Crazy

[slam212121]

I had hopes sky high for this season. Went to the Southern Miss game, had great seats, brought my crew, and was ready for an epic year to start.

At half, already knew, the culture of UK football hadn't change. You could see it by the demeanor of our players on the sideline compared to Southern Miss as the second half started that nothing has changed.

I dream about the chance to suit up for one more play. Just to be on the kick off team and go all out sacrificing the body just make a difference on a single play.

Until the culture changes and the UK players have more heart than the fans in the stands, no four or five star recruits will ever make a difference in the best conference in the world.

Here's hoping UK finds a resemblance of heart and fights the rest of the season.

 

[Kybluedude]

Glad to see Coach rip into them. He said what you said to them.

 

[vhcat70]

Glad to see Coach rip into them. He said what you said to them.

Aren't those the players he recruited & coaches?

 

[slam212121]

Aren't those the players he recruited & coaches?

Yes. But it still resides in each player to have that fire. I can't imagine walking on the field for any team without heart to fight to win.

 

[merrimanm]

Yes. But it still resides in each player to have that fire. I can't imagine walking on the field for any team without heart to fight to win.

People.don't get this. It isn't a coach's job to be a freakin cheerleader. If they have to do that, then it takes time from actually teaching football. Players have to be self motivated too. And there needs to be older players holding everyone accountable. That is something Kentucky hasn't had in a long time. Again, this stuff doesn't change over night.

 

[morgousky]

Glad to see Coach rip into them. He said what you said to them.

And who's yelling at him for being an awful leader, teacher, and in game coach?

 

[morgousky]

People.don't get this. It isn't a coach's job to be a freakin cheerleader. If they have to do that, then it takes time from actually teaching football. Players have to be self motivated too. And there needs to be older players holding everyone accountable. That is something Kentucky hasn't had in a long time. Again, this stuff doesn't change over night.

Wait a second man.

Who the hell is coaching them? Who's motivating them? Who's the LEADER who recruited them?

What do you do for a living? If everyone at your work isn't motivated, not doing their job, and slacking, 4 years after the man in charge of hiring them is hired, what happens?

Does the owner of the company say "hell its not his fault the people he's hiring aren't motivated and not doing their job."? No, the man in charge of hiring those people is canned. In football this is especially important. It's a game of WILL.

How anyone doesn't blame this on the head coach is laughable. In coaching football, half of the job of the coach is to motivate and get his team ready. Kentucky football players don't play hard, aren't motivated, don't play the game correctly, suck at the little things, suck at the fundamentals, and have had inner team turmoil since his arrival. What DOES he do right? If this was just a one time thing ok, but we have a PATTERN of FAILURE in most aspects under stoops. Lol. What aren't you getting man?

Dude, seriously, I know you want this. I get it you like Mark Stoops. You thought it was a good hire. It's ok to admit it, it's not. Downplaying the importance of coaching isn't going to make him a better coach and isn't going to help uk succeed. You can't be right every time, let it go.

 

[merrimanm]

Wait a second man.

Who the hell is coaching them? Who's motivating them? Who's the LEADER who recruited them?

What do you do for a living? If everyone at your work isn't motivated, not doing their job, and slacking, 4 years after the man in charge of hiring them is hired, what happens?

Does the owner of the company say "hell its not his fault the people he's hiring aren't motivated and not doing their job."? No, the man in charge of hiring those people is canned. In football this is especially important. It's a game of WILL.

How anyone doesn't blame this on the head coach is laughable. In coaching football, half of the job of the coach is to motivate and get his team ready. Kentucky football players don't play hard, aren't motivated, don't play the game correctly, suck at the little things, suck at the fundamentals, and have had inner team turmoil since his arrival. What DOES he do right? If this was just a one time thing ok, but we have a PATTERN of FAILURE in most aspects under stoops. Lol. What aren't you getting man?

Dude, seriously, I know you want this. I get it you like Mark Stoops. You thought it was a good hire. It's ok to admit it, it's not. Downplaying the importance of coaching isn't going to make him a better coach and isn't going to help uk succeed. You can't be right every time, let it go.

You ask me what I do for a living? I am a teacher and a coach. So, I feel I am pretty experienced in the area. Coaching kids and running a business is 2 different things and shouldn't be compared.

Coaching is not cheerleading. Yes, you try to pump them up as much as you can, but bottom line the players have to beself motivated to do it as well. You can lead a horse to water.......

Again, if you have to be the cheerleader all the time, it takes away from the teaching part of the game. When you don't have to coach effort, then you can coach football, or basketball, or whatever the sport is.

 

[morgousky]

You ask me what I do for a living? I am a teacher and a coach. So, I feel I am pretty experienced in the area. Coaching kids and running a business is 2 different things and shouldn't be compared.

Coaching is not cheerleading. Yes, you try to pump them up as much as you can, but bottom line the players have to beself motivated to do it as well. You can lead a horse to water.......

Again, if you have to be the cheerleader all the time, it takes away from the teaching part of the game. When you don't have to coach effort, then you can coach football, or basketball, or whatever the sport is.

Well that makes two of us. Are you a high school coach?

Sorry, motivating is half of a coaches job. As a coach myself I couldn't disagree more. Getting guys to play for you takes leadership, and if you don't have it, you don't have it. Not every coach is meant for that leadership role. Stoops is a coordinator, Saban types are head guys.

Actually running a football team is a lot like running a business. You look for the same qualities in players as you do personnel. That's why successful athletes make great employees and it's a plus on an application.

Like I said I don't know what level you coach, but no.

 

[merrimanm]

Well that makes two of us. Are you a high school coach?

Sorry, motivating is half of a coaches job. As a coach myself I couldn't disagree more. Getting guys to play for you takes leadership, and if you don't have it, you don't have it. Not every coach is meant for that leadership role. Stoops is a coordinator, Saban types are head guys.

Actually running a football team is a lot like running a business. You look for the same qualities in players as you do personnel. That's why successful athletes make great employees and it's a plus on an application.

Like I said I don't know what level you coach, but no.

I played college basketball and baseball. I also have coached from little league all the way to college. Also have coached.multiple sports.
Have Coached baseball from little league to high school.
Coached jr. High And varsity football
Coached jr high volleyball
Coached high school softball
Coach cross country
Coached track
Coached golf
And coached youth league all the way up to college basketball.

I have coached just about everything. The one thing is consistent. Kids have to be self motivated to achieve high success. Yes, a coach can do things to HELP motivate. But again, at the end of the day, players have to have self motivation too, and more so than the coach.

 

[catscratchfever3215]

Well that makes two of us. Are you a high school coach?

Sorry, motivating is half of a coaches job. As a coach myself I couldn't disagree more. Getting guys to play for you takes leadership, and if you don't have it, you don't have it. Not every coach is meant for that leadership role. Stoops is a coordinator, Saban types are head guys.

Actually running a football team is a lot like running a business. You look for the same qualities in players as you do personnel. That's why successful athletes make great employees and it's a plus on an application.

Like I said I don't know what level you coach, but no.

Not saying that I disagree with most of what you are saying. A lot of the problems so fall on Stoops shoulders due to the fact he is the coach. To simply say motivating is half of the job couldn't be more wrong.

Motivating is just as fraction of a head coach of a college football program. A coach has a tremendous amount of responsibility on them. I'll lists a few.
Teacher
Film
Game Planning
Recruiting
Motivator
Makes rules/ Disciplinarian
Hand the staffing

A lot of people are wanting to sit back and just point the finger a Stoops. Yes he deserves some well a lot of them blame. So do the players and every other coach on this staff that's not getting the most out of their postion group. You can watch and see that this team does not have the heart and desire to be great. No matter how hard he or anyone tries heart is one thing that can not be taught.

