I think this did it

Littlecreek10

Sophomore
Jul 6, 2025
79
132
33
BINGO!!!! This ⬆️ right here is what changed Mark Stoops! Way more dedicated coach when he was a married man! His divorce literally took his will and likely a LOT of his effort on and off the field. I seem to recall more than a few posters that are very familiar with Mark that have hinted at this. Sad for him and sad for us too.
That says a lot about someone when they betray their spouse. Can you really trust that person in any capacity?
 

KYSouthpaw

Redshirt
Sep 10, 2025
27
34
13
It’s math at this point. Win 6 and he’s back if he wants to be. Win 4 and he’s not. Win 5 and it gets dicey but he’s still probably ready to move on.

None of us know him and we don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. But stoops was emotional in the post game interview. He sounded ready to end his story on a high note here at Kentucky. He was literally choking back tears.

I will not root for my cats to lose. I won’t do it. It’s all out of my hands anyways. I will enjoy football and the chips will fall where they may. But as a fan I will not be bummed out over a win.
Agree. Even if we fire him, given all the other teams that are firing coaches this year, I don't think a suitable replacement will be available this year.
 
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BrokenBlue

Junior
Dec 13, 2024
198
340
63
Actually just 1, one of those was vacated and therefore never counted.
Revisionist???? It is a fact that Stoops has had 2 good seasons at UK. In 13 years he has finished the regular season with more than 7 wins only twice. So my statement is factual when I say he has had 2 good seasons. You are the one with revisionist history if you think he has had more than 2 GOOD seasons.
 

TTTblue24

All-Conference
Feb 1, 2004
3,497
1,764
113
Are they now going to try to keep him regardless of how the season finishes due to the fact there are so many openings and the pool to choose is going to be slim pickings? Add the buyout and this wouldn’t shock me at all.
 

Eagles_Ball_69

All-Conference
Dec 19, 2003
2,269
2,803
82
I bet you're a real hoot at a party. Lighten up I was just trying to be funny. I'm glad they won the game last night. I'm happy for them. It's not easy but I'm also not happy where the program is either. Again the picture and the caption was a joke. Sorry it obviously bothered you so much.
Sorry...I probably shouldn't have quoted you in that response. I didn't take your pic seriously. It was more of a response to all of those that had an issue with the hug and the AD/football coach/biggest booster being happy after a win.
 

3 Putts

Senior
Apr 25, 2025
312
702
92
Had we won the Texas game, five wins would have been a given with a pretty decent shot of getting to six with UF coming to town. Win that and it would have put you at 3-5 in the conference and there’s no way Barnhart would let him go at that point. Now he pretty much has to beat UF and one of Vandy/UL to get to that point. If we beat UF and get to five I just don’t see any way he’s fired. Now that we’ve identified some receivers capable of getting separation I’d imagine we may look better on offense next year if Hamdan gets over calling things like a back shoulder when it’s 3rd and 4. Hard to say what happens at this point but CMS definitely has to break the home SEC losing streak if he’s going to stay here.
 

ukwildcat2004

Heisman
Jan 12, 2003
4,999
11,983
113
Sorry...I probably shouldn't have quoted you in that response. I didn't take your pic seriously. It was more of a response to all of those that had an issue with the hug and the AD/football coach/biggest booster being happy after a win.

No worries. All good. I'm rooting for them no matter what. I don't understand people who actively want us to lose
 

Eagles_Ball_69

All-Conference
Dec 19, 2003
2,269
2,803
82
No worries. All good. I'm rooting for them no matter what. I don't understand people who actively want us to lose
Yeah...that's just it for me too. I'm pretty positive it's time for a new voice. I'm also very positive this is an insanely difficult job. Stoops .311 SEC win percentage is as high as anyone in the last 50 yrs. It's not easy to succeed in this conference at UK. In fact, it's really difficult. I'm not sure why there are people in the fanbase that think a change is just going to spread some magic potion. I'm almost to the point where I'd love to see them get three of the next four and get bowl eligible. At that point, he gets another year. My fear is, and honestly what I think the most likely scenario is, we get 2 of the next 4 and the end result is 5-7. Then it gets weird.
 

TeamAmerica

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
865
3,697
93
Yeah...that's just it for me too. I'm pretty positive it's time for a new voice. I'm also very positive this is an insanely difficult job. Stoops .311 SEC win percentage is as high as anyone in the last 50 yrs. It's not easy to succeed in this conference at UK. In fact, it's really difficult. I'm not sure why there are people in the fanbase that think a change is just going to spread some magic potion. I'm almost to the point where I'd love to see them get three of the next four and get bowl eligible. At that point, he gets another year. My fear is, and honestly what I think the most likely scenario is, we get 2 of the next 4 and the end result is 5-7. Then it gets weird.
Change would bring hope that better thing could be on the way Do you have any hope thats Stoops is going to turn things around?
 
