Kentucky Football Media Conference
Kroger Field – Lexington, Ky.
Saturday, November 17 2018
Mark Stoops
Kentucky – 34
Middle Tennessee – 23
MARK STOOPS: Obviously very pleased to get the eight victory of the season. Definitely not easy. We knew that going into it. Got a lot of respect for Middle Tennessee and Coach Stockstill and his son and Tony Franklin, the offensive coordinator. They do a really good job and we knew it was going to be a tough, hard fought game. They kind of beat us at our own game, kept the ball, possessed the ball the entire game and it really kind of got a little aggravating. We had some big stops that were critical that we needed, but it really limited possessions for our offense. It really felt like our offense was, you look at the overall numbers and you’re wondering, but the possessions were very low. The first, I think the third quarter, looked up there and we had one possession for a touchdown and they had a possession for a touchdown. There was four minutes left before the second possession of the third quarter. And I thought the possession to start the second half was huge by our offense and just like they did to start the game.
So hard fought victory, 8th victory. When you’re doing things that haven’t been done in 34 years or whatever it is, it’s not meant to be easy, it’s not easy. I have great, great appreciation for this team, but especially this senior group. The way they stepped up again tonight and the way they played and what they have done for this program. There’s some very good players there and greatly appreciate their effort and their leadership and what they have done and you saw it there today.
We need to play better. We really, frustrating really, mostly defensively, just frustrated with the way our position on the ball and leveraging the ball and some of that. And, again, give them credit. There was a ton of deception in there in getting us on our heels a little bit and eye violating a little bit and not playing as good as we can on the perimeter. And so we got to get some things cleaned up. There will be a lot to look at and improve on from this game.
Q. What does it mean to you and the players to see Josh back out there again today?
MARK STOOPS: Yeah, it was, it meant an awful lot to us. You guys know from my, from covering me every day and I’ve been telling you the truth, that he has been working his way in there the last two, three weeks. And I don’t know what he just said to you now, but he was trying to come back a few weeks ago and just the foot was bothering him and in different, from where he had the surgery. And that really disappointed him because he was ready to go a few weeks ago, trying to get back for the Georgia game, I want to say, and just wasn’t ready. And we certainly wouldn’t put him out there until he’s ready to go. We played him at a spot because we were really thin at the outside backer, extremely thin there this week, and so we played him there because it was really a comfort zone for him. It’s a little bit — he played there all year. And to put him back inside where he had never done that before would have been a little bit tough on him, and we needed the help at Jack, so it worked out good. And we gave him the start just because we thought it was right and it was good and it was inspiring to the team and fun and we got off to a really good start with the two turnovers there defensively. And then I just thought we lingered around there a bit after that.
Q. When you say that we need to get some things cleaned up, what in your mind is mostly what you need to be cleaned up?
MARK STOOPS: Well, I just thought we were sloppy on the perimeter. When in basic football, when you leverage the football, tackle the football, stay off cuts, there was some aggravating yards out there that, those are things that we need to do a better job of fundamentally, and just position on the football and little things like that. And, again, it was a, it was a good job by them and they controlled the clock and limited our offense. You look at the drive chart there and in the first half we had one possession where we didn’t score. And in the second half there again, really only four possessions in the second half. The kneel down on the fifth. So that’s a defense and we got to do a better job.
Q. Was it a difficult decision to not suspend Tymere today?
MARK STOOPS: No, it wasn’t a difficult decision. Tymere and I talked about it and I actually gave him an option on a couple games.
Q. Do you expect Mike Edwards to come out and have not only a game, but even a first quarter like he did on senior day?
MARK STOOPS: Yeah, it doesn’t surprise me with Mike. If you look at him and as I’m out there giving those guys a hug and saying goodbye for their last game here at home, there’s some real players there and guys that have contributed quite a bit and what about Mike? I mean, he is just absolutely consistent for years. One of the better players in the league. Just really consistent player. He’s been very reliable.
Q. I assume their game plan was partially to negate Josh Allen?
MARK STOOPS: Yeah.
Q. Have you ever had a defensive player have a better season than he’s had?
MARK STOOPS: I can’t say that I have. I’ve had a Thorpe winner and a couple runners-up and been in the Thorpe several times. But just the way he impacts the game being a big guy, he’s really remarkable. And he’s so unselfish. You see players so often in situations like that and he won’t blink an eye if we’re not rushing him. And the way their run game was we were stacking them some and couldn’t get him coming off the edges as much as we would like to. It was even aggravating to me. I was like, hey, let’s get Josh going here. But he’s just, he doesn’t even think about it. If he gets, when he gets his opportunities, he’s going to go. And he wanted the record, but not at the expense of our defense and what we’re doing and game planning.
Q. What have these guys meant to the future of your program, the seniors?
MARK STOOPS: What have they meant to the future? Well, they have just set such a great example for our younger players because of their work ethic, so many things. But they have been leaders, they have been, they have had a great work ethic. They have been very unselfish and really about the team and far from perfect, but they have really, they really have great hearts and their minds are in the right place and they really want to lead and set a great example and set the precedent for the future.
Q. How nice was it to finally get a little breathing room early in the game? You were up 14-0 and then 24-7 and things like that?
MARK STOOPS: Yeah, it was good. And then it really was and unfortunately we got to just play better defensively. When we get the score to go up 21 to start the second half, and then we give up a long drive. And then even at the end we have them stopped again and get the penalty and just silly things. But it was good. And we just got to get the offense more opportunities because we just felt like that was just too much, too many possessions — or too much time of possession for us, the defense on the field. Just we got to get off the field.
Q. You had a pretty successful year. You still don’t seem fully satisfied. What would it take to satisfy you to finish out the rest of the year strong?
MARK STOOPS: Well, we go one more regular season game and that’s extremely important and that’s what I just told the team. And I told the seniors how much I appreciate them and go enjoy the night with their families. They all have family and people in town and they get to go spend some quality time with them. But we, we’re not a very good football team when we’re satisfied. We have a big game left and so we got to finish this season strong and that’s what I told them. Enjoy the night and let’s get back with the right mindset. I thought they did that this week. They came back with a great energy and attitude and really had some good practices and we can play better.
Q. I know Benny’s not a senior, but he may be in the same position as some guys who decided to come back this year. I assume you will sit down with him at the end of the year and talk about his future?
MARK STOOPS: I will. But I think that position and what he’s done is totally different from some of the other guys. And I’ll let Benny make that announcement at the appropriate time and what he decides to do. But that position is clearly different and what he’s done, and the upside, he stands some to lose by coming back where other guys, they all gained by coming back. That position’s really different. You have to look at it differently, so, you know. I don’t think it will be a long conversation.
(Laughter.)
But I don’t want to steal his thunder, you know what I mean?
Q. You talked about winning the conference, another hundred yard game for him today, he’s kind of impressive what he’s done. How important was he today?
MARK STOOPS: Yeah, it is, it’s impressive. I think Mike, people were telling me Mike Edwards was in the 300 club for tackling, second defensive back and Josh Allen broke the sack record and I think C.J.’s very close on tight ends and touchdowns and Benny, of course — I’m not sure how far he is from the all-time record, but I think it’s important, how far is he?
Q. 207?
MARK STOOPS: He needs 207 more?
Q. Yes.
MARK STOOPS: Well we better get going. But he’s got two games and you know, just he’s meant an awful lot to us. I do look at him a lot like I do the senior class, just because he’s been so solid, he’s been productive for three straight years and really has meant a lot to us.
Q. You mentioned that Kentucky hasn’t won eight games in a regular season since 1984. What does it mean to you personally to get to that mark?
MARK STOOPS: You know, it’s important. I think that human nature I’m just like the fans, I’m mad about the ones that we let get away. I want to continue to work and we’re not going to sit at the table of success very long, we’re not very good when we do that as a team. We can’t, we just can’t stay satisfied and our team doesn’t play good that way and we need to have an edge about us here this week. And we got to go play a rival and they’re not having a great season, but they have nothing to lose and I’m sure they’re going to play very, very tough and hard against us. So we need to just kind of get our sights on that.
