UK's Stoops Back For Another Difficult Season

By Ed Peak

It is a difficult job being the Kentucky football coach. I truly believe coach Mark Stoops enjoys it, but does the fan base still like him? Some do. Some don't.

Coach Mark Stoops at SEC Media Days in Atlanta. (UK Athletics Photo)

Stoops, in his 13th season with the Big Blue, has had some great years, including two 10-win seasons, and some not so great. Coming off a 4-8 year, you could say the heat is on.

"I like to use the word 'grateful.' I'm very grateful to be here and happy," said Stoops on Thursday at SEC Media Days in Atlanta. "I know I had a hell of a year. I had to get ankle replacement surgery. Last year was a bear on my physically. I got that fixed. I feel great. That pain is gone when I'm on the field. I'm very grateful and looking forward to this 13th year.

"But it's business as usual for us. It's business as usual for myself. I think I'll play along and let the media have their fun, take their shots. That's cool with me. I'm ready to just move forward."

Stoops, the school's all-time winningest football coach at UK, is currently the longest-tenured SEC coach.

Playing in the SEC is "a real challenge," said Stoops of his 13 years in the SEC. "We are concentrating on what's ahead of us. When you have a down year, you have to stand up here, own it, face it, talk about the things you're doing to address it, then move on."

Stoops continues to be candid and open to criticism. "I've stood up here after two 10-win seasons. That has only happened two times in the history of our school. I don't want to talk about that year, I want to talk about this year," he said. "I'm really just excited about the opportunity, really diving into the challenge that lies ahead of us and embracing that and having fun with it."

The Wildcats have their work cut out. With 50 new players, the fall practice will be extra important. As usual, it isn't easy.

Ed Peak is a longtime sportswriter from Louisville.