If We Win Our Next Three and Go Bowling...

[Anon1712931820]

Will we still have belly-achers who want to be negative 24/7 and say that Stoops cannot get it done? IF....and I mean IF...we go on to win the next three and go bowling then I think we can safely assume that Stoops has grown as a coach and taking over the defense was the difference maker. I want Stoops to succeed because the man seems to bleed blue and would be the type to stick with our program even if the big boys came calling. In another thread a poster gave numerous examples of how individual players have improved since arriving under Stoops or Joker through Stoops tenure, but for some reason we have not seen it as a team.

Our defense has improved every single half under Stoops the last 3 games and I hope to see it continue.

If Gran can get Johnson even more comfortable running the read option offense then we have a great shot at winning our next three games, so lets get behind this team and show up in full force to cheer them on during this home stint.

IF we go 1-2 or 0-3 then I will admit that my expectations of Stoops were too much and I was wrong in thinking he had the ability to get it done.

Only question is can all of the negative Nancy's admit they are wrong if the opposite happens?

 

[reflaine]

Yes and they we say it's year four and we should be winning more than half our game. If we win our, should never lose to usm. No matter outcome a small but vocal want us to lose so they can be right. And nothing will change that

 

[Cats_2010]

Stoops has no one to blame but himself for all the negativity. Leaving the defense in the hands of Eliot as they looked worse and worse with every snap. Funny stoops said he was overtaking the defense right before NMSU which then proceeded to hang 35 in the first half. The negative nellies have been wrong about nothing regardless of what happens and the criticism well deserved.

If it took the threat of getting fired to turn this around and he is successful then so be it. We are a much better program now and the foreseeable future if that is the case. Have always wished him success as I did joker or any other coach but at some point time you have to stop wishing and cut bait.

 

[CB3UK]

If he wins the next three I'll be happy. Add on Austin Peay and we're bowling. We'll have swapped a loss @ Missouri for the Southern Miss loss, but we will have halted the backend backslide weve had every year. Recruiting won't plummet, and we wont habr to gamble on another hire going up against Texas, LSU, etc.

 

[KY1WING]

If is a pretty big word in these parts...

 

[JPFisher]

Stoops has no one to blame but himself for all the negativity. Leaving the defense in the hands of Eliot as they looked worse and worse with every snap. Funny stoops said he was overtaking the defense right before NMSU which then proceeded to hang 35 in the first half. The negative nellies have been wrong about nothing regardless of what happens and the criticism well deserved.

If it took the threat of getting fired to turn this around and he is successful then so be it. We are a much better program now and the foreseeable future if that is the case. Have always wished him success as I did joker or any other coach but at some point time you have to stop wishing and cut bait.

Not sure why you brought NMSU into your argument. The fact that defense has improved drastically since that first half only undermines your point. Or not. Can't really tell what the point of the first few sentences is.

I honestly think Stoops is finally learning that being too attached to your friends is a good way to get fired and run a program into the ground. I am expecting changes this off-season that may lead to us killing it with a more experienced roster next year.

 

[Anon1712931820]

I believe 100% that the reason for the horrid defense during the first half of NMSU was due to the defense becoming familiar with how Stoops ran the show. Different defensive coordinators have different ways the communicate the schemes and plays they want ran and appoint different guys to be the relay man on the field. The first half our guys had a brand new defensive coordinator they had to adjust to. After the kinks were wore out we gave up minimal points in the second half, beat SC and have Bama all they wanted for a half until our JV team ran out of gas against their varsity depth. We do or compare to Bama, nor does anyone in the country.

Steady improvement is what we have been looking for and now that we have it you still have some who complain constantly. The next three games will tell the tale.

 

[CB3UK]

We're currently 91st in total offense and 113th in total defense. So there's that.

 

[WildCard]

Will we still have belly-achers who want to be negative 24/7 and say that Stoops cannot get it done?...

Probably so. The primary reason would be a 6 win regular season was pretty much a realistic minimum expectation for this year. IMO, for better or for worse, achieving minimum expectation extends the "wait and see" period another year. But there will still be those who are not satisfied with a 6 win season, especially if includes 7 losses.

Peace

 

[lookinfor8]

We're currently 91st in total offense and 113th in total defense. So there's that.

