Twice in 3 years! Rough for Stoops.

Our top 3 candidates that year:

Candidate A: Just got fired - only two years later.. At a place with much lower expectations...
Candidate B: ND just hung 70 on his defense.
Candidate C: Elko

Thank God we went with Elko. Wow.

Schrute Farms said:

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TAMUallen said:

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Stoops must have pissed off the wrong person.

I never thought he'd go anywhere.

UK isnt rolling in money for football, especially at SEC levels and their AD is a moron. Hell, their sports radio (Liucci equivalent) is practically brain dead

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This is Matt Jones' take:

I honestly don’t think Mark Stoops would have been fired if the Vandy and Louisville games had not been routs

But they were and now Kentucky will look for a new coach

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 1, 2025

I think Stoops was completely taken off guard by this decision, as seen by his comments in the Postgame Press conference yesterday

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 1, 2025

The message board rumor is that Stein expressed interest in the job, so they pulled the trigger with him as a secured target.

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That moron still active in the wrestling stuff? He looked so stupid and beta on the Netflix show

Z Team said:

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TexasAggiesWin said:

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Anyone associated with Stoops coming to Aggieland should be (and should have been) removed from any position of responsibility within the Aggie athletic department. Thank goodness he was not hired

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RC slocum is the name you are referring to.

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A mediocre coach fired 23 years go and we're still dealing with this clown.

cavscout96 said:

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TxAg76 said:

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AGinHI said:

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#1AG777 said:

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He played tu better than we did.

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What is Texas to Kentucky? No different than Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee. Just another game.

Despite a 12 year hiatus and what we tell ourselves, beating Texas is our end all and be all.

---

….and it needs to stop.
We're not gonna evolve into a championship caliber program until we start prioritizing the word National over what's 90 miles away.

It's ancient school, narrow minded, and just F'n stupid.

---

Ohio State and Michigan
Alabama and Auburn
GA - FL
AL - TN

Just a few where a rivalry game means just as much as a title. Yet each of them have competed for or won titles in the last two decades (except TN-1999)

Evidence does not support your statement.

You can have a heated (white hot) rivalry that is the penultimate game of your season and still win it all.

---

Yeah, no *****
You don't have to look any further back than last years OhSt to see Exhibit A.

Lost to Michigan. Won a Natty.
Losing to Michigan was infuriating in the moment, but the season moves on, their season was not over, and it certainly was NOT an epic failure after that rivalry loss.

The whole point is we have idiots who still would rather go 1-11 so long as it was t.u., and call that a success….
as opposed to going 11-1, calling it a failure, despite still being alive and still having a chance at the title.
And that ABSOLUTELY is idiotic.

What an emotional roller coaster for Stoops and his family. In one year he went from potentially being our coach (for a few hours) to now being fired!?

College football is crazy.

TxAg76 said:

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AGinHI said:

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#1AG777 said:

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He played tu better than we did.

---

What is Texas to Kentucky? No different than Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee. Just another game.

Despite a 12 year hiatus and what we tell ourselves, beating Texas is our end all and be all.

---

….and it needs to stop.
We're not gonna evolve into a championship caliber program until we start prioritizing the word National over what's 90 miles away.

It's ancient school, narrow minded, and just F'n stupid.

---

Dumb argument. IF we'd taken care of the problem 90 miles away, we'd be sitting on a first round bye, with an extra week of recovery and preparation.

NOW IF, we'd won, then acted content because we beat Texas, then promptly lost in the Semifinals your statement makes sense.

Aston04 said:

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Our top 3 candidates that year:

Candidate A: Just got fired - only two years later.. At a place with much lower expectations...
Candidate B: ND just hung 70 on his defense.
Candidate C: Elko

Thank God we went with Elko. Wow.

---

What?

I don't recall Elijah Robinson ever being seriously considered for the job.

agwrestler said:

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TxAg76 said:

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AGinHI said:

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#1AG777 said:

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He played tu better than we did.

---

What is Texas to Kentucky? No different than Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee. Just another game.

Despite a 12 year hiatus and what we tell ourselves, beating Texas is our end all and be all.

---

….and it needs to stop.
We're not gonna evolve into a championship caliber program until we start prioritizing the word National over what's 90 miles away.

It's ancient school, narrow minded, and just F'n stupid.

---

Dumb argument. IF we'd taken care of the problem 90 miles away, we'd be sitting on a first round bye, with an extra week of recovery and preparation.

NOW IF, we'd won, then acted content because we beat Texas, then promptly lost in the Semifinals your statement makes sense.

