Mark Stoops has faced some backlash in recent days after recent comments suggesting that Georgia and other elite SEC programs are buying talent.

The comments came after Georgia’s dismantling of Kentucky on Saturday. Stoops called on fans to “donate more” to the program because that’s what “those dudes” are doing. He called out Georgia specifically, saying “I can promise you Georgia, they bought some pretty good players.”

On Wednesday, Stoops addressed those comments.

Stoops disagreed with those who said he was trying to shift blame for the loss to others rather than himself. He explained that he takes full responsibility for the loss.

“I think anybody that listens to the whole thing understands that I took full responsibility for that game Saturday,” Stoops said during the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday. “I had a press conference Saturday night, you were there. Gave Georgia nothing but credit that they deserve, and Monday in my noon press conference, took full responsibility. Gave Georgia the credit they deserved.”

He said that his comments were taken out of context, and that he loves all of his fans even if they aren’t donating tons of money to the program.

“To me, I was responding to one person at a radio show, and that was one part that was taken completely out of context,” Stoops said. “I love our fans, whether they give one cent, $1 or a lot of money. It doesn’t matter. I love our fan base.”

Stoops also explained that his comments were to one person in particular who was asking him about getting over the hump. Stoops expressed that beating Georgia is more than just a hump to get over.

“Basically one person was questioning me and the program in getting over the hump,” Stoops said. “I really simply should have said, hey dude, I got over a lot of humps, that’s not a hump, that’s Mount Everest.”

Ultimately, Stoops was looking to rally the fanbase with his comments rather than call them out for not donating. Now his comments have brought on unwanted attention.

“I took responsibility for the game, we need to play better,” Stoops said. “But really simply just trying to rally people, and a way to move the needle, it’s a way. I didn’t ask for this, Kirby didn’t ask for this, it’s a way of the world, and you want to move the needle, that’s one way to do it.”

He also said that people have blown his comments out of proportion. He wasn’t trying to call Smart out for how he’s handled things at Georgia. Ultimately, NIL is part of college football now and it’s something coaches have to learn to use to their advantage.

“I think people just want to take one little piece of it and blow it completely out of proportion, if you listen to the whole thing, just listen to Kirby, he knows exactly what I’m saying,” Stoops said. “Heck, we’re all in the same boat. Kirby’s probably happy. He’s probably trying to rally up more money, too.”