And that tells you why the outlook is dim

 

[51stFan]

I may be bad wrong, but I just can't see Stoops not having a big role in the defense up until NMSU. This is a man that meddles in the offensive scheme try and keep point totals down. USC junior got about their average on us and Bama played a backup running back and didn't look to throw much more than ten yards past the LOS. Fortunately Vandy offense is about like USC.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

I'd be happy with 6-6 and 4-4 in the SEC. Not many UK teams get to .500 in SEC play since I've been alive so that would be impressive. Stoops has shown me nothing to suggest he can coach his way to 4 SEC wins though. We shall see.

 

[VilleCat_rivals377292]

5 or 6 wins this year and Stoops survives till next year. He will have a VERY short leash in 2017 however.

 

[RonEJones]

Yes and they we say it's year four and we should be winning more than half our game. If we win our, should never lose to usm. No matter outcome a small but vocal want us to lose so they can be right. And nothing will change that

Not trying to poop in anyone's Wheaties, but the unrest is due to year 4 and no real, sustained improvement to the product. Recruiting has been upgraded but we have yet to see any real winning. As a matter of fact, up until the USCjr game, it was a total regress and the wheels had come off of the bus. That's when most of us "came out of the woodwork". Ultimately, I think a few of us, who have been down this road a few times, are seeing the signs that Stoops isn't the right guy to turn it around.

I will give props to the improvement of the defense the past 2 weeks and I think Gran is a good OC. However, I need to see sustained, continuous improvement and a few more W's before I will wholeheartedly (and happily) admit I was wrong. I've been Charlie Brown to UK's Lucy too many times to be fooled again. So I'll wait and see, unfortunately feeling 99% confident I am correct and that Stoops should be fired at the end of the year.

 

[RonEJones]

We're currently 91st in total offense and 113th in total defense. So there's that.

We're just getting started, bro!

 

[Ukbrassowtipin]

I never thought more than 6 wins this year to begin with.

 

[Anon1712931820]

I may be bad wrong, but I just can't see Stoops not having a big role in the defense up until NMSU. This is a man that meddles in the offensive scheme try and keep point totals down. USC junior got about their average on us and Bama played a backup running back and didn't look to throw much more than ten yards past the LOS. Fortunately Vandy offense is about like USC.

Nanas back up starts for 90% of Power 5 schools. That comment shows you know little on the subject.

 

[Woodrow24]

Some of you are just mind boggling to me. Every excuse possible for what has taken place with this program and then blaming fans takes it to another level. When your a fan of a team you should want them to win ball games and should be upset to a certain extent if they don't. Not saying to go overboard but why be happy with a loss? Do you all think stoops is happy with the results in his time here? He throws players under the bus himself and if someone on this board does it you pumpers shame them like they are god awful when they say anything close to being negative. Some people go overboard with criticism and I understand calling that aspect out but I've seen people make reasonable posts and get attacked by the sunshine crowd.
i hope the team wins and has a good season. some of you that keep grasping at straws to make excuses for this staff are ridiculous.

 

[CB3UK]

I still think this defensive improvement may be fool's gold. I agree the eye test says they look a bit better, but reality is they were punished by Alabama, played a half against NMSU, and played good against the #115 USC offense. I'm hoping the improvement is real and continues, but some need to temper their expectations a bit. They have a great shot Saturday to continue to improve. Beat Vandy and Go Cats

 

[Woodrow24]

I still think this defensive improvement may be fool's gold. I agree the eye test says they look a bit better, but reality is they were punished by Alabama, played a half against NMSU, and played good against the #115 USC offense. I'm hoping the improvement is real and continues, but some need to temper their expectations a bit. They have a great shot Saturday to continue to improve. Beat Vandy and Go Cats

You could very well be right. Saturday is a big game for this team and I hope they get it done. If they don't never fear, the sunshine crowd will be on here in full force with their rainbows and butterflies. Telling us all to be happy and thankful for the strides our program has made with improvements lol

 

[CB3UK]

You could very well be right. Saturday is a big game for this team and I hope they get it done. If they don't never fear, the sunshine crowd will be on here in full force with their rainbows and butterflies. Telling us all to be happy and thankful for the strides our program has made with improvements lol

It is THE must win game of Stoops tenure. Ultimately its going to decide his fate just like it did for Joker. I think the team responds and wins. I didnt expect that Joker's year.

