Hard to be a fan at times

[NavyCat88]

Who else wanted it? Stoops begged? Did anyone else want it? When we hired Brooks, he was like our fifth choice. He even said it during his fourth year when asked if he was on the hot seat. You act like we can fire stoops and hire anyone we want because we have money. Everyone has money. No one wants this job. Tell me one coach that has wanted this job other than Petrino that was worth a **** as a coach that we didn't hire. Go back to after Claiborne left. Tell me one.

Question: Did AD even try to find the best HC available when Brooks was leaving and our stock was at its highest?

Answer: No. He went straight to a HCIW scheme where we did a direct appointment of a OC with no HC experience and no one knocking on the door to give him HC experience.

Result: We will never really know who wanted the job after Brooks (or for that matter after Joker) because the AD is too lazy to conduct a comprehensive HC search. However, many indications on this board/ in the press are that Petrino and Leach were interested. Maybe the AD could do his job, and if he cannot find a homerun P5 hire, he could seek out a hot running young MAC or CUSA HC with some experience on the sideline and fire in his belly....but that is just toooooooo much work for our AD.

Regardless, we seem to be the only school in the FBS who can have a coaching vacancy with no takers.....hmmmmm even So Miss found an experienced HC from Alcorn St to come in and whip our tails in CWS in his first game with a brand new OC that we fired .......Of course if AD doesn't turn on the "vacancy sign" and conduct a search, I suppose we shouldn't be surprised. Add to it he made an ill advised extension of a HC who has yet to go plus .500 and has presided over multiple late season collapses.

HC may or may not be back next year, but he really isn't the root cause of UK's problems in athletics....that sits squarely at the feet of our AD.

GBB--beat the hell outa Vandy!

 

[BBBLazing]

Question: Did AD even try to find the best HC available when Brooks was leaving and our stock was at its highest?

Answer: No. He went straight to a HCIW scheme where we did a direct appointment of a OC with no HC experience and no one knocking on the door to give him HC experience.

Result: We will never really know who wanted the job after Brooks (or for that matter after Joker) because the AD is too lazy to conduct a comprehensive HC search. However, many indications on this board/ in the press are that Petrino and Leach were interested. Maybe the AD could do his job, and if he cannot find a homerun P5 hire, he could seek out a hot running young MAC or CUSA HC with some experience on the sideline and fire in his belly....but that is just toooooooo much work for our AD.

Regardless, we seem to be the only school in the FBS who can have a coaching vacancy with no takers.....hmmmmm even So Miss found an experienced HC from Alcorn St to come in and whip our tails in CWS in his first game with a brand new OC that we fired .......Of course if AD doesn't turn on the "vacancy sign" and conduct a search, I suppose we shouldn't be surprised. Add to it he made an ill advised extension of a HC who has yet to go plus .500 and has presided over multiple late season collapses.

HC may or may not be back next year, but he really isn't the root cause of UK's problems in athletics....that sits squarely at the feet of our AD.

GBB--beat the hell outa Vandy!

How long have you been a fan? The whole head coach in waiting was generally applauded to keep our great offensive coordinator at the time, Joker, from going to Oklahoma. So, no one bitched until he actually became the head coach. Keep in mind that Brooks retired when the getting was good, with a fairly depleted group. Maybe not upper class, but he kinda pulled a Tubby and had a couple of weak recruiting classes and left when the cupboard was getting bare.

Joker had his dream job that everyone's favorite, Brooks, secured for him to keep him from leaving. Then, he had ****** teams because he had no talent. Once he was no longer recruiting coordinator, recruiting is getting worse. Then, he gets fired. No one wants the job. It wasn't Mitch alone, he puts together a great team to find a coach. Guess what, no big names are interested. Mark Stoops puts together a plan to win here. Everyone, including your smart *** was happy at that point.

Mark Stoops gets here, and anyone that knows anyone involved in the program knows that Stoops was immediately amazed at how bad our talent was. At how bad our facilities were and how bad our system was. Our strength and conditioning was atrocious. We didn't even have a nutrition plan for our athletes. He started a full two years behind any head coach of a team in a power 5 conference.

