Beau Allen (Vicky Graff Photo)
For several weeks Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has indicated he wanted to see true freshman quarterback Beau Allen play. With Kentucky’s struggles to establish a passing game, Kentucky fans wanted to see Allen play even more than Stoops did.
Stoops and the fans both finally got their chance Saturday during Kentucky’s 38-35 win over Vanderbilt. Starting quarterback Terry Wilson was so good this game — — he threw for 110 yards and two scores while completing 13 of 15 passes and ran seven times for 83 yards and another score — that Stoops felt comfortable enough to play Allen.
The UK coach even went to Allen before giving Auburn transfer Joey Gatewood, who started the previous game against Georgia, a chance to play.
Not only did Allen play, Stoops let him throw the ball. He was 3-for-5 for 40 yards. He hit his first three passes while looking poised and confident in the pocket just like he did when he threw for over 11,000 yards at Lexington Catholic High School.
“I felt like it is really important to get Beau in the game. Instead of going to our normal ground and pound, and we felt like we probably could have done that obviously to play — you know, the series before we ripped off a big run and were getting physical and starting to run,” Stoops said after the game.
“I felt like it was important for our program, important to give Beau some reps and throw the ball around a little bit. We’re not in that opportunity too many times. Certainly I didn’t want to get it that close and probably would’ve been crucified had they got that on-side kick and come back.”
Probably crucified? Make that definitely crucified after Vandy cut a 17-point lead to only three because UK’s backup defenders gave up two scoring drives.
But what Stoops did with Allen was send a message to not only UK fans but also UK recruits with the December signing period drawing near. Kentucky has some big-time receivers verbally committed along with Somerset quarterback Kaiya Sheron. Maybe they need to see UK throwing the ball around as much as UK fans did.
“I want to continue to push the program forward, so I did feel like the game was in control. I would’ve liked for our backups on defense to play a little better late in that game. And for us to have to go back and put some starters back in and try to preserve the victory, wasn’t real pleased with the end in particular defensively,” Stoops said.
“But, again, felt like it was important just to get guys snaps and throw the football and not just go in to kill the clock and ground and pound. If we would’ve done that, I felt like obviously we could have probably cut into that — the way they come back there at the end, could have killed some more clock. So part of that is on me.
“Again, in the long run, getting the victory and getting Beau some snaps and getting Joey some snaps, it was important.”
