Quote:LEXINGTON, Ky. – As UK head coach Mark Stoops prepares to face his former offensive coordinator, Shannon Dawson this week, he insists there is no animosity between them.

“He’s a good guy and a good person,” Stoops said. “We have not talked since he left, but I’m sure someday we’ll run into each other on the road recruiting or at a coaches’ convention or something and sit down and have a beer and talk.”

Stoops fired Dawson in December after one season as UK’s offensive coordinator. UK ranked 95th nationally in scoring offense (24.7 points per game) and 89th in total yards per game (372) in Dawson’s one season in Lexington.

Since Stoops hired former Cincinnati offensive coordinator Eddie Gran to replace Dawson he has repeatedly stressed the importance of bringing in someone he had previously worked with and had Southeastern Conference experience.

Still, he said he remains convinced Dawson is a good coach.

“I have respect for Shannon Dawson or I wouldn’t have hired him,” Stoops said. “We had as good a split as you can have. He was a professional. He handled it the right way. I certainly tried to handle it the very best I could.”

Stoops admitted when he saw Dawson land at Southern Mississippi, UK’s season-opening opponent he noticed the irony.

Watching film of UK’s offense last season while prepping for Dawson’s new team has not been the most enjoyable practice either.

“There are some very good plays there,” Stoops said. “It’s hard to see the near misses, because we looked very good at times and moved the ball exceptionally at times. We had good plays called and designed. Sometimes you’re just fractions off.”

Now Dawson will get the chance to prove Stoops wrong on the field Saturday.

“It didn’t work out here,” Stoops said. “We’ve been down that road. There was change made. I’m good with that, and I’m sure he’s good with that. But he’s a good football coach or I wouldn’t have hired him. You guys have seen our offense move at times and I’ve seen it move at times so he certainly can get you off balance, especially with some of the talent he has around him.”