If we beat UNCC and Louisville......
- Thread starter Yahtzee43
- Start date
If we can manage to get two big wins, I wouldn't say that UK football has been totally redeemed. Realistically, what is a bowl game these days for going 6-6? A reward for being mediocre? Like in little league where everyone gets a trophy?
I know, I know, we need the extra practice and maybe some $$$$. That's all fine and well, but going to the Junior's Lumber Yard Bowl to play against Southeastern Technical Redneck College is hard to really get excited about.
But, yeah, at least with a 6-6, bowl game finish, we would be going in the right direction again.
I know, I know, we need the extra practice and maybe some $$$$. That's all fine and well, but going to the Junior's Lumber Yard Bowl to play against Southeastern Technical Redneck College is hard to really get excited about.
But, yeah, at least with a 6-6, bowl game finish, we would be going in the right direction again.
IF we could win our last 2, it would lighten the sting a little, BUT I don't think we're going to beat UofL.
I personally have accepted this season's fate, so it's not going to bother me too much when we finish 5-7.
I personally have accepted this season's fate, so it's not going to bother me too much when we finish 5-7.
IF we do that, it will help. Still, there will be those who still are quite bothered by how we got there.
Now, that being said, I do think that Stoops is not done. I do think he can continue to improve. However, I don't think he's made it easy on himself......and it certainly doesn't mean that he will make it.
-Taking on a first time DC.....and friend Eliott.....to groom him doesn't bother me too much until you consider all the other "experiments" he's taken on.
-There's a reason why the vast, vast, vast majority of teams still employ a ST coach. Sure, it's "possible" to get by without one, but it was hardly a good decision to make that decision now. My goodness, wait till you get things crankin, then make that decision.
-If there was ever a time to hire a proven OC, the moment Brown left was the time. Stoops is a defensive guy......and a new HC. The last thing you want to worry about is the offense coordination. Dawson was a poor hire.
-Stoops is a FNG head coach. I don't mind that he is making mistakes, b/c I know that most new HC's make similar mistakes. The only problem is that it is magnified 10x b/c of all the bad personnel decisions he's made. Had he hired a ST coach and a proven OC, we would probably have 6-7 wins already......and all the sudden Stoops' on field management mistakes wouldn't look so putrid.
Now, that being said, I do think that Stoops is not done. I do think he can continue to improve. However, I don't think he's made it easy on himself......and it certainly doesn't mean that he will make it.
-Taking on a first time DC.....and friend Eliott.....to groom him doesn't bother me too much until you consider all the other "experiments" he's taken on.
-There's a reason why the vast, vast, vast majority of teams still employ a ST coach. Sure, it's "possible" to get by without one, but it was hardly a good decision to make that decision now. My goodness, wait till you get things crankin, then make that decision.
-If there was ever a time to hire a proven OC, the moment Brown left was the time. Stoops is a defensive guy......and a new HC. The last thing you want to worry about is the offense coordination. Dawson was a poor hire.
-Stoops is a FNG head coach. I don't mind that he is making mistakes, b/c I know that most new HC's make similar mistakes. The only problem is that it is magnified 10x b/c of all the bad personnel decisions he's made. Had he hired a ST coach and a proven OC, we would probably have 6-7 wins already......and all the sudden Stoops' on field management mistakes wouldn't look so putrid.
Widely held belief and reality are often very far apart, especially on this football board. Remember when most wanted to dump Dre for Pulley, or Hartline for Newton?
It is my understanding that the guys that are a bothered by the personnel decisions are the younger guys on the team. Guys that basically practice alongside Barker......and therefore want him to play. And the coach that they seem the most bothered by is Dawson, since he's the OC.
Almost everyone I've heard as a player or connected to the program says that they love Stoops and love to play for him.
Almost everyone I've heard as a player or connected to the program says that they love Stoops and love to play for him.
It wasn't just this board, it was also brought up on the post game show following the Vandy game.
Well that of course changes my mind completely. Can you tell me who said what when? I especially would like to know who said the leadership is broken.
It was brought up by Jones on the postgame show at about 12:15 following the Vandy game. He strongly questioned whether Baker was giving max effort with Towles in the game. A lady called in who was at the game and said the attitude among the players was night and day when Barker was in - helping him warm up etc. There was a thread here where I mentioned it. The leadership comment was MY observation. Furthermore I don't care if that changes your mind or not. Believe it or don't, I don't gaf one way or the other.
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Back to the actual topic, considering where we are at now, a win against Charlotte and UL would go a long way to helping end the season on a positive note and probably keep the recruiting class intact.
Beyond that, Stoops needs to make a decision on the OC & DC positions. If you think Dawson just had first year yips and can get this offense where it should be, you stick with him. If he's not, you bite the bullet and bring in an EXPERIENCED guy that runs a similar offense but doesn't necessarily need to be an 'air raid' guy.
On defense, maybe you take over that and then in place of Elliot you hire a strong ST coach. Because as we've seen, it is a very, very important part of the game. VT won games because of how much they emphasized it. We need to do the same.
But you can't not do anything based on how this season has gone. Needs to be a serious evaluation of the program and things that need to change. Can't be afraid to make changes for things/people that aren't working out.
Beyond that, Stoops needs to make a decision on the OC & DC positions. If you think Dawson just had first year yips and can get this offense where it should be, you stick with him. If he's not, you bite the bullet and bring in an EXPERIENCED guy that runs a similar offense but doesn't necessarily need to be an 'air raid' guy.
On defense, maybe you take over that and then in place of Elliot you hire a strong ST coach. Because as we've seen, it is a very, very important part of the game. VT won games because of how much they emphasized it. We need to do the same.
