Mark Stoops: ‘This turnaround has been going on for a long time’

[akaukswoosh]

SEC Country Kentucky ‏@SECCountryUK 47m47 minutes ago


Kentucky coach Mark Stoops: ‘This turnaround has been going on for a long time’ http://sec.news/2fvTVMI #BBNpic.twitter.com/4kaLvhs9Ym

 

[LeonThe Camel]

Sometimes we do not know what is happening behind the scenes.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

I'm sure that's a feel good story. But it's just not true imo. His tenure was headed down the tubes before gran completely reworked the offense to fit personnel; and he took the reigns on the D

 

[K_TIME]

I'm sure that's a feel good story. But it's just not true imo. His tenure was headed down the tubes before gran completely reworked the offense to fit personnel; and he took the reigns on the D

I tend to agree with this. And to be honest...UK is very close to losing Miss St, Vandy and USC games. if we go out and beat UGA and UT/UL...sort of changes things. But we are as much a benefactor of SEC East coming down as much as we're vastly improved off last 2 years.

 

[Fresh Start]

If anyone can't see a vastly improved talent level then they just don't want to.

 

[Xception]

It's not just the coordinator moves , it also had a lot to do with maturing and or player focus . They were so hyped and ready to make a statement this year and came out that way in the first half of USM but they stopped playing due to immaturity . The loss took the wind out of their sails and it showed at UF , getting crushed caused them to regroup and they did .

We are more consistent in both halves now , another sign of learning how to win . I posted the players had a psyche problem after the first two losses ,said they were immature but when they figured it out then we would be ok . They got pushed to the precipice and decided to buy in to salvage the season . I think we have a determined team that understands how to play a full game now .

 

[JPFisher]

"Stoops was THIS CLOSE to failing. However, he made some big-time adjustments and dammit, now we're performing better than before."

"DAMMIT!"

 

[BlueRunner11]

The team has defintely improved and credit Stoops for that. The team has also benefitted from a historically pathetic SEC East and Miss St and some good bounces and breaks here and there. Also, as bad as it sounds...this team doesn't have near the success they're having now if Barker doesn't get hurt imo. Heavily relying on the run game has paid dividends on both sides of the ball.

 

[WattersonSpeedDemon]

I'm sure that's a feel good story. But it's just not true imo. His tenure was headed down the tubes before gran completely reworked the offense to fit personnel; and he took the reigns on the D

Which is the mark of an effective leader. You don't always make the right hires but you also don't sit on improper hires. He made the necessary personnel changes and took over what he had to. That's leadership. I know, I led in the Army for 24 years. You don't build things overnight, especially at a place that was a ravaged as UK.

 

[WattersonSpeedDemon]

I tend to agree with this. And to be honest...UK is very close to losing Miss St, Vandy and USC games. if we go out and beat UGA and UT/UL...sort of changes things. But we are as much a benefactor of SEC East coming down as much as we're vastly improved off last 2 years.

Yes, it's weaker, but those games you cite. Do you guys win them the past three years. Miss. St. has had your number for some time now.

 

[CHAMPCAT11]

I think we've improved. That's a good thing. The downward trend of the SEC east has also been a big factor. Regardless, it looks like we finish 6-6 at worst and go to a bowl. That means Stoops will be back and next year should show us if he's making UK truly competitive or if this year was more a combination of the weak east and a lucky break here and there. I hope he's better than some thought.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

Which is the mark of an effective leader. You don't always make the right hires but you also don't sit on improper hires. He made the necessary personnel changes and took over what he had to. That's leadership. I know, I led in the Army for 24 years. You don't build things overnight, especially at a place that was a ravaged as UK.

While true, it's not as if this turnaround was just a matter of time. It took some huge decisions and changes.

I'm just glad it happened. But I don't see the need to pretend it was a foregone conclusion all along.

 

[WattersonSpeedDemon]

While true, it's not as if this turnaround was just a matter of time. It took some huge decisions and changes.

I'm just glad it happened. But I don't see the need to pretend it was a foregone conclusion all along.

If you are doing the things you need to then yes, it is a matter of time. Effective leaders are not content with status quo. He had a plan and when it didn't work he made the changes that were needed. Simple as that.

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

I really want UK to be good in football and I really Mark Stoops to be the coach to do that. UK was really, really bad when he took over. Really bad. I'm using the word "really" way too much.
The SEC is the NFL Lite, so there are no guaranteed freebies like some other conferences.
I hope this is not just a fluke thing but the beginning of sustained improvement and winning.

