Am I crazy?
- Thread starter screwduke
- Start date
Yes. Too many coaching errors last season and too many times the team look completely unprepared for games for there to be too much optimism from the fanbase.
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Nah, crazier things happen everyday. Besides why be negative early, heck if things go south at least early your hopes were high. And if things fall in place for success, you can finally say we had the season we always wanted.
I don't think you are crazy at all for having optimism for the upcoming season. I think we finally have an SEC caliber team for the first time in quite a few years. The recruiting done by this staff has got to start paying off at this point I believe. I predict 6 wins although I don't believe 7 is out of the question if everything falls into place. Can't wait to see what out guys are capable of!
We all know the SEC is hard but I see 7 wins this season. No reason not to believe. We were within a couple bounces of 6-7 wins last year and we are better this year than last. 6 wins minimum and I really think it's 7 wins minimum with an outside chance at 8 with one good bounce.
We have a chance at every game IMO n
We have a chance at every game IMO n
No not at all. But define what you mean by optimistic?? 6-6, 7-5, etc?
I think 6-6 is very doable and realistic, and if we do better than that I will be ecstatic.
It's time for us to start getting some breaks on the field!
We can't be on the negative side of luck forever.
As Matt Jones pointed out a few days ago, we could have won 8 or 9 games last year if a handful of things had gone our way.
We can't be on the negative side of luck forever.
As Matt Jones pointed out a few days ago, we could have won 8 or 9 games last year if a handful of things had gone our way.
We(fans) do it every year,we find a reason to believe. A decent case can be made that we can and will get to a bowl game. The program needs a bowl game to the same(maybe greater)extent that Brooks' first bowl team needed one.
If Stoops has a chance to make it here he needs one,we are on our 3rd OC in 4 years,yet our recruiting has been pretty good(better than we probably deserve given our record) so we have a shot but we have reached a point that we have to make it happen in order to build from where we are.If we don't we will likely be starting over very soon.
So all of the changes made in the offseason didn't address any of those? Who knows. But one could argue that no way it could get worse, therefore, creating optimism that things will be better.
That being said, Stoops has still proven to do things no other coach in my lifetime has done. So yes, I am optimistic. And no, OP, you are not crazy for feeling that way. I still believe 100% that Stoops will get it done here.
Again, a gentle reminder....the rest of the SEC didn't stop recruiting just because UK finally started. UK is still behind in a lot of areas but are slowly closing the gap with mid-level SEC teams.
There. Fixed it. Coming off a second consecutive 5-7 season I believe your statement requires the use of the adverb "cautiously". [winking]
Peace
No reason not to be optimistic at this time, unless you just hate life. Our top 20 class is finally upperclassmen, the coaching issues on the offensive side has been addressed, and the guys are working harder than ever to get better. Team last year was a dropped interception, dropped touchdown, and a couple missed tackles away from winning 8 games. Team will be much better this year and hopefully the failures of the past 2 seasons result in a more focused group that gets a couple breaks and ends the bowl drought.
Explain to me why you have Wildcard as your moniker? There is absolutely nothing about UK that you praise. Seriously. Football is constant negativity from you. As a UK fan, I seriously don't want anyone like you as a fan. You come off as a troll more than anything else. Besides, I've always found people with dual allegiances with two rival schools a bit weird. I had a guy claim he was a Bama and Auburn fan before. Just weird man...
If optimistic means thinking that we can win 6+ and go bowling, then no, you're not crazy when you consider:
In 2014 at Florida a UK DB drops an easy INT that would have easily resulted in UK being in FG range , if not being taken back for 6. One or two plays later, Florida throws for a TD. If that DB makes a routine play, then the ref doesn't have the opportunity to swallow his whistle in OT and Florida tie the game.
In 2014 at UaVel a UK DB drops the easiest INT opportunity that he will likely ever have. The INT would have likely sealed the game. Also in that game, a 5th years SR DL for UK hits the UaVel QB well out of bounds on 3rd & 9, drawing a flag. Instead of punting, UaVel throws for a TD a couple of plays later.
Make 1 routine play in each of those games and UK finishes 7-5 and goes bowling.
In 2015 against Florida, a UK WR drops a TD pass in the end zone. Two plays later, Towles is picked and returned inside the Red Zone to set up one of Florida's 2 TD. That's a 14 point swing in a 5 point loss.
In 2015 against Auburn, a UK WR drops a TD pass in the end zone. Towles also misses a wide open WR on a crossing route in the end zone and instead forces a pass to a well covered Baker where it is picked off. That's 14 points left on the field on missed routine plays in a 3 point loss.
In 2015 at Vandy, UK has two separate 1st & goals inside the Vandy 5 and fails to get points on either, mostly due to lousy play calling. We also turn the football over inside our own 5, which IIRC was set up by a botched PR. Throw in a missed routine FG, and a disastrous, stupid decision to got for it on 4th and a long 3 from around midfield against a Vandy defense that was actually pretty decent and you have anywhere from a 23 to 31 point swing in a 4 point loss.
