Mark Stoops on future: 'Like it or not, I'm a Kentuckian'

Mark Stoops is not going to apologize for calling Kentucky home. The Wildcats head coach is just 5-6 this year as the struggles continued Saturday in a 45-17 loss to Vanderbilt.

But, whether he returns next year or not (amid rumors that his tenure could be coming to an end), Stoops sent a clear message Monday. Heck, Kentucky can be bowl eligible if they beat Louisville this week.

“Whether you like it or not, I’m a Kentuckian now,” Stoops said. “This is home.”

As KSR outlined: “A year removed from his ‘pony up’ comments, to fans, it sounded like one big fat complaint about his job. The Kentucky head coach gets it. He just wants it to be clear that it was his way of trying to find as much money as possible to build a roster.”

Stoops spoke about that topic earlier this month. What does the future hold for Kentucky, maybe even under Stoops? It remains to be seen, but he wants to get it rolling again.

“Going back to that, and just get the record straight since we’re having a nice conversation in here today, but I’ve never been anti-anything. I want to pay the players. The portal should help us. It does. I just want money. Money to spend on (players). Make sense? It’s good for us,” Stoops said.

“It’s just anything in the past, maybe it was a way to shake some trees to see if some money will fall off. You know what I mean? Because more money, you’re able to buy, you’re able to retain the players that deserve that money, and you’re able to fill spots. Let’s just call it the way it is now. Like I’ve told you in here a couple times before, I was uncomfortable talking about that in 2021, 2022. You know, you don’t want to sit here and say, ‘Man, I don’t have any money. I mean, I don’t have enough money!’ First of all, nobody cares. It’s not an excuse. It’s over with. I’m done with it, you know what I mean. It’s just kind of factual, make sense?”

Kentucky will end the season with Louisville on the road on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. ET.