Mark Stoops addresses Kentucky fans' displeasure over current state of the program

Big Blue Nation continues to feel frustration with where things are with Kentucky Football, with the Wildcats coming off another disappointing loss at Kroger Field. Mark Stoops realizes that, with some optimism from him on why their fanbase shouldn’t give up yet just two weeks into the season.

Stoops addressed the latest fan reactions for UK during his press conference on Monday. He began that by saying that he did appreciate the turnout that they gave to the team in their conference opener this past weekend, even though it resulted in a 30-23 loss for Kentucky to No. 20 Ole Miss.

“Are they? Yeah,” Stoops said at the notion that the fanbase is upset in Lexington. “Yeah.”

“First of all, also, I’m glad you brought that up because the environment was great Saturday,” said Stoops. “I loved the atmosphere and appreciate the fans and the support. It was really fun for a vast majority of that game. I wish we could finish it off.”

Things have gotten a bit agitated when it comes to Kentucky, especially coming off of last season with their worst record since Stoops’ arrival at 4-8. Saturday did nothing to help that as the Wildcats lost their eighth-straight game against the league at home, having dropped twelve of their last fourteen there, because of a lot of things that were just on them.

After a pair of interceptions by QB Austin Simmons, Kentucky was able to open with a 10-0 lead over Ole Miss. From there, though, the Rebels found their rhythm on offense in finishing with a balanced output of 455 yards in total. The Wildcat then dealt with their own issues, namely offensively, with clock management, and in situational spots, that ended up costing them in what closed as a one-score loss, making some of those mistakes that much more crucial.

Still, Stoops still has belief in this team and, with that, this season. He knows what his group is doing behind the scenes to fix some of these trends that have come up of late with the program.

“We’re a better football team,” Stoops said as his message to the fans. “This team is working hard and playing very tough and, you know, working to improve.

Kentucky could be in for a long season here as, after another non-conference game against Eastern Michigan before a bye, the Wildcats will play six of the top teams in the country in league play with five of those currently being ranked in the AP Top-25, including four straight being against those in the Top-15 right now. That said, Stoops sees his team as improved, and hopes the fanbase will too by the time they get to their next big game at the end of this month.