Head Coach Mark Stoops had a clear game plan against the #1 team in the nation, the Georgia Bulldogs, and he executed to perfection. Nearly pulling off the upset and the visions of students rushing the field were in all of our heads. The game came down to the final possessions and the win was within striking distance as the final score was 13-12. Yet, the biggest issue for Stoops' game plan was that he didn't play to win the game. He only played to NOT LOSE and that's not good enough. If the game plan was to keep the game close, not to actually win it, he nailed it. Which, honestly, sucks.
By my count there were two clear opportunities that Mark Stoops chose to play it safe instead of stepping on the throat of the Bulldogs. The first opportunity was in the 3rd quarter and the ball was at the Georgia 22. The Wildcats only needed 2 yards to get a first down and keep a very successful driving going, yet Stoops chose to kick the field goal.
At the time, the announcers were praising his decision saying that often coaches when trying to pull of the upset will be too aggressive and not take the points. Stoops in their opinion did the right thing to take the 3 points.
Maybe, the drive would have ended with only a field goal even if making the 4th and 2. However, it felt like the wrong call at the time and even more like the wrong call in hindsight. An extended drive and touchdown would have sent Georgia scrambling. Now, I get it, it was the 3rd quarter and maybe it was time to settle for the field goal to go up 9-3 but it felt too safe. On its own, it's a fine and maybe even wise decision, but what makes it worse is the fact that the game plan was clearly to play it safe the whole game. Stoops never pulled the trigger on an explosive play, never went for it on a gutsy call, he simply never went for the kill.
The second opportunity and the one the fans seem to be the most ticked about was at the end of the game. In what would be Kentucky's last legitimate chance to score with only 3 minutes left in the game, on a 4th and 8, Kentucky chose to punt it.
Mark Stoops had as much heat on him this week as he's had at any point in his tenure at Kentucky.
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) September 15, 2024
He had a chance to win his fan-base over, by going for it on 4th down, against the No. 1 team in America, down 1 with 3 minutes left.
He punted.
UK fans have a right to be furious
At this point, what does Stoops have to lose? That's the problem. The analytics may tell you to punt it at 4th and 8. It's a longer chance to convert but being only down one point and knowing that Georgia is going to do everything in their power to ice the game, you can't give the ball back without at least trying. Especially when you have, at worst given them the ball back at the UK 48. You are in no man's land anyway.
If the Bulldogs did get the ball back at the 48, saying that Kentucky didn't convert, Georgia would have simply done the same thing they did getting the ball back after a punt, milk the clock, ice the game.
Stoops worked so hard to not lose the game that he never considered trying to win the game, and that's where the frustration comes, that's what makes the fans angry. If you have the #1 team on the ropes, the plan should be to take them out, to win OR die trying.