The biggest story in the SEC this week is the firing of now former Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt because of NCAA infractions that have only come out officially in limited detail.

But even Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman has admitted that Pruitt and some nine other assistants or staffers who were fired have cost the Vols Level I and Level II violations, which come with serious sanctions when the investigation is complete.

As a guest on Kentucky Sports Radio on Tuesday, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops was asked for his reaction to it, and he offered a very candid response.

“I gotta be careful in my response here… Does it surprise me? Not one bit,” Stoops said, per Nick Roush.

There isn’t much Kentucky fans enjoy more than watching a neighboring program like Tennessee in the kind of mess the Vols find themselves in today. But the Wildcats also recall the historic win over the Vols in Neyland Stadium in 2020.

The Wildcats beat the then-18th-ranked Vols 34-7.

On the strength of three interceptions, Kentucky got its first win in Neyland Stadium since 1984, the Wildcats’ largest margin of victory in Knoxville since 56-0 in 1893 and their most lopsided victory in the series since 1935.

It was the start of a losing streak for Tennessee, which had previously built an eight-game winning streak.