What Mark Stoops said after Kentucky's loss to No. 21 Tennessee

LEXINGTON, Ky. — What Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops said Saturday night during his postgame press conference after his Wildcats lost to No. 21 Tennessee 33-27 at Kroger Field: 

Opening Statement

“It is very disappointing to come up on the wrong side of that game. What a great night, great atmosphere, great football game. Very disappointed that our coaches and I couldn’t find a few more plays to pull off the victory. I am very proud of our team for their commitment to getting better. The past couple of weeks, you know, during my sessions with you guys I’ve talked about the team preparing and having a focus about them and work ethic about them and growing and getting better. I thought that showed up tonight.

“You know, that doesn’t mean that we’re happy with that. I’m happy with the growth, but very disappointed with the outcome. But I’m proud of our football team for their approach and the way they are working and the commitment that we gave for the past couple of weeks. As a staff, we have got to look at everything and find a way to make those plays. It is a game of inches. This is a game that was separated by several plays, not always the obvious ones that jump out at you, but there are plays in there that we had and could have made that could have changed the outcome.

“So, you know, we accept that. I am not playing the would have, could have, should have game. It is the truth. It is two very good football teams going at it out there and playing very hard. You know, we have to go back to work and find a way to make critical plays in critical moments.” 

Kentucky going for it on fourth down twice

“The going for it early, very — yeah, that — I don’t — yeah, I mean, you know, if I pressed early, do you know what I mean, the first one, you know, we had two fourth and one’s, you know fourth and a yard or a half yard right at the start of the game there and punted it away. They scored quickly. You know, probably got impatient and went for it with the second one. That’s on me. So that was it. And then the other one, John, you saw the other. I mean, we kicked the same distance. It is right on his limit. I wouldn’t guarantee. You know, if I knew he was going to make it, I would kick it. But we had the same distance, and it wasn’t close. Those are not give-me’s, you know, when they are over 50. With them, you need to score points, you know. So, I don’t — I don’t regret the ones down in the high red. I regret the early one, pressing a little bit.” 

Kentucky’s Devin Leary passing for 372 yards

“It is very encouraging because they worked hard and you are starting to see some growth, and that I’m happy with. And, you know, we have just got to continue to work hard. I mean, this is a difficult league, in case you didn’t know. And our guys understand that, and they need to continue to have the same approach. And we will get better.” 

Kentucky not being able to stop Tennessee’s run game

“It was — yeah, it was frustrating. The tempo at which they go gets some of the guys, their eyes a little dirty, you know. And credit them, you know, they have a very good scheme. The tempo adds to the vision of your players with the fits. And if you are not very precise, they will make you pay. And it is just like early, with the one that split us, we were in a pressure and our guy thought he came as tight as he needed to, but things move fast and differently. And we didn’t have a good handle on it all night.” 

If Kentucky defenders overran the ball and were out of position against the run

“Well, I think that is probably fair to say. And you’ve heard us talk about it all week why? This team puts you in a space that not everybody does. So, therefore, you are going to see some of that; you know, and we talked all week about having to win some one-on-one’s and we won some and lost some. And you are in much more space with a team like this, and their backs are elite. And, you know, so I think that is some of it. No excuse. It is just to credit them. And they are good players and they put you in some precarious positions to make plays; they stress you.”

Devin Leary getting into a rhythm with Kentucky going uptempo after big plays

“We are trying, trying to get faster and get to the line and, you know, create some tempo ourselves and get him comfortable. Yeah, hopefully, it helped him.”  

Kentucky overcoming some penalties, back-to-back false starts to start a drive

“We overcame that one, if I am not mistaken, we scored a touchdown or at least three. I think we overcame that and scored. But you don’t want to do that all day, and I don’t think we did. Our stat sheet, we have a problem with it. It is a lot better. It is an improvement. So, you know, we talked about that, you know, one of our points of emphasis was playing much smarter, you know, and foolish penalties, and, you know, we didn’t have any of those, I don’t think, no. “

If he got an explanation from officials on the replay review ruling Dont’e Thornton caught the pass on the sideline on the final drive of the first half

“No.”  

Where Kentucky goes from here, after three straight losses

“Go back to work. You know, you think — are you going to feel bad for me? I appreciate that. I don’t need it. I don’t need any motivation to get back to work tomorrow and neither does our team and our staff. It hurts because we invest a lot, our players invest a lot, and our fans invest a lot. And so, it hurts. And very disappointed. But not discouraged one bit.  

If he feels like this Kentucky team has found leaders

“Yeah, definitely. You know, just, you know, I think the whole group was resilient and showed some resolve. And we talked a little bit about that as well. And, you know, that’s what I want us to look like, with that. I mean, I would like us to make enough plays and be more detailed, and us as coaches find those few plays that can make a difference in a game like that. But I’m proud of the team.”