Mark Stoops has a chance to go out on top. He is the winningest coach in Kentucky history, the guy who brought this program to eight consecutive bowl games, the guy who was able to send players into the NFL and get Kentucky out of the bottom of the SEC. He does have a legacy, and like all legacies, you can overstay your welcome. You can hang around long enough to ruin it and make it so you go from being a victor to a villain. This is Mark Stoops' choice right now.
Currently, he seems like he is defiant about staying and "rebuilding." He says he is the man with the plan and can fix it, but what if he can't? Truly, he must consider the legacy of what is at stake here. Kentucky is at one of its lowest points again, and there isn't much hope for the football program's future. If he marches out a new team and a new coaching staff, and the Wildcats win 4 games again, he's become the villain.
You may already think that he's the villain with how Big Blue Nation wants to run him out, but it's more a warning from the Kentucky faithful. Fans are warning Stoops that he could easily become a villain and go down in the lore of coaches that ruined Kentucky football. If he left now, it would go down as a bad year and a signal that it was time to move on, and that's all. However, if he runs it back and it's more of the same, this fanbase will turn all the way on hi,m and it will be a miserable ride for everyone.
Mark Stoops is likely going to lose his best assistant (Brad White), best recruiter (Vince Marrow), and one of his best position coaches and brother (Mike Stoops)
— Matt Sak BBN (@MattSakR2NG) December 2, 2024
On top of a complete roster overhaul and zero fan support, why would he even want to come back?
Coach Stoops, it's time to consider the legacy of how you want to be remembered. Sure, there are $9 million reasons to stay, but you can't buy legacy, and it's impossible to rebuild it once it's completely gone.