Mark Stoops has faced some pressure this season with several other SEC East teams rising to prominence while Kentucky has remained somewhat stagnant.

But the Wildcats head coach is not concerned with what people think of the rise of his SEC East rivals, he’s more concerned about doing everything he can to make his program better.

“I don’t care. I spend zero time thinking about that at all,” Stoops said. “I mean zero. I mean Eli (Drinkwitz) and I are friends, I talk to him. Last year he was enduring a lot more pressure than I’m enduring right now. He was getting a lot. And he’s having a heck of a year and now I’m picking his brain. ‘Hey man what are you doing, what’s going on?’ Cause we don’t play them next year. He’s done of a heck of a job.”

Stoops knows in order to be a coach in the SEC, you have to be able to take criticism, which he has done this season.

“All of us are built that way, I can’t speak for everybody, but if you’re successful in this league and hang around for a while, you’re gonna have thick skin, you’re gonna take it,” Stoops said. “That’s why I never get too excited.”

Stoops is looking to is looking for a big win over South Carolina this week as the Wildcats look to reach bowl eligibility. They are coming off a crushing win against Alabama and looking to bounce back.