Eric Wolford’s return is messy, but it’s the right move for Kentucky football

Random notes:

Eric Wolford didn’t leave the Kentucky football program on the best of terms. When Will Muschamp was fired at South Carolina, Stoops brought Wolford to UK as offensive line coach for the 2021 season. A year later, Wolford jumped to Alabama. Worse, he took Vanderbilt transfer Tyler Steen with him. That’s the same Steen who started games this season as an offensive tackle for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.

Little wonder Wolford’s return to the Wildcats hasn’t exactly been received with open arms by all UK faithful. After Nick Saban retired and Alabama hired ex-Washington coach Kalen DeBoer as head coach, Wolford was available for hire. Having mended fences with his Youngstown friend, Mark Stoops cleared a spot for Wolford on UK’s staff.

Stoops did so by cutting loose Zach Yenser. UK’s offensive line coach the past two seasons, Zenser had just received a contract extension. An awkward situation, no doubt. And you wonder what kind of effect the sudden change will have on the chemistry in the coaches’ room.

Then again, Wolford is a good coach and recruiter. He proved that on the 2021 UK team that won 10 games, including the Citrus Bowl. He proved that on the recruiting trail by bringing in two of UK’s best players, defensive lineman Deone Walker and wide receiver Barion Brown. Stoops’ responsibility is to assemble the best staff with the best coaches’ possible.

Reminds me of what I heard an NFL player say once: The best position coach is the position coach who helps a player improve.

▪ South Carolina isn’t just for women’s basketball anymore. The USC men’s team could not have had a better week. First the Gamecocks beat then No. 6 Kentucky 79-62 in Columbia last Tuesday. This Tuesday, Lamont Paris’ team beat No. 5-ranked Tennessee 63-59 in Knoxville. Paris can coach.

▪ The win at Thompson-Boling was USC’s first road win over a Top 5 team since Eddie Fogler’s Gamecocks beat Rick Pitino and No. 3 Kentucky 72-66 on March 2, 1997 in the regular-season finale at Rupp Arena. I remember that game well. UK planned a post-game awards ceremony in front of the home crowd. Once the Cats lost, Pitino abruptly canceled that plan.

▪ Ta’Lon Cooper scored a team-high 18 points for South Carolina in the win at Tennessee. In case you’ve forgotten, Cooper played his first three seasons at Morehead State before transferring to Minnesota last year. As a grad transfer, he’s averaging 10.3 points per game for the Gamecocks this season.

▪ Tennessee football is reportedly being investigated by the NCAA for NIL violations. Question No. 1: Are there such things as NIL violations? Question No. 2: Considering the time the NCAA has spent investigating Tennessee athletic programs lately, might the governing body relocate headquarters from Indianapolis to Knoxville? (Wish I could take credit for that line, but I can’t.)

▪ Our man Corey Price informs us that Mike Edwards is the fourth former UK football player to reach the Super Bowl with two different teams. The Kansas City Chiefs safety was a starter on Tampa Bay’s 2021 Super Bowl champions. The previous three were Marc Logan (Bengals and 49ers), Derrick Ramsey (Raiders and Patriots) and Jacob Tamme (Falcons and Broncos).

▪ Not sure which I am enjoying more, watching Taylor Swift at all of Travis Kelce’s games, or listening to people complain about seeing Taylor Swift at all of Travis Kelce’s games.

▪ These days, Louisville basketball is nothing if not consistent. The Cardinals scored 13 points in the first half last Saturday against Virginia. The Cards scored 22 points in the first half on Tuesday at Clemson.

▪ I’m looking forward to watching Dalton Knecht play in person on Saturday. A transfer from Northern Colorado, the Tennessee star is averaging 31.8 points per game over his last six games. He’s scored 30-or-more points five times this season. As of Jan. 24, the Ringer had Knecht as the 15th pick in the website’s 2024 NBA Draft mock.

▪ I’m sure ESPN won’t say much about it, but Duke plays at North Carolina on Saturday. When will that game receive the recognition the rivalry deserves?

New Wildcats quarterback Cutter Boley has a Kentucky football legend to lean on for advice

Liam Coen set to return to Kentucky after Chicago Bears make offensive coordinator hire

After two slowdown games, Kentucky basketball must shift gears in rematch with Florida

Kentucky basketball returns home this week. That doesn’t mean the schedule is easier.

Bob Baffert says he is not transferring horses for this year’s Kentucky Derby