But you can't not do anything based on how this season has gone. Needs to be a serious evaluation of the program and things that need to change. Can't be afraid to make changes for things/people that aren't working out.
I think the defense would benefit a fair amount from a more capable offense.
The defense has played good enough to win the UF, Auburn, UGA and Vandy games with a little help from the offense.
Again, the problem with out losing streak is not that we're losing. It is how we're doing it. Sometimes you just get outplayed and that is fine. You just get beat. You leave it all on the field, but you just can't win. That's acceptable. Not fun, but acceptable. However, that is not what we've been doing. We've been getting killed, playing poorly, making mistakes, shooting ourselves in the foot, and just overall looking like unorganized grabastic pieces of amphibian ****.
If we want redemption we need to fix our problems. We need to play inspired mistake free football. If we do that and we win then the ship will be righted and there will be some sun on the horizon. If we continue to play like crap, even if we squeak out wins, then it is going to be very worrisome for 2016.
If we want redemption we need to fix our problems. We need to play inspired mistake free football. If we do that and we win then the ship will be righted and there will be some sun on the horizon. If we continue to play like crap, even if we squeak out wins, then it is going to be very worrisome for 2016.
Agree. The way we got here is worse than the record. I predicted 6-6 so if we win out then we are on track as far as I'm concerned. My problem now is not the record but the fact that we seem to have hit a wall and are sliding back to being as bad or worse than we were in year one.
UK could have backed their way into a win over a hapless Vandy team, beat up on a horrendous Charlotte team and then looked pitiful in a loss vs UofL and it would not have created a great vibe because it would be clear that something is going really, really wrong with this team.
This staff and team has 2 games to show that things are not circling the drain at this point. Whether they win both or simply look strong offensively in their performance vs UofL, there will be some hope going into next season. However, if they continue to crap the bed, people need to be fired.
This staff and team has 2 games to show that things are not circling the drain at this point. Whether they win both or simply look strong offensively in their performance vs UofL, there will be some hope going into next season. However, if they continue to crap the bed, people need to be fired.
This is a great post, IMO. I would like to see UK make a legitimate run at Bud Foster for DC. His experience would be of great value to the staff, his coaching acumen speaks for itself, he would solve the ST problem, would help in recruiting the DMV area, and it would be another statement that UK is serious about football.
Other side of the coin. If we lose to UL at home, or even worse, beat ourselves again, what is the argument for believing in Stoops?
Believing that he will shake up the coaching staff and perhaps start with a new OC and special teams coach.
As I said above, I don't think the issue is entirely Stoops. Certainly he hasn't done great, but I don't think he's the largest issue. If we tank Charlotte and/or UL, Stoops certainly can turn things around but he has to make some hard/quick decisions about his staff.
First, I don't think Stoops makes staff changes this year...maybe after '16 if improvements have not been made. Of course, that doesn't preclude someone leaving on their own. However, if changes are made it would likely include Schlarman, Scott, and Mainord. They really aren't Stoops guys but followed Neal Brown here.
Secondly, no way but no way does he fire Dawson after one year. That would mean another OC for Towles, his 4th in 5 years, and Barker, his third in 3 years. Just won't happen.
Secondly, no way but no way does he fire Dawson after one year. That would mean another OC for Towles, his 4th in 5 years, and Barker, his third in 3 years. Just won't happen.
Would be nice to finish on a 3 game winning streak this year but will not change how the season went for me. Charlotte is a horrible football team, UofL is no Juggernaut and should we go to a bowl we will also be playing another subpar opponent. While that scenario is much better than finishing the year 4-8 or 5-7 it does not erase the debacle we have seen play out this season. Every game was a struggle that we won, even the supposedly easy ones, and the ones we lost (except Florida), we looked like a mostly unorganized, not well prepared football team. Next year I will wait and see how this team looks on the field before getting any sort of optimism on the year. Looking back this year, we have looked good one half of football (the south Carolina first half), missed the ULL game, but other than that have looked like hot garbage all year.
It will certainly help however it will still be disappointing considering we should have likely won 2 more games but hindsight is 20/20. Most would've taken 6-6 with a bowl bid before the season.
IF, and that's why I capitalized the word, we finish with 2 wins and make a bowl, most of this will be forgiven.
But, lets not kid ourselves. We aint beating Louisville. The UK team that's taken the field the last few weeks will lose by 3 td's to Louisville.
But, lets not kid ourselves. We aint beating Louisville. The UK team that's taken the field the last few weeks will lose by 3 td's to Louisville.
^I don't think that would do it. The offensive woes are well past the QB play. We would have to make some significant changes in order to get the offense to be competitive against UL.
When we pound Charlotte into the ground and then curb stomp turdville it will make a lot better for me. A good curb stomping is always a great thing!!!!!
You can spend all the money in the world upgrading the football stadium but without a top tier coach and players all you have is a nice clean toilet to poop in.
the record isn't the problem, the record is a symptom. If we upset a mediocre L'ville team and still look like we're in total disarray, then no, that doesn't make everything better because I'm not upset or discouraged that we're 4-6. I'm upset and discouraged that we look poorly coached. Come out and show we make good personnel decisions (Barker's starting against UNCC), manage the game, manage the clock, make good coaching decisions, good play calling including stoops takin the head set off and letting Dawsn do his job... if we do all that and go 5-7 I'd feel more confident going forward than if we come out and look like the same chit show we've seen but find a way to win anyways and go 6-6
No it won't. We should of beaten auburn and Vanderbilt without a doubt. Horrible game management and horrible play calling. Those losses sting. But in reality what is more disappointing is the 3 game stretch where we absolutely got rocked every week. No it won't save the season. Beating Louisville will be good but still not enough.
