WILDCATS

UK's Stoops speaks up on Gov. Cup absence

By Kyle Tucker
ktucker@courier-journal.com

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Need a sign the summer sports lull is in full effect? University of Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops spent part of his appearance at the Lexington Rotary Club on Thursday talking about not appearing the day before at the annual Governor's Cup luncheon in Louisville — keeping alive a quasi-controversy for a fourth consecutive day.

Stoops had not previously commented publicly on why he skipped the event, which raises money for charity, honors former players and hypes the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry game (which is now not until the regular-season finale). Cardinals coach Bobby Petrino did attend.

"I'm not afraid to talk about it," Stoops said. "It's just a time commitment. There's just a lot of things to be done. We have a lot to do. We've had quite a few media obligations and different events. It was just strictly a time-management deal."

Stoops was at SEC Media Days in Birmingham last Thursday, spent all day Monday going through ESPN's "Car Wash" of various platforms in Bristol, Conn., spoke to the Rotary Club today and will travel to speak at the Greater Louisville UK Alumni Kickoff Luncheon on Friday.

"I do apologize if I offended anybody that wasn't clear on (the fact) I wasn't coming," Stoops said. "I made that known (to the organizers) some time ago. I'll take responsibility for any confusion in that area. … We've had plenty of opportunities to talk about that game; no problem talking about it – it's just that's a full day for me where I need to be in the office and get some organization going for this upcoming season."

Players report for preseason camp on Aug. 4. One curious question: Why didn't organizers of the Governor's Cup luncheon didn't publicize that he wasn't coming if they knew so far in advance?

"I don't want to comment on any of that," he said. "I take responsibility. I can't put that on anybody else, so again I apologize for any confusion in that area."

Stoops has been a salesman for the last year and a half, hyping the program to both recruits and fans, and admits he looks forward to the day when his work on the field does most of the talking.

"Yeah, absolutely," said Stoops, a first-time head coach who called the level of media attention and fan interest in the state "different for me, but fun to be a part of that … but ultimately, people want to see what the heck you're doing. And that's where it gets to: What are we doing on the development side of our program?

"We've worked hard and had great recruiting success. How soon will that translate to victories? That's what we need to see, and that's where I feel much better about developing this team, both mentally and physically and where we're going, but we're still a work in progress with that."

Fans will get some early opportunities to see the on-field product. UK announced Thursday that Fan Day will be 9 a.m. Aug. 9 at Nutter Fieldhouse, followed by an open practice at 10:45 a.m. at Commonwealth Stadium. Admission and parking will be free and coaches and players will sign autographs until 10:15.

Kentucky's annual media day is Aug. 8 and there will be three additional practices open to fans: Aug. 11, 12 and 18. The Cats open their season at home Aug. 30 at noon against UT-Martin.

Kyle Tucker can be reached at (502) 582-4361. Follow him on Twitter @KyleTucker_CJ.