Southeastern Conference Football Media Days Monday July 16, 2018 Mark Stoops Kentucky only good football players, but they are great leaders in MARK STOOPS: Thank you. Great to be here back for anchoring what's going on this summer. I'm proud of my sixth. Hard to believe it's my sixth year here at the our team, what they're doing, the way they're working. SEC Media Days. Great to be in Atlanta. Last time I The attitude they have this summer is just what we're was in this venue, I was here with Courtney Love. He looking for. was accepting the Danny Wuerffel Trophy. So it brings back fond memories and great to be here. You know, we've talked in the past about building that capacity. We talked last year about being consistent. Appreciate you, Greg, appreciate Commissioner, what And now it's a matter of just honing in and refining all of he does for myself, the support he gives me, all of us the things that we've been building the past five years coaches, everybody throughout the league. They do a to take it to another level. But I feel very good. I think great job and appreciate him. the experience that we have and the talent that we have is going to give us an opportunity to win each and The media, thank you. Thanks for what you do to every time we take the field, and that's where I talk promote Kentucky, promote the league, and I about embracing those expectations and enjoying that appreciate your hard work. As I move into year six, the and being ready for the grind. biggest thing you look at at Kentucky, the biggest thing I feel is the change in expectation, and that's a good Our coaching staff is back. It's only the second time thing. We're excited about that. We embrace those since I've been there we've had both coordinators expectations. Really it starts with our coaches, our fan back. Eddie Gran on offense and Matt House on base, and most importantly our players. defense. I like our staff and what we're doing, have a lot of confidence in them. So we're excited about the We expect more. We've been close. We've done year. It's always a challenge, but it's an exciting one. some good things. I'm proud of the work that we've done, that we look forward to making a big jump this Q. I wanted to ask about, in addition to your year. We return some players with experience. We coaching staff, I have a lot of respect for Freddie returned some talent. We returned some players that Maggard as your director of player development. decided to forego the NFL and come back to do more, What do you foresee as his role and then also to play with a chip on their shoulder, to win some another young man in your program that he was football games. very high on we talked about many time on my show, Logan Stenberg from my community at We're tired of being close in some. James Clemens High School in Madison, Alabama. MARK STOOPS: Very excited about Freddie. I felt the We want to win and get over that hump, and you're need as I've been there through the five years. One going to get an opportunity to visit with some of those area that we really needed to constantly improve, and I guys that are here today, Josh Allen, an outside don't think any of us colleges can do enough on is linebacker from New Jersey. He's the epitome of developing these players. We're very intentional about development. He comes into our program as a two- developing them. I talked and had the model for five star recruit, 200 pounds. And he's a solid 260 and years. You heard me talk about it before, about build, projected as first-round draft pick. And we're excited select and develop. That's build a winning culture, about Josh. select the right players, and then intentionally develop them once they're on our campus. Next C.J. Conrad, a tight end out of Ohio, another guy, had he not been injured last year had an opportunity to Freddie is a big piece of that. He has great come out and play in the NFL, a big tight end from connections to the state. He has great connections Ohio. throughout the country, helping our player transition not only from high school to college, but from college to the , of course, a guy that's been over a professional world and helping them everywhere in thousand yards the first two years at Kentucky. Not between, so very excited about the addition of Freddie.

Rev #1 by #206 at 2018-07-16 18:39:00 GMT page 1 of 5 And with Logan, Logan is -- really can't say enough to watching him this summer. good things about Logan. He is an incredible young man, hard working, physical, inside tough guard. What With Terry, he's a dynamic guy. I don't know if I've you're looking for has great experience and he's done a seen it all yet. Until you get live, you really cannot see lot of great things for us. all his skill sets. Obviously you can see the way he can run. He makes all of the throws. He's an unbelievable Q. Obviously, Benny Snell plays a massive role in worker, but he's dynamic. He's a big, strong guy. And your offense over the last two years already. With he's dynamic with the ball in his hands, too. So I feel the departure of Stephen Johnson, do you foresee good about our options. him getting an increase in the role either running game or passing game this year? Q. How critical is it to the program to finally get MARK STOOPS: I don't know. It would be hard to over the hump with Florida? You guys have come increase. You know he has been a big focus for us, so close. and he's been a work horse. You have to admire his MARK STOOPS: Yeah. I always look forward to that ability to go back day after day and run after run in his annual question here. Until we get it done. I know. I'm consistency. He gets tough yards. You know how not blaming you. I'm going to get it a thousand times tough they are in this league. And Benny's been between now and that game. extremely consistent. You know, my answer, first three or four years, I really I think what is most impressive about him is that wasn't concerned about it. I'm trying to build a culture attitude, that chip on his shoulder, playing the game the at Kentucky and win games and get in position, but you way it's supposed to be done, it's like that every day. do hear it. You can't hide from the elephant in the Whether it's in the weight room, the training session in room. It's been a long time. We need to beat Florida, the summer, every practice, every scrimmage, he goes but we need to beat a lot of teams on our schedule. hard. He's very physical. Our local media certainly talk about that a lot. I would rather say whoa than We don't put too much emphasis on that game until it giddyap. gets there. We do play them early in the season. We'll see. It is what it is. We'll go down there and play them He is one of those guys that once in awhile in practice, early in the year at the swamp. We all know it's a very he's so playing physical when we're not totally live, but tough environment. They have a new change in you'd rather have it that way. He's been very coaching staff. We're familiar with Dan and what he consistent. I think it will help us with the new does and the great job he does. It's a tough game, but quarterback situation that needs to be resolved. It's we're excited, and we'll embrace that challenge when nice to have an offensive line with some experience. the time comes. It's nice to have some tight ends that can play, that can block, be physical and catch the ball. And certainly Q. And Benny, do you feel like he's maybe one of with Benny, that will help. the more underrated players in the game? MARK STOOPS: I do. Q. It looks like you've got pretty good experience on offense everywhere but quarterback. How Q. Outside of the SEC particularly? would you assess your quarterback situation? MARK STOOPS: I do. There's been some star running With Benny as good as he's been, can he be better backs in this league and some of them have graduated and if so, how? as you know. There's been some great players, but MARK STOOPS: Yeah. I believe -- we just look Benny is certainly worthy of the hype that he gets forward to Benny being Benny and doing what he does. because of his consistency. He's done it in this league Of course I just mentioned it goes hand in hand with at Kentucky his first two years, and he spent over a the offensive line and tight ends. But I like the thousand yards each of those years, and we look quarterback situation. I like where we're at. I felt very forward to him doing that again this year. Certainly he confident with it. deserves to be in that kind of conversation.

Gunnar Hoak, he's been in our system. He hasn't Q. Your team ranks first in the SEC in returning played a college snap yet. He's been in our system. defensive production. How important will that He practiced a bunch. He knows what we are doing. experience be heading into the next season He's poised. He has always been poised since he especially with the inexperience at the quarterback stepped on campus. He's poised. He is accurate. He position? knows where to go with the football. He can make all MARK STOOPS: It's very important. And again, my the throws. I like what Gunnar's doing. I look forward background, being in defense, you know, it's definitely

Rev #1 by #206 at 2018-07-16 18:39:00 GMT page 2 of 5 an area where we need to improve. We played good at play here, play there. They were never far off, and then times, but that's not good enough. We need to be they turned it around and really played quality football consistent across the board. We have some players, down the stretch. That's not easy to do. not only with some experience, but we actually have some players with some talent. I admire the leadership that Barry gave that team and the turn around they had. Believe me, as head As I said, there's several guys that will play in the NFL coaches, you just look around here. And for me, sixth and decided to come back, and we need their year being in this league, go to the SEC head coaches' leadership. We need to be better. It starts upfront. meetings, and it's not fun sometimes to see the change You know, I've said it from day one, we're building. every year. I love seeing friends and guys like Jimbo We're recruiting. We're doing the best we can to play and things like that, but I hate seeing my old friends go at the level that it takes in this league. out. So it's very competitive, very tough. But I think we just all use that to lean on each other when we can. Great defenses in this league are dominated by defensive lineman. And we are getting much better. I Q. You alluded to it. There's five head coaches and feel much more solid about where we've been. We had six new coaches in different spots. What do you a freshman last year play at nose guard that I have think of that turnover? I think you and Gus are high hopes for that I'm excited about in Quinton number two and tenured your SEC score behind Bohanna. Josh Paschal moved from outside in six years. linebacker to inside. He's a guy you give him a biscuit, What do you think about that? and he can get to 300 pounds, but he's athletic enough to play on the edge. I really love the way he's playing MARK STOOPS: I think that made my heart drop. I the game. He's very athletic, very twitchy. He makes can't believe you mentioned that. That's not a good plays. feeling. I've only been here six years. And to have that kind of turnover, obviously, the way it is right now, it's Adrian Middleton going into his senior year, he's made the sign of the times. There's some very good football some plays for us and been consistent, look forward to coaches that have come and gone through this league, him making a big jump. And then we have a guy Phil and there's a lot of good ones in here. But I think it just Hoskins, is very big, very strong. I love the energy, the speaks to the league, and, believe me, the 14 schools, attitude. I love how tough he plays. He's twitchy, and there's not one school in here that wants to take a step he has some size. back.

I feel like we have some experience there in some guys We're all looking to improve. We're all doing anything that can make a difference. T.J. Carter is another guy and everything we can every day to get that edge to inside. We have some bodies and that's where we take the next step. And, you know, for me. You've need to make the big jump. Across the board, I heard me talk about this before, but there was so many challenge all of them to play at a higher level and a broad strokes for so long. You get tired of the broad much more consistent level, and I think we're going to strokes because it's the little things that are going to do that. make a difference. But when there's so much to do, it's overwhelming, and you got to grind it out every day. Q. Mark, Barry Odom has said you're a guy he's And it takes some time. But again, I feel good about leaned on for getting advice being the first time where we're at and getting to that point and taking it to head coach in this league. As you went into the another level. sixth season, how long did it take you to get fully comfortable being the head coach and all that the Q. As far as the new coaches, what do you think job comes with? about that? MARK STOOPS: It's interesting with Barry and I, we MARK STOOPS: The new coaches just what you never talked about this before. What he went through would expect, quality football coaches, talented guys last year, I went through in year three. People, we all that will work relentlessly hard to build their programs. want results, but we all know it's very difficult to build So, it doesn't surprise me. And again, it just speaks to the program you're looking for. When that pressure's the nature of the competitiveness in this conference. on and it's time to get ready to break, his team responded. Q. 2013 was your first year here. For the SEC Media Day, kind of the big issue was pace of play in We beat Missouri last year and people were acting like terms of teams that did conventional offense it's no big deal. I said you have no idea how good of a versus the spread. It's been five plus years for you. football team that was. They play a lot of good teams, How do you think the SEC overall has adjusted to