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ukwildcat2004

Heisman
Jan 12, 2003
4,999
11,983
113
Yeah...that's just it for me too. I'm pretty positive it's time for a new voice. I'm also very positive this is an insanely difficult job. Stoops .311 SEC win percentage is as high as anyone in the last 50 yrs. It's not easy to succeed in this conference at UK. In fact, it's really difficult. I'm not sure why there are people in the fanbase that think a change is just going to spread some magic potion. I'm almost to the point where I'd love to see them get three of the next four and get bowl eligible. At that point, he gets another year. My fear is, and honestly what I think the most likely scenario is, we get 2 of the next 4 and the end result is 5-7. Then it gets weird.

If he gets us to a bowl I'm absolutely fine with him staying BUT the offense has/needs to change we can't win games 13-10. In the SEC you need 28 points to be in the game and 35+ to win ball games. 5-7 gets really weird and I really think it boils down to how we look in that scenario.
 

BrokenBlue

Junior
Dec 13, 2024
198
340
63
No worries. All good. I'm rooting for them no matter what. I don't understand people who actively want us to lose
Yeah and I don't understand people that actively want us to be a team that struggles to get to 5 or 6 wins, knowing that is enough to keep a coach around that has lost it and will keep us in misery.
 
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BrokenBlue

Junior
Dec 13, 2024
198
340
63
Uhhh I'd like to see UK win every game lol. When you made your big dramatic thread about giving up , you left out the part you wanted them to lose every game
I never said I want them to lose every game, but unlike you and a few others, I do not want to see them winning only 5 maybe 6 games every year and give Mitch a reason to keep holding on to Stoops. Let me give you a hypothetical, lets say if UK wins 5 games this year that Stoops gets to come back for another year. Are you rooting for them to win that 5th game? Do you want Stoops back next year knowing that he will struggle to get 4 to 5 wins? And lastly, I did not leave out anything, if the team came out of the gate winning and they only had 1 loss right now or no losses, then I would jump back on the bandwagon. I just refused to watch any games this year and get kicked in the balls again. Call me a bandwagon fan, a fair weather fan, I don't care, I have watched ever UK game since 1988, after 37 years I finally realized Lucy was going to keep pulling the football away, but hey you keep on thinking she is not Charlie Brown.
 
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Goingfor9

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2003
15,220
1,539
113
I hope stoops wins 6 games. Barney has no business near anymore contracts. No more new hires by this guy. I think we need to follow the lsu track. Fire stoops tell Barney to stay the heck away from any new hires or fire both together. It’s real simple. None of it matters as long as Barney is running the show. It’s taking years off our lives this long period of being below par in both of our top sports. Football though it’s easy to lose the fanbase. The SEC now you can’t afford to lose your fans. These old guys like me who will watch us lose well this new genz they are checking out on uk fb. This is a crucial time in building the next gen of uk fan. Have to win.
 

Uncle ByeBye

Sophomore
Nov 17, 2018
92
121
33
I never said I want them to lose every game, but unlike you and a few others, I do not want to see them winning only 5 maybe 6 games every year and give Mitch a reason to keep holding on to Stoops. Let me give you a hypothetical, lets say if UK wins 5 games this year that Stoops gets to come back for another year. Are you rooting for them to win that 5th game? Do you want Stoops back next year knowing that he will struggle to get 4 to 5 wins? And lastly, I did not leave out anything, if the team came out of the gate winning and they only had 1 loss right now or no losses, then I would jump back on the bandwagon. I just refused to watch any games this year and get kicked in the balls again. Call me a bandwagon fan, a fair weather fan, I don't care, I have watched ever UK game since 1988, after 37 years I finally realized Lucy was going to keep pulling the football away, but hey you keep on thinking she is not Charlie Brown.
You're good man, weve been fans about the same time. There have been many years I've checked out too
 

BrokenBlue

Junior
Dec 13, 2024
198
340
63
You're good man, weve been fans about the same time. There have been many years I've checked out too
Sorry for being condescending, I am just so tired of UK football not being at least decent. I know we had the two 10 win seasons and I enjoyed those seasons and appreciate Stoops for that, but something changed and Stoops is going downhill fast.
 
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trueblujr

Heisman
Dec 14, 2005
30,383
96,205
113
I think 2 more wins and he probably keeps his job and truth be told, I could argue either way. He is the all time winningest coach at UK which ought to count for something. But the last two or three years have really tailed off.So the trend is not good, either
I think if we miraculously manage to become bowl eligible, somebody will take a flyer on him. Possibly one of the step down jobs that may come open during this coaching carousel. I mentioned Colorado State and the more I think about it, that might be a really good fit for somebody like him regardless of proximity to his kiddos.
 
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trueblujr

Heisman
Dec 14, 2005
30,383
96,205
113
Agree. Even if we fire him, given all the other teams that are firing coaches this year, I don't think a suitable replacement will be available this year.
If Stoops stays (mostly as a lame duck) and Sumrall magically doesn't accept another job somewhere else, then I'd say he's holding out for us.

