Far Stoops

[JPFisher]

I know this is uncharacteristic of me given my past support for Stoops, but here are my thoughts.

I don't know why we've got this head coach fella when we could have Phil Fulmer, Jumbo Fisher, Nick Saban, Less Miles, etc. We need to pay a lot of money for a big time coach! No way around it.

Some might say that those fellers will never come to Kentucky. I say you're full of swamp water. Besides, a new coach is always the fix for a program.

Kentucky's issue hasn't ever been consistency. We just haven't had success because we need to get a new coach every three years since that's how you build a winning brand. Forget continuity, experience, recruiting, the way to 12-0 is FAR THE DANG COACH. ESPECIALLY if he's the best chance the program's likely ever had to sniff air outside the gutter. That's just common sense.

He's making mistakes left and right. Forget that he's learning and trying to remedy them. Forget that he inherited a horrible situation. Forget that he's loyal and would likely stay at UK to build upon any and all success. Forget it, because he deserves to have his family driven from their home. Because that's logical.

I don't know why anyone is defending him anymore. Why keep him around when we could bring in yet another coordinator HC and have them go through the same growing pains? It makes no sense to me. WHY ISN'T HE ALREADY BACK IN FLORIDA?

Far Stoops.

(Though if we were to strategically lose anyone, I'd choose Eliot).

 

[Xception]

I too support Stoops , good post op

 

[StubbornPenny]

If it was going to take 5 years to a bowl, they should have presented it as such. Borrow a Pitino phrase and call it a "bridge year." All the talk and all the hype was 100% polar opposite of what we're getting. I understand it's hard to tell a fan base that it'll be a down year, but is it any better to build massive hype and then know that you're going to let everyone down?

We can't fire him anyway (or won't, really) until after next year at the earliest, so the sarcasm is needless. We've got Stoops through 2017 whether we want him or not. I'm just tired of a coaching staff that is all smoke and mirrors, and no substance.

Learning and trying to remedy mistakes? I don't care about trying, I care about results. And learning? He still can't manage pace, timeouts, game flow, defensive rest, getting a competent DC, lateral quickness drills, growing talent... need me to go on?

If you still have 100% confidence in Stoops, I hope you enjoy the taste of sand because your head is in it. Even his staunchest supporters, if they're halfway realist, can see that something isn't quite right after two late season collapses, losing the most important opener in your tenure, getting outscored a million to 0 in your last two second halves, player unrest... wake up, man.

 

[jgolfparker]

I have been a big supporter of Mark and now is the time I think he will make the move that he least wanted to and that would be to demote Elliot and take over the D. They are big friends, but it seems that there is no way both will make it! That would be the hardest thing Mark Stoops has ever had to do and I understand. But I think he makes that move for the better of team and his job...........

 

[Kai Slater]

Fire....Them....All

Then, UK football powers will hire another "up and coming" coordinator or, better yet, some flavor-of-the-day coach from the Central Intercontinental Valley Conference. This will lead us to yet another 5-year "rebuilding" period that will promise to land us that coveted post season spot in the Billy Bob's Farm Equipment and Supply Bowl.

Go Big Blue

 

[RACdad]

My main beef is the lack of in-game adjustments. The original game plan is usually sound, but adjustments have to be made based on the flow and how the other team is playing. The evidence has shown the staff lacks the ability to make these adjustments at this time. Do I think we need to fire him now? No I do not, that is not feasible. Do I believe he will be fired after this season? No I do not, his buy out is too big. I want him to be successful here because you are correct. If a change is made we go through the same stuff again. I'm willing to wait it out till after next season unless this team implodes and only wins a couple of games. This team has the talent to go bowling. Anyone who says otherwise has serious issues that needs treatment.

 

[andreIGUODOLLAsigns4UK]

I know this is uncharacteristic of me given my past support for Stoops, but here are my thoughts.

I don't know why we've got this head coach fella when we could have Phil Fulmer, Jumbo Fisher, Nick Saban, Less Miles, etc. We need to pay a lot of money for a big time coach! No way around it.

Some might say that those fellers will never come to Kentucky. I say you're full of swamp water. Besides, a new coach is always the fix for a program.

Kentucky's issue hasn't ever been consistency. We just haven't had success because we need to get a new coach every three years since that's how you build a winning brand. Forget continuity, experience, recruiting, the way to 12-0 is FAR THE DANG COACH. ESPECIALLY if he's the best chance the program's likely ever had to sniff air outside the gutter. That's just common sense.

He's making mistakes left and right. Forget that he's learning and trying to remedy them. Forget that he inherited a horrible situation. Forget that he's loyal and would likely stay at UK to build upon any and all success. Forget it, because he deserves to have his family driven from their home. Because that's logical.

I don't know why anyone is defending him anymore. Why keep him around when we could bring in yet another coordinator HC and have them go through the same growing pains? It makes no sense to me. WHY ISN'T HE ALREADY BACK IN FLORIDA?

Far Stoops.

(Though if we were to strategically lose anyone, I'd choose Eliot).

Considering the candidates for the job when we decided to hire stoops. He was BY FAR the worst option of all our candidates. And those candidates were PROVEN HC's very much unlike stoops who has yet to prove to even be a halfway competent head coach. Stoops poops. We just need to hire a proven winner I don't care who it is. But IMO no way could it get much worse than stoops himself. He tries running a 3-4 in the SEC with a very weak DL. You have to have a top notch DL to run a 3-4. That's one highly dreadful silly mistake. He absolutely fails in the adjustment department. His team's look horribly prepared for games. And in the last 2 games he has blown 21+ point leads. Sorry to burst your bubble but he's obviously just not getting it done.

 

[JPFisher]

We can't fire him anyway (or won't, really) until after next year at the earliest, so the sarcasm is needless. We've got Stoops through 2017 whether we want him or not. I'm just tired of a coaching staff that is all smoke and mirrors, and no substance.

Learning and trying to remedy mistakes? I don't care about trying, I care about results. And learning? He still can't manage pace, timeouts, game flow, defensive rest, getting a competent DC, lateral quickness drills, growing talent... need me to go on?

Sarcasm being needless is your opinion. Thank you for that.

So your solution to hiring poor coaching staffs is what? Hire a new one that will go through basically the same issues?

1. Stoops tried to go without a ST coord. Big gamble and could've paid off if it meant staying reasonably efficient on ST while also giving individual units more coaching. Didn't work, so we got House.

2. Stoops tried to get Riley and Gran. Both turned him down and so we got Dawson. Didn't work, so Dawson is gone (as is the WR coach who was the odd man out and wasn't developing our WRs).

3. Stoops is the first coach I can ever remember recruiting Ohio well, and understands the importance of that state. This shows that he not only learns from his own mistakes, but that he's been doing his research.

4. Stoops realizes that his system won't work with an Air Raid* and so picks an experienced coordinator with an up-tempo pro style offense.

5. Understands that he doesn't know as much right now about HC as he needs to in an SEC school. What does he do? Brings in an OC with HC experience and a like-minded approach to the game.

The list goes on. I'll stop at five. He's not perfect by any means and should probably get rid of Eliot, but to this point, Stoops has experimented, tried, failed, gone back to the board, etc, all in an attempt to make the program better.

 

[Bluetick2100]

Thousands of empty seats will be Stoops doom.
Not opinions on message boards.

 

[Anjiejo]

While i support Stoops and don't like all the social media junk destroying our program (future recruits) i recognize that the product on the field is not winning and will not til changes is made. And if stoops doesn't make change the AD will have to.

I am torn between stoops can fix it,no he can't fix it!
So for myself i decided to give him usc Vandy Mizz MS.ST. to show what he is made of,and what he did fix.

Things i like: Ohio recruiting connection. Overall recruiting base.
I really like most of his staff except i really question the DC and Oline coach.
Not sure about the dline coach as well. Is it scheme or coaching on dline?
Like the RB OL WR TE and how they recruited and build the offense.
Like our DBS and yes even our LB. Lot of 230# to 250# guys with speed.
IMO they have a lot of talent there it just needs to come together like cal's young teams.
Dline and scheme is the big Question for me. I would like them to go to a 4 man front with there OLB at End move miggons inside.
Go small but the do a lot of twist stunts along with blitzs. Imo we have OLB types that are quick and fast but a little light. I would rather see that then having 300 plus # lineman that cant get off of blocks!

old saying.. You are never as good as you look and you are never as bad as you look!
Think usm gave us the deep ball and made the offense look better than what it is. So i expect some growing pains with the new offense.
Also think the defense looked worse than what it will be. So by game 6-7 we should have a good idea how much improvement we made in year 4 if any.
Saban, Fisher, That will not happen! Imagine Cal going to usc or AL because they offer him xx amount of money!
Don't want Miles and in year 3 fans would be wanting him fired.

If stoops doesn't work out IMO you go after brohm or someone like that.

 

[JPFisher]

Considering the candidates for the job when we decided to hire stoops. He was BY FAR the worst option of all our candidates. And those candidates were PROVEN HC's very much unlike stoops who has yet to prove to even be a halfway competent head coach. Stoops poops. We just need to hire a proven winner I don't care who it is. But IMO no way could it get much worse than stoops himself. He tries running a 3-4 in the SEC with a very weak DL. You have to have a top notch DL to run a 3-4. That's one highly dreadful silly mistake. He absolutely fails in the adjustment department. His team's look horribly prepared for games. And in the last 2 games he has blown 21+ point leads. Sorry to burst your bubble but he's obviously just not getting it done.

You're throwing out your opinion as fact, and given your popularity on this board, your opinion doesn't hold much weight. It's okay to have an opinion, just don't try to pass it off as truth.

So he looks horribly prepared for games but yet blows enormous leads? That's a contradiction, my friend. If Stoops has given Eliot the reigns, then Stoops may be trying to coach up Eliot and give him a chance to improve. Adjustments may be placed solely on Eliot. Look at Florida State's defenses under Stoops. Adjusted, and Eliot was a lowly position coach.

3-4 puts less linemen on the field and more speed. Given our success of holding onto linemen (think Meant, Hatcher, Tubman, etc), do you really think it would be wise to put an extra lineman on the field as your base package?

We'll either see Stoops give Eliot more chances or a Mark take over. One is obviously more favorable. Sorry I didn't respond earlier to this. I just realized I had ignored content and I was dying to see who it was.

 

[Kingebeneezer]

The premise that Stoops needs 5 years to see success at UK is bogus. Any coach worth his salt should only need 3 years to start having winning seasons and bowls.

 

[NCukcat62]

I love how all you simpletons like to come here and pump up stoops and tell everyone that doesn't that they are in the wrong. Well let me tell you something so you pumpers can wrap your pea sized brain around. this message board is a small percentage of the football fanbase and the majority is getting sick and tired of this bull crap with the program. Empty seats will grow and grow until stoops wins games he isn't supposed too. Until he does that, seats will continue to be empty.

 

[Nuke99m.]

Tell me It's going to all work out when we are 1-9 with Austin Peay coming to town.

 

[NCukcat62]

The premise that Stoops needs 5 years to see success at UK is bogus. Any coach worth his salt should only need 3 years to start having winning seasons and bowls.

See James Franklin

 

[Fresh Start]

I don't know the answers to UK's problems but constantly changing coaches isn't one of them.

 

[Bigbluecaleb]

If it was going to take 5 years to a bowl, they should have presented it as such. Borrow a Pitino phrase and call it a "bridge year." All the talk and all the hype was 100% polar opposite of what we're getting. I understand it's hard to tell a fan base that it'll be a down year, but is it any better to build massive hype and then know that you're going to let everyone down?

We can't fire him anyway (or won't, really) until after next year at the earliest, so the sarcasm is needless. We've got Stoops through 2017 whether we want him or not. I'm just tired of a coaching staff that is all smoke and mirrors, and no substance.

Learning and trying to remedy mistakes? I don't care about trying, I care about results. And learning? He still can't manage pace, timeouts, game flow, defensive rest, getting a competent DC, lateral quickness drills, growing talent... need me to go on?

If you still have 100% confidence in Stoops, I hope you enjoy the taste of sand because your head is in it. Even his staunchest supporters, if they're halfway realist, can see that something isn't quite right after two late season collapses, losing the most important opener in your tenure, getting outscored a million to 0 in your last two second halves, player unrest... wake up, man.

sad but true . . .

 

[NCukcat62]

I don't know the answers to UK's problems but constantly changing coaches isn't one of them.

Well if he doesn't go to a bowl game and win it by next year, why should we not change?

 

[Nuke99m.]

 

[NCukcat62]

You should post that on its own thread so all the pumpers can see

 

[Anjiejo]

Well if he doesn't go to a bowl game and win it by next year, why should we not change?

If he doesnt make big improvement by next year. Well even this year i think most fans will be ready for change.
Last year was bad. 1 Game this year ended very badly. But if we would fire him like a lot of you want and he turns and pulls wins out at usc vandy mizz ms,st. then what. Now isnt the time to fire or boycott..

 

[Kats23]

Here's what you're risking by keeping Stoops past this season if UK does continues to slide. That recruiting thing the pro Stoops crowd holds onto will begin to slide. Right now, I think another coach could win with this roster. If you wait till the recruiting drops and the wins never come, UK is back in a similar situation when Stoops arrives. A bare cupboard, and good coaches UK could possibly attract, won't want to come here.

UK is a precarious position they never had been in before. Talent exists on the roster but the head coach probably isn't the right guy. At the end of the season, UK needs to look over the finish. If they finish under 5-7, it's time to move on.

 

[lex cath]

Wow that Ohio recruiting base is just lights out huh ? 12-25

 

[BlueRunner11]

The OP is just like so many other fans and really the problem with UK fball for years... low expectations and settling and celebrating mediocrity.

Would any of this nonsense fly with the bball program? No. So it shouldn't fly with the fball program either!

 

[Fresh Start]

Well if he doesn't go to a bowl game and win it by next year, why should we not change?

I can go with that, I'm addressing those that just assume he needs to be fired. We are a long way from the end of next year.

 

[Fresh Start]

The OP is just like so many other fans and really the problem with UK fball for years... low expectations and settling and celebrating mediocrity.

Would any of this nonsense fly with the bball program? No. So it shouldn't fly with the fball program either!

I admire your enthusiasm but you are comparing apples to oranges.

When you say mediocrity what exactly to you mean by mediocrity? Is 7-5 mediocre? Just trying to get a feel for your expectations.

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

1. Stoops may not be a bad coach - losing at UK doesn't necessarily make you bad. But he's not a great coach, if he were we'd have seen it by now.
2. UK has no ordained right to a great coach.
3. Unlike basketball, where 2 or 3 great kids can make all the difference, turning around a football program is very hard.
4. Unlike falling out of bed, identifying a great coach and getting him to take the job is not easy, it's very hard.
5. Not being able to do that doesn't make Barnhart an idiot.
6. Rising from bad/mediocre to good in this particular conference is harder than any other conference.
7. We're at a different place in the culture, not just at UK but everywhere. Commonwealth has been full for generations thru bad football. Now, people are just too busy, and it's just too easy to stay home and watch a 70 inch screen. There is great risk of losing a big slice of UK fandom for good.
8. There is a real chance the bottom falls out of this thing. If we don't get better in a hurry, the crowds at year end could be very sparse. In which case, Barnhart will have no choice - $12 million buyout or not - he'll have to get rid of CMS.
9. Which is, as the OP says, no way to run a football program, changing coaches/direction every few years.
10. Will we ever get a guy that is committed to the place and can recruit like Stoops, and yet is a very good to great coach, like it will take to win here (given the entirety of the situation)? Like I said, very very hard to do. Everyone acting like the solution is easy and if we had an AD with a brain we'd be there......wrong.

random discouraging thoughts......

 

[Anjiejo]

Wow that Ohio recruiting base is just lights out huh ? 12-25

Conrad,AA,Baker,Edwards,Jones,West.. There are 5 really good players even tho you fail to see it. Bannerman looney Dubose we dont know yet. The problem here at KY is our state doesn't produce enough D1 talent. So going into southern Ohio is something we have not done in the last 20 years since i have followed the cats.
Yes they need to recruit FL GA Al as well. But stoops has upgraded the talent and put the program in much better shape than what it was when he got here... Do you realize that we have been doing exactly what you fans are lobbying for in the past 20 years. Firing the coach asap.. Brooks it paid off.. Joker it was very clear that the program was going down hill very fast. Stoops has done some very good things with upgrading talent..
Now stoops needs to win. WIN... But you guy's have pretty much jumped off the deep end after ONE..ONE game. You want him fired NOW. If you would fire him NOW, who would replace him?? Do you realize there may be coaches out there that are good and would come here,but they see that the AD doesn't give the coaches a chance to coach there own talent..Here is a coach who took a lower MAC level talent and build it to Lower SEC talent. He looked really bad in the opening game after making change to try to fix the problem and Boom..Fans want him fired so the AD fires him.
Does he need to improve? No doubt. Thats one reason i like him. He knows what took place last year and saturday is unacceptable. Will he fix it? I don't know! Next 6 games will tell a lot.

But to think southern Ohio recruiting isn't important!!!

I personally think there are other things that need to change before we fire and hire a new staff!

 

[sensible]

This is not a post in defense of Coach Stoops - but in defense of allowing a coach to grow into a job and of consistency. These are just a few examples of how some very good head football coaches started their careers. Yes, you can certainly find many others examples of head coaches having much success within that same time period, but obviously we aren't going to catch lightning in a bottle and that isn't the point.

Bill Snyder's first five years as a head coach:
1989 Kansas State W1 L10
1990 Kansas State W5 L6
1991 Kansas State W7 L4
1992 Kansas State W5 L6
1993 Kansas State W9 L2

Johhny Majors first five years as a head coach:
1968 Iowa State W3 L7
1969 Iowa State W3 L7
1970 Iowa State W5 L6
1971 Iowa State W8 L4
1972 Iowa State W5 L6 T1

Gene Stallings first five years as a head coach:
1965 Texas A&M W3 L7
1966 Texas A&M W4 L5 T1
1967 Texas A&M W7 L4
1968 Texas A&M W3 L7
1969 Texas A&M W3 L7

This translates to the NFL as well. Tom Landry's first five years as a head coach:
1960 36 Dallas Cowboys W0 L11 T1
1961 37 Dallas Cowboys W4 L9 T1
1962 38 Dallas Cowboys W5 L8 T1
1963 39 Dallas Cowboys W4 L10
1964 40 Dallas Cowboys W5 L8 T1

Even a coach we have grown to love started out with a whimper. John Calipari's first five years as a head coach:
1988-89 Massachusetts W10 L18
1989-90 Massachusetts W17 L14
1990-91 Massachusetts W20 L13
1991-92 Massachusetts W30 L5
1992-93 Massachusetts W24 L7

 

[Woodrow24]

I know this is uncharacteristic of me given my past support for Stoops, but here are my thoughts.

I don't know why we've got this head coach fella when we could have Phil Fulmer, Jumbo Fisher, Nick Saban, Less Miles, etc. We need to pay a lot of money for a big time coach! No way around it.

Some might say that those fellers will never come to Kentucky. I say you're full of swamp water. Besides, a new coach is always the fix for a program.

Kentucky's issue hasn't ever been consistency. We just haven't had success because we need to get a new coach every three years since that's how you build a winning brand. Forget continuity, experience, recruiting, the way to 12-0 is FAR THE DANG COACH. ESPECIALLY if he's the best chance the program's likely ever had to sniff air outside the gutter. That's just common sense.

He's making mistakes left and right. Forget that he's learning and trying to remedy them. Forget that he inherited a horrible situation. Forget that he's loyal and would likely stay at UK to build upon any and all success. Forget it, because he deserves to have his family driven from their home. Because that's logical.

I don't know why anyone is defending him anymore. Why keep him around when we could bring in yet another coordinator HC and have them go through the same growing pains? It makes no sense to me. WHY ISN'T HE ALREADY BACK IN FLORIDA?

Far Stoops.

(Though if we were to strategically lose anyone, I'd choose Eliot).

What has Stoops done for you to say that he's the program's last chance at getting outside the gutter? I understand wanting continuity but Stoops has to prove that he is deserving of that. I hope he does because the season is far from over. I'm just curious why you think it's outlandish for people to not want him to be here. Learning on the job doesn't mean that you are capable of doing the job no matter what career field your in. Stoops is a multi-millionaire so using that angle for "feeling sorry" for him being run out of his home doesn't sit well for me. If you were using the "far Cal" approach to make fun of fans I would understand but in this instance I don't get it.

 

[JPFisher]

The Einstein quote is comical because you don't realize the irony that changing coaches like changing remote batteries is what UK's past has been. We've been a stepping stone- used for a few years while a coach cuts his teeth or a place to retire.

We'll continue to have the usual level of success because we continue to bring in young coaches destined to leave after moderate success or old coaches destined to retire soon (see Mumme, Brooks/Claiborne, respectively).

I don't celebrate losses. I just have the understanding that nothing is built in a day. Let alone three years. Point to James Franklin by all means. He inherited a couple good recruiting classes and knocked it out of the park. He got the hell out of dodge when they graduated and what has he done at a perennial winner in a weaker conference?

I'm not saying we should give Stoops 20 years to accomplish his goal. That's ridiculous. I'm saying he has learned and grown and made adjustments. Hiring a new coach will reset everything. It's true that the great recruiting classes could be gone by the time we get a new coach, but do you really want a coach who can only work with talent when it's handed to them (like James Franky)?

I'm all for replacing Stoops after his contact is up if he hadn't performed adequately. That gives him more than enough time to right the ship and hopefully get a new DC. The FAR STOOPS NAW crowd is the one that I'm messing with.

I will not defend mediocrity, but I sure as hell won't call for Stoops's head when I've seen him take lumps and try to figure out this head coaching business.

Now, several of you are bringing up points that if the team is melting down after the first few games that Stoops backers will continue to coddle him. No. I won't. If we're melting down and Stoops doesn't make an adjustment at DC, I'll sing a different tune. I'm just not ready to give up on Stoops after the first game. You may crucify me if you wish.

 

[BlueRunner11]

I admire your enthusiasm but you are comparing apples to oranges.

When you say mediocrity what exactly to you mean by mediocrity? Is 7-5 mediocre? Just trying to get a feel for your expectations.

Yes being satisfied with 6-6, 7-5 and a Music city or independence bowl here and there is pretty mediocre don't you think?

If you feel that's UK ceiling as a program then so be it but I don't. It's the accepted norm and last time I checked we are several years removed from even that.

 

[StubbornPenny]

This is not a post in defense of Coach Stoops - but in defense of allowing a coach to grow into a job and of consistency. These are just a few examples of how some very good head football coaches started their careers. Yes, you can certainly find many others examples of head coaches having much success within that same time period, but obviously we aren't going to catch lightning in a bottle and that isn't the point.

Bill Snyder's first five years as a head coach:
1989 Kansas State W1 L10
1990 Kansas State W5 L6
1991 Kansas State W7 L4
1992 Kansas State W5 L6
1993 Kansas State W9 L2

Johhny Majors first five years as a head coach:
1968 Iowa State W3 L7
1969 Iowa State W3 L7
1970 Iowa State W5 L6
1971 Iowa State W8 L4
1972 Iowa State W5 L6 T1

Gene Stallings first five years as a head coach:
1965 Texas A&M W3 L7
1966 Texas A&M W4 L5 T1
1967 Texas A&M W7 L4
1968 Texas A&M W3 L7
1969 Texas A&M W3 L7

This translates to the NFL as well. Tom Landry's first five years as a head coach:
1960 36 Dallas Cowboys W0 L11 T1
1961 37 Dallas Cowboys W4 L9 T1
1962 38 Dallas Cowboys W5 L8 T1
1963 39 Dallas Cowboys W4 L10
1964 40 Dallas Cowboys W5 L8 T1

Even a coach we have grown to love started out with a whimper. John Calipari's first five years as a head coach:
1988-89 Massachusetts W10 L18
1989-90 Massachusetts W17 L14
1990-91 Massachusetts W20 L13
1991-92 Massachusetts W30 L5
1992-93 Massachusetts W24 L7

I don't think the time given to coaches in the 60s or 70s makes any difference these days. The game is different, the tools are different, the players are different, everything is different. Any program going through what we are right now would have the same reaction, unless they just don't care about football at all.

 

[Woodrow24]

The Einstein quote is comical because you don't realize the irony that changing coaches like changing remote batteries is what UK's past has been. We've been a stepping stone- used for a few years while a coach cuts his teeth or a place to retire.

We'll continue to have the usual level of success because we continue to bring in young coaches destined to leave after moderate success or old coaches destined to retire soon (see Mumme, Brooks/Claiborne, respectively).

I don't celebrate losses. I just have the understanding that nothing is built in a day. Let alone three years. Point to James Franklin by all means. He inherited a couple good recruiting classes and knocked it out of the park. He got the hell out of dodge when they graduated and what has he done at a perennial winner in a weaker conference?

I'm not saying we should give Stoops 20 years to accomplish his goal. That's ridiculous. I'm saying he has learned and grown and made adjustments. Hiring a new coach will reset everything. It's true that the great recruiting classes could be gone by the time we get a new coach, but do you really want a coach who can only work with talent when it's handed to them (like James Franky)?

I'm all for replacing Stoops after his contact is up if he hadn't performed adequately. That gives him more than enough time to right the ship and hopefully get a new DC. The FAR STOOPS NAW crowd is the one that I'm messing with.

I will not defend mediocrity, but I sure as hell won't call for Stoops's head when I've seen him take lumps and try to figure out this head coaching business.

Now, several of you are bringing up points that if the team is melting down after the first few games that Stoops backers will continue to coddle him. No. I won't. If we're melting down and Stoops doesn't make an adjustment at DC, I'll sing a different tune. I'm just not ready to give up on Stoops after the first game. You may crucify me if you wish.

Good post. You make good points and I see some of the points that others make with a different take on the situation. The season isn't over but it will be interesting to see what Mitch does if we have another bad season. I would rather things get right this season and move forword but the odds aren't very good.

 

[JPFisher]

What has Stoops done for you to say that he's the program's last chance at getting outside the gutter? I understand wanting continuity but Stoops has to prove that he is deserving of that. I hope he does because the season is far from over. I'm just curious why you think it's outlandish for people to not want him to be here. Learning on the job doesn't mean that you are capable of doing the job no matter what career field your in. Stoops is a multi-millionaire so using that angle for "feeling sorry" for him being run out of his home doesn't sit well for me. If you were using the "far Cal" approach to make fun of fans I would understand but in this instance I don't get it.

- Stoops has improved UK's recruiting exponentially.
- Stoops has made adjustments (House at ST and Gran at OC) which, admittedly, we still need to see how they perform, but I see Gran as an improvement over Dawson even after the second half collapse. ST was pretty well improved in the game.
- Stoops doesn't take ******** extracurriculars very well and does what he can to keep the university's image clean.
- Stoops has demanded and received upgrades to major football facilities.
- Stoops has been on the cusp of bowl eligibility twice. The law of averages has to apply eventually, all things being equal, and I can't imagine losing momentum after a bowl berth.