Make three routine plays, and we finish 8-4 in 2015 and go bowling.
In summary, no, you're not crazy.
In 2014 at Florida a UK DB drops an easy INT that would have easily resulted in UK being in FG range , if not being taken back for 6. One or two plays later, Florida throws for a TD. If that DB makes a routine play, then the ref doesn't have the opportunity to swallow his whistle in OT and Florida tie the game.
In 2014 at UaVel a UK DB drops the easiest INT opportunity that he will likely ever have. The INT would have likely sealed the game. Also in that game, a 5th years SR DL for UK hits the UaVel QB well out of bounds on 3rd & 9, drawing a flag. Instead of punting, UaVel throws for a TD a couple of plays later.
Make 1 routine play in each of those games and UK finishes 7-5 and goes bowling.
In 2015 against Florida, a UK WR drops a TD pass in the end zone. Two plays later, Towles is picked and returned inside the Red Zone to set up one of Florida's 2 TD. That's a 14 point swing in a 5 point loss.
In 2015 against Auburn, a UK WR drops a TD pass in the end zone. Towles also misses a wide open WR on a crossing route in the end zone and instead forces a pass to a well covered Baker where it is picked off. That's 14 points left on the field on missed routine plays in a 3 point loss.
In 2015 at Vandy, UK has two separate 1st & goals inside the Vandy 5 and fails to get points on either, mostly due to lousy play calling. We also turn the football over inside our own 5, which IIRC was set up by a botched PR. Throw in a missed routine FG, and a disastrous, stupid decision to got for it on 4th and a long 3 from around midfield against a Vandy defense that was actually pretty decent and you have anywhere from a 23 to 31 point swing in a 4 point loss.
Make three routine plays, and we finish 8-4 in 2015 and go bowling.
In summary, no, you're not crazy.
We are in year 4 of a 65 year rebuilding process. Patience please! We could dip to 4-8 this year, but I know all is well.
Why should any fan not be optimistic this year? We have a plethora of high caliber recruits now coming of age, including some top notch JUCOs and transfers, we have significantly upgraded the offensive coaching staff that has brought competence, and leadership to that side of the ball, a very manageable schedule and some fancy new digs to show off to the world. Oh and CBS has picked up our game with Florida as the GOTW.
Any fan that can't be a least a little excited under these circumstances must have sewer water in their veins.:sunglasses:
Any fan that can't be a least a little excited under these circumstances must have sewer water in their veins.:sunglasses:
I've have followed UK much longer than UofL. I go back to the Stoll Field days. Do you? I no longer have season tickets but probably have seen more UK games than you have. I like football and good football has been a scarce commodity in the Commonwealth. Unfortunately I have a "call 'em like i see 'em" mentality and that sometimes doesn't set well with fans (of either school) that always see the glass half full (even if it is damn near empty). I want to see UofL do well and I wan't to see UK do well (except UofL game of course [winking]). If that makes me a troll or weird in your book, I'm pretty sure I can live with it.
FWIW, I have noticed a number of fans on this board (as well as some outside experts and professional line makers) are less optimistic about this year than I am. But, after following UK since the Bradshaw era, I hope you will understand my "show me" attitude before heaping praise on UK. If everything is on the course that everyone wants it to be they should win at least 6 this year. And see there...that's a glass half full!
Peace
Felt the past few seasons 4-6 wins was probable. 5 wins did not bother me as much as the way UK was losing games. Going into this season I think 6-6 is most probable mainly because the talent is experienced and I think the staff cohesion will be much better now that Stoops brought Gran on board. Schedule sets up well enough for UK to get an extra win. Would not be surprised if they win 7-8 games if the offense improves at least 25% from last season.
It really comes down to Drew Barker and if he has truly matured. He better because if he ends up being a flop he will leave UK with Stoops possibly right behind him.
It really comes down to Drew Barker and if he has truly matured. He better because if he ends up being a flop he will leave UK with Stoops possibly right behind him.
I couldn't care less how long you've been around. I'm sure my opinions are shared by many on this board. It's got less to do with your opinion than it does your fandom and "objective" analysis. The point is, it's obvious you're a UofL fan. Please consider moving to the UofL board exclusively. Not many over here care for a UofL man's opinion.
I guess I'm in the minority because WildCard seems fine to me. He seems to genuinely like UK while admitting to be a UL fan and he makes good points in a lot of his posts. That is a very RARE breed but if true he's welcome here IMO. If he's got me fooled then I misjudged the man. GBB.
According to Rivals our recruiting rank in the SEC has been:
2013 - 10th
2014 - 9th
2015 - 13th
2016 - 11th
2017 - 11th as of now, I think.
