They’re good at what they do and a lot like us, grinding out drives, grinding out yards and first downs and taking their shots when they get opportunities. Definitely like to be efficient with the football, and defensively, you know, just like always, play extremely hard and won’t give up a lot of big plays.”