Like I said, I'll be happy to see Stoops go if we're up **** creek this year or next and see no adjustments. It's do or die for Stoops, and I want to see how he responds.

 

[Woodrow24]

- Stoops has improved UK's recruiting exponentially. - Stoops has made adjustments (House at ST and Gran at OC) which, admittedly, we still need to see how they perform, but I see Gran as an improvement over Dawson even after the second half collapse. ST was pretty well improved in the game.
- Stoops doesn't take ******** extracurriculars very well and does what he can to keep the university's image clean.
- Stoops has demanded and received upgrades to major football facilities.
- Stoops has been on the cusp of bowl eligibility twice. The law of averages has to apply eventually, all things being equal, and I can't imagine losing momentum after a bowl berth.

Like I said, I'll be happy to see Stoops go if we're up **** creek this year or next and see no adjustments. It's do or die for Stoops, and I want to see how he responds.

I liked the Gran hire a lot. I just worry about the defense and that is what makes me worry about Stoops. Who would have thought with his pedigree that fans would have to worry about that in year four? It's not like the man showed up in Lexington and forgot how to coach defense. Makes me wonder if he has difficulty dealing with the pressure of being the man in charge. Or does he have trouble recruiting the right players for depth or the right ones to fill in on his system? Can't answer any of those but I do know that being a head coach, many aspects go with the job that he might not be able to handle. Be a wait and see approach till after the season is over. If he doesn't make it, Mitch has to make the right hire and I hope that someone makes the choice for him. If stoops can't do the job, it's crucial that the next man they get is right for the job and can build off of the recruiting that stoops has completed in his time here. Having the third best program in our state is embarrassing, IMO.

 

[JPFisher]

I liked the Gran hire a lot. I just worry about the defense and that is what makes me worry about Stoops. Who would have thought with his pedigree that fans would have to worry about that in year four? It's not like the man showed up in Lexington and forgot how to coach defense. Makes me wonder if he has difficulty dealing with the pressure of being the man in charge. Or does he have trouble recruiting the right players for depth or the right ones to fill in on his system? Can't answer any of those but I do know that being a head coach, many aspects go with the job that he might not be able to handle. Be a wait and see approach till after the season is over. If he doesn't make it, Mitch has to make the right hire and I hope that someone makes the choice for him. If stoops can't do the job, it's crucial that the next man they get is right for the job and can build off of the recruiting that stoops has completed in his time here. Having the third best program in our state is embarrassing, IMO.

Fans have always been wary of DJ Eliot, and at this point, I think rightfully so. The thought when Stoops bright him in was that Stoops would hand the defense to Eliot and coach Eliot along the way. I don't see that working and I honestly hope Stoops makes a major change before it costs him the program.

There are also rumblings that the players don't apprecIate Eliot that much. Fwiw, which might not be much.

 

[VilleCat_rivals377292]

I don't want Stoops fired, I want him to be successful and retire here. I just want to see good coaching decisions, player development, and improvement on the field. No doubt, recruiting has improved greatly, but it's got to show up in wins very soon.

 

[Anon1712931820]

Fire....Them....All

Then, UK football powers will hire another "up and coming" coordinator or, better yet, some flavor-of-the-day coach from the Central Intercontinental Valley Conference. This will lead us to yet another 5-year "rebuilding" period that will promise to land us that coveted post season spot in the Billy Bob's Farm Equipment and Supply Bowl.

Go Big Blue

Really? Because that is the type of coaches that have been hired here? Rich Brooks from Oregon, Joker was CIW disaster and Stoops was a big name being a defensive coordinator at a big program like FSU. When you don't have sufficient knowledge on a subject it is better to stay quiet then to out yourself as being a fool.

 

[JHB4UK]

As I said in another thread on this popular topic, at this point in my personal tortuous relationship with UK football I'd rather Mark Stoops remain our head coach for the foreseeable future rather than Mitch Barnhart get a FOURTH opportunity to hire a head coach/negotiate another contract