Listen, Mark Stoops and sound in-game decision-making go together like peanut butter and clam juice. But unlike the latter combo, Kentucky fans have endured years of questionable choices in the former combo. But after Saturday night's humiliating 56-34 beatdown by Tennessee, Kentucky's tenth straight SEC home loss, Stoops delivered some of the most bewildering post-game comments of his tenure.
Blaming the 'stupid book'
Trailing 49-21 midway through the third quarter, Kentucky scored a touchdown. Mathematically, the game was out of reach. Yet, Stoops inexplicably signaled for a two-point conversion attempt. Going for two would have made it a 20-point game (three scores) instead of 21 (still three scores). It made zero sense.
His explanation afterward was even more baffling. When asked about the decision, Stoops didn't defend the logic; he blamed the source. "Yeah I did what the analytics book said," Stoops admitted, before adding with clear disdain, "I had time to reevaluate after and said yeah that's a stupid book."
What analytics book mandates going for two down 22 points in the third quarter? It reeks of either a fundamental misunderstanding of situational football or a coach deflecting blame onto a nebulous "book." It also highlights Stoops' inconsistent, often gut-feel approach to game management, a stark contrast to coaches who firmly go for it like Dan Campbell, or reject analytics like Jim Harbaugh. He seems to blow with the wind, often leading to confusion.
Understanding the frustration (but offering no solutions)
Stoops did acknowledge the abysmal state of the program and the anger radiating from the fanbase after dropping to 2-5 (0-5 SEC) and extending the historically bad home losing streak.
"I understand its a results business... For me I cant get caught up and worried about all that. I hurt for our team. I hurt for our fans," he stated. "I understand that, the fans anybody else has a right to be frustrated, mad, whatever it is."
But what should they feel, Mark? What should fans feel after watching their $9 million-a-year coach oversee just one Power Four win in two years (1-13 vs. last 14 P4 opponents) and achieve fewer SEC Kroger Field wins since late 2021 than the visiting team Saturday night? Acknowledging the hurt rings hollow without offering any tangible path forward.
Meanwhile, LSU just fired Brian Kelly after a 34-14 tenure that included two 10-win seasons because "good" wasn't good enough. Kentucky seems content with far, far less.
One can only anticipate Monday's press conference. The over/under on Stoops mentioning getting "back to work" has to be set around 10. We will hear from Mark at noon.
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