Former UK All-American punter Max Duffy says coach Mark Stoops is obsessed with coffee and has to constantly shake his cup of coffee like he did at Monday's press conference. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops gave former UK All-American punter Max Duffy quite a scare earlier this summer.
“Coach Stoops loves his coffee,” said Duffy. “I pulled into Starbucks and almost ran over him because he was so busy looking at his coffee.
“I was scared that I almost killed the head coach and ruined the season and I looked and he thought it was funny.”
That’s the kind of stories that Duffy and former UK kicker Miles Butler share on their new podcast, “Pin It Deep.” The two former Cats have already had center Luke Fortner and running back Chris Rodriguez as guests on the weekly podcast that can be found by subscribing to Kentucky Sports Radio on Apple Podcasts or stream on Spotify.
“One of the best things about the podcast is being able to give insights on Stoops’ mannerisms,” Duffy said on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports. “One obsession he has is coffee. He gets a cup and stares at it all day while shaking it. No spoon. He thinks he has to do it (stir the coffee) with his hand.”
I asked Stoops Monday at his weekly press conference if Duffy had the story accurate about almost hitting him at Starbucks.
“I gotta listen to this podcast,” Stoops laughed and said. “I’m going to have a talk with Max. There’s some things that are between he and I and he’s sharing to the world.
“I think he’s a bit of a storyteller, so I’m going to have a talk with him. I’m going to jump on his podcast and straighten him out a little bit.”
Not a denial by Stoops about the Starbucks story, so I am going to believe Duffy’s version and hope that the UK coach really will join the former punter on his podcast at least once this season.
2 Responses
A few years ago, on a Sunday, after a game,after leaving a meeting next door to the stadium, as I pulled out of the stadium parking lot, i spotted a lone figure walking across the road from the Seton fields and it was Coach Stoops. I stopped and rolled down the passenger side window. At a loss for words I said "Is your name Mark?" He said yes and we had a brief conversation about the team and the game. I was just so impressed that he would stop and speak with me. He is a helluva coach and most importantly, he gets good coaches around him. JMO!
Great story Tom. Thanks for sharing