Rev #1 by #206 at 2018-07-16 18:39:00 GMT page 3 of 5 facing spread offenses? Brett. He's a very good football coach as you know. I MARK STOOPS: I think just like most teams, we're don't think there's any doubt he'll be a head coach adapting the way we need to. I think Steve Shaw and someday either in or NFL. It's very his crew have done a very nice job of setting the pace difficult. We all understand the business we're in. the way it deserves to be set. It gives the offense the leniency to play as fast as they need to play and gives Jimbo, there's no doubt he'll do very well at Texas the opportunity for defenses to get set and not A&M. You heard me every time I've been here in some necessarily always be tricked that you can just set up form or fashion about some of the things I've learned and play some football. from my time working with Jimbo. I have great respect for him and the way he goes about his work. There's So it's been a good balance. It doesn't mean it's easy. many things I do at Kentucky that I took from him. Spread tempo teams and guys with duel threat quarterbacks and put all of that pressure on you at a Certainly you have to be your own man and do things high pace isn't easy. It's not easy, but it also comes at that fits your own program, but there's things I've taken an expense. You have to find that balance. It took me from him I still implement to this day. There's no doubt some time at Kentucky to find that balance to go the he'll do well. He'll recruit at a high level. His teams will pace we needed to to put us in a situation, a formula, play extremely hard. There's things I learned from him. to win football games. I am a defensive coach. I'm an offensive coach. And you want to talk about the fun we've had competing Q. Everybody in the east has been fighting the against each other, it's kind of what it's all about. He's west for a decade or longer. What does Georgia's a very hard-nosed, tough football coach. And I am as season winning the east and what does the SEC well, but those were fond memories. going tos the national championship game, what does that mean for balance of power in the league? Not always day-to-day, they weren't always a lot of fun. And does having Jimbo go to A&M make it tougher You look back on it, and you look back at the time and than ever for the west? the way we competed against each other, it was a lot of MARK STOOPS: I spoke to that a year ago. I was fun, and you learn a lot of good things. And again, I asked the same question. I remember saying there's have to do things that are comfortable to me. But I no doubt in my mind some of the teams in the east have great respect for him, and he'll do very well at were ready to make a big jump. I don't think that's any Texas A&M. different. You look at the history of this league and there's ups and downs on both sides. Q. Mark, how do you plan to use the red shirt rule? A. We're going to work our way through that, Certainly the west played at an extremely high level, Adam. Obviously the rule just went into effect. I and you have to give them the credit they deserve right think again it will be, in a way, like the way it was now. I can promise you every team in the east is done before on an individual basis. Some guys getting better every day, recruiting at a high level, may be ready to play right away and you're going developing our players and competing to play at the to use them for the full year. Some guys maybe same level. So, it's all -- you know, we're all trying to aren't ready. And by the end of the year, you have get to the same place. some injuries and you need to plug them in, so it will be on an individual basis, but I am excited Bob, your previous question, Greg and I were talking about that opportunity. I think it's a great rule for about Jimbo. He said do you know all of Jimbo's the players. secrets. I said I know all of his secrets, but it doesn't make it any easier. He's a pretty good football coach. Q. I know that in the east this year, South Carolina That's a tough environment going down there and has been getting kind of the love, kind of a dark playing at A&M. He said does he know mine, and I horse team. You defeated them four seasons in a said yeah, but I'm not sure how that's going to play out. row now. I'm wondering how much have you and your players been hearing that love and how are Q. I had a two-parter. You alluded to your you circling that game on the schedule? I know friendship with Jimbo. How do you think he's that's crucial if you want to get over that hump? going to do at A&M? What do you think about that MARK STOOPS: I don't need South Carolina to hire? I know you and Bret Bielema are close. Have motivate me. I am not worried about what they're you stayed in touch with Brett? How's he doing? doing. Again I have respect for Will and what they're Do you think he'll be a head coach again in doing and their program. It's not an easy game. It's a college? very competitive game with us. We had close games MARK STOOPS: I definitely do. I keep in touch with about every year. You know, basically the same way I

Rev #1 by #206 at 2018-07-16 18:39:00 GMT page 4 of 5 could answer the Florida question, it's about this year. The past 33 years really don't matter. The past four years don't matter. But we don't need them for our motivation. That's for sure. We're plenty motivated about what we're doing in our program and the way we play.

Q. So you came close to beating Georgia in 2016, but struggled a bit last season. What do you think it's going to take to knock off the reigning conference champs this year? A. It will take a lot of things to go well. Obviously Georgia is a very good football team. We did have a close game with them two years at our place. Last year, it got away from us very quickly. It can do that when you play an exceptional football team when you make mistakes. Obviously, you got to play a cleaner game and we look to do that.

Q. Can you just speak to the new transfer rules, I guess more freedom for transfers and the greater transfers. Has this extended your recruiting season? Is it a whole other recruiting season after recruiting season? MARK STOOPS: No. It has not been for us. Obviously there's players who may reach out to us and look at the opportunities, but we haven't -- you know, we haven't -- we don't dive into that recruiting as a full process at this point, no. I think it's part of the day in age. You're going to see it. You're going to get some and lose some. And, you know what, ultimately whatever is best for the players, I'm all for.

We had a couple players decide to transfer this year. A big piece of it was get closer to home. I respect that, honored that, and wished them the best of luck. I think you're going to win some and you're going to lose some.

I don't think any of us coaches are looking forward -- we're not looking forward to a form of free agency. I think all of us -- I can't speak for everybody. I don't want to. I think the pulse of conversations is we're not interested in going out and recruiting players from another team. Obviously it's illegal, but you don't want to turn it into another form of free agency. None of us want that. We are college coaches. We like developing these players and building your teams, and that's the way I like to do it.

THE MODERATOR: Coach Stoops, appreciate your time today.

MARK STOOPS: Appreciate it. Thank you.

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