Yep. It's headed in the right direction, then in the opposite direction, then in the right direction...
It's called circling the bowl.
:flush:
Be Honest, Where Did You Think We'd Be Now? I'm With Stoops.
- Thread starter medeski7
- Start date
Yep. It's headed in the right direction, then in the opposite direction, then in the right direction...
It's called circling the bowl.
:flush:
A
anon_013cn8yrfncx2
Guest
Concerned from day 1 about a defensive minded coach with a bend don't break approach that imo will never work at UK given the level of talent UK is able to attract. So far, the defense is basically that .. clearly not working. Happy with the recruiting though
After getting a win in Columbia as a 7 point 'dawg the table was set for at least a 6 win season. IMO, the 1-5 second half finish this year was much more disappointing than last year's 0-6 finish which included 4 AP Top 25 finishers. This year's final 6 games involved no Top 25 teams. We will see how things go but I think 2015 was an unexpected step back.
Peace
Peace
Set aside the record. I expected we'd be better in Year 3 than we were in Year 2. I thought that was a given. Instead, we were much, much worse (by about any metric, we slipped from 50-60th range nationally last year to the 80-90 range this year). We took a huge step backwards. We graded out as one of the five worse teams in the Power 5 (Rutgers, Oregon State and Kansas the only P5 teams consistently rated below us) playing one of the easiest schedules of any Power 5 team.
And forget the Power 5. If you go by the F+ ratings, we would have finished in 6th place in the Sun Belt this year. 6th in Conference USA. 8th in the American. 6th in the Mountain West. 9th in the MAC.
That's pretty bad. Doesn't mean we can't make great strides next year, but this season was an unmitigated disaster.
This was the way I looked at it too. The record was bad enough, but the disorganization and the other things mentioned spoke volumes as to competence of the staff. That has to change next year or Stoops will be on a very short leash in 2017.
6 wins was there...7 was hanging like low fruit.
I for one am very disappointed with this season. There was absolutely no reason for the way it finished.....though the reasons are plentiful!
I for one am very disappointed with this season. There was absolutely no reason for the way it finished.....though the reasons are plentiful!
He is not the only coach making big bucks dude. Yes, ANY coach that comes to UK takes the risk of hurting his potential career considering our programs history the last fourty years.
If Stoops fails they will not be lining up for this job. You know it.
It was very reasonable to assume a win against Vandy and still think that we would go 5-7. I thought we'd probably go 5 and 7 but I had wins against Vandy and UofLoL and losses against S.Carolina and Mizzou.
I waited a couple of days. But I have a simple answer. In a decent bowl game.
Go Big Blue!
This is UK football... I expect 2 wins but hope for at least 6. Even if we win 8 games like under Brooks... UK football has conditioned me to expect god awful.
That's nonsense. Many people here criticized the payoff, including me. And the same people saying we have to give Stoops enough time are also the first ones who applaud the premature decision to break the bank over his head. You can't have it both ways.
I didn't think we'd beat USC. After we beat USC I figured we were bowl bound. When Stoops was hired I thought it'd take four years to get a bowl. This thread has given me food for thought.
I expected a bowl game by year three and 6-6 preseason this year.
One game off my expectation doesn't have me calling for a head coaching change.
My biggest issue is that the offense regressed quite a but from last season even with many players returning
One game off my expectation doesn't have me calling for a head coaching change.
My biggest issue is that the offense regressed quite a but from last season even with many players returning
I feel like we should've made a bowl game the past 2 years. No I didn't project that but there has been some ridiculous losses. Louisville last year, Auburn, Vandy, and Louisville this year. I am with Stoops but I'm tired of the complete disorganization and same old BS post game speech after a loss we have now heard 14 times over the past 2 years. Support Stoops 100% but year 3 should've ended with a bowl game and no excuses. No bowl game next year and I'll probably be done with this before it seriously starts affecting my health.
Like many others I had those pie-in-the-sky 8-4 hopes. But my minimum expectations were 6 wins and a bowl appearance. We fell short of that and I am greatly disappointed. Post-Auburn, the team simply fell apart and there were probably a number of reasons for it.