You say that indications on "this board/the press" are that Leach and Petrino were interested. If you get your information from this board, you are stupid. While they both may have been interested, we know that no one in the SEC would have hired Petrino at the time. Leach is currently setting at 2-2 and has made an *** out of himself multiple times.

While I'm not saying the Mark Stoops is our savior, I will say that I have been watching this team for longer than most if not all of you and it is not easy to win here. We have fired coaches for not winning. We have had way too much turnover to ever get anything going. We hired Bill Curry the year he was national coach of the year (I have made this comment 100 times and no one has responded to it). Who do you all want?

To say Mitch didn't search hard enough...we put together a pretty good committee last time and hired the best available person that wanted the job. We are getting better, slower than all of us would like, but we are getting better. I'm willing to wait a year or two longer to bring this thing to fruition with the recruits we are getting. If you want Kentucky to win 9 or 10 now and every year hereafter, you might as well move on because it is not going to happen.

 

[sluggercatfan]

No,I have never been a big fan of the current AD but is he really that much different than Shively,Hagan or Newton?

All basketball only people!!! Enough said.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Do you remember that we hired Bill Curry the year that he was National Coach of the Year?

I was at Ala this weekend...folks Laughed every time I brought his name up

 

[Goingfor9]

Yup it sure ain't easy to be a fan when we are up three and can't hit a wide open TE for a TD. The bottom line is the basketball first fans have elevated expectations while the football first are enablers of bad football. There is absolutely no reason we don't make a bowl every year. Seriously...I go back to the marty Moore return punt vs Clemson like 25years ago. That play embodies UK football and the self inflicted wounds the football program puts on itself and in turn the fans

 

[NavyCat88]

How long have you been a fan? The whole head coach in waiting was generally applauded to keep our great offensive coordinator at the time, Joker, from going to Oklahoma. So, no one bitched until he actually became the head coach. Keep in mind that Brooks retired when the getting was good, with a fairly depleted group. Maybe not upper class, but he kinda pulled a Tubby and had a couple of weak recruiting classes and left when the cupboard was getting bare.

Joker had his dream job that everyone's favorite, Brooks, secured for him to keep him from leaving. Then, he had ****** teams because he had no talent. Once he was no longer recruiting coordinator, recruiting is getting worse. Then, he gets fired. No one wants the job. It wasn't Mitch alone, he puts together a great team to find a coach. Guess what, no big names are interested. Mark Stoops puts together a plan to win here. Everyone, including your smart *** was happy at that point.

Mark Stoops gets here, and anyone that knows anyone involved in the program knows that Stoops was immediately amazed at how bad our talent was. At how bad our facilities were and how bad our system was. Our strength and conditioning was atrocious. We didn't even have a nutrition plan for our athletes. He started a full two years behind any head coach of a team in a power 5 conference.

You say that indications on "this board/the press" are that Leach and Petrino were interested. If you get your information from this board, you are stupid. While they both may have been interested, we know that no one in the SEC would have hired Petrino at the time. Leach is currently setting at 2-2 and has made an *** out of himself multiple times.

While I'm not saying the Mark Stoops is our savior, I will say that I have been watching this team for longer than most if not all of you and it is not easy to win here. We have fired coaches for not winning. We have had way too much turnover to ever get anything going. We hired Bill Curry the year he was national coach of the year (I have made this comment 100 times and no one has responded to it). Who do you all want?

To say Mitch didn't search hard enough...we put together a pretty good committee last time and hired the best available person that wanted the job. We are getting better, slower than all of us would like, but we are getting better. I'm willing to wait a year or two longer to bring this thing to fruition with the recruits we are getting. If you want Kentucky to win 9 or 10 now and every year hereafter, you might as well move on because it is not going to happen.

To answer some of your questions/comments:

-How long have I been a fan? Started going to games in the early 70s w/my dad.

-We did the HICW to keep Joker from going to OU?!?!?! Really.....In what capacity? graduate assistant?--never ever have I heard that one.....please post a link. However, I have heard (and I remember hearing at the time....and I hear people remarking to this very day) that Leach and Petrino were interested when Stoops made his unsolicited proposal to the motivationally challenged AD, and the path of least resistance was taken. In if he couldn't get Leach or Petrino....plenty of coaches looking or a P5 job in the MAC, CUSA, FCS....some of them grow into Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel, etc....but you have to have an AD willing to do the work to find good HCs with an eye for talent and proven leadership skills.

-The fact that no other SEC team wanted Petrino means we would have had leverage on him given is circumstances (ideal in negotiations) but we passed.....and now we've been passed .....by UL.

-As far as Stoops arrival and your assertion that he "started out a full two years behind" any coach in a power 5 conference. Not sure what that you're trying to say....sounds as though your making stuff up now to support the HC. Regardless, if the program was in that condition....again, the AD made the HCIW hire, so again, that is on him.

-As far as the "stupid" comment---I am not the one maintaining "no one wants the job" simply because an incompetent AD says so. This is the same AD that claims he allllllmost had Bill Parcels (hysterical when you think about it).

-You say Leach is presently "setting" at 2-2. True....but he was 9-4 last year (107-74 overall at WSU--I'll take it). If you want a longer track record....check his record at T/Tech. Google is our friend.

In all seriousness, I get your passion and willingness to engage in a spirited back-&-forth, but if untried and untested HCs are the best AD can do, we're going to continue to wallow in sub-mediocrity. Here is hoping AD takes one of Leonard's Losers "Smart Pills" before he does another hire.

"Get me outta here Percy" and GBB!

 

[yoshukai]

It's actually very true wether you want to believe it or not. UK is one of the youngest teams in the country, lost 7 of their 8 leading tacklers from last year. I mean I could provide the facts about how young the team is but doubt it would do much good.

That argument might hold some weight if didn't suck last year . When you suck and lose 7 of your leading tacklers and still suck , well you just suck .

 

[yoshukai]

Yes sirree. When he was named coach in waiting, it seemed everyone was so happy. It will be a continuation of what Brooks was doing. Fans were ecstatic. Homegrown player, UK in his blood.

It did not work out

Mainly because he replaced the whole staff .

 

[yoshukai]

No,I have never been a big fan of the current AD but is he really that much different than Shively,Hagan or Newton?

True , I'd like a football AD . Basketball will still be fine. I'd be happy with Rich Brooks as AD .

 

[yoshukai]

It was all over these boards by fans. The only thing ever attributed to Petrino was his father saying he thought he would be interested. It was to put his name in the media again. There has never been any evidence of Petrino saying he would welcome a discussion.

Like I said in the thread, we say "facts" enough times they become true.

Yeah, I've been reading your posts but now you're showing your ignorance. EVERYONE knew Petrino wanted the Ky job . Can't take anything you say seriously anymore.

 

[allabouttheUK]

That argument might hold some weight if didn't suck last year . When you suck and lose 7 of your leading tacklers and still suck , well you just suck .

That makes no sense at all...lose 7 of the 8 leading tacklers on defense, and people expected an 7-10 win season?! I can't tell if it's unrealistic expectations, poor knowledge of the college football process, or just people who like to be miserable and always ***** about something.

 

[brianpoe]

That makes no sense at all...lose 7 of the 8 leading tacklers on defense, and people expected an 7-10 win season?! I can't tell if it's unrealistic expectations, poor knowledge of the college football process, or just people who like to be miserable and always ***** about something.

7-10 win season?

Only the space cadets expected this.

6-6 has been the target for 85% of this board. The only caveat was not looking like crap getting there.

We can still get there, but we havent done so well on not looking like crap early on.

 

[jauk11]

I was at Ala this weekend...folks Laughed every time I brought his name up

Yet they weren't very good when he took over and had ONE regular season loss his last year, alas to a VERY GOOD Auburn team, lost in the bowl to the U when they were great.

Both Georgia Tech (who dey, won ONE game his first year there IIRC) and Bama won the NC with his senior players three years after he left, what a coincidence,

 

[allabouttheUK]

7-10 win season?

Only the space cadets expected this.

6-6 has been the target for 85% of this board. The only caveat was not looking like crap getting there.

We can still get there, but we havent done so well on not looking like crap early on.

Brian, I saw plenty of people on here with their head in the clouds talking about 2nd in the east and 7-10 wins. There is nothing short of a miracle that would make those predictions plausible.
I agree things started out really bad for this group, but the past three weeks they have show signs of life. Stoops has done things with the coaching staff that people had been calling for from the beginning of last year though two weeks ago. Adjustments are being made and because they are being made and progress is visible...I don't see the need for people to act the way they do.

 

[jauk11]

Well Im quite certain youre aware that Petrino wanted the job so we can start right there. Cal wasnt hired the first time because Mitch's hand wasn't forced woth his job being on the line. Same reason he refused to gamble on Petrino.

I am sure you also know BP wanted ANY job at that time, VERYU few would stoop that low that soon,

Hell, there SHOULD have been some concern that he could be prosecuted for his CRIMES in Arkansas, but then Slick Rick proved that money talks in our "justice" system.

 

[brianpoe]

Brian, I saw plenty of people on here with their head in the clouds talking about 2nd in the east and 7-10 wins. There is nothing short of a miracle that would make those predictions plausible.
I agree things started out really bad for this group, but the past three weeks they have show signs of life. Stoops has done things with the coaching staff that people had been calling for from the beginning of last year though two weeks ago. Adjustments are being made and because they are being made and progress is visible...I don't see the need for people to act the way they do.

Start of every season the predictions get a little wacky.

I agree we are making progress but after the awful start the progress needs to show up in the win column.

Vandy is the next step.

 

[allabouttheUK]

Start of every season the predictions get a little wacky.

I agree we are making progress but after the awful start the progress needs to show up in the win column.

Vandy is the next step.

I think you and I are in agreement on things, and I've watched your posts. You seem pretty level headed and understand the scope and situation.

I'm not saying we go bowling, I'm saying one game at a time, and see how it all plays out before making big changes.

 

[LeonThe Camel]

so, with your above statement in mind, who would have been the correct choice? and you already have stated, emphatically, that in no way did BP want UK...
I'll just hang up and listens

I think Stoops was the correct hire at that moment in time. We have to look at realistic possibilities and who was available at the time. Love it or hate it, we have to put the football team in a category that is different from our other sports.

A real look at our football says we are best a middle of the road team (historically). Ihave stated my opinion previously. We will need to be a program that hires a good coach every 4 years and understand that with success the coach will leave. That will occur until we have sustained success and realistic expectations from fans.

Brooks was the closest thing we have had to success.

 

[brianpoe]

I think Stoops was the correct hire at that moment in time. We have to look at realistic possibilities and who was available at the time. Love it or hate it, we have to put the football team in a category that is different from our other sports.

A real look at our football says we are best a middle of the road team (historically). Ihave stated my opinion previously. We will need to be a program that hires a good coach every 4 years and understand that with success the coach will leave. That will occur until we have sustained success and realistic expectations from fans.

Brooks was the closest thing we have had to success.

Your thoughts on the extension and the amount of it?

 

[LeonThe Camel]

Your thoughts on the extension and the amount of it?

Way too much for an unproven commodity. I am not saying Barnhart is perfect by any means. Not saying he didn't screw up.

But the coach has to take the fall. If you go back and look at all the press about Stoops the year prior to him coming in, the year he was hired, he was highly thought of. he was considered one of the elite coordinators in the game.

Some people are just better as the sidekick and others are better at focusing on one specific area. Stoops has shown he is the latter.

 

[yoshukai]

That makes no sense at all...lose 7 of the 8 leading tacklers on defense, and people expected an 7-10 win season?! I can't tell if it's unrealistic expectations, poor knowledge of the college football process, or just people who like to be miserable and always ***** about something.

You act like we lost 7 leading tacklers off a good defense. We were bad ! We didn't lose much . Tackling 6 yards past the line of scrimmage doesn't mean much.

 

[Shavers48]

....Leach is currently setting at 2-2 and has made an *** out of himself multiple times.
.

you prefer 2-3 and a national laughing stock??

 

[allabouttheUK]

You act like we lost 7 leading tacklers off a good defense. We were bad ! We didn't lose much . Tackling 6 yards past the line of scrimmage doesn't mean much.

The defense as a whole wasn't up to snuff correct. Were there players that were? The draft said there were.

Corey Johnson
Melvin Lewis
Josh Forrest
AJ Stamps
Farrington H.
Khalid Henderson


I'd take all those guys on this team in a heart beat! Senior Leadership is something a LOT of fans either don't understand or take for granted. Those names alone make the depth and experience in the front 7 look a lot better (not counting AJ in that of course).

 

[Blueaz]

I think you and I are in agreement on things, and I've watched your posts. You seem pretty level headed and understand the scope and situation.

I'm not saying we go bowling, I'm saying one game at a time, and see how it all plays out before making big changes.

BP

 

[allabouttheUK]

BP

Reminds me of this midget chick I used to know...

 

[brianpoe]

AJ Stamps surprised me with such a poor senior year, as a junior he looked like pro material.

I thought that Josh Forrest was the worst MLB against the run ever (albeit really good vs the pass) and yet he is on a NFL team.

Khalid Henderson lost his job to Flannigan.

Farrington had a ok sr year but only 1 sack and 4 TFL's

Corey Johnson had a ton of tackles, 2 sacks

Melvin Lewis was injured and out for the season early.


Granted, I'd take each of them as well. But there is no Bud Dupree, Trevard Lindley, Woodyard, Snedegar, Robertson in that bunch.

I bet a bunch of teams wish they could have seniors return for an extra year too!

 

[allabouttheUK]

AJ Stamps surprised me with such a poor senior year, as a junior he looked like pro material.

I thought that Josh Forrest was the worst MLB against the run ever (albeit really good vs the pass) and yet he is on a NFL team.

Khalid Henderson lost his job to Flannigan.

Farrington had a ok sr year but only 1 sack and 4 TFL's

Corey Johnson had a ton of tackles, 2 sacks

Melvin Lewis was injured and out for the season early.


Granted, I'd take each of them as well. But there is no Bud Dupree, Trevard Lindley, Woodyard, Snedegar, Robertson in that bunch.

I bet a bunch of teams wish they could have seniors return for an extra year too!

You get the gist of my post though. As bad as the defense was there was still some talent and senior leadership...not so much this year (leadership), and talent is there, but young. It's not like we have had guys graduating and are able to throw out rs JR's and SR's to replace them. We have been throwing out a lot of true freshman and rs FR.

 

[yoshukai]

The defense as a whole wasn't up to snuff correct. Were there players that were? The draft said there were.

Corey Johnson
Melvin Lewis
Josh Forrest
AJ Stamps
Farrington H.
Khalid Henderson


I'd take all those guys on this team in a heart beat! Senior Leadership is something a LOT of fans either don't understand or take for granted. Those names alone make the depth and experience in the front 7 look a lot better (not counting AJ in that of course).

For the record, I'm REALLY hoping Stoops turns it around. But if he doesn't, I don't want Barnhart making any more coaching hires .

 

[BBBLazing]

To answer some of your questions/comments:

-How long have I been a fan? Started going to games in the early 70s w/my dad.

-We did the HICW to keep Joker from going to OU?!?!?! Really.....In what capacity? graduate assistant?--never ever have I heard that one.....please post a link. However, I have heard (and I remember hearing at the time....and I hear people remarking to this very day) that Leach and Petrino were interested when Stoops made his unsolicited proposal to the motivationally challenged AD, and the path of least resistance was taken. In if he couldn't get Leach or Petrino....plenty of coaches looking or a P5 job in the MAC, CUSA, FCS....some of them grow into Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel, etc....but you have to have an AD willing to do the work to find good HCs with an eye for talent and proven leadership skills.

-The fact that no other SEC team wanted Petrino means we would have had leverage on him given is circumstances (ideal in negotiations) but we passed.....and now we've been passed .....by UL.

-As far as Stoops arrival and your assertion that he "started out a full two years behind" any coach in a power 5 conference. Not sure what that you're trying to say....sounds as though your making stuff up now to support the HC. Regardless, if the program was in that condition....again, the AD made the HCIW hire, so again, that is on him.

-As far as the "stupid" comment---I am not the one maintaining "no one wants the job" simply because an incompetent AD says so. This is the same AD that claims he allllllmost had Bill Parcels (hysterical when you think about it).

-You say Leach is presently "setting" at 2-2. True....but he was 9-4 last year (107-74 overall at WSU--I'll take it). If you want a longer track record....check his record at T/Tech. Google is our friend.

In all seriousness, I get your passion and willingness to engage in a spirited back-&-forth, but if untried and untested HCs are the best AD can do, we're going to continue to wallow in sub-mediocrity. Here is hoping AD takes one of Leonard's Losers "Smart Pills" before he does another hire.

"Get me outta here Percy" and GBB!

If you didn't know that we made Joker HCIW to keep him from going to Oklahoma as the offensive coordinator, you don't follow this team close.

You say you have heard, continue to hear to this day, that Leach and Petrino were interested. You ask me for a link? Really? Then you say that the path of least resistance was taken. Do you acknowledge that we put together a committee of former players and people around the organization to suggest, look, interview, and hire a coach? Then you say plenty of "coaches looking or a P5 job in the MAC, CUSA, FCS" would have taken this job. Who? Name one....Mouth.

We passed on Petrino because he was a train wreck. Can he coach football, sure. Is he what we want/need at my UK, absolutely not. He would leave us as soon as he made a bowl here. Great job by Mitch Barnhart not hiring him.

You don't seem to disagree with me about the state of the program when Mark Stoops arrived. You accuse me of making stuff up, but offer nothing other than your mouth to support it. Talk to anyone close to the program, and they will tell you how empty the cupboard was. You then say it is MB's fault for hiring Joker, but I will refer you back to point one. Everyone wanted him to make sure Joker didn't go to Oklahoma. He was our OC when we were making strides.

You seem to disagree when I say "no one wants the job" by saying it is only because MB says so. Why don't you tell me who wants this job? Mouth. Tell me one capable coach that has put his hat in the ring for this job. Do you remember Rich Brooks when asked if he felt like he was on the hot seat saying "I wasn't the first person this job was offered to. If they think they can find a replacement let them?" I do.

As far as Leach, his 107-74 is his overall record in college as a head coach, not at WSU. At WSU, his last five years, he is 23-31. You are correct, google is our friend. He had a decent run at TTU, until he started locking kids in the equipment locker. His whole group, including Mumme, didn't seem to get along with the NCAA. Keep researching...Mouth.

You and Percy want good coaches? Tell me what to do, but your constant bitching and making up facts and misquoting records are not the way to make us good at football.

 

[Woodrow24]

If you didn't know that we made Joker HCIW to keep him from going to Oklahoma as the offensive coordinator, you don't follow this team close.

You say you have heard, continue to hear to this day, that Leach and Petrino were interested. You ask me for a link? Really? Then you say that the path of least resistance was taken. Do you acknowledge that we put together a committee of former players and people around the organization to suggest, look, interview, and hire a coach? Then you say plenty of "coaches looking or a P5 job in the MAC, CUSA, FCS" would have taken this job. Who? Name one....Mouth.

We passed on Petrino because he was a train wreck. Can he coach football, sure. Is he what we want/need at my UK, absolutely not. He would leave us as soon as he made a bowl here. Great job by Mitch Barnhart not hiring him.

You don't seem to disagree with me about the state of the program when Mark Stoops arrived. You accuse me of making stuff up, but offer nothing other than your mouth to support it. Talk to anyone close to the program, and they will tell you how empty the cupboard was. You then say it is MB's fault for hiring Joker, but I will refer you back to point one. Everyone wanted him to make sure Joker didn't go to Oklahoma. He was our OC when we were making strides.

You seem to disagree when I say "no one wants the job" by saying it is only because MB says so. Why don't you tell me who wants this job? Mouth. Tell me one capable coach that has put his hat in the ring for this job. Do you remember Rich Brooks when asked if he felt like he was on the hot seat saying "I wasn't the first person this job was offered to. If they think they can find a replacement let them?" I do.

As far as Leach, his 107-74 is his overall record in college as a head coach, not at WSU. At WSU, his last five years, he is 23-31. You are correct, google is our friend. He had a decent run at TTU, until he started locking kids in the equipment locker. His whole group, including Mumme, didn't seem to get along with the NCAA. Keep researching...Mouth.

You and Percy want good coaches? Tell me what to do, but your constant bitching and making up facts and misquoting records are not the way to make us good at football.

We will never know what Petrino would have done if Mitch would have hired him. He was bad in the past for leaving so you have a point but his reputation took a major hit with the situation at Arkansas. Saying good job Mitch with anything football related other then the facilities is interesting. I don't fault the guy for hiring stoops and giving him a chance. I fault him with giving an unwarranted contract extension. A point many people don't raise on here is that stoops name wasn't being tossed around for any head coaching positions when he was hired here. Could have been a reason for that.

 

[NavyCat88]

If you didn't know that we made Joker HCIW to keep him from going to Oklahoma as the offensive coordinator, you don't follow this team close.

You say you have heard, continue to hear to this day, that Leach and Petrino were interested. You ask me for a link? Really? Then you say that the path of least resistance was taken. Do you acknowledge that we put together a committee of former players and people around the organization to suggest, look, interview, and hire a coach? Then you say plenty of "coaches looking or a P5 job in the MAC, CUSA, FCS" would have taken this job. Who? Name one....Mouth.

We passed on Petrino because he was a train wreck. Can he coach football, sure. Is he what we want/need at my UK, absolutely not. He would leave us as soon as he made a bowl here. Great job by Mitch Barnhart not hiring him.

You don't seem to disagree with me about the state of the program when Mark Stoops arrived. You accuse me of making stuff up, but offer nothing other than your mouth to support it. Talk to anyone close to the program, and they will tell you how empty the cupboard was. You then say it is MB's fault for hiring Joker, but I will refer you back to point one. Everyone wanted him to make sure Joker didn't go to Oklahoma. He was our OC when we were making strides.

You seem to disagree when I say "no one wants the job" by saying it is only because MB says so. Why don't you tell me who wants this job? Mouth. Tell me one capable coach that has put his hat in the ring for this job. Do you remember Rich Brooks when asked if he felt like he was on the hot seat saying "I wasn't the first person this job was offered to. If they think they can find a replacement let them?" I do.

As far as Leach, his 107-74 is his overall record in college as a head coach, not at WSU. At WSU, his last five years, he is 23-31. You are correct, google is our friend. He had a decent run at TTU, until he started locking kids in the equipment locker. His whole group, including Mumme, didn't seem to get along with the NCAA. Keep researching...Mouth.

You and Percy want good coaches? Tell me what to do, but your constant bitching and making up facts and misquoting records are not the way to make us good at football.

Well, following the lead of this AD is CERTAINLY not the way to make us good at FB.
-Since you asked......Link to Petrino's interest in UK:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...-petrino-interested-kentucky-job-dad/1691643/

-I'll stand by and wait for your source on OU wanting to snap up Joker from UK. Even if true (which I doubt), AD's reaction was......wait for it.......to make him HCIW to retain him? How did that work out?

Furthermore, if AD's "Search Committee" (after joker) searched high and low...they failed.... because Mark Stoops came in unsolicited and sold his "plan" to AD and AD bought it. AD advanced his pattern of failure as he doubled down with the premature contract extension....further limiting his options in the event HC failed to win. Two late season collapses later and we're bound to a coach who still hasn't registered a +.500 season.

-The idea that a FCS or small FBS conference coach would want a bigger paycheck that comes with a P5 gig is intuitively obvious. To think otherwise ignores simple economics. Even a CUSA school like So Miss was able to find a HC w/past experience and success as a HC at a lower level. Why not UK? Root cause and single point of failure is our AD.

-I stand corrected.....I was mistaken in attributing Leach's entire college record to WSU; however, his complete body of work is more impressive than any UK HC has been able to achieve in my 50+ years.....and he did have a nine win season just one year ago (also went to a bowl in just year 2). He would be a viable, experienced candidate for the UK job.....probably not on the AD's radar.

-I maintain that when AD cries "uncle" and says "I can't find anyone to take the job" he is failing in one of his primary duties.....and more than once. He is very well paid, and our ROI with this AD is very very poor.

You're right, I do want a good coach, but if we're left at the mercy of the current AD, we're in trouble. Even with the ill-advised contract extension, AD's hand may be forced by empty seats in CWS if CMS tracks toward another sub-500 season. But maybe....just maybe AD is learning. Maybe he realizes FB is important. Maybe he will figure out that experience counts. Maybe....but history says otherwise.

GBB!

 

[allabouttheUK]

For the record, I'm REALLY hoping Stoops turns it around. But if he doesn't, I don't want Barnhart making any more coaching hires .

