Mark Stoops’ Monday Transcript

Oct 4, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (11) dives for a touchdown against Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Josh Forrest (45) in the second half at Commonwealth Stadium. Kentucky defeated South Carolina 45-38. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Q.  (Question regarding the team not starting fast on Saturday and what he attributes that to.)

COACH STOOPS:  I don’t know.  I think you have to give South Carolina some of that credit.  They took the ball and just pounded it down our throat to start the game and that took some momentum away.

Then on offense, we made a couple critical mistakes even though we moved the ball, and that’s stuff we can get corrected.

You give South Carolina credit where credit is due.  They came out strong.  Our players ‑‑ you know, it’s going to go one of two ways, right?  So, again, we showed toughness and the courage and ‘hang in there.’  It shows a little bit about our conditioning and mental toughness to be able to hang in there in the fourth quarter and come back and win like that.

Q.  (Question regarding if the four suspended players last week will be reinstated for ULM game and comment on the fan who injured during Saturday’s game.)

COACH STOOPS:  About what?  I can’t comment on any individual.  The players will be reinstated, yes, and they’ll be back in the fold this week.  They will be back at practice and play in the game.

With anything else individually, I can’t comment on any specific individual.  But I’ll just say that with the great support and energy we had in that stadium, it was sad to hear that somebody got injured, and definitely our hearts and prayers are with anybody that got hurt at the stadium.

Sep 13, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 36-30. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Q.  Did you have to exaggerate the “bad cop” angle this week in order to get the players back to the working mode?

COACH STOOPS:  I don’t play games that way.  It’s not “coach speak,” and they don’t read it in the textbook, but they will because it’s the truth.  We hammered that all week.

We knew we were going to play well, and we knew we would have an opportunity.  We knew there was going to be a lot of ups and a lot of downs and we talked about taking care of ‘your’ business.  A lot of times we didn’t do that.

There is a lot more we can do.  We can play better and that’s our job as a coaching staff to get them to play better.

Q.  (Question regarding if the defense tells you when it is time to use the Wildcat formation.)

COACH STOOPS:  No, we always have certain packages.  Like I said in the postgame, if it’s working, you’re going to continue to run it on both sides.

You know, like coach said after the game, I believe somebody told me it was one play, it was a little more than one play.  It was a couple sets.  The offense was doing very well and the defense couldn’t stop.  And that’s what brought me to the frustration I was talking about before.  There were things they were doing well that we couldn’t stop and there were things we were doing well that they couldn’t stop.

Q.  (Question regarding the offensive line’s play helping the Wildcat formation be successful.)

COACH STOOPS:  You’re right about that.  It’s not just Jojo, I think he has a great feel for that.  He was courageous, dug down deep.  He played with great effort and great vision.

But the O-line did a great job.  That’s the best we have played since we’ve been here as far as playing physical and really playing tough.  So that was really good.

Q.  (Question regarding if UK’s win Saturday helps the staff’s message to recruits about success.)

COACH STOOPS:  As far as the new class?

Q.  Do you think it was important that they see ‑‑

COACH STOOPS:  I think it’s always important.  Everybody may see what you’re doing and understand that there is progress being made.  I never shied away from that.  You heard me talk about it before the season and everything, that I will be judged on wins and losses.  It’s a bottom‑line business.  We got to continue to do that and keep on fighting for victory.  It’s the same with recruits, yeah.

I think there is a lot of people believing in what we are doing and how we go about recruiting players.  We help the players once they get here, they see that.  But it’s important for them to see progress on the field.