Let’s just call it what it is: Mark Stoops is done tiptoeing around the money conversation.
For years, the narrative around Kentucky football and NIL has been… complicated. But on Monday, Stoops stripped away the coach-speak and delivered a cold, hard reality check to Big Blue Nation.
If you want to keep the players you love, you have to pay for them.
In one of his most candid moments of the season, Stoops admitted that the "old ways" of complaining about the changing landscape are over.
"I’m done with it," Stoops said regarding the complaints about the system. "It’s just kind of factual… Let’s just call it the way it is now."
'Shake some trees'
Stoops didn't hold back on what is required to compete in the SEC right now. He acknowledged that in the past, his comments might have been a strategy to mobilize the donor base, or as he put it, "shake some trees to see if some money will fall off."
But now? It’s not a strategy. It’s survival.
"I just want money to spend on [players], make sense?" Stoops said, cracking a smile but clearly deadly serious. "Because the more money you’re able to buy, you’re able to retain the players that deserve that money."
It’s about retention, not just free agency
This is the part BBN needs to hear.
The fear with NIL is often about buying mercenaries who don't care about the jersey. Stoops flipped that narrative on its head. He isn't asking for millions just to chase high-priced transfers; he's asking for the resources to keep the "good kids" who are already here.
"Let’s keep the ones the fans want to see," Stoops said passionately. "These young men that I’m bragging on, that are good kids that are playing their hearts out, win or lose… that retention is huge, to have the dollars to keep them."
He noted that NIL has actually helped lock in current recruits, but the battle to keep the roster intact when the portal opens in January will be a financial war.
"We have to have some money to get some free agents," Stoops admitted. "So, we’re working through that as hard as we can."
The message was loud and clear: The "good old days" are gone. If Kentucky wants to keep its stars, the checkbook has to be open. Sounds better than "pony up" right?
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion