Latest Mark Stoops quote has Kentucky fans convinced he's starting his goodbyes

Mark Stoops often stays on script when he's being interviewed or in post-game press conferences. He may say off-the-wall comments, be light-hearted or crack a joke, but when it comes to the actual what went well or, more recently, what could have gone better, the Kentucky head football coach stays to the same comments. Statements like "We have to play better" or "We will work hard to get it right" or many other examples of what Stoops calls "Coach speak."

In a rare moment of contemplation for Stoops during an interview yesterday with Kentucky Sports Radio, Stoops said a line that echoed across Big Blue Nation:

It was a strange comment because it felt reflective. Many fans felt like he was in the beginning stages of a goodbye process. In fact, he said this while answering a question about why he got rid of offensive coordinator Eddie Gran. He said that he didn't let anyone influence him to that decision, that he only made it between him and Eddie. He did it with Kentucky in mind; "I’m still going to do what’s right for the University of Kentucky."

As he continued to muse, the line came up that he loves Kentucky; it's his home. It was a bit off-script for Mark Stoops, and it caused fans to speculate if he's planning to leave after the season.

It wasn't the only time he had a moment of reflection during the day, but a different media appearance. In his media time after practice today, he was asked about the bowl streak and looking ahead, and he said something fascinating, "I know for fans, they think about the big picture and future and everything, and so do I. I have to. I have to think about those things."

Which, on its own, may simply be talking about the next year and the ending of the season. He was trying to stay focused on the moment, but when you start to put together some of the things he's saying throughout the day, fans begin to speculate, rightfully so.

Finally, Stoops, in another media appearance, when discussing the NIL, said, "Clearly, there’s been a few things that I could identify that I didn’t do a very good job within the past couple of years." This is all starting to sound like he's looking back over his time at Kentucky with both fondness and regret. Is this the beginning of the goodbyes? Some fans are starting to think so.