Kentucky HC Mark Stoops complained to the SEC about Tennessee after Wildcats' loss to the Vols
Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops said on Wednesday during his appearance on the SEC coaches teleconference that he contacted the SEC about that happened during his team's loss to the Tennessee Vols last weekend. Stoops wasn't happy with an incident that happened between Vols defensive lineman Omar Norman-Lott and Wildcats quarterback Brock Vandagriff. During […]
Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops said on Wednesday during his appearance on the SEC coaches teleconference that he contacted the SEC about that happened during his team's loss to the Tennessee Vols last weekend.
Stoops wasn't happy with an incident that happened between Vols defensive lineman Omar Norman-Lott and Wildcats quarterback Brock Vandagriff.
During a play in the first quarter, Vandagriff took off running and as he went out of bounds, his momentum carried him toward Norman-Lott, who was watching the play from the sideline. Norman-Lott stuck his hands up to stop Vandagriff from running into him, which resulted in the Kentucky quarterback falling to the ground.
“It is something I sent into the SEC office,” said Stoops. “That’s it. I can’t even tell you what was said or the information that I got back. I’ll just say, in general, not about that player but in general, there is no place for anybody striking anybody in the head at any place. Before after, during, anytime during a game.”
There's no doubt that Norman-Lott and the Vols are lucky that a flag wasn't thrown there. But that's also a play that looks a lot worse in slow motion.
Norman-Lott appeared to extend his hands a bit, which initiated the contact with Vandagriff. It's worth pointing out, however, that we have seen numerous instances of players crashing into various personnel on the sidelines over the years, resulting in serious injuries. I'm not saying that Norman-Lott was in danger of injury in that moment, or that he couldn't have simply moved out of the way as Vandagriff approached the sidelined, but it's still something that could've gone through his mind in the moment.
Fortunately for Vandagriff, no one was hurt. And fortunately for the Vols, no flag was thrown (though I'm sure Tennessee's coaches will make sure that players know what to do in that situation in the future).
Norman-Lott shouldn't have extended his hands in that situation. But at the same time, suggesting that Norman-Lott was "striking" Vandagriff in the head is a bit strong from Mark Stoops.
