:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68466832/eddie_gran_2.0.0.jpg)
The Kentucky Wildcats finished the 2020 regular season with a 4-6 record after their 41-18 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday.
However, 2020 was filled with challenging times for the Cats both on and off the field leaving fans frustrated at times.
Focusing with the on-field issues, the offense was very bad for most of the season and showed that the passing attack was nonexistent.
Some of the play calls that were made left people scratching their heads and resulted in a lot of games with very few total offensive yards.
On Sunday, it was announced that head coach Mark Stoops has decided that the best course of action would be to let OC Eddie Gran and QB coach Darin Hinshaw go.
This tells us that Stoops recognizes the offensive issues and believes the best thing to do is move on to someone else that is going to open up the offense a lot more.
This is also a message to future recruits that Kentucky is going to be changing their offensive look and lets them know it won’t be the same going forward.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the news:
Eddie Gran and Darin Hinshaw out at UK https://t.co/kdCk3m9sMY
— A Sea of Blue (@ASeaOfBlue) December 6, 2020
Lot of bright spots from the Gran and Hinshaw era. Could be five straight bowls, three Top-10 rushers in program history, best rushing games in program history. After 0-2 start two-star JUCO QB guided UK to b2b bowl games, Lynn Bowden QB success.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) December 6, 2020
Eddie Gran is a good guy. Was gracious with his time as a guest on The Take and was always interesting to talk to. I hope he lands on his feet soon.
— Round Daddy (@JStreble82) December 6, 2020
Folks asking why I think Gran should have had another chance in 2021:
— T.J. Walker (@TJWalkerRadio) December 6, 2020
UK football is having success it hasn’t had in decades. It annually is breaking some sort of embarrassing streak or raising the bar of UK football. All with Gran as the OC. https://t.co/iypi6ykuzL
2020 bites Eddie Gran & Darrin Hinshaw. Let’s hope UK can find a dynamic play caller. I know I’m in the minority but I really like Eddie.
— Michael Bennett (@justthecatradio) December 6, 2020
Do not know which direction Mark Stoops will go with the offense but the first name that I would zero in on is Tim Beck, offensive coordinator at NC State. Very experienced, great job with Wolfpack this year, Youngstown guy.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) December 6, 2020
No replacement for Eddie Gran has been selected and a source tells KSR that it will be a “wide search” for a replacement who will “open up the offense”
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 6, 2020
UK has to get better, much better, at developing QBs. But I don’t agree with the decision to fire Eddie Gran. He played the hand he was dealt as well as could be expected.
— Alex Scutchfield (@AlexScutchfield) December 6, 2020
Eddie Gran frustrated me to the max but I really hope whoever we bring in gets some freedom in the offense.
— Dylan Ballard (@DylanBallard_UK) December 6, 2020
I’m not saying that’s been the whole problem but I do think it had something to do with it.
I think the decision to let go of Eddie Gran was the right one, however, Mark Stoops is now under a lot of pressure to get it right.
— T-Wright (@Tyler_Wright14) December 6, 2020
Eddie Gran is a good man, I wish him the best wherever he lands. #BBN
— Dalton Jones ® (@DaltonJJones19) December 6, 2020
Eddie Gran gone...hate to celebrate him being fired, but it was time for a change...let’s get someone in here to utilize the potential that the players have #BBN
— Christopher Peak (@chrispeak5280) December 6, 2020
Kentucky has officially announced offensive coordinator and running backs coach Eddie Gran has been relieved of his duties in Lexington
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) December 6, 2020
Mark Stoops statement:
“Eddie and I pondered about this for weeks and mutually agreed that this was the way to move forward”
Hard to ever discount what Eddie Gran did at Kentucky with the tools he had. What he did last year without a QB was remarkable. Mixed feelings with the decision today… But excited for the future of this program.
— Matt (@mcrose94) December 6, 2020
Thank you, Eddie Gran. #BBN
Maybe I’m crazy but it seems like Eddie Gran has done a good job given the offensive pieces he’s had to work with. https://t.co/ROcYYt9tXQ
— Barton Simmons (@bartonsimmons) December 6, 2020
Kentucky's struggles offensively weren't just Eddie Gran's fault. It wasn't just Terry Wilson's fault. It wasn't just the wide receivers' fault. But ultimately, someone had to be held accountable and a change had to be made to keep the program moving forward.
— Chris Fisher (@ChrisFisher247) December 6, 2020
While I agree with the Decision to part ways with Eddie Gran for reasons we will talk about this afternoon, I am also grateful to him as well
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 6, 2020
Kentucky went to four straight bowls with him as OC, won 10 games and had a terrific run of memorable years. Plus he is a very good man
I appreciate what Eddie Gran accomplished while here but its time for him to go. #BBN
— Popular Monster (@soakedinblue) December 6, 2020
Eddie Gran has only had 2 offenses finish in the top 100 in YPG since 2016.
— Antonio MacBeath (@TonyMacUMP) December 6, 2020
2016 (56th)
2018 (76th)
His highest finish in PPG was 60th in 2016. https://t.co/H4sVbVeO9S
Eddie Gran is going to be a damn good hire when he lands at his next spot as a running backs coach. https://t.co/hxJw8gNjvj
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) December 6, 2020
It’s our job to report the news but when a coach is fired, or not rehired, I cannot help but feel sick for them. Eddie Gran and Darin Hinshaw won’t be back at UK. Over the years I’ve become a fan of both, but especially Gran. There’s not a finer man I’ve met in 22 years of TV.
— Brian Milam (@brianwkyt) December 6, 2020
Quarterbacks under Eddie Gran (2016-20):
— Tres Terrell (@TerrellTres) December 6, 2020
Drew Barker
Gunnar Hoak
Luke Wright
Stephen Johnson
Davis Mattingly
Danny Clark
Walker Wood
Kolbe Langhi
Patrick Delahunty
Amani Gilmore
Sawyer Smith
Lynn Bowden?
Terry Wilson
Joey Gatewood
Beau Allen
Eddie Gran: “I want to thank President Eli Capilouto, Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart and, of course, Coach Stoops for the opportunity to be at Kentucky. Coach Stoops has always treated me like family and our professional relationship is awesome.
— Vaughts' Views (@vaughtsviews) December 6, 2020
Darin Hinshaw: “Mark Stoops is an unbelievable head coach, friend, and someone I look up to. It was an honor to be on his staff and coach the quarterbacks the last five years. I want to thank Eddie Gran, being with him the last eight years and going to eight straight bowl games
— Vaughts' Views (@vaughtsviews) December 6, 2020
Kentucky announces that both OC Eddie Gran and QB coach Darin Hinshaw have been relieved of their duties.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) December 6, 2020
Think you absolutely had to make a change, if for no other reason than to be able to recruit on some hope of a new, exciting offense.
Kentucky earned a bowl bid every year Eddie Gran was on staff, had some truly special moments, absolutely helped turn things around. What he did to build around the likes of Benny Snell and Lynn Bowden can’t be discounted.
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) December 6, 2020
Will always appreciate what Gran did in Lexington.
Eddie Gran and Darin Hinshaw are first class men and tremendous coaches that have provided the BBN with bowl games, record breakers, and a 10 win season. But most of all, they’re both really good dudes. Thank you Eddie and Darin.
— Freddie Maggard (@FredMaggard606) December 6, 2020
So...who are some early candidates to be Kentucky’s news OC?
I think there are a number of names Mark Stoops will look at for the Offensive Coordinator job
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 6, 2020
One early person to watch for is Oklahoma Assistant Cale Gundy
Any early reports on names are just speculation, as Stoops plans to keep this hire very, very close to the vest. But we can safely assume he'll be hiring an OC known for wide-open offense prominently featuring the forward pass. https://t.co/KgJ0L6nJ9C
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) December 6, 2020
Do not know which direction Mark Stoops will go with the offense but the first name that I would zero in on is Tim Beck, offensive coordinator at NC State. Very experienced, great job with Wolfpack this year, Youngstown guy.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) December 6, 2020
UK Offensive Coordinator Hot Board 1.0 https://t.co/XsyfSvPuw9 via @DerekSTerry #BBN pic.twitter.com/JFswYAl7aq
— TheCatsPause247 (@TheCatsPause247) December 6, 2020
Hear me out... pic.twitter.com/J9QrMfPFwq
— Travis Graf (@TravisGraf_) December 6, 2020
LOL.