I went on the Matt Jones Podcast

[JRowland]

KSR's Matt Jones invited me to be a guest on his new podcast and we taped for about an hour, talking about Kentucky football, Kentucky football recruiting and everything related to it.

If you'd like to listen then follow this link and download it from the iTunes store.

 

[SpamburgerHamburger_rivals101482]

I've already finished it. It was great. Everyone should listen to it.

 

[andreIGUODOLLAsigns4UK]

Definitely the most interesting part is where you're not certain but had heard that stoops told Phillips that he was the best qb of the 3. Yet never saw the field. Makes no sense and definitely adds question marks to my opinion on stoops.

 

[-LEK-]

First one I listened to. Love this stuff.good job.

 

[Badbooth]

It was great!! Thanks so much Justin!

 

[Badbooth]

Just wanted to say again how much I appreciate your insight. Was so great today to have an hour just about football. Please do again soon!!

 

[Kooky Kats_anon]

Not working... Oh well.

 

[3kidsandme]

I'm not buying that Stoops said that. No coach is going to lose games by playing anything but the better player. Reese did not even have a spring practice and was on a pitch count in fall. Idk who the source is but it sounds like Reese lol

 

[hmt5000]

i watched reese play against ut and he looked worse than a banged up pat. i liked (well, i still do) reese but i just dont see the talent everyone kept seeing. i only went to a couple spring games and watched as much practice tape as i could find (which wasn't much) but barker and towles were clearly better qb's than reese.... now reese may have had a thing or 2 he did better than the other 2 but he did transfer to montana and pat transferred to pitt.... got to think that stoops isn't the only one that wouldn't play the better reese over a worse towles????

 

[andreIGUODOLLAsigns4UK]

I'm not buying that Stoops said that. No coach is going to lose games by playing anything but the better player. Reese did not even have a spring practice and was on a pitch count in fall. Idk who the source is but it sounds like Reese lol

Jrow is the one who said it. Listen to the podcast and the responses. They didn't seem to have an answer for it like yourself he wasn't even 100% sure about it. They said that it was very frustrating like many of stoops decisions to date. There were a few mind boggling decisions by stoops that were discussed. There's a lot of things you may not buy about stoops or any head coach doing, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Like running the ball out of shotgun from the one 3 straight plays? Stoops isn't smart enough to veto that play call? 3 times in a row? I'm not buying any coach would do that. If you asked me do you think a coach at a high level or even grade school level would run out of the shotgun from the one yard line 3 straight plays? I woulda told you never in a million years would that happen. Had you also asked me do I think a coach would ever let a QB as bad as towles audible into a pass play from the goal line with a bowl game at stake? I woulda said hahaha lol good joke, then would've never been able to take you serious for the rest of time. If you asked me would a coach ever let a player the caliber of Timmons who can't catch a pass let a lone a punt, return a punt in the SEC? I would said haiiillll naawwww. But to be completely honest. The only reason I can think of as to why Timmons returns punts is that the staff just wants to give him a role on the team since he's hardly on the field anymore. And since they seem to not care about special teams too much as if that aspect of the game does not matter, it wouldn't surprise me. I'd rather have someone with good hands call fair catches every punt return over Timmons all day.

Point is stoops/staff make multiple bone head wtf just happened kind of decisions on an every game basis. So why would it be so hard to believe that stoops didn't play the best QB? To me it's almost expected considering towles started almost the entire season when there was obviously just no place for that in today's world.

 

[JRowland]

I'm not buying that Stoops said that. No coach is going to lose games by playing anything but the better player. Reese did not even have a spring practice and was on a pitch count in fall. Idk who the source is but it sounds like Reese lol

I do think it's likely that the biggest takeaway is that Phillips believed he was the best quarterback.

 

[Levibooty]

i watched reese play against ut and he looked worse than a banged up pat. i liked (well, i still do) reese but i just dont see the talent everyone kept seeing. i only went to a couple spring games and watched as much practice tape as i could find (which wasn't much) but barker and towles were clearly better qb's than reese.... now reese may have had a thing or 2 he did better than the other 2 but he did transfer to montana and pat transferred to pitt.... got to think that stoops isn't the only one that wouldn't play the better reese over a worse towles????

I agree with you on this. Reese looked way over his head and absolutely panicked against UT last year. BTW I thought Pat tranferred to BC.

 

[Beatle Bum]

I'm not buying that Stoops said that. No coach is going to lose games by playing anything but the better player. Reese did not even have a spring practice and was on a pitch count in fall. Idk who the source is but it sounds like Reese lol

I thought that was sketchy. The "I heard, but cannot confirm and don't know what it means" comments are now available for message board posters to make gospel comments about this or that. Otherwise, I enjoyed a conversation about football.

 

[Beatle Bum]

I agree with you on this. Reese looked way over his head and absolutely panicked against UT last year. BTW I thought Pat tranferred to BC.

Yeah, Reese rarely got onto the field, but when he did, it was never a case for more playing time. One would think he would have a quick ticket to Troy if he is better than the QB Brown played at UK.