Unfortunately this is true.
People get mad every year, then after the season it gets rationalized and spun to the positive side of things.
Then come next season, practically everyone shows up watching UK football again like the past million horrible seasons never happened.
I thought we would be in a bowl game because we would improve and the schedule looked very favorable for us. We played 8 of our games in Commonwealth Stadium.
But here is the kicker: I didn't realize then just how bad our opponents would be this year and that our schedule was far, far easier than what I originally thought it would be. We provided thew springboard for Florida to jump off. We acted like Auburn was as good as their preseason expectations, they weren't. We thought Mizzou would continue their winning ways, they didn't. We thought SC would be a war but they turned out to be toy soldiers.
But here is the kicker: I didn't realize then just how bad our opponents would be this year and that our schedule was far, far easier than what I originally thought it would be. We provided thew springboard for Florida to jump off. We acted like Auburn was as good as their preseason expectations, they weren't. We thought Mizzou would continue their winning ways, they didn't. We thought SC would be a war but they turned out to be toy soldiers.
I'm going to use this thread to introduce myself and give my thoughts on UK football.
I'm assuming that I'm relatively green compared to most on here, as I've only been sitting in CWS since 1997. I was 11. However I plainly remember crying in my living room during the Peach Bowl as a 7 year old; I was too naive to realize the history of my favorite football team. I've seen some exciting football and some absolutely dreadful football during my time.
In my opinion, the state of KY really missed an opportunity to put football in the forefront during the Couch years. There was no better time to introduce kids to the sport than 1996-1997. Perhaps if more kids were turned on to "basketball on grass" the state may be producing more football talent?
I know I'm extremely grateful to my father for seeing what was coming with Couch-Mumme and buying season tickets. I ditched roundball as my favorite sport and was enthralled (still am) with the offensive side of the line of scrimmage.
Enough about the past, let's talk about the Stoops era. I lost $100 this year because I bet an uncle that we would be in a bowl game. I made that bet after Stoops' first year, when my brother in law walked on to UKs roster. Pretty ballsy move to bet that kind of money after a 2-10 season but I liked what I saw. We played a lot of good teams hard and close (minus Alabama's thrashing.) The staff seemed to take an aggressive approach to the game and I remember getting completely jobbed on an offsides call when we recovered an onside kick (USC game right?) Our roster was an embarrassment to SEC but our coaches seemed to lay it all on the line to have a chance and I really thought things were going to be different.
Year 2 was about what I expected. We beat the teams we needed to, upset USC and played highly ranked MS to the wire.
This past summer, when I heard Dawson was telling Towles to stop running with the ball, I knew we were in trouble. I really think that Brown knew Towles had to scramble in order to find the open receiver or use his physical talent to at least gain positive yardage and now Dawson took that threat completely out of the playbook. That should have been the first warning sign but I kept drinking the koolaid.
The second warning sign should have been during the Florida game when we did absolutely nothing creative in order to keep their defense honest. The game was ours for the taking and we just kept on with the same ol' plays.
So to sum up this entirely long winded post (sorry about that) I truly believe the coaching has regressed. Maybe Stoops thought that with the talent he currently has that there's no need to roll the dice, be aggressive, be creative, etc. Only he knows. If the players gave up, his fault. If letting Boom quit and then welcoming him back on divided the locker room, his fault. I truly feel that if he would spend more time getting after his receivers after dropping wide open passes, than screaming at the refs the entire game, we could have improved. Next year is definitely a "prove it" year for me. The talent level will be the highest since I can remember, now we'll see what kind of coach Stoops really is. My alma mater is playing some really exciting football right now and I told my wife that if they retain their coach for next year then we might spend our money on them. But of course my butt will be back in CWS next September, it always has.
I'm assuming that I'm relatively green compared to most on here, as I've only been sitting in CWS since 1997. I was 11. However I plainly remember crying in my living room during the Peach Bowl as a 7 year old; I was too naive to realize the history of my favorite football team. I've seen some exciting football and some absolutely dreadful football during my time.