I have been one of Stoops supporters since he was hired. Not because he was my choice or even on the list of people I wanted for the job. Just the fact I am a UK fan through and through. Up until the 2nd half of the USM game I was on his side.

From this moment forward. Every game needs to be taken into consideration. If this team does not show improvement every week. Stoops needs to be gone I don't care about the buy-out. Yes our defense has been got hard with attrition and losing players that would be starters. Giving to many Jucos scholarships hurt also. Jucos should be used when you are good to fill avoid for the short term not for the good long term of the program.

But also Stoops is the one that kicked Hatcher and Meant of the team. Yes we have morales I know. But we aren't good enough or deep enough to kick 2 would be starters off the team. It's simple this is the best UK team in a while on paper. Something has to give. Start turning it around and head in the right direction or hit the damn door please.

 

[TTU/UK fan]

Anyone will find any excuses. The players werent motivated after half because they just allowed a late TD because of a mental error. I was at the game also, i saw players into it getting the crowd and eachother hyped. It was a CUSA team, you really expect the players to be THAT hype? It is Stoops's fault. If you really think its because we just have a bunch of guys who just dont feel like playing and thats the problem, just stop. Theres a reason behind that. Which is very likely the coaching staff or possibly the fact that the team is pretty terrible. The coach is supposed to control the team. If he cant do that, get him out. I know you will have a player or 2 who is stubborn, but if its half your team, then theres more to it.

 

[morgousky]

I played college basketball and baseball. I also have coached from little league all the way to college. Also have coached.multiple sports.
Have Coached baseball from little league to high school.
Coached jr. High And varsity football
Coached jr high volleyball
Coached high school softball
Coach cross country
Coached track
Coached golf
And coached youth league all the way up to college basketball.

I have coached just about everything. The one thing is consistent. Kids have to be self motivated to achieve high success. Yes, a coach can do things to HELP motivate. But again, at the end of the day, players have to have self motivation too, and more so than the coach.

Well I played college baseball and football as well, and coach high school baseball and football. Still, couldn't disagree more. It takes a special kind of coach to bring the Alpha qualities out in a player. I've personally coached and played under both. There are coaches that just know how to get guys to buy in. Are some players easier to break through than others? Of course, but not every person that coaches is meant for that role.

I'm not going to get into my life story, but I personally witness kids with zero confidence and motivation succeed and trust me, our coaches put in a ton of work at it, and our head coach is a master of motivating. He's 3rd all time wins in tennessee hihh school football.

There are guys through personal choice that won't buy in. As a head coach your job is to pick that up and get them gone, or in college be cautious while recruiting. Again, it's still coaching at the end of the day.

I don't really understand what you're trying to say. Stoops is not a good in game coach, isn't good at teaching the little things, isn't good at team concepts, isn't good at controlling his personnel. He has seniors on his football team and no field leadership. And yea, seems to be severely lacking at getting guys to BUY IN.

He's not a head coach, or hasnt shown it yet. You can believe motivation isn't the Jobof the coach but you're in a vast minority who actually believe that and it's just wrong in the general sense.

Coaching is in fact a like running a business too, especially in college. Respectfully, for someone with as much experience as you you've got a rather bizarre outlook on head coaching. Anyone reading this little debate just ask yourself. If you're hiring a head coach would you want a guy that believes it's not a requirement of your head coach to motivate and get your team to buy in? It's a simple answer.

I think you really like mark stoops and can't bring yourself to admit he's not a head guy. At least not for a program in this league.

 

[morgousky]

Not saying that I disagree with most of what you are saying. A lot of the problems so fall on Stoops shoulders due to the fact he is the coach. To simply say motivating is half of the job couldn't be more wrong.

Motivating is just as fraction of a head coach of a college football program. A coach has a tremendous amount of responsibility on them. I'll lists a few.
Teacher
Film
Game Planning
Recruiting
Motivator
Makes rules/ Disciplinarian
Hand the staffing

A lot of people are wanting to sit back and just point the finger a Stoops. Yes he deserves some well a lot of them blame. So do the players and every other coach on this staff that's not getting the most out of their postion group. You can watch and see that this team does not have the heart and desire to be great. No matter how hard he or anyone tries heart is one thing that can not be taught.

I have been one of Stoops supporters since he was hired. Not because he was my choice or even on the list of people I wanted for the job. Just the fact I am a UK fan through and through. Up until the 2nd half of the USM game I was on his side.

From this moment forward. Every game needs to be taken into consideration. If this team does not show improvement every week. Stoops needs to be gone I don't care about the buy-out. Yes our defense has been got hard with attrition and losing players that would be starters. Giving to many Jucos scholarships hurt also. Jucos should be used when you are good to fill avoid for the short term not for the good long term of the program.

But also Stoops is the one that kicked Hatcher and Meant of the team. Yes we have morales I know. But we aren't good enough or deep enough to kick 2 would be starters off the team. It's simple this is the best UK team in a while on paper. Something has to give. Start turning it around and head in the right direction or hit the damn door please.

Read my post above for clarification. In high school, it is literally half the job. You don't recruit players, you must get what you have to buy in or its over before it starts.

In college baseball in Memphis we won games that we had no business winning because we had high expectations and a great motivating coach. It matters greatly at all levels. I don't care how well you prep, study, practice, and coach on the field, if you cannot locate your team leaders and work through them to get your team to buy in you're done. Period. I mean, this is not a hard concept. Ask nick Saban about recruiting team leaders that motivate. He specifically hand picks 3 stars sometimes for leadership qualities. It's all circled around the Job of a head coach, and its largely about field leadership and motivation.

And like I said, stoops isn't good at ANYTHING. in game, prep, management, unity, nothing. So it's no suprise when I hear he sucks at motivatING too.

 

[BlueRunner11]

I played college basketball and baseball. I also have coached from little league all the way to college. Also have coached.multiple sports.
Have Coached baseball from little league to high school.
Coached jr. High And varsity football
Coached jr high volleyball
Coached high school softball
Coach cross country
Coached track
Coached golf
And coached youth league all the way up to college basketball.

I have coached just about everything. The one thing is consistent. Kids have to be self motivated to achieve high success. Yes, a coach can do things to HELP motivate. But again, at the end of the day, players have to have self motivation too, and more so than the coach.

The difference is we don't hand pick our players. You take what you get from schools, youth leagues, etc. Some will be more motivated and coachable than others. You have to work with what you've got.

UK and other D1 is a different animal. Mark Stoops hand picked these guys. So if they're uncoavhable unmotivated, and undisciplined...then who's fault is that?

 

[morgousky]

Anyone will find any excuses. The players werent motivated after half because they just allowed a late TD because of a mental error. I was at the game also, i saw players into it getting the crowd and eachother hyped. It was a CUSA team, you really expect the players to be THAT hype? It is Stoops's fault. If you really think its because we just have a bunch of guys who just dont feel like playing and thats the problem, just stop. Theres a reason behind that. Which is very likely the coaching staff or possibly the fact that the team is pretty terrible. The coach is supposed to control the team. If he cant do that, get him out. I know you will have a player or 2 who is stubborn, but if its half your team, then theres more to it.

Lol, I mean exactly. This is an SEC football team people. If they aren't in it, it's the coac . He brought them here, he coaches them, he picks his leaders, he picks his coordinators, he picks his motivation tactics.

I'm just wowed by some of the thinking.

 

[morgousky]

The difference is we don't hand pick our players. You take what you get from schools, youth leagues, etc. Some will be more motivated and coachable than others. You have to work with what you've got.


UK and other D1 is a different animal. Mark Stoops hand picked these guys. So if they're uncoavhable unmotivated, and undisciplined...then who's fault is that?

