Over the short term, I would argue Mark Stoops was the winner in the public dust-up with John Calipari that followed last month’s “basketball school” imbroglio.
A Basketball Hall of Famer and a national championship-winning coach, Calipari is more famous on a national level than Stoops. So when the UK football coach stood up to the UK men’s basketball coach after Calipari made what could be considered condescending remarks toward Kentucky football, Stoops gave fans nationwide a reason to re-evaluate their presumptions about his program.
Stoops also ensured that a whole lot of eyes outside the commonwealth will be following UK football this fall. For at least three reasons, I believe the Kentucky football season that will officially kick off Saturday at 7 p.m. vs. Miami (Ohio) at Kroger Field will be the most-nationally scrutinized season in program history:
