Kentucky's Stoops 'not one bit' surprised about Tennessee scandal

Kentucky's Mark Stoops wasn't surprised that a Tennessee investigation uncovered a recruiting scandal involving football coach Jeremy Pruitt and numerous assistants.

"I gotta be careful in my response here," Stoops said Tuesday, according to Nick Roush of Kentucky Sports Radio. "Did I see it coming? Yes, I'm grateful it came. Does it surprise me? Not one bit."

On Monday, the Volunteers terminated Pruitt for cause, along with two assistant coaches and seven recruiting and support staffers. The school also announced that athletic director Phillip Fulmer would retire after his replacement is found.

Tennessee acknowledged multiple Level I and Level II recruiting violations under Pruitt's watch, potentially leading to future NCAA sanctions.

As part of their schemes, the Volunteers stuffed McDonald's bags with cash and handed them to recruits during on-campus visits, a source told Dan Patrick of Fox Sports Radio.

Kentucky went 1-2 against Tennessee during Pruitt's three-year tenure.