Exciting!!!

[willievic]

If you aren't excited about the football team, then something is wrong with you. We have a great bunch of coaches, coaches who were successful at other programs, and are well respected by their peers. This is evident by how many programs have tried to poach some of our coaches, but Mitch put up the money to keep them.
We also went out and got an OC and a QB coach, who are experienced and well thought of in the industry. Several schools have tried to get our TOP recruiter, the last being Michigan, but NO, we kept him. He turned them down.
Other coaches on Coach Stoops staff had offers from other schools, but they stayed with Coach Stoops and the CATS.
Take a look at our recruiting. Were beating Ohio State, Alabama, etc. out of recruits. How long has it been since that happened. When is the last time Kentucky put three players on the Army Bowl? I'm 76 and I don't ever remember that happening.
I know my glass is always half full. It was that way when I was flying fighters for the Air Force, and it will never change. I love looking through "Rose colored glasses".
I'm EXCITED about the future of the University of Kentucky football, and if your not, I don't know what to tell you. Fill that glass HALF FULL!

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[redbudman]

Totally agree! There has never been more effort to get this thing going! $$$$ being spent, coaches staying, now WE just have to make plays! I truly think we are on the cusp of something like we have never seen!

 

[BWCatsFan22]

Ya kinda tough to get too excited and be too optimistic when you look at the SEC schedule plus Louisville next year! Wins could be hard to come by IMO. Just being realistic and not negative. That is just the way it is in the SEC.

 

[Bluetick2100]

another 4/5 win season just doesn't get me excited.

 

[Shavers48]

I'll say this: our coaches are well paid!

 

[NCukcat62]

I'll be pumped towards the season but right now I'm still disappointed and let down. So no I'm not excited

 

[kywildhog]

Ya kinda tough to get too excited and be too optimistic when you look at the SEC schedule plus Louisville next year! Wins could be hard to come by IMO. Just being realistic and not negative. That is just the way it is in the SEC.

I guess you could say, when Coach Brooks' team faced LSU the number one team in the nation, "ya kinda tough to get too excited and be too optimistic" about our chances to win that game. I believe we have today, a better coaching staff and better players than Coach Brooks had to Work with that year and look what he was able to accomplish. So yes I'm looking forward to next year and beyond, go big blue!

 

[Glenn Fohr]

Wish we had Woodson to go with Conrad, Juice, Bone, Timmons, TV, Long and the newcomers!!!

 

[Bluetick2100]

I guess you could say, when Coach Brooks' team faced LSU the number one team in the nation, "ya kinda tough to get too excited and be too optimistic" about our chances to win that game. I believe we have today, a better coaching staff and better players than Coach Brooks had to Work with that year and look what he was able to accomplish. So yes I'm looking forward to next year and beyond, go big blue!

So Stoops is a better coach with better players than Brooks.
Please explain the 5 win seasons.

 

[kywildhog]

So Stoops is a better coach with better players than Brooks.
Please explain the 5 win seasons.

If you look at Coach Brooks first three years as head coach of Kentucky football, he won four games his first year, two games his second year and three game his third year. It takes time to recruit and rebuild a football team, that a new coach can mold into what he wants to see on the field to complete in the SEC. That's all I'm saying, Coach Brooks was given that time, and CMS should be given time too! (Brooks 9 wins in three years, Stoop 12 wins in three years)

 

[gamalielkid]

If you aren't excited about the football team, then something is wrong with you. We have a great bunch of coaches, coaches who were successful at other programs, and are well respected by their peers. This is evident by how many programs have tried to poach some of our coaches, but Mitch put up the money to keep them.
We also went out and got an OC and a QB coach, who are experienced and well thought of in the industry. Several schools have tried to get our TOP recruiter, the last being Michigan, but NO, we kept him. He turned them down.
Other coaches on Coach Stoops staff had offers from other schools, but they stayed with Coach Stoops and the CATS.
Take a look at our recruiting. Were beating Ohio State, Alabama, etc. out of recruits. How long has it been since that happened. When is the last time Kentucky put three players on the Army Bowl? I'm 76 and I don't ever remember that happening.
I know my glass is always half full. It was that way when I was flying fighters for the Air Force, and it will never change. I love looking through "Rose colored glasses".
I'm EXCITED about the future of the University of Kentucky football, and if your not, I don't know what to tell you. Fill that glass HALF FULL!

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

I agree with everything you are saying. Next year it will be much harder, schedule wise, win 8 or 9 games was this year. However, it could happen - because of better athletes and better coaching! Not predicting it, but wouldn't be surprised!

Go Big Blue!

 

[UKCatNnc]

I'm with you Willievic. Like a lot of fans, I was very disappointed with this past season. However, when I think about where we are coming from as a team and the progress we have made in just 3 years, I can get really excited. Go Cats!!

 

[ThwKentuckyKid]

I'm with you, true Kentucky football fans are some of the best fans of any team out there.

 

[KyCatFan_rivals45723]

I won't be fooled again into being excited. I am going to sit back and expect nothing and then maybe they will surprise me and not keep letting me down. Tired of thinking this is the year they do something and each time is like a kick to the nuts. I've officially switched to wait and see mode.

 

[Jamal Mercer]

I also will take the wait and see approach.

 

[3kidsandme]

I also will take the wait and see approach.

We went from 6 wins in 3 years to 10 in 2 years. I know some of our fans do not understand the mess Joker left. But 2 recruiting years was not gonna make us a top 25 team.

 

[Kats23]

Two consecutive 2nd half season collapses and pretty much whipped around by a middle of a pack ACC team in our last game. Trip to Bama, UF, UT, and UL.
Sorry bud. I can't be optimistic

 

[Bluetick2100]

We went from 6 wins in 3 years to 10 in 2 years. I know some of our fans do not understand the mess Joker left. But 2 recruiting years was not gonna make us a top 25 team.

Sorry but the Joker mess excuse is wore out.
It's been three years and some of last seasons best players were Jokers recruits. Now in the NFL and doing quiet well.
Stoops owns the last two seasons total collapse.
Joker had nothing to do with not enough players on the field or icing your own kicker.

 

[rmattox]

I guess you could say, when Coach Brooks' team faced LSU the number one team in the nation, "ya kinda tough to get too excited and be too optimistic" about our chances to win that game. I believe we have today, a better coaching staff and better players than Coach Brooks had to Work with that year and look what he was able to accomplish. So yes I'm looking forward to next year and beyond, go big blue!

Not so sure about having better coaches now. As for players, IMO, we at least had skill players that were proven. Brooks' staff was strong with coaches with nfl ties. They knew Football and how to teach it. In fact, that was Joker's downfall. He got rid of Brook's guys and tried to coach in a way that differed from what he saw Brooks doing.

Skill players: We have more with potential, but with the exception of B. Williams, we don't have skill guys like Burton, Woodson, Tamme, Johnson, Lyons and others that have proven themselves.

The exciting part is the potential.

 

[rye48]

I guess you could say, when Coach Brooks' team faced LSU the number one team in the nation, "ya kinda tough to get too excited and be too optimistic" about our chances to win that game. I believe we have today, a better coaching staff and better players than Coach Brooks had to Work with that year and look what he was able to accomplish. So yes I'm looking forward to next year and beyond, go big blue!

Ya well i was Excited about The UofL game this year

 

[un4getables]

Sorry but the Joker mess excuse is wore out.
It's been three years and some of last seasons best players were Jokers recruits. Now in the NFL and doing quiet well.
Stoops owns the last two seasons total collapse.
Joker had nothing to do with not enough players on the field or icing your own kicker.

You can't be serious.we would have been better off coming off probation then what JOKEr left for stoops You probably need to go cheer to another program if you can't stomach or realize the turnaround that is occurring. We don't need fans like you if you are a true fan of Kentucky.

 

[cat888]

So Stoops is a better coach with better players than Brooks.
Please explain the 5 win seasons.

How many 5 win season did Brooks have in his first 3.

 

[yoshukai]

You can't be serious.we would have been better off coming off probation then what JOKEr left for stoops You probably need to go cheer to another program if you can't stomach or realize the turnaround that is occurring. We don't need fans like you if you are a true fan of Kentucky.

It's the Eastern and Lousiana Lafyette games we barely one that have me questioning the staff . As bad a shape as joker left us we still should have shown better against those teams . We could improve a lot and still not have as good a record as this past seasons. That's kinda got me bummed.

 

[sluggercatfan]

If you aren't excited about the football team, then something is wrong with you. We have a great bunch of coaches, coaches who were successful at other programs, and are well respected by their peers. This is evident by how many programs have tried to poach some of our coaches, but Mitch put up the money to keep them.
We also went out and got an OC and a QB coach, who are experienced and well thought of in the industry. Several schools have tried to get our TOP recruiter, the last being Michigan, but NO, we kept him. He turned them down.
Other coaches on Coach Stoops staff had offers from other schools, but they stayed with Coach Stoops and the CATS.
Take a look at our recruiting. Were beating Ohio State, Alabama, etc. out of recruits. How long has it been since that happened. When is the last time Kentucky put three players on the Army Bowl? I'm 76 and I don't ever remember that happening.
I know my glass is always half full. It was that way when I was flying fighters for the Air Force, and it will never change. I love looking through "Rose colored glasses".
I'm EXCITED about the future of the University of Kentucky football, and if your not, I don't know what to tell you. Fill that glass HALF FULL!

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

Not excited...beeñ a LONG time season ticket and I'm going Missouri on this staff and UK football in general...again I will be a every game h/w this season , but I will no longer let my emotions come into play with UK fb...GOCATS!!!!

 

[sluggercatfan]

Not excited...beeñ a LONG time season ticket and I'm going Missouri on this staff and UK football in general...again I will be a every game h/w this season , but I will no longer let my emotions come into play with UK fb...GOCATS!!!!

 

[oboroCATfan]

My excitement for this program will come back when they make a bowl game.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I guess you could say, when Coach Brooks' team faced LSU the number one team in the nation, "ya kinda tough to get too excited and be too optimistic" about our chances to win that game. I believe we have today, a better coaching staff and better players than Coach Brooks had to Work with that year and look what he was able to accomplish. So yes I'm looking forward to next year and beyond, go big blue!

If you think this team has better players OR a better staff (especially the HC) then you sir, with all due respect are drowning in the blue kool-aid...please tell me the kids from this year that would have started for that team

 

[willievic]

If you think this team has better players OR a better staff (especially the HC) then you sir, with all due respect are drowning in the blue kool-aid...please tell me the kids from this year that would have started for that team

Most of the players in that game were Jr. and Sr's. Most of our players are Freshmen and Sophmores, with a great recruiting class coming in. Probably the best OL players we have recruited in my lifetime, which is a long time.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[SanAntonioCat_rivals376502]

If you aren't excited about the football team, then something is wrong with you. We have a great bunch of coaches, coaches who were successful at other programs, and are well respected by their peers. This is evident by how many programs have tried to poach some of our coaches, but Mitch put up the money to keep them.
We also went out and got an OC and a QB coach, who are experienced and well thought of in the industry. Several schools have tried to get our TOP recruiter, the last being Michigan, but NO, we kept him. He turned them down.
Other coaches on Coach Stoops staff had offers from other schools, but they stayed with Coach Stoops and the CATS.
Take a look at our recruiting. Were beating Ohio State, Alabama, etc. out of recruits. How long has it been since that happened. When is the last time Kentucky put three players on the Army Bowl? I'm 76 and I don't ever remember that happening.
I know my glass is always half full. It was that way when I was flying fighters for the Air Force, and it will never change. I love looking through "Rose colored glasses".
I'm EXCITED about the future of the University of Kentucky football, and if your not, I don't know what to tell you. Fill that glass HALF FULL!

