Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops absolutely derailed Tennessee’s third and final season under Jeremy Pruitt when his Wildcats shredded the No. 18 Volunteers 34-7 inside Neyland Stadium on Oct. 17.
The Vols quickly disappeared from the national rankings and stumbled to a 3-7 record.
During his appearance Tuesday on Kentucky Sports Radio, Stoops was asked about Tennessee’s decision to terminate Pruitt due to an internal investigation that has uncovered multiple NCAA Level I and Level II violations, according to Tennessee chancellor Donde Plowman. Pruitt’s dismissal was announced Monday afternoon by Plowman, university president Randy Boyd and Vols athletic director Phillip Fulmer and became effective Tuesday afternoon.
“I’ve got to be careful in my response,” Stoops said. “Did I see it coming? Yes. I’m grateful it came.
“Does it surprise me? Not one bit.”