Mark Stoops comments on struggles across Kentucky tenure: ‘This sh– is hard’
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Well, Mark Stoops isn’t wrong. Coaching in the SEC is very hard. There’s a reason only 16 individuals at a time get to call themselves head coaches in the Southeastern Conference.
During his time at the podium during SEC Media Days Thursday, Stoops offered a fair assessment of his tenure at Kentucky. The Wildcats are not historically an SEC powerhouse, and Stoops has objectively done a good job at making the Wildcats relevant every few years. However, the Wildcats haven’t been competitive at the top of the SEC since 2021.
Still, Stoops insisted that he’s excited for the upcoming season, saying, “I’m really just excited about the opportunity, really diving into the challenge that lies ahead of us, and embracing that and having fun with it because this sh– is hard, and you might as well go enjoy it.”
Kentucky does not have a lot of expectations this year, but the Wildcats feature an entirely different lineup than the 4-8 squad did last season. Zach Calzada is back in the SEC, and Dante Dowdell leads a good rotation in the backfield. If Stoops can get the transfer to gel and fit into their spots on the field, Kentucky could steal a few games above their expectations.
The schedule is far from easy though – Kentucky has to face Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Louisville and at South Carolina this season.
What are your expectations for the Wildcats this season?
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
