Mark Stoops (SEC Photo)
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops would not say it was unfair to criticize Eddie Gran, his offensive coordinator. But before that gives fuel to an anti-Gran movement over UK’s anemic offense most of this season, he also would not say it was fair to criticize Gran.
“It goes with the territory,” Stoops said Wednesday when asked if the Gran criticism was fair. “Fair or not, it is not for me to say.
“That is never going to change. We understand that goes with the job. We accept some of the criticism and take responsibility.”
Stoops said Gran himself would say UK’s poor offense is on him and would take responsibility for getting it fixed. The Cats did not get a touchdown in last week’s 14-3 loss to Georgia and had just one in a 20-10 loss to Missouri a week earlier.
“My job as the head coach is to make sure all aspects of the program are moving forward,” Stoops said. “We are certainly falling short in a few areas there and that needs to be addressed.”
Stoops repeated it was not for him to say if the criticism of Gran — and indirectly of him since he is the head coach — is fair or not fair because college coaches understand that comes with the job.
“We just need to concentrate on ourselves to get better,” Stoops said.
Going into the game with Vanderbilt Nov. 15 after this week’s bye, I think every UK fan would agree that the offense has to dramatically improve the final four games.
“I can promise you Eddie is a big boy,” Stoops said. “He has coached in this league. I can promise you nothing is going to rattle him or me.”