Q. Do you think your team’s come to grips with being the hunted rather than the hunter?
MARK STOOPS: I said that and I think it’s true. We’re better when we’re the hunters. So we, I thought we responded today to a team that, you know, we were better than, but we know how well they’re coached, we know how much pride they have and any team that’s sitting at the top of their conference is a good football team. So it felt like our guys did, we started good and — but again I just think there’s so many things we can do better. And I’m really most frustrated defensively to be honest with you. Offensively I thought we, again, we had some things set up, we got to get the ball — we had some opportunities down the field and we want to continue to do that, get the ball down the field and create some big plays, but we certainly came out and were physical and I don’t know what the rush yards were but again when we rush for 203 to 99 for them and again you’re going to win football games when you do that. You’ve seen us on the wrong end of that and you’ve seen us on the right end of that. And it’s a very important statistic.
Q. Was there a conceded effort to try to get it to C.J. a little bit today?
MARK STOOPS: Well, we always do. We always do. Everybody always wants to say but some of our RPO’s are there sometimes and sometimes they’re not. And when we’re playing these SEC teams, they’re not going to give him those. They’re not giving him any freebies. There was some good reads today by Terry and there was some, there was an effort by us on some to draw the player in and him on a RPO and we had some opportunities there. Today our offensive coaches did a nice job at half in adjusting the route. The one early in the first half when we were just sticking him, the defensive player made a nice read where he came in on the run and then he saw Terry pull it and he shot right back out. That’s when Terry read it and pulled it back down and ran it. I believe Terry had a good long run on that. But later we adjusted the route so we wouldn’t allow him to play both and we started slipping it in behind him there, running it deeper. And it created some opportunities there in the second half. I think we hit them on that play twice and that was a run, both plays were run/pass options and good reads, good throws.
Q. Terry had a really great scramble almost getting ready to get sacked and threw it to C.J. for great touchdown. Do you think that’s kind of a glimpse of what we’re going to be seeing the next couple years?
MARK STOOPS: Yeah, I hope so. That possession there I thought was really aggravating to me as well because we had the ball at the six-inch line and get the hold and then get a negative yardage play or a zero yard gain. And then Terry makes a great individual play right there, it was a big play, in a big moment. But those are things that we can’t do. We can’t take a penalty there on the six-inch line.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
Kentucky Football Postgame Quotes
Kentucky vs. Middle Tennessee
Kroger Field – Lexington, Ky.
Nov. 17, 2018
Kentucky Student-Athletes
#7 Mike Edwards, S
On reaching 300 tackles …
“A lot of people around the facility were telling me, ‘You only need one more in this game to get 300,’ and I’m like alright, I can get one more. So, I got that one tackle and finally got 300 so it’s a big accomplishment from the guys that got 300 tackles that played before me here.”
On his returned interception for a touchdown …
“I caught the pick and I saw a lineman with me, I gave him a little move inside and got outside. Then I saw another linemen coming, and I knew I could out run him so I was like yeah I could get this for sure.”
On senior night emotion …
“It hit me when the first guy came out. And then they started playing that sad music, so it hit me right there. A bunch of guys I came into this class with, so it was sad it was my last game.”
#26 Benny Snell, Jr., RB
On senior night …
“It was huge. I felt they left on a pretty good note. Every senior had a critical moment in the game. The defensive guys making tackles, Mike (Edwards) with the pick, Josh (Allen) with the sacks, my offensive line. Everyone came together and I’m glad we got to leave on a note like that.”
On getting over 100-yard mark …
“It felt good to get back into that. I really wanted that. I still got goals and things I’m trying reach. I’m not too far off so I got those things and it was a good win today.”
On the rivalry with Louisville …
“When I watch Ohio State or Michigan or Kentucky and Louisville, it doesn’t matter. It really doesn’t matter who’s got what going into the game — the rankings or how good you are. It’s a rivalry. The teams are going to be out there, the best team is going to win.”
#41 Josh Allen, LB
On breaking two UK sack records …
“All the hard work that’s been put in this season, I can’t thank the defensive lineman enough for doing their jobs and allowing me to have unique opportunities to make plays like that. I commend everybody in the secondary.”
On last time playing here …
“I know a chapter has to end. I just know this is getting to the last page in my chapter and open chapter 5. I’m ready to move on and go from there, but just to be out there one last time and go all the way was just unbelievable.”
On coming back this year for his senior season to help the team …
“I’m extremely happy. I can remember every day just going through whether I should come back or leave. Deciding to come back, I knew I had something special this year. We have a special team and I knew we were going to do special things. I worked extremely hard for moments like this.”