It's good to be optimistic, but you have to be realistic. Add to the mix the rolling OC and it can't be a really great environment. You are asking a set of new coaches to do better than the recruiting while having a big turnover (i.e. little continuity).
This ^
He's a college football fan indeed.
Likes both teams.
Contributes to some good conversations.
Some folks are quick to disparage UK's talent by throwing up such stats as 11th and 13th in the conference and such but I would submit that being 13th and 63rd in the nation is much worse than being 13th and 37th in the nation. Having consistent classes in the 18 to 37 range can allow you to be competitive with all but a handful of teams. Now it's just up to the players and coaches.
4 of the teams we play this year have new head coaches and most new staffs - obviously that's a greater disruption than just a new OC and position coaches. Just about every staff has some turnover in coaches from year-to-year.
As for recruiting there is very little difference in talent evaluations in look at most SEC teams. For instance in the 2015 class, although we are ranked 13th, MSU, Florida, USC, Ole Miss, Missouri, Texas A&M and Arkansas are ranked ahead of us but by anywhere from one quarter of a star to one third of a star. Should we really think that the services ability to project talent is so accurate that 1/4 OR 1/3 of a star is going to make any real difference?
Also, I've said this before but it's worth repeating it's not just who you sign in your recruiting classes it's who you keep - some of the teams we compete against have had much greater turnover. High quality transfers like Laster and Love don't show up in recruiting rankings.
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Actually, I find "Wildcard" to be one of the more knowledgeable and balanced fans on the board.
UK hasn't fully invested into football until the last 3 or 4 years, so I have no problem with the "show me" attitude.
I do think that the investment will pay off in the next few years and I do think that Stoops is the right guy to make us a winner!
Amen, brother. I go back to the Stoll Field days and was in school when Charlie Bradshaw was coach. Believe me, there was good reason ushers of the day looked the other way when everyone brought their own bourbon to games.
Fans of other programs are welcome here so long as they are respectful of the fact that this is a Kentucky board. That doesn't mean that they always have to sound like a cheerleader.
We have regular posters from other programs including ajcardman, wildcard, grumpydawg, who contribute info and opinions. Many people enjoy to hear prospective of fans of other programs especially those that are on our schedule. In the case of wildcard he has identified himself as as fan of both programs but oriented more towards UofL.
We occasionally have trolls show up. These are members that masquerade as UK fans but are here to cause a disruption and ill will. We try to identify these members and deal with them as we can, OTOH we can't automatically assume every negative comment is indicative of trolling.
We have regular posters from other programs including ajcardman, wildcard, grumpydawg, who contribute info and opinions. Many people enjoy to hear prospective of fans of other programs especially those that are on our schedule. In the case of wildcard he has identified himself as as fan of both programs but oriented more towards UofL.
We occasionally have trolls show up. These are members that masquerade as UK fans but are here to cause a disruption and ill will. We try to identify these members and deal with them as we can, OTOH we can't automatically assume every negative comment is indicative of trolling.
We were 4 plays away from winning 8 games last year. Not talking about 1 in 100 chance but plays that most teams make. Youth, inexperience, lack of talent and depth all contributed to a couple losses or more lopsided loss and coaching definitely lost us a couple.
No reason to think we don't make a few more play per game on o. If the d improves just a bit I think 7 is doable.
No reason to think we don't make a few more play per game on o. If the d improves just a bit I think 7 is doable.
Very good point about what you keep. In the past we've lost a lot of our recruiting classes by the time they should be helping us. I count 51 returning recruited players from 2012 to 2015 (4, 14, 18, 15). We had some able to leave early but there still is a bit of attrition. I wonder how that stacks up with other SEC schools?
Just 60+ years and counting.
Teams make there own luck.
Matt is right but he hardly tells the whole story.
We could have easily finished 3-9 If we hadn't scored in the last minute of the game after losing a 23 pt lead in a mere 11 minutes to a Sun Belt team (meltdown?) and if we hadn't of scored a last second TD to go to OT vs an OVC team (whose coach got fired by the way).
And as far as going against four teams with new coaching staffs being an advantage save for a few positions our staff is essentially new, so that's a wash in my book.
At this point I am not looking at numbers but looking for a team that when they take the field looks like they know what they are doing and know what it takes to win and can execute on all three teams for 60 minutes.
I've yet to see that.
Get that and it would be a huge improvement.
Get that and then I'll start being concerned about numbers.
Till then ...
Actually, I used to cheer for Louisville except when they play UK until they hired Petrino! Now I would not cheer for them to win any games! I feel that they sold their soles to the Devil to win at all costs when they hired Petrino! What a sorry excuse for an AD is Jurich and what a sorry excuse for a university president is Ramsey!
A couple plays away from now eligibility the last two seasons. This year the ball bounces our way and stays in our hands.