Mark Stoops met with Kentucky media Saturday afternoon, following the second scrimmage of camp.
The UK coach was asked about his comments at SEC Media Days in July, where he appeared to take a shot at South Carolina coach Shane Beamer when talking about changing the culture and climate of a program.
“I think ultimately it’s about the respect throughout the league when you’re dealing with coaches and players,” Stoops said during an interview with Marty and McGee at SEC Media Days in July. Win or lose, you walk out you know you’re going to be in for a physical matchup. You know that we’re coming to play, we’re coming to compete and having that mindset. That’s not easy to change. I’ve talked years and years ago about climate vs. culture. It’s easy to change a climate. You just change a uniform, talk a little game, dance around, put on some stupid sunglasses, and you can change a climate. But to change a culture is at the core. I’m quite certain we’ve changed our culture.”
Beamer was asked about Stoops’ comments on Friday and had the following response.
“I saw it. We worry about what we can control and worry about our own program,” Beamer said. “I think it’s evident to people who follow this program day in and day out how strong the culture and the environment is here in our program. More and more people are finding that out, for sure.”
Stoops says the comments had nothing to do with Beamer or the South Carolina program.
“It had nothing to do with Shane Beamer,” Stoops said Saturday. “It had to do with me when I got here. I was the one that changed the helmets, and I wore a blue-collar shirt into meetings, and I wore a hard hat. I did anything I could. I was talking about me. It had nothing to do with Shane Beamer. I like Shane.”
Kentucky and South Carolina will play at Kroger Field on Saturday, October 8.
