Last year was the fourth consecutive disappointing season for Mark Stoops, with losses piling up against programs like South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Auburn. Naturally, the head coach is entering the 2025 season on a hot seat, with rumors that the $37 million buyout wouldn’t be able to save him. Now, six months into 2025, Stoops has lost his tight ends coach, Vince Marrow, who was in Kentucky from 2013. Losing such an experienced figure is bad in itself. What made it worse is the fact that Marrow is joining Kentucky’s rival, Louisville, as their general manager.

Fondly known as ‘Big Dawg,’ Vince Marrow was an influential figure for Kentucky Football. The man, in his 12 years at the program, brought in a recruiting revamp, shifted focus to in-state recruiting, and led the Wildcats to six top-30 recruiting classes. For instance, Morrow, being a Youngstown, Ohio native, opened a pipeline into recruiting from the state and brought in some of the best players. Lynn Bowden Jr., Benny Snell, Wan’Dale Robinson, Josh Allen, and Mike Edwards came in, bolstering the squad. The addition of these players showed just how important the guy was. But now everything has changed as Marrow went to Louisville to become their GM.

The Governor’s Cup is probably one of the most heated rivalries in college football, with Kentucky leading 18-15 since its inception in 1994. The rivalry is so intense that it has also boiled over to recruitment battles, and Marrow himself commented in 2019, “They know I know what they’ve been saying (to Kentucky’s commitments).” Now that Marrow has decided to join Jeff Brohm’s camp, accusations of betrayal have emerged. But for Marrow, it’s all good.

In his first comments since the move, Vince Marrow talked about why he took up the opportunity to join Jeff Brohm’s program at Louisville. “I am incredibly excited to work with Jeff Brohm and the University of Louisville football program! Jeff and I have known each other for over 25 years, I have always admired and respected him and the Brohm family,” Marrow said. “I also love the state of Kentucky, this has become my home. The opportunity to take on this new and exciting role, in the state where I have so many incredible relationships, was something that I couldn’t pass up.”

The former assistant coach on Mark Stoops’ staff also talked about the Kentucky head coach. “I also want to thank the University of Kentucky, Mark Stoops, the administration, and the fans. I have made lifelong friendships during my time in the UK, and I have every desire to keep those relationships. That is one of the reasons I wanted to stay in this state. My hope is that I left the Kentucky football program in a better position than when we started. I will always be grateful for my time there,” Pete Thamel relayed Marrow’s statement on X. However, behind the praise lies another reality.

While Marrow might be singing praises for Mark Stoops and Kentucky, a different scenario unfolded in the background. Matt Jones of ESPN posted on X that the now-Cardinals GM didn’t notify Kentucky of the move, as it came out of the blue. The program, according to Matt Jones, only found out about the move when Pete Thamel tweeted about it yesterday. Undoubtedly, the GM contract might be more lucrative than the $1.3 million per year he was earning. But for the fans? Joining the Cardinals would be nothing less than a cardinal sin!

The Kentucky head coach finally opens up on the move?

After the departure of Marrow, the most probable casualty will be Mark Stoops. The Wildcats finished their last season with an unacceptable 4-8 record, which was even worse than their 2023 record, where they went 7-6. So, the 2025 season would be a make-or-break season for Stoops, and with the departure of his longtime tight ends coach? The chances are not looking good.

“We’re thankful for Coach Vince Marrow’s contributions to our program over the past 12 years. As we look to the new season and a new era of college football, we’re focused on the opportunities at hand. We will continue to build a roster and staff that balances talent, experience, maturity, physicality, and the attitude it takes to win in the nation’s most competitive conference. I wish my friend and colleague nothing but the best,” said Stoops.

The Wildcats’ schedule pits them against opponents like Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee. Other opponents like Ole Miss, South Carolina, and the Cardinals themselves wouldn’t be easy either. Despite these odds, the head coach wished good luck to his longtime pal. On the surface, everything may seem fine now, but with just 77 miles separating Louisville and Kentucky, the old wounds would surely surface time and again. Also, there is the fear that Marrow will take their recruiting secrets to Louisville, which can negatively affect Kentucky. For now, everything seems good; only time will tell what is in the grudge bag.