#87 C.J. Conrad, TE
On the seniors making great plays on senior day …
“Yes, for sure. It means a lot to me and to the seniors. To give a lasting impression is always good and just to help the team in general any way we can to win the football game. Seniors stepped up today and I’m really proud of the whole group.”
On his touchdown …
“It felt good. I converted my route because Terry (Wilson) rolled out of the pocket. I put my hand up and, luckily, he saw me. I’m thankful that he had the trust in me through that because that’s a dangerous pass and hats off to him for throwing it. I’m glad I made the play.”
On getting the win …
“Amazing feeling. I’m so fortunate to play here at Kentucky. It means a lot to me. Coming here our goal as a group of seniors was to change this program. We still have some games left but we feel like we are really headed that direction. That just means the world to me. I appreciate the fans, I appreciate the ones who drove. I had 70 people come here today, 70 people! It means a ton to me — the support. I just try to go out there and give everything I can to my team and my family and that’s what’s important to me.”
#10 AJ Rose, RB
On being more comfortable as season progresses …
“I think I’m the most comfortable now. I’m comfortable all across. I know what I’m supposed to do. I feel like it’s my time to shine.”
On taking Benny Snell’s role if he potentially leaves after this season …
“Definitely. If he was to go to the NFL, there won’t be any lack off. It’ll be the same thing and keep it going. I feel like I can do a lot.”
#56 Kash Daniel, LB
On Josh Pascal returning …
“That was the highlight of my year. Seeing JP out there doing his thing, it was unbelievable. That kid man he’s been through so much, you guys know the big picture, but you don’t know the little things, the mental part that he had to deal with and he was always so positive about coming back. There was never a negative day that he had. The kid always has a great attitude and if that happened to me, I would have the worst attitude ever—like ever. I’m in an attitude right now over a game imagine if I had that. Josh is an unbelievable guy. I’m honored to be his teammate and I can’t wait to see him play in two more games with us this year.”
On being a part of a winning eight regular-season games …
“It’s really special. It’s something we’ve worked really hard for and I’m very thankful to be on this team and be playing with these teammates.”
On Josh Allen’s sack record …
“People don’t understand how hard that kid works. That guy is a workhorse. He’s a relatively new father, some of ya’ll might know, but I can imagine it being kind of hard and then him even putting extra time to his son and then finding extra time to come out and do something extra in practice every day. That guy literally has as family to provide for and he’s out here playing his you-know-what off and to see him break that record was unbelievable. I was blessed to be a part of it. I’ll never forget it and it will never leave my mind.”
#3 Terry Wilson, QB
On the seniors’ performance in their last home game …
“It was huge. They did a great job coming out and playing for everybody. We just wanted to do it for the seniors and go out with a bang on their last home game. They did great.”
On today’s win helping the team’s mentality going into next week …
“It does help out our mentality, but it’s a mindset we need to have always. I feel like going into practice this week coming up, we’re going to have that chip on our shoulder we just got to keep pushing and keep grinding. There’s been a few lows in the season, but I feel like our mindset is back and were hungry we just got to keep going.”
On the defense starting the game off on a bang …
“It was great. We were in great field position a lot during the game and it goes to the defense. They did a great job rallying to the ball and making plays out there. They always help us out, we just have to match their intensity and go out there and do the same.”
On the younger players seeing the senior’s success …
“It’s huge to see Mike do what he did, Josh break a record and CJ get a touchdown. It’s big for the younger guys, including myself, to know that they set a standard and we have to come together as a younger group and match those guys. We need to want to be like those guys. They’re doing so many tremendous things on and off the field. We just got to look up to those guys and try to mimic their play. They watch a lot of film and I mean it shows. They’re so explosive out there they work hard all the time and we just got to try to match that level of play and do it until it’s our turn to graduate.”
Kentucky Football Postgame Quotes
Kentucky vs. Middle Tennessee
Kroger Field – Lexington, Ky.