 

[reflaine]

Poster above mentioned lucky breaks? How many of those had we actually had. Hell we've given up fumbles for td to keep teams alive. Those are bad breaks.

 

[Cat Ballou]

I think the crucible of fire of our early season up to the South Carolina game and beyond may well have grown Mark Stoops into a damned good football coach. I haven't been a believer before, but I am now if we can hold on to Gran and win 1 or 2 more.

 

[CB3UK]

It's not just the coordinator moves , it also had a lot to do with maturing and or player focus . They were so hyped and ready to make a statement this year and came out that way in the first half of USM but they stopped playing due to immaturity . The loss took the wind out of their sails and it showed at UF , getting crushed caused them to regroup and they did .

We are more consistent in both halves now , another sign of learning how to win . I posted the players had a psyche problem after the first two losses ,said they were immature but when they figured it out then we would be ok . They got pushed to the precipice and decided to buy in to salvage the season . I think we have a determined team that understands how to play a full game now .

A lot of truth there, though they still can't handle success properly and put their foot on the other teams throat and push harder. Guarding against complacency and finishing are still issues.

 

[Rickman]

I think UK has had more bad breaks than good this year.

Yet, they overcame those and won games. Zero doubt they are better than USC, Vandy, Miss St, and Mizzou. Games closer that they should have been.

Young team learning to overcome adversity and win.

 

[UKUGA]

There are 2 ways to look at this:

1) we squeaked by 3 comparable teams at home; or
2) the difference between winning and losing is huge.

 

[JC CATS]

UK has had years when this schedule would be 3-9 or 4-8. We can't appreciate what it is. In years past losses have come to MAC schools, CUSA schools, Sun Belt schools, now we have people complaining because we are beating bad SEC teams. I guess we have moved up in the World!

 

[DACats86]

There is no doubt in my mind that of the people that portend to be UK "fans," there are a higher percentage of miserable SOBs than of any other fanbase in the world. It's shocking, and pathetic, how they can find the grey in any silver lining...

 

[thepip]

SEC Country Kentucky ‏@SECCountryUK 47m47 minutes ago


Kentucky coach Mark Stoops: ‘This turnaround has been going on for a long time’ http://sec.news/2fvTVMI #BBNpic.twitter.com/4kaLvhs9Ym

Did this start with the first game?

 

[AllCatsEverything5]

I'm kinda tired of all this stuff about how the East is down. Hasn't the East been down for almost 5 years now besides Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee like it's always been and then Missouri surprised some people? Florida is still good, Georgia has just as much talent, Tennessee has just as much talent(their whole team is hurt).

I will say it's not quite as good. But it's obvious we're getting better, if we weren't we would be 2-6 or something along those lines. We already lost to USM so we're getting better.

 

[AllCatsEverything5]

There are 2 ways to look at this:

1) we squeaked by 3 comparable teams at home; or
2) the difference between winning and losing is huge.

Only thing wrong with this is we squeaked by because of self inflicted wounds. We beat the piss out of Vandy and Miss St, the scoreboard just looked a lot better. And last week was an absolute massacre, im still shocked it didn't up being about 49-14

 

[UKUGA]

Only thing wrong with this is we squeaked by because of self inflicted wounds. We beat the piss out of Vandy and Miss St, the scoreboard just looked a lot better. And last week was an absolute massacre, im still shocked it didn't up being about 49-14

"Self-inflicted" wounds.

Unfortunately, that's part of the game.

Let's make history Saturday night.

 

[c0d0r123]

I'm happy for CMS and UK, it makes for a good story. It's hard to imagine the stress that the coaches and team are under to not only win but change a culture.

 

[Anon1713320623]

If he somehow goes 2-2 in his last 4 games I will be pleased. 3-1 I'll be ecstatic, 4-0 and I'll wear a shirt that says Mark Stoops is my daddy.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

Bottom line..if UK defeats UGA and somehow wins at UT for first time in 32 yrs.
and wins the East this team will become legendary in the state of Kentucky.

 

[Mike-D]

Well, I'm not sure what to think, but I'm giving Stoops the benefit of the doubt, because we are winning the games put in front of us. That's all he can do. With that said, I believe Gran is one of the best OC's in the conference. He has completely changed our offensive game plan, and fine tuned it each game to make us have a much more productive offense. Couple that with Stoops taking over the defense, reworking that, and you go from losing at home to Southern Miss to winning 4 of the last 5 SEC games. If you look at the statistical numbers, some of those games shouldn't have been close. Mississippi State and Missouri are prime examples. Cut down on turnovers!