Completely agree!

 

[LowCountryCat]

The mistake of not hiring BP is water under the bridge now.

Your being a little dramatic when you say everyone here raked you over the coals.
There were many here that also wanted BP hired besides you.

Going forward who is on your next coach list?

I've been saying all season, Jim Tressel.

 

[billoliver40]

Petrino would have been happy for ANY job because no one except WKU would talk to him. Blaming Barnhart for not going outside the search committees recommendation isn't right.

Now, poor contract talk IS the right thing to blame Barnhart for. Three times...Gillespie and the infamous contract on a napkin and the double extension for Mark Stoops.

Of course, with UK fans should the team somehow manage a bowl this year and next
.....

It will be a good hire again.

 

[willievic]

Maybe I do it to myself by getting on this board. But it is hard to be a fan when people throw a fit about the game tonight. If any of you thought we would win, you are crazy. The boys played respectable, held Alabama to their lowest point total of the year, and you still complain. I've been a critic of the team, don't get me wrong. But, they are finally showing progress and you still complain. Most of you must be tons younger than me. You talk about "rebuilding" when we've never "built". We are making progress. You want a "big name" coach. We've hire them. They don't win here. Our team has sucked forever. Let the process work. You make up stuff about our coach trying to get him fired. Let's let him coach and not worry about bs that fans make up. I realize that message board fans are the real crazy into fans different than most, including me, but you people make it hard. I'm sure I'm going to get blasted, called a UL troll, because that is what we do. We turn on our own. That might be why we can't build a program. New OC every year. New HC every 4 years. Let it play out people.

BBBLazy, I don't think most fans thought we would win against Alabama. However, I think most fans thought we would win against USM. This is Stoops 4th year! I, and most fans don't want to hear about how young we are. Most of the recruits are Stoops, not Joker's. If he hasn't recruited to suit his style of play, it's his fault. Maybe your expectations are lower then mine, and a lot of fans. I believe we can build a team that can win at UK. After all, the school just 90 miles West of Lexington has built a program that is talking about competing for the National Championship. Can they? I don't know and you don't either, but they have sure looked good.
I want to be like some of the other schools in the SEC. If the coach doesn't live up to expectations, get rid

Maybe I do it to myself by getting on this board. But it is hard to be a fan when people throw a fit about the game tonight. If any of you thought we would win, you are crazy. The boys played respectable, held Alabama to their lowest point total of the year, and you still complain. I've been a critic of the team, don't get me wrong. But, they are finally showing progress and you still complain. Most of you must be tons younger than me. You talk about "rebuilding" when we've never "built". We are making progress. You want a "big name" coach. We've hire them. They don't win here. Our team has sucked forever. Let the process work. You make up stuff about our coach trying to get him fired. Let's let him coach and not worry about bs that fans make up. I realize that message board fans are the real crazy into fans different than most, including me, but you people make it hard. I'm sure I'm going to get blasted, called a UL troll, because that is what we do. We turn on our own. That might be why we can't build a program. New OC every year. New HC every 4 years. Let it play out people.

BBBLazy, This is Stoops 4th year as the HC coach at UK, not his first. Your right on one thing, and one thing only. Most fans did not expect us to win against Alabama, but they did expect us to win against USM. What is the big deal of holding Alabama to the lowest point total of the year? It's not like we were being competitive with our offense.
If someone had told you that the school 90 miles West of Lexington would be competing for a shot at the ACC title, against the likes of FSU, Clemson , Miami, and be favored by 18 point against UK, would you have believed it?
Have we seen ANY improvement in Stoops coaching, the players he recruited, in the last two years? One game this year we had to call timeout because we only had 10 men on the field. That is uncalled for. We can keep hoping Stoops will turn it around, but if he doesn't win at least 6 games, this his 4th year, then he needs to be let go. Winners don't hope and make excuses, they act. A good example is LSU. To many fans are not used to winning, so they continue to support coaches who can't get the job done. Just being average is OK with some people, but a lot of fans on here want to win. I'm one of them!

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[tuck66]

Light years huh? You don't say...

Why yes.....Indeed....I do say!

 

[BlueRunner11]

Why yes.....Indeed....I do say!

Stats/facts are optional?