Kentucky Football: Mark Stoops Apologizes For Loss

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Southern Miss game was a disaster for the Kentucky football program and head coach Mark Stoops knows it. He formally apologized for the collapse.

Many around Lexington continue to grieve what was shaping up to be the most promising display by the Kentucky football team in quite some time. It was a painful reminder of what the Kentucky Wildcats tend to do to their fans.

Just when it seemed as though it was safe to be optimistic, the Wildcats posted a goose egg in the second half.

For those who didn’t watch, you saved yourself from an equal measure of jubilation and heartbreak. Kentucky jumped out to a 35-10 lead in the first half, only to allow 34 unanswered points and ultimately lose 44-35 to the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.

According to Jon Hale of The Courier-Journal, head coach Mark Stoops apologized for Kentucky’s devastating collapse against Southern Miss.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever in my career ever wanted to apologize for a game, but that’s a tough pill to swallow right there,” Stoops said. “I do (apologize). I didn’t think I would ever do that. That’s a tough loss and our fans deserved better.”

If nothing else, Stoops is holding himself, his coaching staff, and his players accountable.

Kentucky looked the best it ever has under coach Stoops during the first half. Sophomore quarterback Drew Barker had four touchdown passes, Jojo Kemp found the end zone for a fifth, and J.D. Harmon had two interceptions.

Coupled with a ferocious pass rush and displays of shutdown ability at cornerback by Derrick Baity and Chris Westry, Kentucky had the look of a resurrected program.

In the second half, the Wildcats scored a grand total of zero points. Nick Mullens led Southern Miss to a miraculous comeback, including seven points at the end of the first half and 27 unanswered in the second.

The question is: can Stoops turn his apology into retribution in Week 2?

The Florida Gators will be waiting in Gainesville.