 

[Bank Cat]

Without having good talent, the turnaround this year would simply not be possible. It wouldn't matter how many strings they pulled or how creative our coaches could be. So in a sense, yes, it's been going on for a while.
After UF - heck even after NMSU - I sure didn't see this coming.

 

[allabouttheUK]

Well, I'm not sure what to think, but I'm giving Stoops the benefit of the doubt, because we are winning the games put in front of us. That's all he can do. With that said, I believe Gran is one of the best OC's in the conference. He has completely changed our offensive game plan, and fine tuned it each game to make us have a much more productive offense. Couple that with Stoops taking over the defense, reworking that, and you go from losing at home to Southern Miss to winning 4 of the last 5 SEC games. If you look at the statistical numbers, some of those games shouldn't have been close. Mississippi State and Missouri are prime examples. Cut down on turnovers!

Mike...you sound like you are becoming a believer. [winking]

I'll save ya a seat on the UK football train if you like?

 

[allabouttheUK]

I think UK has had more bad breaks than good this year.

Yet, they overcame those and won games. Zero doubt they are better than USC, Vandy, Miss St, and Mizzou. Games closer that they should have been.

Young team learning to overcome adversity and win.

That last part is a HUGE key that bodes very well for the coming years.

 

[fuzz77]

I'm sure that's a feel good story. But it's just not true imo. His tenure was headed down the tubes before gran completely reworked the offense to fit personnel; and he took the reigns on the D

Finding the right combinations is part of the process. Athletes still had to be recruited and developed. Coaches had to be fired and hired.

 

[CB3UK]

Beat Georgia



Beat Georgia



Beat Georgia






Beat Georgia

 

[maysvilleky]

I will say that losing Barker was the catalyst to the change. It forced the Coaches to actually become very simplified in their offense and concentrate on defense. I think going into the season the thinking may have been that we can outscore most of the teams if we play okay defense and run occasionally. But that completely changed when Barker went down. To the staff's credit they adjusted on offense and Stoops realized that his defense had to be MUCH better than it was.

So yes we have better personnel, but I don't know that we see the turnaround without the Barker injury. JMO.

 

[Blue_White_KY]

We would be better with Barker. Our offense would be much more balanced with a few threat. Our defensive turnaround would still have happened because Eliot sucks and Stoops woulda still taken over.

If Barker was healthy right now and we play as good as we have on defense and run the ball equally as effective, I would be willing to bet we win out, regardless of what Vegas says the odd are.

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

It's been a great turn around. I didn't think it was possible to be honest. I didn't think our team had the heart it would take to turn things around. Unlike some of our fans, I love the fact I was wrong and have nothing against our coaching staff. If they turn out to be the staff that turns UK football around, I'm willing to support them even if it means my opinion on the staff was wrong all this time. Our running game is elite and lets hope it's a major focus of our staff the rest of the season, win or lose.

 

[DCFseattle]

Mike...you sound like you are becoming a believer. [winking]

I'll save ya a seat on the UK football train if you like?

That's Coach Mike to you.

But all aboard who's going aboard. I'm over the nonsense. Anybody that wants back in, welcome. Forgive and forget, and let's give these boys tonight all the good vibes.

 

[51stFan]

Without having good talent, the turnaround this year would simply not be possible. It wouldn't matter how many strings they pulled or how creative our coaches could be. So in a sense, yes, it's been going on for a while.
After UF - heck even after NMSU - I sure didn't see this coming.

I agree . The talent has been upgraded. I went to one game last year and it is obvious that we are not playing with Bill Curry type talent. I wasn't sure that Stoops was the man after the team quit on him last year, but up until this point he seems to be doing a good job. I've always thought we had to start recruiting north and we finally brought in someone that agreed.

 

[shutzhund]

We would be better with Barker. Our offense would be much more balanced with a few threat. Our defensive turnaround would still have happened because Eliot sucks and Stoops woulda still taken over.

If Barker was healthy right now and we play as good as we have on defense and run the ball equally as effective, I would be willing to bet we win out, regardless of what Vegas says the odd are.

You have better eyes than I do, I guess. I haven't seen much in Barker except an unsettling reminder of Towles and his usual performances at UK.

Now if Barker could offer a legitimate run threat, which he doesn't seem to have, I could agree. But he doesn't and I don't believe he ever will.