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

I'm 71 and feel like I'm a kid compared to my fellow long suffering ever hopeful fan.

 

[KY1WING]

I appreciate the improvement in recruiting and players but for whatever reason this team has shown that better players do not always result in a better team. EKU had a lot less talent and depth but can you say we were the better team that night?

 

[howercat]

Ya kinda tough to get too excited and be too optimistic when you look at the SEC schedule plus Louisville next year! Wins could be hard to come by IMO. Just being realistic and not negative. That is just the way it is in the SEC.

I am just going to add to this "realistic" post. The CATS may be better, but they got their tails handed to them in some games this year. They need to be much better if they expect to get Ws in the SEC. As always we will root and support the CATS. BUT until the CATS prove they can compete and get Ws in the SEC, until they can compete at the LOS, then we will keep our optimism to a minimum.

 

[RackOps]

Stoops is undefeated in the offseason.

I don't mean that as a shot. I'm just saying that regardless of what has happened during the season, he's always managed to have BBN fired up by the time the next season rolls around.

 

[SanAntonioCat_rivals376502]

Folks, winning solves everything.

 

[PhattyJ4UK_rivals309166]

I'll always be excited about the what ifs with kentucky football just like I am about the Powerball win I'm about to hit..

..but that doesn't mean I'm optimistic.. I feel better today then I did after the last game and think we have a chance to make a bowl next year, but I'm looking 2 or 3 seasons for significant wins

 

[kywildhog]

Not so sure about having better coaches now. As for players, IMO, we at least had skill players that were proven. Brooks' staff was strong with coaches with nfl ties. They knew Football and how to teach it. In fact, that was Joker's downfall. He got rid of Brook's guys and tried to coach in a way that differed from what he saw Brooks doing.

Skill players: We have more with potential, but with the exception of B. Williams, we don't have skill guys like Burton, Woodson, Tamme, Johnson, Lyons and others that have proven themselves.

The exciting part is the potential.

Look, Coach Brooks was a great coach for UK. I'm hoping Coach Stoop can even be better. I like the point you made about Brooks staff being strong with coaches with NFL ties and all skill player they coached, I just can't figure out why Coach Brooks and coaching staff only won nine games their first three years at UK?

 

[Deeeefense]

Retaining and adding to a high quality recruiting class, and a great start to the 2017 class plus retention of key members of the coaching staff and adding high quality upgrades are not things you would expect following a disappointing season.

Regardless of the perception of Coach Stoops and the program from the fans, it's evident that some of the best football recruits in the country and some top tier coaches believe that the program's heading in the right direction. I find that encouraging.

 

[kywildhog]

If you think this team has better players OR a better staff (especially the HC) then you sir, with all due respect are drowning in the blue kool-aid...please tell me the kids from this year that would have started for that team

I my be drinking blue kook-aid but using your own words, I believe you are drowning in sour-grapes. The record looks like Coach Stoop has done more with less in his first three years coaching then our beloved Coach Brooks.

 

[Goingfor9]

Really? Someone believes this?

 

[sluggercatfan]

KWH...Your words "we have better coaches and players today than Brooks had when they beat Lsu"...MS is not half the coach RB was and neither is this staff....and again please name me players from this team that would start for that one

 

[Soupbean]

Wow talk about some sad sacks. I read the Op and got up and sacked the crap out of my mother in law. I think some are looking at this wrong and missing Willies point. As deflating a last year was its amazing how optimistic I still feel and it's because I genuinely feel like we really have better players on their way. And I think the coaches know they botched it last year and are hell bent to get better themselves.

I've said it before but the only reason some are so down is because Stoops and Co got us so high inthe first place with their commitment to get better players. As long as that seems to be continuing that hope is still alive. it's no time to jump ship now. I'm still too curious to see how all this turns out. And l think what Willies trying to show us is as fans it's not just our part to wait til they give us something to get excited about, why not get excited to help them and see what happens. If their not quitting I'm not either.

give me he'll Willie....and thanks for your service!