In my opinion, the state of KY really missed an opportunity to put football in the forefront during the Couch years. There was no better time to introduce kids to the sport than 1996-1997. Perhaps if more kids were turned on to "basketball on grass" the state may be producing more football talent?
I know I'm extremely grateful to my father for seeing what was coming with Couch-Mumme and buying season tickets. I ditched roundball as my favorite sport and was enthralled (still am) with the offensive side of the line of scrimmage.
Enough about the past, let's talk about the Stoops era. I lost $100 this year because I bet an uncle that we would be in a bowl game. I made that bet after Stoops' first year, when my brother in law walked on to UKs roster. Pretty ballsy move to bet that kind of money after a 2-10 season but I liked what I saw. We played a lot of good teams hard and close (minus Alabama's thrashing.) The staff seemed to take an aggressive approach to the game and I remember getting completely jobbed on an offsides call when we recovered an onside kick (USC game right?) Our roster was an embarrassment to SEC but our coaches seemed to lay it all on the line to have a chance and I really thought things were going to be different.
Year 2 was about what I expected. We beat the teams we needed to, upset USC and played highly ranked MS to the wire.
This past summer, when I heard Dawson was telling Towles to stop running with the ball, I knew we were in trouble. I really think that Brown knew Towles had to scramble in order to find the open receiver or use his physical talent to at least gain positive yardage and now Dawson took that threat completely out of the playbook. That should have been the first warning sign but I kept drinking the koolaid.
The second warning sign should have been during the Florida game when we did absolutely nothing creative in order to keep their defense honest. The game was ours for the taking and we just kept on with the same ol' plays.
So to sum up this entirely long winded post (sorry about that) I truly believe the coaching has regressed. Maybe Stoops thought that with the talent he currently has that there's no need to roll the dice, be aggressive, be creative, etc. Only he knows. If the players gave up, his fault. If letting Boom quit and then welcoming him back on divided the locker room, his fault. I truly feel that if he would spend more time getting after his receivers after dropping wide open passes, than screaming at the refs the entire game, we could have improved. Next year is definitely a "prove it" year for me. The talent level will be the highest since I can remember, now we'll see what kind of coach Stoops really is. My alma mater is playing some really exciting football right now and I told my wife that if they retain their coach for next year then we might spend our money on them. But of course my butt will be back in CWS next September, it always has.
A very good post and from Glasgow to boot,nice to have people from home on the board.As you point out I haven't seen Stoops get in a player's face when that player screws up,contrast that with Saban or any number of other coaches around the country.Attention to detail and player accountability are 2 things that need fixing in our football program,but if you don't start out that way it is difficult to change later on.
I thought we would be 8/4. What bothers me is that we can't beat UL lost to WKU and almost to EKU They are not SEC teams which is what our coaches and administration always have as an excuse for the poor program results.
We have more going for us than UL. Better school. Larger fan base. SEC exposure . It was up to AD to see that we have a better coach than UL. He had more to sell . All he had to do was evaluate the best coach and hire them .
Obviously evaluating coaches chances of success is not his strong suit.
We have so much to offer both the student athlete and coaches there is no reason we should not go eight out of ten eight times in a ten year period . 4/4 in SEC and 4for4 in OOC games with UL,beating us maybe two times over a ten year period . If AD and coaches don't meet That Sandard we need new coaches and AD . That is not being great simply being mediocre which we are not at the point.
Yes. I Expected in year three Stoops would bring us up to mediocrity which is 8/4. Demanding mediocrity really is not demanding too much.middle of the pac. That all I want and what I expect .
If we go all out I think mediocrity is obtainable . Not expecting an Alabama here .
We have more going for us than UL. Better school. Larger fan base. SEC exposure . It was up to AD to see that we have a better coach than UL. He had more to sell . All he had to do was evaluate the best coach and hire them .
Obviously evaluating coaches chances of success is not his strong suit.
