Terry Wilson (SEC Photo)
Almost as soon as the SEC Network coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky-Tennessee game started it seemed like Tom Hart and Jordan Rogers couldn’t wait to note that UK coach Mark Stoops indicated that he might go to backup quarterback Joey Gatewood. Stoops had insisted during his time with UK media members last week that Terry Wilson remained his No. 1 quarterback despite last week’s subpar play against Mississippi State. When UK’s offense sputtered early, the SEC Network crew basically started the Gatewood watch.
But Stoops stayed the course with Wilson, he got way better the second half and UK won 34-7 for its first win in Knoxville since 1984.
Stoops said after the game it “wasn’t accurate at all” that Wilson was in danger of losing his job.
“Terry is our starting quarterback. That’s how we went into it,” Stoops said. “If he didn’t play well or played bad, we have other guys to go to. No different than any other position. I do not want that overblown. Guys have pressure on them every day to keep their job.
“I have a lot of confidence in Terry. He’s our starter. If he played really bad, he could be replaced just like any of us. (UK athletics director) Mitch (Barnhart) is standing right there, He is ready to replace me … not today.”
It was that kind of day for UK where everyone could smile and joke after the defense set the tone in the first half with three interceptions and a fumble recovery and then the offense got untracked in the second half.
Wilson didn’t pat himself on the back after the win. He rated his play as “pretty good” overall but that was it.
“I could have come out a little bit more decisive on my reads, just seeing things,” Wilson said. “I missed a few pulls on zone reads but we got it corrected. I knew the second half we needed to play lights out and just trust my eyes and what I see.”