 

[Mr Schwump]

Why are we still talking about Reese Phillips?

 

[Beatle Bum]

Why are we still talking about Reese Phillips?

Did you listen to the podcast, the topic of this thread?

 

[uk_king_cat2]

So 5 wins at best Huh.....Season Ticket holders hate to hear that. I guess though's that said it take 10-12 years to get the depth and compete in the SEC are right.

 

[JRowland]

So 5 wins at best Huh.....Season Ticket holders hate to hear that. I guess though's that said it take 10-12 years to get the depth and compete in the SEC are right.

I don't think five wins 'at best'. I think five wins 'most likely'. Best case is probably a 9-3 Cinderella season if a quarterback catches fire, the back seven grows and the offensive line's dynamics are transformed. But that's not most likely.

 

[Deeeefense]

So 5 wins at best Huh.....Season Ticket holders hate to hear that. I guess though's that said it take 10-12 years to get the depth and compete in the SEC are right.

The fact is even those with the biggest football IQs are not able to predict how a team will perform the following season with any degree of accuracy, but still you have to say something if you are asked.

No one really knows which players will have break out years, how the new coaching staff will produce on the offensive side, which redshirts or transfers will surprise or disappoint, and of course how good our opponents will be. What we do know is that there will be more talent on the field this year than any year in recent history, what we do with it is still anyone's guess.

 

[Beatle Bum]

Yeah, rarely do experts predict the breakout season. And, breakout seasons are rare.

 

[kybkh]

I am not sure how anyone can walk away from that podcast feeling very confident in Stoops. Stoops has certainly assembled the most talented team in the past 3 decades, but that's only half the battle. Winning in football is as much about the culture of the program as the players and the culture is created by the coach. As portrayed by two of the most informed beat reporters around; the culture within the program is anything but healthy.

 

[Deeeefense]

I am not sure how anyone can walk away from that podcast feeling very confident in Stoops. Stoops has certainly assembled the most talented team in the past 3 decades, but that's only half the battle. Winning in football is as much about the culture of the program as the players and the culture is created by the coach. As portrayed by two of the most informed beat reporters around; the culture within the program is anything but healthy.

True they pointed out some of the issues of last season but they also pointed out that some of the "problems" have moved on, and discussed how Gran and Hinshaw would go a long way towards correcting any issues on the offense.

 

[JRowland]

True they pointed out some of the issues of last season but they also pointed out that some of the "problems" have moved on, and discussed how Gran and Hinshaw would go a long way towards correcting any issues on the offense.

Between the 2016 class and the new coaches I think the culture is moving in the right direction.

 

[The_Godfather_rivals]

True they pointed out some of the issues of last season but they also pointed out that some of the "problems" have moved on, and discussed how Gran and Hinshaw would go a long way towards correcting any issues on the offense.

That sounds nice, but UK's defense and special teams were every bit as terrible as the offense last season. Only difference is that people didn't EXPECT the offense to also suck. This is what concerns me in the end. Going into year 4, I can't find one thing that UK does well or even at an average level.

Also, I think the "Stoops is here for 2 more years no matter what" talk ends up fanning the flames of discontent by the fan base. Not blaming you at all for thinking this either. Just speaking in general. It allows fans to imagine an absolute disaster in 2016 and how furious they'd be if he were allowed to stick around for year 5. UK would be better off pushing the notion that no buy out would ever prevent them from terminating a coach they believe needs to be terminated.

 

[LordEgg_rivals16573]

good work!

 

[2kuk]

That sounds nice, but UK's defense and special teams were every bit as terrible as the offense last season. Only difference is that people didn't EXPECT the offense to also suck. This is what concerns me in the end. Going into year 4, I can't find one thing that UK does well or even at an average level.

Also, I think the "Stoops is here for 2 more years no matter what" talk ends up fanning the flames of discontent by the fan base. Not blaming you at all for thinking this either. Just speaking in general. It allows fans to imagine an absolute disaster in 2016 and how furious they'd be if he were allowed to stick around for year 5. UK would be better off pushing the notion that no buy out would ever prevent them from terminating a coach they believe needs to be terminated.

The defense had some bright spots though and was improved in several areas from the year before. Also as the year went on young players were stealing playing time from older guys. I am certainly not saying the defense didn't have issues, but considering how often the offense just gave them no rest I think there were things to be encouraged about.

 

[yoshukai]

i watched reese play against ut and he looked worse than a banged up pat. i liked (well, i still do) reese but i just dont see the talent everyone kept seeing. i only went to a couple spring games and watched as much practice tape as i could find (which wasn't much) but barker and towles were clearly better qb's than reese.... now reese may have had a thing or 2 he did better than the other 2 but he did transfer to montana and pat transferred to pitt.... got to think that stoops isn't the only one that wouldn't play the better reese over a worse towles????

I thought Towles transferred to Boston College ???

