Is the Vandy game a make or break game for Stoops?

BigSexyCat

All-American
Nov 29, 2008
5,104
7,231
0
Can't see him coming back with only 3 wins. He needs a fourth win and Vandy is his best bet.
 

UKWildcats#8

All-American
Jun 25, 2011
30,327
9,337
0
If he is allowed back after a 4 win season then UK football really is a joke and a lost cause

UK has to beat Vandy to keep its slim bowl hopes alive. Win that, then we get the bye, then MSU at home. Win that, and then you just have to win 1/2 of UGA and Missouri (winning one of those won't be easy at all) and then APSU to get to 6.
 

GG Allin

Junior
Dec 23, 2015
296
238
0
He's playing for 5 wins at the least. Like it or not, it just feels like it's setting up that 5 will be enough. That said, i think 4 and he is gone
 
  • Like
Reactions: brianpoe

UKWildcats#8

All-American
Jun 25, 2011
30,327
9,337
0
Maybe so, but should we really be talking that we are on Vandy's level after 4 years? Disappointing, yet reality.

Vandy has won 9, 3, 4, and 2 in the past 4 for a total of 18.
UK has won 2, 5, 5, and 2 in the past 4 for a total of 14.

Of course Vandy's 2013 season is futher and further away as James Franklin aint walkin through that door. They got their Mason like we are stuck with our Stoops.
 

BigBlueTuckian

Sophomore
Jan 9, 2016
309
198
0
To have any shot at a bowl in 2016, Mark Stoops must beat Vandy. That being said, beating Vandy doesn't guarantee a bowl game. Miss State and Missouri will be the determining factors of 2016.
 
  • Like
Reactions: brianpoe

Dakota25

All-Conference
Nov 24, 2014
2,460
1,027
0
It is for the season. UK has to win to keep their bowl hopes alive and even then I'm being optimistic. A loss means they are essentially eliminated, not mathematically obviously, but let's face it a loss Saturday then they are going to win six. Stoop's buy out is too much for him to leave after this year so next year is either six wins or he's gone in my opinion.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ok-cats-computer

docholiday51

Heisman
Oct 19, 2001
22,011
26,718
0
Wait..... we have already had the win or the world ends game this year.
Stoops manages to put himself behind the 8 ball so that we have about 3 or 4 of those type games each year.SC,Vandy and AP fall into that category this season,I think 4 wins gives him a shot at staying and 5 is a lock. I hope Stoops makes it here but it does get old having multiple games that are win or start over with a new coach year after year.
 

CB3UK

Hall of Famer
Apr 15, 2012
62,982
103,700
78
Vandy doesnt have an athletics department....they abolished it. We HAVE to beat them Saturday. Then we will HAVE to beat State. I dont see us getting Missouri or Georgia.
 

GoCatsForever2k15

All-Conference
Jun 7, 2015
3,082
1,895
0
It definitely is. He'll be back as long as he wins 4, but he'll have lost a big portion of the fan base if he doesn't at least get to 5, and rightly so.
 

UK34

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2003
1,138
2,852
113
I like Stoops and everything he has done off the field but he has to go if we win 4 or less games. Prefer him gone with 5 but can see a $12 million argument to keep him.

Reality is Louisville has raised the bar and exposed the excuses used for Kentucky not being able to win in football. If they can get the players so can we. SEC too tough? The East has been weak for a few years and the ACC now has high level teams.

Louisville is in the college football playoff discussion and Kentucky is fighting an uphill battle for a bowl game. We microwave fans have a right to expect more.
 

Los Gatos

Senior
Aug 12, 2003
1,534
819
63
He's playing for 5 wins at the least. Like it or not, it just feels like it's setting up that 5 will be enough. That said, i think 4 and he is gone

I don't think it's a matter of how many games he wins but how many people show up for the remaining games. It will take a Joker like Vandy game for Barnyard to eat the buyout.
 

Anon1660081258

All-American
Jun 20, 2013
7,250
6,139
0
More or less. Like him (I do) or not, certain milestones have to start being passed. Beating the likes of Vandy is at the top of that list, especially in CWS for crying out loud.
 

Shavers48

All-Conference
Sep 2, 2011
2,919
1,345
0
I do not think he has 'must wins'.
he does nothing but lose them and remains. Thus, I deduce they do not exist.
 

Blue Decade

All-American
May 3, 2013
10,266
6,034
0
Can't see him coming back with only 3 wins. He needs a fourth win and Vandy is his best bet.
All due respect, this isn't the right question. Losing to Vandy wouldn't necessarily mean 3 wins. No matter how many Stoops wins, he is doing it with a 2nd string quarterback. A juco quarterback, 7 sophomores, and 2 freshmen are starting. The punter is a true freshman. Our quarterback and middle linebacker never played in an SEC game before last month. Despite everything, Stoops holds a 3-game winning streak over South Carolina. You sound anxious to spend other people's money. If Stoops is fired after 2016, Kentucky owes him $12 million, and then another $5 million to his staff. The athletics director is unlikely to blow $17 million to get rid of Stoops with 19 incumbent starters due back in 2017. Yes, it could happen, but the team and recruiting class would have to fall apart in November. If I was Barnhart, I would be closely watching this next recruiting class. I'm not talking about Jedrick Wills. Wills is gone. There is no Wills. I'm talking about overall talent and balance in the class. Signing a bunch of defensive backs isn't enough. But if it looks like Stoops will add Danny Clark, a tackle, and a couple more solid defensive linemen, then you don't fire Stoops and disrupt that class. In June, I predicted 4-5 wins. Since then, I haven't seen anything to change my mind. The most likely outcome for this year will be more tweaking of Stoops' staff, and I think Eliot is in some trouble now.
 

Blue Decade

All-American
May 3, 2013
10,266
6,034
0
Yep. Look for Eliot coaching LB at the WAC school on your block soon.
Eliot is a native of Edmond, OK. My guess would be that Eliot resurfaces as a linebacker coach at an Florida, Oklahoma, or Texas college program, or for a Florida or Texas NFL team. He can't last long at Kentucky. Either Stoops replaces him, or else Stoops fails and Eliot loses his job that way. IMO.
 

UKWildcats#8

All-American
Jun 25, 2011
30,327
9,337
0
It definitely is. He'll be back as long as he wins 4, but he'll have lost a big portion of the fan base if he doesn't at least get to 5, and rightly so.

Why would he keep a big portion of the fanbase if he gets to 5 wins? We have been there done that. Boring. No bowl, sitting at home like losers for the 3rd straight season at 5-7. Big whoop, I doubt many have much faith even with 5 wins IMO when you look at a tougher schedule next season
 

GoCatsForever2k15

All-Conference
Jun 7, 2015
3,082
1,895
0
Why would he keep a big portion of the fanbase if he gets to 5 wins? We have been there done that. Boring. No bowl, sitting at home like losers for the 3rd straight season at 5-7. Big whoop, I doubt many have much faith even with 5 wins IMO when you look at a tougher schedule next season

Because of his contract, because the team should be better since we return mostly everyone (plus a second year in the system on O) and because 5-7 isn't so ungodly bad that it warrants scrapping the whole thing and starting over.

By "keep", I mean there will still be a lot people who are on the fence, not necessarily completely on board. Anything less than 5 and I think most won't even care how 17 turns out, stoops will have lost them.
 

laxcat#5

All-Conference
Oct 7, 2005
3,901
3,388
0
Yep. Look for Eliot coaching LB at the WAC school on your block soon.

The most ridiculous thing that happened this offseason is when a Power 5 program offered DJ Eliot a DC position and he rejected the offer. It shows what a dope he is!
 

ZakkW

All-Conference
May 22, 2002
4,637
4,815
113
Spot on synopsis. We really are the doormat of the SEC.

Actually the doormat of "Power 5" conferences. Did some research: UK's last 9 win season was 1984. Since then, EVERY current Power 5 school other than Kentucky and Indiana has had at least one 9+ win season and 95% have had more than one. And, yes, that includes Duke and Vanderbilt.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rockford

UKWinsAgainYep

All-Conference
Nov 11, 2014
2,971
2,484
0
Yes, I believe Vandy is a must win. If we lose to Vandy, that means bowl hopes are crushed and the fans will finally turn "for good" against Stoops.

I really hope we get this win.
 

CatsPaws270

Heisman
Dec 7, 2015
23,616
61,738
113
You lose to Vandy, you are out of Bowl contention going into the bye week.

The bye week happens to feature Big Blue Madness for a basketball team that has title aspirations...which will be a big pick me up for the down fan base.

A loss will kill all momentum for the team in the bye week and for the fan base. The stadium will be empty for the rest of the year. You probably go on to finish 3-9 ending with a 70 point blowout against Louisville who will be in playoff contention.

It is make or break...if Vandy ends up being a loss he will be fired.
 

billoliver40

All-American
Dec 16, 2015
6,736
9,444
0
Really, really need six, and Vandy better be one unless we think we can sweep Georgia, UT and Louisville. Can you say 210 points in three games?

Team needs wins against Vandy, APSU, Missouri and Mississippi State. Two of those are really questionable, and if we face Vandy and that D with a half baked attitude, that one will go South as well.

Don't know the last time I felt a coaches tenure road on Vanderbilt in a football game.
This is big for Stoops.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigSexyCat