As his Kentucky seat gets warmer, Stoops turns to Barker at QB
HOOVER, Ala. – Kentucky coach Mark Stoops dislikes the word ‘collapse’ to describe what has happened to his Wildcats the past two seasons.
Frankly, though, that is exactly what has occurred.
In 2014, Kentucky rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to stun the Gamecocks and beat Louisiana-Monroe the following weekend to improve to 5-1. But the Wildcats lost the last six games, including a 44-40 loss to rival Louisville, to finish 5-7 and out of the bowl picture.
Last season, Kentucky beat the Gamecocks in Week 2 at Williams-Brice Stadium, improving to 2-0 en route to a 4-1 start. But UK won just one of its final seven games to again finish 5-7.
After leading Kentucky to a 12-24 mark with no bowl appearances in his first three years at the helm, Stoops’ seat is very warm in Lexington.
The sense of urgency was felt in Lexington as soon as last season ended, and will continue next month.
“We had longer spring practices. We need to have tougher two-a-days, a tougher camp and continue to expand our capacity to handle more to endure what it takes mentally and physically to compete and to win in this league,” Stoops said Wednesday during SEC Media Days at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel.
“In particular, to close the gap on the close games. We've been very close. We're tired of being close. It's very easy to change a climate within a program and very difficult to change the culture. Our administration, our coaching staff and our players continue to push for that winning culture. We have the pieces in place. We will take the next step.”
Stoops, though, cautioned any expectation of a quick fix was unrealistic after Kentucky went 13-24 in three years under former head coach Joker Phillips. When you factor UK’s 2-10 record in Stoops’ debut season, Kentucky was 15-34 over a four-year stretch (2010-2013) before the consecutive 5-7 campaigns.
“To think you're going take this program in three years and everything is going to be steady and pretty and nothing but a steady climb, it's not going to happen,” Stoops said. “You're going to go through some ups and downs. There's a game or two, and one in particular that jumps out at me that really bugs you because you felt like you outplayed the opponent and lost.”
In order for Kentucky to reach a bowl game for the first time since the 2010 season, redshirt sophomore quarterback Drew Barker, a native of Burlington, Ky., must begin to fulfill the enormous potential he demonstrated in high school when he was one of the most highly-touted signal callers in the country. His final decision boiled down to Kentucky and the Gamecocks and he chose to stay in-state.
South Carolina faces Barker and the Wildcats Sept. 24 at Commonwealth Stadium in the third of three SEC road games for the Gamecocks in the first four weeks of the season.
Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 225 pounds, and possessing a powerful right arm, Barker is the prototypical SEC quarterback.
“Physically, he's a strong guy,” Stoops said. “He can run when necessary. He has that ability to create plays. He's a playmaker. He's a gamer. But obviously you can't do those things until you have a great and complete understanding of your offense and what you're trying to do, and distribute the football where it needs to go.”
Last year, Barker served mainly as the backup to Patrick Towles, who moved on to Boston College as a graduate transfer, and completed 35-of-70 passes for one touchdowns and two interceptions in limited duty. Barker started the final two games against Charlotte (16-for-29 for 129 yards in first career start) and Louisville.
“I feel very good with Drew Barker,” Stoops said. “He started the last two games of the season. I'm really impressed with the growth he's made on and off the field. I'm excited about Drew. He'll get the keys to the car, and I'm excited to watch him go because I know this is his time. He's ready to play.”
Following last season’s disappointing conclusion, Stoops revamped his offensive staff, firing offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and replacing him with offensive coordinator/running backs coach Eddie Gran and co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw.
Now that Dawson’s preferred ‘Air Raid’ scheme is in the rear view mirror, Gran and Hinshaw have introduced a scheme blending elements of the spread and a pro-style attack. Better fit for Barker? Very likely.
NOTES
-- After hosting Southern Miss in the Sept. 3 opener, Kentucky travels to Florida in Week 2, the first of four challenging road tests for the Wildcats. They also must play at Alabama, Tennessee and Louisville. The home schedule is less daunting at refurbished Commonwealth Stadium. The first four home games in Lexington on the 2016 slate are Southern Miss, New Mexico State, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Later, they host Austin Peay. “You know what you're getting into when you play this league,” Stoops said.
-- Kentucky running back JoJo Kemp on Gran: “Coach is an older coach, he has spent 30-something years coaching college football and spent 15 years in the SEC so he knows what it is like in this league. If we’re not doing something his way, he’s not having it.”
-- Kemp on whether he and fellow running back Stanley ‘Boom’ Williams are overlooked: “Just a little bit. But Boom and myself and the other guys have been critiquing each other. Going out there and working hard and basically taking any opportunity that the coaches are giving us.”
-- Like Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight, Kentucky junior linebacker Courtney Love represented his school at SEC Media Days without first playing a down for them. Love transferred from Nebraska following the 2014 season and sat out last year due to NCAA transfer rules. “He’s been talked about a lot and he leads by example off the field,” Kentucky center Joe Toth said. “He puts in an enormous amount of time on the field, so we are expecting big things out of him and for him to be a staple on the defense.”
-- Stoops on the Kentucky secondary: “It's by far the best group since I've been there at Kentucky. It's a group that has great length, great play-making ability, and I believe they are future stars in this league. Three of them started last year as a freshman. They will be sophomores this year and have the length and play-making ability you're looking for. Now they have some experience. And the great news is they'll be around for a while.”