Nov. 17, 2018
Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Stockstill
Opening Statement …
“I want to start out by congratulating Coach Stoops and Kentucky. They have an excellent football team, which I am sure you all know. I’m extremely proud of our team, we went toe-to-toe with the 17th best team in the country on the road and with six or seven minutes left in the game, we made it a one score game and we couldn’t finish it off. There’s no moral victories, we’re all sick, we’re all disappointed. I love that team in that locker room. I’ll go to war with that team any day of the week, and we’ve had to fight, scratch and claw all season. Playing three SEC teams in the East hasn’t been easy, but I’m really proud of our team, what we did. First quarter: we put ourselves in a hole, alligator arm a ball and they intercept it for a touchdown, fumble on the next possession and they go and score, so we spot them 14 (points). Like I said, we go up, catch the ball and secure the ball on the fumble, it’s a ballgame. Talked about before the game not flinching and we didn’t flinch. They have some really good players on both sides of the ball. They deserve all the credit in the world, they beat us, they got us, but I am proud of our team and proud to hop on that bus with them because they fight their tails off, they compete their tails off every day and every game. Congratulations to Kentucky and time to get ready for UAB.”
On if he learned anything from the team fighting back …
“No, I told you about this in August. This team isn’t quitting and won’t ever quit, they stay together, they are close together. We’ve been behind. We were behind at FAU and Marshall at halftime, we’ve been behind before and we come back. So no, I didn’t learn anything from this team. They’ve shown me what they’re about since day one.”
On their tough schedule, playing three SEC teams…
“It shows we won’t back down from anybody, and we had a hard time getting off blocks defensively because they are so big, because 41 (Josh Allen) is the number nine prospect in the draft supposedly. Their corners are big and long, so it just shows that no matter who we play, we are going to compete our tails off. They may be bigger and faster, but we fight and we have heart.”
On Chaton Mobley’s performance …
“He’s gotten better the last few weeks. He runs hard, he runs physical. He had 98 yards against a really good Kentucky defense that had been good stopping the run and he had some good tough hard-nosed runs. Chiton had good ball skills and catches the ball well out of the backfield.”
On getting ready for the rest of the season …
“We’re going to be ready. Obviously, we need help. We don’t control it. We need Charlotte or Marshall to get FIU, but it doesn’t matter, we can’t control any of them. We can control what we can control and that’s what we’ve done the last five weeks. Every game has been a championship week for us and that’s how we approach it.”
Middle Tennessee Student-Athlete Quotes
#12 Brent Stockstill, QB
On what they did to get things going after the rough start …
“Probably the worst start you could think of for us, but we have a really mature team and nothing really phases us and we bounce back. We knew they had a great pass rusher on the edge, Josh Allen, and just tried to get the ball out quick and get some screens, hit some plays down the field. Really just doing what we did. We beat ourselves out early and we finally got into our rhythm there a little bit later on.”
On the team coming back …
“That just kind of speaks volumes about the team we have, and it’s our third SEC team we’ve had to play. (We) played the number two team in the country and now we have the 17 or 19th team and that’s just partly of it and we’re just going to compete and compete until the end. We were having a lot of fun out there playing these guys. They’re a really good team, and just really love this group. We have a really good group and hopefully we can finish it out loud next week.”
On what they learned from themselves today and are taking on to next week …
“Just toughness. We have a really tough team; we love to play the game. All of us guys, we’re not the biggest or the toughest or the fastest, you know, we’re all one- and two-star recruits who love the play the game, so really I just learned about our maturity and our toughness.”
#93 Malik Manciel, DT
On his takeaways from the game …
“We have to continue playing hard and playing as a team and playing with this effort and I think everything will take care of itself.
On the team’s defensive adjustments at halftime …
“We knew that what we were doing wasn’t working. We did some base playing, playing more straight-up, giving the offense the chance to get the ball back. Playing defense is our job, so whenever we can go out there and play defense, we go out there and play it. We just try to live by putting the ball down.”
On Benny Snell and UK run game …
“He’s a good back. He has a lot of patience and I definitely like that. He’s a good physical back, nothing but respect to him.”
#44 Chaton Mobley , RB
On adjustments at halftime …
“We just wanted to settle down. We came out juiced up and we just had to settle down and play ball.”
On the road environment …
“It didn’t really affect us. We always talk about play the next down, one play at a time and that’s what we did.”
On the team’s preparation for the game …
“We threw some formations in there. We showed that we can be diverse. All week we just threw stuff in, making a game plan, trying to get a chance to throw the ball.