---

Our fanbase is littered with those who would absolutely prefer the latter. They'd rather go 1-11 so long as we beat t.u., instead of winning a Natty and having t.u. as the only loss.
And it blows my F'n mind.

agwrestler said:

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NOW IF, we'd won, then acted content because we beat Texas, then promptly lost in the Semifinals your statement makes sense.

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Play in CCG against Bama or in round 1 against ACC or G5 - same number of games

TxAg76 said:

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agwrestler said:

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TxAg76 said:

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AGinHI said:

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#1AG777 said:

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He played tu better than we did.

---

What is Texas to Kentucky? No different than Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee. Just another game.

Despite a 12 year hiatus and what we tell ourselves, beating Texas is our end all and be all.

---

….and it needs to stop.
We're not gonna evolve into a championship caliber program until we start prioritizing the word National over what's 90 miles away.

It's ancient school, narrow minded, and just F'n stupid.

---

Dumb argument. IF we'd taken care of the problem 90 miles away, we'd be sitting on a first round bye, with an extra week of recovery and preparation.

NOW IF, we'd won, then acted content because we beat Texas, then promptly lost in the Semifinals your statement makes sense.

---

Our fanbase is littered with those who would absolutely prefer the latter. They'd rather go 1-11 so long as we beat t.u., instead of winning a Natty and having t.u. as the only loss.
And it blows my F'n mind.

---

This is an absurdly reductionist take. The choice isn't binary, 1-11 beat tu vs 11-1 lose to tu. A more plausible scenario is 10-2 beat tu and be in the playoffs, but with slightly worse seeding, vs 11-1 lose to tu and be in the playoffs with slightly better seeding. I think that's a close call but generations of Aggies learned to hate tu and I wouldn't blame them for choosing a slightly poorer record and seeding coupled with a win over tu.

McNasty said:

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agwrestler said:

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NOW IF, we'd won, then acted content because we beat Texas, then promptly lost in the Semifinals your statement makes sense.

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Play in CCG against Bama or in round 1 against ACC or G5 - same number of games

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Yep. The way the playoffs committee is selecting teams, plus the homefield advantage, losing to texas absolutely benefited our playoff path. And that's all the evidence I need to know the playoff situation is still broken. Better, but still broken.

Jawn Dough said:

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Aston04 said:

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Our top 3 candidates that year:

Candidate A: Just got fired - only two years later.. At a place with much lower expectations...
Candidate B: ND just hung 70 on his defense.
Candidate C: Elko

Thank God we went with Elko. Wow.

---

What?

I don't recall Elijah Robinson ever being seriously considered for the job.

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If I recall, he interviewed. He was the interim coach. The players wanted him. I'd say he was a serious candidate.

And this is also a reminder that you should never let the players pick the coach.

TxAg76 said:

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cavscout96 said:

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TxAg76 said:

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AGinHI said:

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#1AG777 said:

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He played tu better than we did.

---

What is Texas to Kentucky? No different than Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee. Just another game.

Despite a 12 year hiatus and what we tell ourselves, beating Texas is our end all and be all.

---

….and it needs to stop.
We're not gonna evolve into a championship caliber program until we start prioritizing the word National over what's 90 miles away.

It's ancient school, narrow minded, and just F'n stupid.

---

Ohio State and Michigan
Alabama and Auburn
GA - FL
AL - TN

Just a few where a rivalry game means just as much as a title. Yet each of them have competed for or won titles in the last two decades (except TN-1999)

Evidence does not support your statement.

You can have a heated (white hot) rivalry that is the penultimate game of your season and still win it all.

---

Yeah, no *****
You don't have to look any further back than last years OhSt to see Exhibit A.

Lost to Michigan. Won a Natty.
Losing to Michigan was infuriating in the moment, but the season moves on, their season was not over, and it certainly was NOT an epic failure after that rivalry loss.

The whole point is we have idiots who still would rather go 1-11 so long as it was t.u., and call that a success….
as opposed to going 11-1, calling it a failure, despite still being alive and still having a chance at the title.
And that ABSOLUTELY is idiotic.

---

not what your original post implied. Your post implied that tu game was of zero consequence and we should put no stock in it.

cavscout96 said:

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TxAg76 said:

---

cavscout96 said:

---

TxAg76 said:

---

AGinHI said:

---

#1AG777 said:

---

He played tu better than we did.

---

What is Texas to Kentucky? No different than Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee. Just another game.

Despite a 12 year hiatus and what we tell ourselves, beating Texas is our end all and be all.

---

….and it needs to stop.
We're not gonna evolve into a championship caliber program until we start prioritizing the word National over what's 90 miles away.

It's ancient school, narrow minded, and just F'n stupid.

---

Ohio State and Michigan
Alabama and Auburn
GA - FL
AL - TN

Just a few where a rivalry game means just as much as a title. Yet each of them have competed for or won titles in the last two decades (except TN-1999)

Evidence does not support your statement.

