‘We played it our way … that’s a dirty game.’ Mark Stoops breaks down UK’s win at Ole Miss.

Here’s everything Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said after his Wildcats defeated the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels 20-17 on Saturday in Oxford, Mississippi.

Opening statement:

“Obviously, could not be more proud of our team. … I told you I thought our team grew between Week 2 and Week 3. We came up short, again we’re looking to play to win, but you played a great team, and we improved. Week 4, I thought, again, we went out and did what we had to do. The guys kept on fighting. The coaches were good, and then this week, we needed to be better. We needed to continue to just be that much better, to go beat a ranked team on the road and a great football team that’s super well coached, that I have a ton of respect for.

“We played it our way. It was ... that’s a dirty game. I mean, just in just a hard fought, tough game, and just proud of our coaches for staying the course. And it’s not just coach speak when I say that. Our coaches have stayed the course. Our players have stayed the course, and that we’ve gotten better each week. And we needed to go play very well this week, and we did that. So I’m just proud. We’re getting better. We still will improve, but I thought the areas, the critical moments, the critical downs that I always talk about, we made some critical plays and some critical downs. The O-line protected better. We got the ball down the field better. We weren’t sloppy with the football. We needed to turn them over. There’s a big discrepancy when they turn it over and when they don’t. And so, just proud. Couldn’t be more proud of the effort. I know it’s one game, but it’s important because of the work that’s been going in for a long time. So proud for our fan base. They deserved a win like that. We’ve been close a lot. And, we’re very proud to get the victory.”

On going for it on fourth-and-7:

“It was a tough call. Your analytics will tell you to punt it. I felt like they were going to be very aggressive and we’d get a one-on-one. And Barion (Brown) made a great play. And I felt like at that moment, where they were at, the way we were playing. In the red zone, we had been playing pretty good. So if they get it there, there’s really not going to be much time off the clock. And we could try to hold them to three. And one of the reasons, I felt like we can get a one on one. And so went for one.”

On what he’s thinking as the ball is in the air on the goal line:

“That was huge to get that, to get the recovery. The ball to bounce our way once. We got to be smarter with the football. … I mean, you got to be smart with the ball on first down. And we left them plenty of time. Believe me, we are trying to score, but if we scored on third down it would have made life easier for us.”

On connection between Brock Vandagriff and Dane Key over the middle:

“We’ve run that a lot. A lot of different ways. It was there. Felt like it could have been there once or twice later. They did a nice job adjusting. … The biggest thing for us, I told them at halftime that we got to continue to get those nasty, dirty runs. We got to get 3 (yards). We got to get to 2, 3, 4, 5. That sets up everything else. And so I thought Bush (Hamdan) was aggressive, plenty aggressive enough and kept them off balance. I think the one series that was critical, I think we threw it three times in a row. We had the poke, we had the play pass open, got just tipped on that possession prior to our last one. It was going to be a big hit, and it just, I mean, just barely got tipped. So I thought he called a really good game. And Coach (Brad) White and the staff just all those guys, they did one heck of a job.”

On JQ Hardaway bouncing back from a mistake to force the fumble:

“I think it just says a lot about him. Just keep on playing. We’ve talked about that all week. Just just grind out, win your one-on-ones. They’re going to win some. We got to win some as well.”

On how hard it is to do what Kentucky’s defense did against Ole Miss:

“It was very hard. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Lane and their system and their players, just what they’ve done. This league is difficult, if you haven’t noticed. It’s very hard. You don’t understand what it takes, our players what it takes for them to put into this, the investment that they make. And that’s why the losses are hard and the wins are so gratifying. But our players invested a lot. A couple weeks ago when we went down to the wire and lost to No. 1. But we’ve invested a lot, and they’ve stayed the course. And for us to play that way defensively, just took a total team effort. I thought our offense controlled the ball. Our defense got stops, some big stops and big plays. We had to win some one-on-ones, but that’s a tough offense. They’re gonna roll a lot of people and score a lot of points, but we played really well.”

On if the Georgia fourth-down decision was on his mind today:

“I had it in my mind right from the game plan. So wasn’t just at the end. With this style, with this offense, I knew I had to try to steal one. Instead of a fake punt, something. I mean, I just felt like I had to steal one, a possession or two. We went for it early. I thought that was a little bit risky. We were back all the way on the 30, but it was only a half yard. We got that. Think we got a fourth-and-1 or 2 with the toss. So it wasn’t just up the middle to keep them a little bit honest, a little bit off balance, but I’ve told Bush all week to have critical third downs, critical fourth downs. And he did a really good job. We had more plays in there in critical moments.”

On Barion Brown bouncing back from unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to make the big catch:

“That just shows his maturity. I mean, no, we don’t want that. I mean it’s totally unacceptable. He knows that, but a year ago, maybe he wouldn’t have bounced back like he did when people get on him, when people talk to him and coach him. He wanted to come back and make a play for his team. He did. Just proud of him for responding. Not proud of the penalty.”

On Deone Walker affecting Ole Miss:

“I agree. I thought the only bad play of his, critical play, we might have iced it, he was offsides on the third that we got the fumble. That was critical. He knows that, but he’s just trying to make a play. He’s smart. We know that. We coach the heck out of that. We know we’ve been hit on it, and obviously, if we’re hit on it, they’re going to keep on doing it. So we have to just keep on pushing and being smart. But he was very disruptive. It seemed like to me, it seemed like early, I think he drew a hold or two. Felt like they were holding the heck out of him, but very disruptive guy.”

On responding to adversity today after not being happy with the response in the South Carolina game:

“Yeah, it doesn’t surprise me. The way we’ve been since that game. And you know, when I talked to you, I did tell you after that game because I tell you the truth how I feel, but I told you also on Monday that I was wrong about the effort. It was execution, and that’s all we’ve been talking about. Our players want to play hard and they want to win always. Like I tell them and I told you, everybody wants to win on Saturday. You have to get better. That’s not just coach speak like that. Was just messy play (against South Carolina). It was just messy. It was just messy. And that’s a direct reflection on me, and that hurt bad. I don’t want to be looked at that way. I don’t want our teams to look like that. We may win and we may lose, but we’re gonna play the game the right way.”

On what he thought when the ball was in the air on fourth down:

“I saw him open, so I was just, I was praying, I guess. No, I felt good about it. I saw him open. On the field goal try I turned around to Brad, and I think I took my headset off. I told him, I said, ‘Man, we’re due one.’ I mean, like we’re due. Like we’re due for a block or a miss. I mean, it’s our time. Sure enough, it happens. So, very blessed, very fortunate, and great win for everybody.”

On if he’s more comfortable crowd surfing now:

“You saw that already? Goes quick. Yeah, I tried to tuck my shirt. I’m probably a little more sore.”

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