Kentucky leaders in +/- with 36 minutes played:
Jayden Quaintance +18 in 13 minutes
Jaland Lowe +17 in 11 minutes
These two at the 1 and the 5 provides a dynamic for Kentucky that is unmatched.
Mark Stoops took over a program where hope was the size of a mustard seed and he demonstrated what so many former players and loyal fans had always suspected: that Kentucky Football could be more.
He provided proof that the right charismatic coach with a strategy, access to resources, and a strong competent staff, could give UK football an opportunity to reach heights unfamiliar to a traditional underdog. The energy he and his staff brought in 2013 was a shock to the system, a promise that resonated through the years, building steadily until it peaked into the roar of two ten-win seasons. He made us relevant.
For so many of us, his teams gave us unforgettable Saturdays that turned into lifelong memories. Personally, at the peak of that belief, I trusted in his program so completely that I scheduled a night wedding, on a game-day, vs UofL, knowing the day would start and end with joy. That’s the kind of faith he inspired.
More than that, he made former players and their families feel special and valued, reconnecting the program to its heart and soul - The Letterwinners
It wasn’t supposed to end this way. The recent struggles don’t erase the architecture he built. The foundation is still here: a gold-standard league, motivated supporters, strong facilities, and a fan base that now knows what relevance tastes like.
So, let’s be clear: I would throw my support behind a 2013 Mark Stoops hire again and again. Without hesitation.
Thank you, Coach Stoops, for pouring your heart into our program. Thank you for the memories. You showed us what was possible. That is your legacy.
With deepest gratitude and best wishes for the future.
Mark Stoops reset the culture of Kentucky football. He brought toughness, physicality, and grit at a time when the program desperately needed all three. More than that, the high points of his tenure here fostered belief. Streaks ended. Bowls won. Standards risen. Under his leadership, Kentucky became a program that, at our best, could compete with anyone.
I’ll remember his era as one defined by competitiveness and genuine excitement. I was in the stands for much of it, and saw with my own eyes the energy around our state and inside Kroger Field on gameday when Kentucky football was right. For a long stretch, Coach Stoops made it right. I am personally grateful to Mark for everything he has dedicated to this program over the last 13 years.
Recent seasons have been disappointing. The combination of factors required to win at the highest level of college football has shifted dramatically.
For Kentucky football to take the next step, it’s time for the next chapter.
Let’s go make it happen.
For Kentucky fans looking for information on Will Stein’s offense and ability to create points you should look at the last month of Oregon football.
Down WR1, 2 and 4 + multiple OL injuries and he adjusted the offense to score points. Games in the rain. On the road. Very controlled on offense. Continued to have success. And that’s what Stein does best. He uses the weapons he’s got to score. No ego. One game it’s heavy run. Next game it’s the pass. There’s balance. And creativity. Development of talent.
He developed Bo Nix and now Dante Moore. The pass game is west coast concepts. Read the triangle. It’s very NFL based.
I am glad Will Stein is going to be calling plays for Oregon in the playoff
Good publicity for the program and maybe a selling point for recruits if they win games