We have so much to offer both the student athlete and coaches there is no reason we should not go eight out of ten eight times in a ten year period . 4/4 in SEC and 4for4 in OOC games with UL,beating us maybe two times over a ten year period . If AD and coaches don't meet That Sandard we need new coaches and AD . That is not being great simply being mediocre which we are not at the point.
Yes. I Expected in year three Stoops would bring us up to mediocrity which is 8/4. Demanding mediocrity really is not demanding too much.middle of the pac. That all I want and what I expect .
If we go all out I think mediocrity is obtainable . Not expecting an Alabama here .
To follow up on Levi's point, there are any number of good coaches out there IMHO that could have taken this year's Kentucky team and won at least 7 games.
No way Bob Stoops, Gundy or Briles from the Big 12 loses to Vandy, nor does Dantonio, Harbaugh, Meyer, Franklin, from the Big 10, or Saban, Miles, Butch Jones, Freeze in the SEC. Cutcliffe at Duke would not have lost either. And those are just off the top of my head. There is no way a coach with their pedigree would screw that game up especially the way it played out, with not one but two first and goals, one at the beginning of the game, where they don't win against Vanderbilt.
Ditto for the Louisville game, give those coaches UK's roster and a 21-0 lead in the 1st quarter at home (which was still a 24-10 lead with 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter) and they figure out how to get the W, they just do. They may blow a big lead against a really good Oklahoma team (like Jones did) but not a 6-5 team playing a true freshman QB and two or three starters out on defense.
Then, a good if not great coach would IMHO probably have figured out how to pick off Auburn or Florida, maybe not both, but one of them.
So, to answer the OP, while I was "OK" with last year's job Stoops did (certainly did not warrant a huge raise + extension), I am definitely disappointed and thought in year three we would be past nail biters vs. the likes of ULL and EKU and really bad losses to Vandy and Louisville.
I thought at least two basic things after 36 games and heading into season 4:
* The team would have some sort of "identity", or signature look. Like for example, hard hitting defense.
* That heading into season 4 we would no longer be legitimately wondering if another second half of the season collapse would be imminent. As it is, there has to be at least as good a chance for another collapse as there is for one not happening. The coaching staff is just not on top of the little competitive things (such as planning, adjustments and management) that can make the difference between winning and losing. That do make the difference.
2013 Second Half of Season: 1-5
2014 Second Half of Season: 0-6
2015 Second Half of Season: 1-5
Mark Stoops: Second Half of Season: 2-16
An experienced coach, I could hang in with. But I just don't see this group holding it together for an entire season. (And yes I know that this group now has 36 games of experience itself, but it is not exactly good experience. There is a difference between, say, 10 years of experience and 1 year of experience repeated 10 times.)
* The team would have some sort of "identity", or signature look. Like for example, hard hitting defense.
* That heading into season 4 we would no longer be legitimately wondering if another second half of the season collapse would be imminent. As it is, there has to be at least as good a chance for another collapse as there is for one not happening. The coaching staff is just not on top of the little competitive things (such as planning, adjustments and management) that can make the difference between winning and losing. That do make the difference.
2013 Second Half of Season: 1-5
2014 Second Half of Season: 0-6
2015 Second Half of Season: 1-5
Mark Stoops: Second Half of Season: 2-16
An experienced coach, I could hang in with. But I just don't see this group holding it together for an entire season. (And yes I know that this group now has 36 games of experience itself, but it is not exactly good experience. There is a difference between, say, 10 years of experience and 1 year of experience repeated 10 times.)
record aside,, I thought we would be a well coached team that looked organized. A well drilled looking bunch whose effort always matched or exceeded the opponents. Coaches on the sidelines on the same ship and seeming to be in control and exuding confidence and calm. A team with players that would leave it all on the field in each game and show a closeness that would lead to great team effort. I have supported many teams that have had losing records over the years at UK and other places b/c the teams were giving it their all each time out. I just didn't see these things in this team, wish I had, hope I do next year!