The sad reality is that two of our games were lost solely on the Coaches shoulders due to in-game coaching decisions and play calling. I won't count the South Carolina game which was one we should have won, but that loss was on the players and their mistakes on the field. Anywho, We should be looking at a 5-3 record instead of 3-5, with potential for a 7-8 win season and some level of renewed excitement or hope, but that's not the case. and pointing to 2-3 games a year where coaching cost us a win is getting to be exhausting. We've never really had a team capable of playing from behind, and the grind it out/conservative style doesn't lend itself to getting big enough leads where we can coast either. We have a competitive roster. This team of players is capable of playing close with a lot of teams, it's time we get a fresh face in to hopefully build something off a decent foundation.
 

trueblujr

Heisman
Dec 14, 2005
30,383
96,205
113
I never said I want them to lose every game, but unlike you and a few others, I do not want to see them winning only 5 maybe 6 games every year and give Mitch a reason to keep holding on to Stoops. Let me give you a hypothetical, lets say if UK wins 5 games this year that Stoops gets to come back for another year. Are you rooting for them to win that 5th game? Do you want Stoops back next year knowing that he will struggle to get 4 to 5 wins? And lastly, I did not leave out anything, if the team came out of the gate winning and they only had 1 loss right now or no losses, then I would jump back on the bandwagon. I just refused to watch any games this year and get kicked in the balls again. Call me a bandwagon fan, a fair weather fan, I don't care, I have watched ever UK game since 1988, after 37 years I finally realized Lucy was going to keep pulling the football away, but hey you keep on thinking she is not Charlie Brown.
Anybody remember the Claiborne years which were a perpetual 5-6, 6-5, 5-5-1, type years? and folks were rather happy back then. No excuse to accept those annual results now.
 

trueblujr

Heisman
Dec 14, 2005
30,383
96,205
113
I hope stoops wins 6 games. Barney has no business near anymore contracts. No more new hires by this guy. I think we need to follow the lsu track. Fire stoops tell Barney to stay the heck away from any new hires or fire both together. It’s real simple. None of it matters as long as Barney is running the show. It’s taking years off our lives this long period of being below par in both of our top sports. Football though it’s easy to lose the fanbase. The SEC now you can’t afford to lose your fans. These old guys like me who will watch us lose well this new genz they are checking out on uk fb. This is a crucial time in building the next gen of uk fan. Have to win.
The fanbase won't be lost forever. remember when Stoops got here after the Joker debacle of no fans in the stands for the Vandy game? We went from that to damn near 50K at the spring game Stoops first year.
 
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Tskware

Heisman
Jan 26, 2003
25,130
21,639
113
Anybody remember the Claiborne years which were a perpetual 5-6, 6-5, 5-5-1, type years? and folks were rather happy back then. No excuse to accept those annual results now.
I do remember those years well and nobody was happy then. For one thing, Claiborne was only playing 6 conference games and did not play Louisville either and so had 3 or 4 easy wins on the schedule.

But I agree that should not be the standard.Then or now
 

notFromhere

Heisman
Sep 7, 2016
21,185
63,498
113
We need stoops to go on a bit of a run. We really do. We need to avoid that 30 mil buyout we don't have. The program needs some momentum going into what surely will be an easier schedule next year.

I don't think it will be easier once the teams are assembled.

I also don't think that beating UF guarantees he's back next year.

In fact, I doubt that winning out would persuade him to return here, if he had another job offer.

If UK were to win out, the meltdowns would be epic for weeks, months, or even a year, if he doesn't retire or take another job. The "fans" would be almost as angry as when he made them eat some tasty ask crow through 2,10 win seasons.

Of course they'd just be mad we didn't win more games.... when they thought we'd be 2-10 and lose to a MAC school.
 

Snarks

All-American
Jan 31, 2005
7,947
5,507
93
If he gets us to a bowl I'm absolutely fine with him staying BUT the offense has/needs to change we can't win games 13-10. In the SEC you need 28 points to be in the game and 35+ to win ball games. 5-7 gets really weird and I really think it boils down to how we look in that scenario.
Stoops has lost a lot of the fan base and he won’t get most of them back. At best with 6 wins he’s a lame duck coach. No decent OC is going to want to come here unless they get a huge guaranteed contract (which Hamden got). Add in Hamdens 1.5mil guarantee for next year and that’s probably another $5-6 mil tied up.

I’m tired of just tying up millions with Stoops and getting deeper into the hole. I get not firing him after 6 wins but UK shouldn’t waste more money in coaching buyouts on a sinking ship.
 

ukwildcat2004

Heisman
Jan 12, 2003
4,999
11,983
113
Stoops has lost a lot of the fan base and he won’t get most of them back. At best with 6 wins he’s a lame duck coach. No decent OC is going to want to come here unless they get a huge guaranteed contract (which Hamden got). Add in Hamdens 1.5mil guarantee for next year and that’s probably another $5-6 mil tied up.

I’m tired of just tying up millions with Stoops and getting deeper into the hole. I get not firing him after 6 wins but UK shouldn’t waste more money in coaching buyouts on a sinking ship.

I don't disagree with you at all. My concern is the optics of firing a 6-6 coach and making it to a bowl game. Does a good candidate see that as a negative? I don't know. I think it's probably best we divorce and move on from each other.