You will never get the truth out of a college football coach at a press conference especially when discussing personnel and depth chart scenarios coming out of spring practice heading into the off season and four months away from their first game .
So don't even ask Mark Stoops or Neal Brown because they will give you all the politically correct answers , yet , they have to deal with the QB questions after every practice and especially last saturdays annual blue - white scrimmage . Anyone who was their saw how Jalen Whitlow put some separation between himself and fellow sophomores Maxwell Smith and Patrick Towles . Whitlow a true multi purpose QB who can beat you with his arm and legs did a little bit of everything in the scrimmage .
His numbers ( 17 - 28 no picks for 193 yards and 2 touchdown passes plus he gained 58 yards on 7 rushing attempts ) don't lie it is what it is ......... he has to be in the lead after saturday's performance .
The question is how will Mark Stoops and this new staff evaluate or consider the impact of the info they will get fed to them this summer during the 7 on 7 pass skeletons and drill sessions the players are all required to go thru at the Nutter Training Complex .
The other two sophomore QB's had their moments in saturday's controlled scrimmage just not as many passing attempts as Whitlow which was a little out of the norm for what the coaches had been predicting the last three weeks which was that all three QB's would get equal reps with the # 1 offense . Smith and Towles both had special stretches during the scrimmage with completions to several different receivers and at least one TD a piece .
It will be an interesting summer at the Nutter Training complex and then a very special pre season camp in August with (3) equally talented in their on way QB's vying for the # 1 position .
One thing is for sure all three QB's are way to talented to carry a clipboard up and down the sideline for 12 games this fall , something has got to give and more than likely since they're all three sophomores at least one will bail out and transfer just prior to the WKU opener .
Kudos to the UKAA people responsible for the tweaks and perks added to this years Blue - White spring game . The sideline interviews shown on the jumbotron video screens with former UK football icons like Tim Couch conducted by WKYT's Brian Milam were very interesting and a special treat during time outs and between quarters . UK officials would be smart by incorporating the youthful looking and immensely talented Milam into their FOOTBALL GAME DAY more beginning this fall .
UK officials estimated over 50,000 of Big Blue Nation's finest showed up for the coronation of Mark Stoops and his staff saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium . Still can't quite figure it out but I seen it with my own eyes and I'm still somewhat mystied by the reception Stoops has been given and created by the fan base .
Did the UK football fan base feel the Joker Phillips era was doomed for whatever the reason before it ever really got started and just plain ecstatic they were forced out of town or is the Stoops family legacy causing this new intoxicating effect on the Commonwealth's football pedigree .
Regardless of the reasons the Stoops hiring has created a new outlook and image on UK football from the national and statewide media that covers college football . Here are a few quotes from the last few months by recognized media from across the nation :
"He has great pedigree being a Stoops brother and the fact that he has worked with some great head coaches helps his cause . I think he is ready to be a head coach and he was a great choice form Kentucky in my opinion . " ESPN Analyst - Kirk Herbstreit
"I think he is one of the big reasons of the turnaround at Florida State . He's just done a fantastic job . I think Jimbo Fischer himself will tell you he is the biggest reason for the Seminole's return to the elite of college football . " Legendary Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden
"The more I learn about the youngest of the three college coaching Stoops brothers the more I like . At espn.com we rated Stoops as the 2nd best coaching hire of NCAA football in 2012 . I really like the way he's gone about hiring a young but well respected staff . " Travis Haney - espn.com