I mean, it's a duh but for some reason it's hard for some.

 

[morgousky]

The difference is we don't hand pick our players. You take what you get from schools, youth leagues, etc. Some will be more motivated and coachable than others. You have to work with what you've got.



UK and other D1 is a different animal. Mark Stoops hand picked these guys. So if they're uncoavhable unmotivated, and undisciplined...then who's fault is that?

You know what's funny about this whole conversation?

When people talk about what's great about coach Cal outside of recruiting, what is the quality they always talk about? We hear it over and over?

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

Yes. But it still resides in each player to have that fire. I can't imagine walking on the field for any team without heart to fight to win.

Agreed, I've had a feeling that a lot of these players are losers with bad attitudes. A lot of Dorian Bakers that are selfish and talk a good game, but don't have what it takes.

They get some of the best facilities in the country and they give thanks by going out and not even playing hard.

Where are the Jordan Jones' on this team?

 

[morgousky]

You know what's funny about this whole conversation?

When people talk about what's great about coach Cal outside of recruiting, what is the quality they always talk about? We hear it over and over?

Anyone?

 

[catscratchfever3215]

Read my post above for clarification. In high school, it is literally half the job. You don't recruit players, you must get what you have to buy in or its over before it starts.

In college baseball in Memphis we won games that we had no business winning because we had high expectations and a great motivating coach. It matters greatly at all levels. I don't care how well you prep, study, practice, and coach on the field, if you cannot locate your team leaders and work through them to get your team to buy in you're done. Period. I mean, this is not a hard concept. Ask nick Saban about recruiting team leaders that motivate. He specifically hand picks 3 stars sometimes for leadership qualities. It's all circled around the Job of a head coach, and its largely about field leadership and motivation.

And like I said, stoops isn't good at ANYTHING. in game, prep, management, unity, nothing. So it's no suprise when I hear he sucks at motivatING too.

Never said it didn't matter. I said it's not half of the job. Still it's not half of the job it is 1 of many aspects and responsibilities. Now absolutely it is a very important trait for a coach to have. One of the more important ones and at this point it seems like Stoops doesn't have it.

When you have 85 players under your tutelage. You have to get to know and learn every single one. Not all players have the same buttons and motivate the same way.

Even though it should not have came to this point. Saturday will tell us all we need to know on this front. Its do or die time now. If he can't can't get the players fired up and motivated for a must win conference game. Against a team that you have won back to back games against. In front of your home crowd. Lose and the season is all but over.

 

[morgousky]

Never said it didn't matter. I said it's not half of the job. Still it's not half of the job it is 1 of many aspects and responsibilities. Now absolutely it is a very important trait for a coach to have. One of the more important ones and at this point it seems like Stoops doesn't have it.

When you have 85 players under your tutelage. You have to get to know and learn every single one. Not all players have the same buttons and motivate the same way.

Even though it should not have came to this point. Saturday will tell us all we need to know on this front. Its do or die time now. If he can't can't get the players fired up and motivated for a must win conference game. Against a team that you have won back to back games against. In front of your home crowd. Lose and the season is all but over.

I agree with some of this for sure, but motivating and leadership qualities are a huge part of what any coach does. Doesn't matter if it's 12 players or 100. That's why I say "buy in". You'll never know how to reach each individual player like you were saYing. They must buy in as a group, as a team, to your message. That is motivating qualities, and its a large chunck of the battle. Finding the right team leaders is essential to this function, especially in football.

And in high school I'd actually say MORE than half the battle as a head coach is motivation, not preparation. It's extremely simplified for younger athletes. Doesn't take 500 days to work tango and arrow. Doesn't take 500 days to teach a tackle to pull correctly, it's about motivating the players you're given to have proper work ethic, character in the offseason, and will to work past their limits. But I digress.

 

[420grover]

I agree with some of this for sure, but motivating and leadership qualities are a huge part of what any coach does. Doesn't matter if it's 12 players or 100. That's why I say "buy in". You'll never know how to reach each individual player like you were saYing. They must buy in as a group, as a team, to your message. That is motivating qualities, and its a large chunck of the battle. Finding the right team leaders is essential to this function, especially in football.

And in high school I'd actually say MORE than half the battle as a head coach is motivation, not preparation. It's extremely simplified for younger athletes. Doesn't take 500 days to work tango and arrow. Doesn't take 500 days to teach a tackle to pull correctly, it's about motivating the players you're given to have proper work ethic, character in the offseason, and will to work past their limits. But I digress.

I don't know much about the X's and O's or coaching football in any way. You seem to have everything figured out. Why aren't you a D1 head coach or AD?

 

[merrimanm]

Anyone will find any excuses. The players werent motivated after half because they just allowed a late TD because of a mental error. I was at the game also, i saw players into it getting the crowd and eachother hyped. It was a CUSA team, you really expect the players to be THAT hype? It is Stoops's fault. If you really think its because we just have a bunch of guys who just dont feel like playing and thats the problem, just stop. Theres a reason behind that. Which is very likely the coaching staff or possibly the fact that the team is pretty terrible. The coach is supposed to control the team. If he cant do that, get him out. I know you will have a player or 2 who is stubborn, but if its half your team, then theres more to it.

There is a difference from being hypes up and focused.

 

[merrimanm]

Well I played college baseball and football as well, and coach high school baseball and football. Still, couldn't disagree more. It takes a special kind of coach to bring the Alpha qualities out in a player. I've personally coached and played under both. There are coaches that just know how to get guys to buy in. Are some players easier to break through than others? Of course, but not every person that coaches is meant for that role.

I'm not going to get into my life story, but I personally witness kids with zero confidence and motivation succeed and trust me, our coaches put in a ton of work at it, and our head coach is a master of motivating. He's 3rd all time wins in tennessee hihh school football.

There are guys through personal choice that won't buy in. As a head coach your job is to pick that up and get them gone, or in college be cautious while recruiting. Again, it's still coaching at the end of the day.

I don't really understand what you're trying to say. Stoops is not a good in game coach, isn't good at teaching the little things, isn't good at team concepts, isn't good at controlling his personnel. He has seniors on his football team and no field leadership. And yea, seems to be severely lacking at getting guys to BUY IN.

He's not a head coach, or hasnt shown it yet. You can believe motivation isn't the Jobof the coach but you're in a vast minority who actually believe that and it's just wrong in the general sense.

Coaching is in fact a like running a business too, especially in college. Respectfully, for someone with as much experience as you you've got a rather bizarre outlook on head coaching. Anyone reading this little debate just ask yourself. If you're hiring a head coach would you want a guy that believes it's not a requirement of your head coach to motivate and get your team to buy in? It's a simple answer.

I think you really like mark stoops and can't bring yourself to admit he's not a head guy. At least not for a program in this league.

I never said a coach doesn't motivate. I just said it shouldn'tbe the major part of his job. And you said it in your post. "Through personal choice, some chose to go the wrong way". That was your words.

So let me ask you. Who made the choice to follow the coach you speak of? The answer? Each individual player made that choice.

Getting kids to trust you is not motivation. It is building a relationship. The relationship is what is most important in coaching.

 

[merrimanm]

The difference is we don't hand pick our players. You take what you get from schools, youth leagues, etc. Some will be more motivated and coachable than others. You have to work with what you've got.

UK and other D1 is a different animal. Mark Stoops hand picked these guys. So if they're uncoavhable unmotivated, and undisciplined...then who's fault is that?

Did he really? Maybe if he were at Alabama you could say that. But the kids he gets here alot of the times are second and 3rd picks. Yes, you get to recruit in college. But it isn't that simple. You take chances on guys. You don't think Saban and them.miss on guys? The difference is, they have other guys that are just as capable. So competition is the biggest motivator there is. It isn't some secret formula a coach uses.

 

[Stenchymouse]

.If Stoops miss-evaluated a handful of kids and we had 10 or 15 that were just unmotivated and undisiplined, then I wouldn't blame him because he could just get rid of the cancer and move on.

The problem is that THE MAJORITY of our roster seem to fall under this category.

How in the hell can the LEADER of the program NOT be responsible for this????

Under the OP's thinking, leadership is totally unimportant.

I'd bet a million dollars that if Nick Saban were our coach, these same kids would tow the line!!!

 

[merrimanm]

.If Stoops miss-evaluated a handful of kids and we had 10 or 15 that were just unmotivated and undisiplined, then I wouldn't blame him because he could just get rid of the cancer and move on.

The problem is that THE MAJORITY of our roster seem to fall under this category.

How in the hell can the LEADER of the program NOT be responsible for this????

Under the OP's thinking, leadership is totally unimportant.

I'd bet a million dollars that if Nick Saban were our coach, these same kids would tow the line!!!

The offense isn't having trouble with it. Why? They are mature and experienced. It is the defense. Why? Because they are young and immature. There is a reason 99% of coaches don't want to play freshmen and sophmores.

 

[Stenchymouse]

The offense isn't having trouble with it. Why? They are mature and experienced. It is the defense. Why? Because they are young and immature. There is a reason 99% of coaches don't want to play freshmen and sophmores.

Dude...

In his 4th year, Stoops (a defensive guru) has the WORST defense in D1.

Eddie Gran is the reason that the offense looks better and we'll see just how good the offense is as we play better competition going forward because we sucked in the 2nd half against So Miss and the whole game against Florida.

How ANYONE could argue that this whole thing is on the players is amazing to me!

 

[merrimanm]

Dude...

In his 4th year, Stoops (a defensive guru) has the WORST defense in D1.

Eddie Gran is the reason that the offense looks better and we'll see just how good the offense is as we play better competition going forward because we sucked in the 2nd half against So Miss and the whole game against Florida.

How ANYONE could argue that this whole thing is on the players is amazing to me!

Obviously you are not reading all of my posts. I never said it was all on the players. But they take a big role in it. And yes, Eddie Gran is a great coach. I have said that from day one. But a lot of the reason he is having better results is very much due to experienced talent as well.

Did you read my post about how many 1st and 2nd year players are playing on the defense? Anyone with a brain on this board knows that a unit that young is going to struggle. This isn't like we were blind sided by this. There have been reports all summer about how young the defense is and how much they need to improve.

The problem is, people.look at year 4 and complete lose perspective.

 

[ClockCalamity]

People.don't get this. It isn't a coach's job to be a freakin cheerleader. If they have to do that, then it takes time from actually teaching football. Players have to be self motivated too. And there needs to be older players holding everyone accountable. That is something Kentucky hasn't had in a long time. Again, this stuff doesn't change over night.

Yep, I agree wholeheartedly. I'm not sure why it seems to be that Kentucky gets an inordinate amount of players without heart. Is it that our coaches (numerous over the years) recruit soft players, or the UK culture makes them soft? I'm of the opinion that if you have heart, true heart, you won't change no matter how difficult the task may seem, and you infect others around you. If you're false, people see through that, and you crumble when the odds are against you. Why is it that we get so many of the second guy, and not the first?

 

[Chuckinden]

It's a coach's job to get his players ready to play, mentally and physically. He gets the credit if they win and must bear the burden if they don't.

 

[Stenchymouse]

Obviously you are not reading all of my posts. I never said it was all on the players. But they take a big role in it. And yes, Eddie Gran is a great coach. I have said that from day one. But a lot of the reason he is having better results is very much due to experienced talent as well.

Did you read my post about how many 1st and 2nd year players are playing on the defense? Anyone with a brain on this board knows that a unit that young is going to struggle. This isn't like we were blind sided by this. There have been reports all summer about how young the defense is and how much they need to improve.

