Kentucky coach Rich Brooks matter of fact about Tennessee spying comment
For a while this week, it seemed as though the SEC might have its own version of Spygate. But Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said Wednesday that comments he made questioning whether Tennessee coaches helped Middle Tennessee steal the Wildcats’ sideline signals on Saturday have been overblown.
“I think there are some people who might have been on that staff or knew people on that staff; that’s the only reason I made that comment,” Brooks said Wednesday. “That doesn’t bother me.”
The Kentucky coach told the Lexington Herald-Leader after Saturday’s surprisingly difficult 20-14 win over Middle Tennessee that he believed the Blue Raiders were stealing the Wildcats’ sideline signals and may have gotten some help from Tennessee. He said he thought the Vols also had stolen signs last year in a 52-50 four-overtime win over the Wildcats.
Brooks said Wednesday, however, that stealing signals is part of the game — unless videotaping is involved, as was alleged of the New England Patriots in the NFL’s Spygate controversy.
“I think most coaches have someone trying to look at the opposing signal-callers, whether it’s somebody from the box or the sideline or both,” Brooks said. “That happens. That’s why sometimes you have to have more than one person signal or change your signals from time to time.”
Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill has denied trying to steal Kentucky’s signals and Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer said Wednesday that he has no knowledge of anyone on his staff discussing the issue with Middle Tennessee coaches.
“Coaches talk all the time,” Fulmer said. “You call the opponents you play, if you don’t play them every year, and try to get anything they saw about your team, as far as formations or splits, personnel groupings, anything you can get. I assume everybody does that. But we haven’t talked to MTSU that I know of.”
al.com
9/18/08
