First Down Kentucky: What You Missed From The Mark Stoops Show

Hello, friends. Did you enjoy your Labor Day? It was a picturesque day across the Commonwealth. When I walked away from Kroger Field following Mark Stoops’ press conference, there wasn’t a cloud in the blue sky on a 75-degree day. It’s a real shame Kentucky didn’t open its season today, rather than Saturday night, for a variety of reasons.

Kentucky Misses Opportunities for More Players

Mark Stoops didn’t have a lot of bad things to say about his team at this afternoon’s practice or on tonight’s call-in show. The only thing that irked him about the unusual experience Saturday night was the game’s premature ending. The Cats missed valuable opportunities to get more live game reps before the SEC season kicks off Saturday against South Carolina.

“That’s the only negative,” Stoops said. “You felt like through that second quarter and even to start the third, we were really getting in a good groove and moving the ball, and that’s the only downside, to build off the positive things you were doing, and also get some young players in there.”

TE Willie Rodriguez and DL Jerod Smith were just a few of the true freshmen Stoops named who were planning to enter the game on the following series, until lightning intervened.

What Stoops Wants to Improve in Game Two

They say the most a team improves is from week one to week two, so where does the Kentucky head coach want to see the most growth? Third down defense.

“It’s not like we were horrible. We were efficient five times, three times they converted, but two of them were third and long, and that’s not acceptable,” he said.

Most Kentucky football fans agree. Stoops pointed to last year’s South Carolina game as an example of why it’s so important to be better defensively on third down. The Cats were exceptional in Columbia, only allowing 17 points, but it wasn’t enough to win.

“You know, they scored on three possessions last year and defeated us. You know what I mean? I want to say on the seven other drives I don’t think they converted a third down,” said Stoops.

“The point I’m making is we played pretty good for the majority of the game, however, when we gave up a few third downs, they got some drives, they scored and they beat us. We have to be more consistent there and get off the field when we can.”

Caller Judge is the Real MVP of the Mark Stoops Show

To be frank, Stoops spent most of the hour on the UK Sports Network reiterating what he said earlier in the day. This time around, he was a bit more polished when he commended his team’s selfless play by refusing to retaliate when things got chippy. That’s what the callers bring to the table, a fresh change of pace.

Judge delivered the moment of the night on The Mark Stoops Show. The caller from Louisville opened by thanking Tom Leach.

“I’m blind, but thanks to you, I don’t think I miss a thing,” he said. “But I do see the bad calls against us, I want you to know that.”

Stoops and Leach got a good chuckle out of that line. Judge shared his thoughts on the offense before the Kentucky head coach shared gratitude for the fan’s support. It was Mark Stoops at his best.

“First of all, thank you so much for your support and continuing to support us, even though you can’t see the game,” Stoops said. “And you’re blessed — you’re right — you’re blessed to listen to Tom because he could put you right in the action, and you still hear everything and the excitement going on in the stadium. So thank you so much. Please be my guest. Come see us sometime, watch practice, meet our team, or anything I could do for you to repay you. I would love to host you. Come on, be my guest.”

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