By LARRY VAUGHT
Trying to express the emotional strain his players went through this season was something coach Mark Stoops said he really could not put into words.
It started during the offseason when linebacker Chris Oats, who was expected to be one of the team’s captains and best players, had a medical issue that left him in a wheelchair. COVID-19 protocols isolated players a lot and they had to deal with offensive line coach John Schlarman’s death at midseason.
“The players literally watched one of their heroes deteriorate and eventually pass away and it was devastating for them,” said one person close to the UK football program. “It’s just hard for the general public and media to understand how difficult this season has been for players and coaches.”
Kentucky has also played three teams in the top 10 — Alabama, Georgia and Florida — the second half of the season.
“I don’t really want to get into specific words or details on how difficult it is because people will say it is an excuse. I think you and I personally know about it and I know it’s been definitely one of the most trying times,” Stoops said when I asked him about the emotional strain of this season before the South Carolina game.
“Certainly, one of the most trying coaching experiences of my life and I’ve been through some tough ones. But again, I don’t really want that to be the headline because it’s about the players. I am paid to do this job, I can accept it, I can shoulder it, I’ll be fine. I do care about our players and I do care about their mental and physical well-being. It’s been very trying on them.”
Stoops is proud of his team’s resilience during the year. Not a single player opted out until cornerback Kelvin Joseph did last week. Kentucky also played at Alabama without 16 players and some staff members due to COVID and then had 18 players and 10 staff members missing at Alabama when it played.
“We have had players not play to the standard that they expect of themselves, that we expect out of them. That’s coaching, that’s us getting through it, it’s us dealing with circumstances. Some people deal with better than others. But I still love each and every one of them,” the UK coach said.
“They have really fought, and I think it does say a lot about us because it’s really easy to look around the country. It’s really easy to just say I give, I submit, I quit and look for a rock to hide under but no one’s doing that here and we aren’t going to do that.
“I appreciate that and I respect our players and it says a lot about them. I do love this team.”
Kentucky finished the regular season with a 41-18 win over South Carolina and about 13 hours later Stoops announced offensive coordinator Eddie Gran and quarterback coach Darin Hinshaw would not be back next year. Kentucky’s offense ranked 105th out of 127 nationally in scoring and 117th in total yards per game.
Stoops said he had a good relationship with both coaches.
“It was a difficult time, but I also have to recognize I have a responsibility to our players, to our fans, to our administration,” Stoops said about the coaching dismissals. “Sometimes change is necessary. I felt like this is certainly one of those times.”
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