The problem is, people.look at year 4 and complete lose perspective.

I read all of your post...

By year 4, it's on the coaches, especially when we weren't good the past 3 years...

Not much else to say about it.

 

[catscratchfever3215]

I agree with some of this for sure, but motivating and leadership qualities are a huge part of what any coach does. Doesn't matter if it's 12 players or 100. That's why I say "buy in". You'll never know how to reach each individual player like you were saYing. They must buy in as a group, as a team, to your message. That is motivating qualities, and its a large chunck of the battle. Finding the right team leaders is essential to this function, especially in football.

And in high school I'd actually say MORE than half the battle as a head coach is motivation, not preparation. It's extremely simplified for younger athletes. Doesn't take 500 days to work tango and arrow. Doesn't take 500 days to teach a tackle to pull correctly, it's about motivating the players you're given to have proper work ethic, character in the offseason, and will to work past their limits. But I digress.

My biggest problem is you are trying to put all the blame on one man. Yes he is the leader but he is not the only one in the room. The motivation aspect doesn't fall completely on him. Each position coach has the job of motivating his group. The coordinators have the responsibility of motivating his unit. Then the coach has the team as whole to motivate. Team captains/ leaders have the job of keeping players motivated while on the field during games and practices.

One of the greatest leaders and motivators I have ever seen in the game of football was Ray Lewis. He was a player not a coach. We need someone to step up and be the Lewis on the defensive side of the ball. I honestly think we have him on the roster in Kash. Just young and inexperienced and for some reason they seem to refuse to play him.

Now using high school coaching as an example is pointless. This isn't high school it's far from it. This is the SEC college football. They are apples and oranges.

 

[Chuckinden]

My biggest problem is you are trying to put all the blame on one man. Yes he is the leader but he is not the only one in the room. The motivation aspect doesn't fall completely on him. Each position coach has the job of motivating his group. The coordinators have the responsibility of motivating his unit. Then the coach has the team as whole to motivate. Team captains/ leaders have the job of keeping players motivated while on the field during games and practices.

One of the greatest leaders and motivators I have ever seen in the game of football was Ray Lewis. He was a player not a coach. We need someone to step up and be the Lewis on the defensive side of the ball. I honestly think we have him on the roster in Kash. Just young and inexperienced and for some reason they seem to refuse to play him.

Now using high school coaching as an example is pointless. This isn't high school it's far from it. This is the SEC college football. They are apples and oranges.

The Head Coach is ultimately responsible. Ray Lewis would kill you (literally) if didn't do what you were supposed to.

 

[RealCat41]

People.don't get this. It isn't a coach's job to be a freakin cheerleader. If they have to do that, then it takes time from actually teaching football. Players have to be self motivated too. And there needs to be older players holding everyone accountable. That is something Kentucky hasn't had in a long time. Again, this stuff doesn't change over night.

The older players that have done that been shown the road here.

Everything goes thru the 2014 class.

The inmates run the asylum in the University of Kentucky Football program.

 

[morgousky]

I don't know much about the X's and O's or coaching football in any way. You seem to have everything figured out. Why aren't you a D1 head coach or AD?

That's what I keep telling them.

 

[morgousky]

Just gonna ask this again.

What is the major attribute always labeled to coach calipari aside from recruiting? We hear it over and over?

The obvious ones in the thread will not answer this.

 

[sparky59]

.......young team.....defense younger than offense....no lunatic fringe alpha male types----yet --- on defense.....gonna have to grow into their "head hunter " mentality .....maybe Stoops should let Coach Lamar tell em stories about his days at "The U "......he could reassure them that is okay to go out and knock the living snot out of your opponent .....in fact it's EXPECTED......couldn't hurt....

 

[UKinSC_rivals383602]

It's a coach's job to get his players ready to play, mentally and physically. He gets the credit if they win and must bear the burden if they don't.

Well said!