You can have a heated (white hot) rivalry that is the penultimate game of your season and still win it all.

---

Yeah, no *****
You don't have to look any further back than last years OhSt to see Exhibit A.

Lost to Michigan. Won a Natty.
Losing to Michigan was infuriating in the moment, but the season moves on, their season was not over, and it certainly was NOT an epic failure after that rivalry loss.

The whole point is we have idiots who still would rather go 1-11 so long as it was t.u., and call that a success….
as opposed to going 11-1, calling it a failure, despite still being alive and still having a chance at the title.
And that ABSOLUTELY is idiotic.

---

not what your original post implied. Your post implied that tu game was of zero consequence and we should put no stock in it.

---

You're not gonna get any Aggie to not put stock into a game with our biggest rival. It's a given, so I really didn't think I'd ever have to qualify it.

But that one game doesn't need to be the literal one and only measure of whether a season is successful, especially when we're still very much alive and in the hunt for a potential Natty.

TxAg76 said:

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AgFan1974 said:

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TxAg76 said:

---

AGinHI said:

---

#1AG777 said:

---

He played tu better than we did.

---

What is Texas to Kentucky? No different than Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee. Just another game.

Despite a 12 year hiatus and what we tell ourselves, beating Texas is our end all and be all.

---

….and it needs to stop.
We're not gonna evolve into a championship caliber program until we start prioritizing the word National over what's 90 miles away.

It's ancient school, narrow minded, and just F'n stupid.

---

Yes be more like Bama and Ohio State. They do not have such a game...

---

Every team in America has that game.
Some see it as 1 of 12, or hopefully 1 of 16.

Others see it as the sole barometer for the entire 12, and a stain on the potential +4.
And thats idiotic.

---

I think we are basically saying the same thing. Maybe I misread your tone. I hate we lost to tu. I am grateful for the success we had this year. While the tu game hurt, it did not tank the season (for me). Im excited to watch the Ags in the CFP. That said, the tu game is big and we should play it every damn year! It does matter and should be elevetaed on the schedule.

Stop making fun of one of our former coaches.

He never lost a game here. Respect.

AgFan1974 said:

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TxAg76 said:

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AgFan1974 said:

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TxAg76 said:

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AGinHI said:

---

#1AG777 said:

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He played tu better than we did.

---

What is Texas to Kentucky? No different than Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee. Just another game.

Despite a 12 year hiatus and what we tell ourselves, beating Texas is our end all and be all.

---

….and it needs to stop.
We're not gonna evolve into a championship caliber program until we start prioritizing the word National over what's 90 miles away.

It's ancient school, narrow minded, and just F'n stupid.

---

Yes be more like Bama and Ohio State. They do not have such a game...

---

Every team in America has that game.
Some see it as 1 of 12, or hopefully 1 of 16.

Others see it as the sole barometer for the entire 12, and a stain on the potential +4.
And thats idiotic.

---

I think we are basically saying the same thing. Maybe I misread your tone. I hate we lost to tu. I am grateful for the success we had this year. While the tu game hurt, it did not tank the season (for me). Im excited to watch the Ags in the CFP. That said, the tu game is big and we should play it every damn year! It does matter and should be elevetaed on the schedule.

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No worries. It's just black and white text, so it's easy for things to get twisted up.
Plus i'm not exactly proofreading and mulling it over 5x before posting it, so i get it.

Now if you can just start READING it the way I'm MEANING it, there won't be any issues!

Stein it is. It looks like they had it set up before Stoops was officially fired.

BREAKING: Kentucky is hiring Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein, @PeteNakos & @clowfb report😼https://t.co/NEjXV6SXc4 pic.twitter.com/REMU95GtBd

— On3 (@On3sports) December 2, 2025

Imagine firing Mark Stoops with that record and owing him $38 million (no offset or anything)……. that takes a lot of $$ away from bouncy ball.

Personally I think UK is over estimating themselves in football and overall Stoops did as well there as could reasonably be expected. Just because they are an SEC team does not mean they can compete in football like any SEC team. A UK Coach going to bowls and finishing 7-5 or 8-4 with an occasional 9-3 seems like the ceiling, and they don't need to be paying top 25 salary for that. They do not have the facilities, recruiting base, resources or fan support to expect any more than that IMHO.

I would have thought that about Indiana but look at them now

Jarrin Jay said:

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Imagine firing Mark Stoops with that record and owing him $38 million (no offset or anything)……. that takes a lot of $$ away from bouncy ball.

