FB Recruiting Don't look now, but Stoops is already succeeding

[JRowland]

By now you guys know that I have a tendency to get on my soap box. If you like what I'm saying, maybe that's more bang for your buck. If you disagree, you probably just want me to shut up.

My assertion here: The last five weeks have proven that Mark Stoops is succeeding at Kentucky. His staff continues to defy the recruiting odds, seemingly every season and without regard to negativity coming Stoops' way, and for the first time it looks like Stoops is taking huge steps forward as a coach. Staff changes, a newfound offensive identity, a hitherto unknown resilience and a stacked roster heading into 2017 illustrate this conclusion. Compare Stoops' tenure halfway into his fourth year with Brooks, who did inherit probation but not a significantly worse situation altogether, and the results are either even or may even favor Stoops.

I'm not saying Mark Stoops will succeed. I'm saying he's already succeeding. If you've got the time, hear me out.

LINK: Don't look now, but Mark Stoops is already succeeding

 

[TuckyFB]

Reverend Rowland has spoken! Bow down.

The next 2 weeks will determine Stoops' success in my opinion. If he beats Missouri and Georgia and has us going into Knoxville 6-3. This fanbase will go crazy.

 

[Anon1712931820]

Fact is this:

Since Curci's 10-1 year in 1977 UK has won 7 games or more in a season only 3 times other than Brooks' four years. So in 35 years (39 years since Curci's and removing Brooks 4) we have won 7 games only 8.5% of the time. Throw in Brooks' years and it becomes just 20%...so that means on average Stoops should win 7 1 out of every 5 years. If he is given time I honestly believe 6-7 wins will be the norm/minimum.

Stoops is improving our team and program and has had to work his own kinks out in the process of being a brand new head coach. These past 4 weeks have proven that he has what it takes to make drastic changes in order to improve this football team that he did not make in the two years prior. That to me shows a young coach who has learned from his mistakes.

I for one hope that we can beat Mizzou and have a rocking Commonwealth against UGA, so our fair weather fans will come back to roost and we can be united for the sake of our program and players.

 

[Soupbean]

By now you guys know that I have a tendency to get on my soap box. If you like what I'm saying, maybe that's more bang for your buck. If you disagree, you probably just want me to shut up.

My assertion here: The last five weeks have proven that Mark Stoops is succeeding at Kentucky. His staff continues to defy the recruiting odds, seemingly every season and without regard to negativity coming Stoops' way, and for the first time it looks like Stoops is taking huge steps forward as a coach. Staff changes, a newfound offensive identity, a hitherto unknown resilience and a stacked roster heading into 2017 illustrate this conclusion. Compare Stoops' tenure halfway into his fourth year with Brooks, who did inherit probation but not a significantly worse situation altogether, and the results are either even or may even favor Stoops.

I'm not saying Mark Stoops will succeed. I'm saying he's already succeeding. If you've got the time, hear me out.

LINK: Don't look now, but Mark Stoops is already succeeding

Good piece Justin. I tend to always like your articles because I tend to think like you do and see where you are coming from.

You're right some will just look on the surface and think your "accepting mediocrity" again, but the key is looking at the floor not the house. The problem with UK football through the years is we'll get lucky with a small group of guys that can make a splash for a year or two but then we fall way back down to the bottom again and have to claw just to get back from the basement to the ground floor.

Stoops has made a lot of mistakes that I think he's learning from but underneath those he's still been building our foundation stronger than it's maybe ever been with the talent he has brought in (and as you properly pointed out against all odds) and now hopefully starting to instill an attitude change as well. We've missed several chances the past couple of years for more wins but those were chances to move from the ground floor to the second floor not from the basement to the living room.

I think what you are pointing out is there is real value in moving up and strengthening that floor to the point where it's more likely in the future to go up a floor than back down. Moving up will eventually take more breakthrough wins that lead to even better recruits but it does feel like to me our bottom floor has moved up which gives us a better chance to build up.

 

[pikespeak1]

By now you guys know that I have a tendency to get on my soap box. If you like what I'm saying, maybe that's more bang for your buck. If you disagree, you probably just want me to shut up.

My assertion here: The last five weeks have proven that Mark Stoops is succeeding at Kentucky. His staff continues to defy the recruiting odds, seemingly every season and without regard to negativity coming Stoops' way, and for the first time it looks like Stoops is taking huge steps forward as a coach. Staff changes, a newfound offensive identity, a hitherto unknown resilience and a stacked roster heading into 2017 illustrate this conclusion. Compare Stoops' tenure halfway into his fourth year with Brooks, who did inherit probation but not a significantly worse situation altogether, and the results are either even or may even favor Stoops.

I'm not saying Mark Stoops will succeed. I'm saying he's already succeeding. If you've got the time, hear me out.

LINK: Don't look now, but Mark Stoops is already succeeding

I couldn't agree more. Good luck with many around here though.

 

[Beatle Bum]

This game is awfully important. Stoops needs to avoid a 5 win season to have the argument for improvement in year 4. He admits that Ws matter. Mizzou is, on paper, the best chance for a P5 victory when looking at the remaining sdchedule. Getting #5 on the road is also a good sign for him. Winning 2 in a row against the Tigers would show that his team is truly finding a spot in the middle of the SEC, the crawling to SEC walking. It is cliche. But, it is a big game.

(Most important games in a building program won't be in year 2, but tend to come on the precipice, as in a potential firing - Stoops silences that talk with a bowl, not much less will suffice)