 

[Deeeefense]

That sounds nice, but UK's defense and special teams were every bit as terrible as the offense last season. Only difference is that people didn't EXPECT the offense to also suck. This is what concerns me in the end. Going into year 4, I can't find one thing that UK does well or even at an average level.

I think we are discussing two different things. You are pointing out on-field performance during games and you're correct that the defense and ST had some real issues, but the above discussion was more related to morale issues and conflicts between player/player or player/coach. So far as I know this was not a problem on the defense or ST sides.

 

[kybkh]

Between the 2016 class and the new coaches I think the culture is moving in the right direction.

I hope so. Not sure if the freshman class can impact the culture of the program but I do agree that a more experienced coaching staff will certainly help. You guys did spend the first half of the program talking about some pretty big red flags that the head coach was not necessarily in charge of things. What concerned me as much as anything that was discussed is that the AD had to come in and alert the HC to these issues, not vice-versa.

 

[JasonS.]

Kentucky football's drama-to-win ratio is off the charts.

 

[Mr Schwump]

Kentucky football's drama-to-win ratio is off the charts.

True but some of that drama is driven by those drowning in their own self-importance.

 

[docholiday51]

Kentucky football's drama-to-win ratio is off the charts.

Unfortunately one of the best posts ever

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

Definitely the most interesting part is where you're not certain but had heard that stoops told Phillips that he was the best qb of the 3. Yet never saw the field. Makes no sense and definitely adds question marks to my opinion on stoops.

the juxtaposition there is kind of curious and funny. but given your history of posts, understandable.

 

[JRowland]

The best way for me to sum up what I heard is that Phillips left that conversation feeling vindicated about being closer to a UK starter, or more justifiably one, than before. That does not speak to the truth of that or even whether it was well-founded. Just what I've heard.

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

The best way for me to sum up what I heard is that Phillips left that conversation feeling vindicated about being closer to a UK starter, or more justifiably one, than before. That does not speak to the truth of that or even whether it was well-founded. Just what I've heard.

Entirely clear, and makes sense. But the point there is no matter how you say it, some will walk away with the understanding the Stoops definitely told Phillips he was the best, which makes him either a liar or incompetent.

 

[Beatle Bum]

I thought Towles transferred to Boston College ???

Bob Valvano called Towles as "asshat" today. A grown man responding on the radio to a college kid's tweet. Wow. Towles evidently tweeted that he thanked God for the UL at BC game in Novemeber. That must be a big freaking deal to Bob to equate such a tweet to an asshat.

smh

 

[Beatle Bum]

True but some of that drama is driven by those drowning in their own self-importance.

Some is fanned by media and fans.

 

[Beatle Bum]

The best way for me to sum up what I heard is that Phillips left that conversation feeling vindicated about being closer to a UK starter, or more justifiably one, than before. That does not speak to the truth of that or even whether it was well-founded. Just what I've heard.

Didn't you also say you heard Brown thought Reese was the best QB? Or was that Matt?

 

[docholiday51]

Bob Valvano called Towles as "asshat" today. A grown man responding on the radio to a college kid's tweet. Wow. Towles evidently tweeted that he thanked God for the UL at BC game in Novemeber. That must be a big freaking deal to Bob to equate such a tweet to an asshat.

smh

The level of UL fans classlessness on all fronts knows no bounds,it is comical,scary and amazing all rolled into one big ball of complete detachment from reality.

 

[3kidsandme]

Jrow is the one who said it. Listen to the podcast and the responses. They didn't seem to have an answer for it like yourself he wasn't even 100% sure about it. They said that it was very frustrating like many of stoops decisions to date. There were a few mind boggling decisions by stoops that were discussed. There's a lot of things you may not buy about stoops or any head coach doing, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Like running the ball out of shotgun from the one 3 straight plays? Stoops isn't smart enough to veto that play call? 3 times in a row? I'm not buying any coach would do that. If you asked me do you think a coach at a high level or even grade school level would run out of the shotgun from the one yard line 3 straight plays? I woulda told you never in a million years would that happen. Had you also asked me do I think a coach would ever let a QB as bad as towles audible into a pass play from the goal line with a bowl game at stake? I woulda said hahaha lol good joke, then would've never been able to take you serious for the rest of time. If you asked me would a coach ever let a player the caliber of Timmons who can't catch a pass let a lone a punt, return a punt in the SEC? I would said haiiillll naawwww. But to be completely honest. The only reason I can think of as to why Timmons returns punts is that the staff just wants to give him a role on the team since he's hardly on the field anymore. And since they seem to not care about special teams too much as if that aspect of the game does not matter, it wouldn't surprise me. I'd rather have someone with good hands call fair catches every punt return over Timmons all day.

Point is stoops/staff make multiple bone head wtf just happened kind of decisions on an every game basis. So why would it be so hard to believe that stoops didn't play the best QB? To me it's almost expected considering towles started almost the entire season when there was obviously just no place for that in today's world.

Your talking about Dawson and play calling. He sucked. I don't see Stoops making his oc pick anybody but who was most effecient.