 

[Woodrow24]

It is THE must win game of Stoops tenure. Ultimately its going to decide his fate just like it did for Joker. I think the team responds and wins. I didnt expect that Joker's year.

I hope your right buddy. Hope they play hard and everyone is happy Saturday night.

 

[trueblujr]

Let's say we finish out the season strong as opposed to weak like in years past. Say we win a game we shouldn't like UGA or UT and finish with 7 wins. Would one of those those wins erase the USM loss from the minds of the negative Nancy's?

 

[TTU/UK fan]

Depends. If Stoops wins 5 or less will his pumpers and people who support him shutup? Theres alot more facts that support those bashing Stoops than those siding with him. 0-18 vs power 5 schools in the last 7 games the last 3 years. Still no .500. A loss to the CUSA in year 4. And our big wins this year are to an SEC bottomfeeder by 7 and a Sun Belt bottomfeeder we let score 42 in a shootout.

Really all other programs are wandering why Stoops is still here. This is why we get made fun of. Its time we start acting like an SEC school and stop accepting medicore football.

 

[mhroe1984]

I don't see us winning at Missouri or beating Georgia. I think the best we'll get out of this 4 game stretch is 2-2. Missouri isn't very good, but we aren't either and I don't think we're going to win a conference game on the road. I'd love to be wrong, but I just have no faith in this coaching staff at this point and I'm not getting my hopes up.

 

[WildCard]

It is THE must win game of Stoops tenure. Ultimately its going to decide his fate just like it did for Joker. I think the team responds and wins. I didnt expect that Joker's year.

Not to argue such a trivial point but USCjr was THE must win game of the Stoops' era. Of course, they are all big when you are shooting for 6. But a 1-4 record at this point would make a 6 win season look like a fairy tale and probably sucked any remaining mojo from the locker room. I strongly believe the more you stay in the hunt for a winning season (i.e., 6 wins), the "better" (at least "harder") you play as the season unfolds.

A Vandy win will leave the Cats at 3-3 with some reasonable expectation of winning 3 of the remaining 6. JMO

Peace

 

[The_Godfather_rivals]

Let's say we finish out the season strong as opposed to weak like in years past. Say we win a game we shouldn't like UGA or UT and finish with 7 wins. Would one of those those wins erase the USM loss from the minds of the negative Nancy's?

Ummmm, yes.

Quit losing all the damned time and people will stop being such meanies and being "Negative Nancy's". It's not as if people are freaking out because the team loses to Alabama. They're pissed because we don't beat anyone with a pulse.

 

[TTU/UK fan]

Just go type in "college football coaches hot seat" and I guarantee you all of them will have Stoops near the top, if not #1. Alot of them also have Stoops as the headlining picture for the article. So why should us fans not be skeptical of him if everybody else with a brain is?

 

[LeonThe Camel]

Will we still have belly-achers who want to be negative 24/7 and say that Stoops cannot get it done? IF....and I mean IF...we go on to win the next three and go bowling then I think we can safely assume that Stoops has grown as a coach and taking over the defense was the difference maker. I want Stoops to succeed because the man seems to bleed blue and would be the type to stick with our program even if the big boys came calling. In another thread a poster gave numerous examples of how individual players have improved since arriving under Stoops or Joker through Stoops tenure, but for some reason we have not seen it as a team.

Our defense has improved every single half under Stoops the last 3 games and I hope to see it continue.

If Gran can get Johnson even more comfortable running the read option offense then we have a great shot at winning our next three games, so lets get behind this team and show up in full force to cheer them on during this home stint.

IF we go 1-2 or 0-3 then I will admit that my expectations of Stoops were too much and I was wrong in thinking he had the ability to get it done.

Only question is can all of the negative Nancy's admit they are wrong if the opposite happens?

There is no IF. We will win our next 3.

 

[CatsPaws270]

If we win I would be very happy and think it would be a big positive for the program if we make a bowl.. Right now I do not believe it will happen because we shot ourselves in the foot with the So. Miss game and think changes should be made if we do not make a bowl(because of attendance and recruiting)

Winning those three guarantee a bowl. You can have confidence down the stretch and head into UofL, UGA, and UT games playing with house money. For a young team with the least amount of seniors in the country, that month of practice (in that state of the are facility) will be crucial for development. It also would add some momentum to recruiting and we could haul in another solid class.

That month of practice and a bowl could lead to a more experienced and confident team heading into the offseason. Eddie Gran will have another offseason to implement his system even further.

The fan base would be hype for a team coming off a bowl game that will be returning most everyone next season with a favorable schedule compared to most seasons.

 

[dgtatu01]

I would love for Stoops to at least earn next year. He is going to get it either way, if we go to a bowl there will at least be some enthusiasm for next year and a chance for recruiting to go well. If he is a total lame duck next year after a 4-8 season it's going to set our program back to 0 again when we go hunting next year. Eight now we are at least at a 3 our of 10, I do not want to go back to 0 ever again..

 

[ukalum1988]

We're currently 91st in total offense and 113th in total defense. So there's that.

Almost nowhere to go but up.....:grimace:

 

[ukalum1988]

It is THE must win game of Stoops tenure. Ultimately its going to decide his fate just like it did for Joker. I think the team responds and wins. I didnt expect that Joker's year.

... Just like the USC game was a must-win and why the game against State will also be a must win....

 

[CB3UK]

They'll keep being must wins until he digs himself out of the Southern Miss hole.

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

This team continues to improve. I like the trajectory and understand we have no depth on the D-Line. I'm impressed with what Stoops has done last 3 games.

I really want this win against Vandy. It is a MUST for Stoops to retain any credibility with the fan base.

 

[andreIGUODOLLAsigns4UK]

6 wins then a bowl loss will not convince me he's a damn good coach. Let's not forget joker even went 6-7 one year. Should I say I'm wrong about joker being a bad coach? IF he gets 6 wins. That will buy him another year of fan support. But at the same time if we win 6 does that mean I'm wrong about stoops being an anemic HC? I in no way believe winning 6 games would prove that stoops has proven to be a damn good coach. If somehow he got 7 regular season wins then yea he'll have likely proven himself. But all 6 wins does is buy him another year. If he wins 6 then goes 5-7 or 4-8 next season then at that point he would need to go. It's all about improving each season. And sustaining success.

But does ONE 6 win season make an HC proven and all the naysayers wil need to eat crow and admit they were wrong? I just ain't buying it. If we win 6 there'll be nothing but I told you soers, I can guarantee that, saying we hired the right man. But no in no way does ONE FREAKING 6 WIN SEASON prove someone is the man for the job. Stoops will have another year no matter what due to the atrocious extension. BUT. If we go 5-7 then IMO he needs to go at the end of the season. And if he wins 6 one time it doesn't make him some proven great coach with prominence in his future. If he goes 6-6 somehow. Then he just gets another year to prove a tiny bit of sustained success. Two 6 win seasons would almost prove him though. If he wins at least one of the bowl games.

 

[Los Gatos]

IF we go 1-2 or 0-3 then I will admit that my expectations of Stoops were too much and I was wrong in thinking he had the ability to get it done.

Only question is can all of the negative Nancy's admit they are wrong if the opposite happens?

OK, let me write that down. 1-2 or 0-3.

Now for the record, I've never said Stoops can't succeed at UK. I do however, feel the odd are against him becoming bowl eligible this year.

 

[BlueRunner11]

So is 6 wins now considered "making it" lol? I agree it's a start...should've been happening two yeas ago.

Some posters just expect more than making a bowl by the skin of our teeth (which we are still waiting on btw) and countless moral victories. Nothing wrong with expecting more from a coach, the majority of schools do.

 

[BlueRunner11]

We're currently 91st in total offense and 113th in total defense. So there's that.

Climbing those rankings. Watch out everybody.

 

[Gene1864]

The question should be with the way recruiting was going in the first year, would many of us have thought we would be hoping to beat Vandy at home to keep our hopes alive for a six win season. The answer would be no...I wouldn't have expected us to be world beaters at this point but think we should be competing at a much higher level than we are.

Staff mismanagement, personnel mismanagement, QB and DL mismanagement...all of this is the reason we are where we're at and that's all on Stoops. Would I be happy with 6 wins at this point? No, I'm sick and tired of setting the bar at six wins. This staff is a failure IMO.