Personally I think UK is over estimating themselves in football and overall Stoops did as well there as could reasonably be expected. Just because they are an SEC team does not mean they can compete in football like any SEC team. A UK Coach going to bowls and finishing 7-5 or 8-4 with an occasional 9-3 seems like the ceiling, and they don't need to be paying top 25 salary for that. They do not have the facilities, recruiting base, resources or fan support to expect any more than that IMHO.

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Vandy would like a word with you, sir....

Jarrin Jay said:

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Imagine firing Mark Stoops with that record and owing him $38 million (no offset or anything)……. that takes a lot of $$ away from bouncy ball.

Personally I think UK is over estimating themselves in football and overall Stoops did as well there as could reasonably be expected. Just because they are an SEC team does not mean they can compete in football like any SEC team. A UK Coach going to bowls and finishing 7-5 or 8-4 with an occasional 9-3 seems like the ceiling, and they don't need to be paying top 25 salary for that. They do not have the facilities, recruiting base, resources or fan support to expect any more than that IMHO.

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I know nothing about Kentucky's particular situation but I think this sentiment is no longer generally true. If you have big money alum, then you can get good immediately. See Texas Tech, Indiana....hell see us. We bought 2 badass WRs and it completely changed our offense.

I personally think Arkansas is the next sleeping giant in college football if their money decides to get involved. You have the Walton Family, the Jones Family, and JB Hunt money. They get involved and Arkansas could buy everyone.

YouBet said:

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Jarrin Jay said:

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Imagine firing Mark Stoops with that record and owing him $38 million (no offset or anything)……. that takes a lot of $$ away from bouncy ball.

Personally I think UK is over estimating themselves in football and overall Stoops did as well there as could reasonably be expected. Just because they are an SEC team does not mean they can compete in football like any SEC team. A UK Coach going to bowls and finishing 7-5 or 8-4 with an occasional 9-3 seems like the ceiling, and they don't need to be paying top 25 salary for that. They do not have the facilities, recruiting base, resources or fan support to expect any more than that IMHO.

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I know nothing about Kentucky's particular situation but I think this sentiment is no longer generally true. If you have big money alum, then you can get good immediately. See Texas Tech, Indiana....hell see us. We bought 2 badass WRs and it completely changed our offense.

I personally think Arkansas is the next sleeping giant in college football if their money decides to get involved. You have the Walton Family, the Jones Family, and JB Hunt money. They get involved and Arkansas could buy everyone.

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Tend to agree, sort of.

Got VanHorn for baseball.
Got Calipari for basketball.

But of all the available candidates, not to mention the time that's passed since firing Tittsman….they settle for the dude at Memphis?? WTF?

I've been hoping to see Mike Gundy again UK sounds like it would've a perfect pairing. They are going to be searching at the worst time. I know nothing of Stein.

I think Stoops knew he had a good deal (buyout) waiting for him - and has been ready to join his brother in a nice retirement. Not a shocker he volunteered to get that 38 million buyout over an extended period of time.

I don't think he was shocked at all to be "let go".

Indiana and Vandy stepped up their NIL to a degree to transform their teams overall or just with targeted players, Kentucky has not.

Agree Pig COULD be a much better and bigger program with the right coach and super charging their NIL. Really any program can, but between WM and Tyson they could direct that $$ to NIL not just facilities. Perhaps the biggest thing would be to get Jerry Jones to be their Cody Campbell if he cared enough.

TexasAggiesWin said:

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Anyone associated with Stoops coming to Aggieland should be (and should have been) removed from any position of responsibility within the Aggie athletic department. Thank goodness he was not hired

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What's scary is we would have had to pay him more than we ended up paying Elko. Stoops had just signed a new contract with Kentucky for $9 million when we tried to poach him and he would likely have expected a raise to make the jump.

TxAg76 said:

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agwrestler said:

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TxAg76 said:

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AGinHI said:

---

#1AG777 said:

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He played tu better than we did.

---

What is Texas to Kentucky? No different than Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee. Just another game.

Despite a 12 year hiatus and what we tell ourselves, beating Texas is our end all and be all.

---

….and it needs to stop.
We're not gonna evolve into a championship caliber program until we start prioritizing the word National over what's 90 miles away.

It's ancient school, narrow minded, and just F'n stupid.

---

Dumb argument. IF we'd taken care of the problem 90 miles away, we'd be sitting on a first round bye, with an extra week of recovery and preparation.

NOW IF, we'd won, then acted content because we beat Texas, then promptly lost in the Semifinals your statement makes sense.

---

Our fanbase is littered with those who would absolutely prefer the latter. They'd rather go 1-11 so long as we beat t.u., instead of winning a Natty and having t.u. as the only loss.
And it blows my F'n mind.

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Who are these people cause I don't see them. But to think a win or loss to Miss. St is the same as a win or loss to tu blows my mind.