Make or Break Game for Stoops

[UKWinsAgainYep]

Mark my words, if Mark Stoops doesn't get this win and ends up with 5 wins, he will not last more than one more season at UK. It is OVER for him at UK if he can't get 6 wins this season.

There have been so many bad coaching decisions and blowouts this season, UL is a MUST win. Don't kid yourself and say "Mitch won't fire him, blah blah....". It doesn't matter anymore how Mitch feels. It's about recruiting and the fan base.

The fans WILL GIVE UP on Stoops if we don't get this win. 5 wins is completely unacceptable this season. The stadium next season will not sellout for games like it did this season. I can already see the writing on the wall.

However, If we get 6 wins and beat UL, we can keep some of our recruiting momentum and he may survive.

He did this to himself. We should not be in this desperate position. This game is make or break. Recruits will completely frown upon this program if we end up with 5 wins. Our schedule was almost a "gimme" for 6 wins.

It's easily the most important game of his UK career because of recruiting implications and how this will affect the fan base.

 

[DACats86]

Been said every game this season...

 

[docholiday51]

UF,AUB,UGA and Vandy Stoops has had 4 reasonable chances to make his season so far this year.Thus far he has come close a couple of times but fell short all 4 times.One could make the case that he will pull it off 1 of 5 times

When you get down to it there is not much you can point to that says it will happen against UL.We have a basic unknown at QB,until the last game we had seen a 5 game comedy of errors instead of any real football being played.I think the defense does give us a slim ray of hope but they will have to have a little help from the offensive side of the ball

In spite of all the reasons not to like the Cats in this one I think we get it done,UL is not going to play a mistake free game and they are not world beaters in the first place.Petrino will have a solid game plan I hope Stoops comes up with something to catch UL off guard a little.

I think getting off to a good start will be a key factor in deciding the outcome,if we don't beat ourselves in the first quarter,or the last 2 minutes of the 2nd quarter we have a good shot at this one.

 

[Jdhays21]

Stoops will only be on the hot seat if we fail to win 6 games this year AND next year.

 

[Kats23]

If he loses, there will be a lot of bad consequences. There is going to be pressure to make staff changes, possible transfers, and struggling to keep the recruiting class together. Another poor year would likely cost Stoops his job at the end of next season. I think it's inevitable that Stoops gets fired here. I don't know if it will be the end of next season or the following season.

 

[docholiday51]

If he loses, there will be a lot of bad consequences. There is going to be pressure to make staff changes, possible transfers, and struggling to keep the recruiting class together. Another poor year would likely cost Stoops his job at the end of next season. I think it's inevitable that Stoops gets fired here. I don't know if it will be the end of next season or the following season.

On the other hand if he wins this one he is good for the next 4 or 5 years,this ain't LSU,where if you don't win 10 or so they line up a firing squad.

 

[jte123]

if we win and get to a bowl, whats the best case scenario for next season, will we make any in roads in SEC play?

 

[Kats23]

On the other hand if he wins this one he is good for the next 4 or 5 years,this ain't LSU,where if you don't win 10 or so they line up a firing squad.

I don't know if I agree with that if he only is winning 6 games a year. If he is winning 7 consistently, with an 8 game season thrown in there, sure he could be here a few more years but at the rate he's recruiting, the fan base is not going to be patient with every season bowl eligibility coming on the fringes of the last game. Look at the fanbase now. There are not too many that are happy with the results on the field in year 3 bc of the recruiting the past few seasons. People are acting like a win against UL and all is forgiven. That just isn't the case. 6-6 will not make me forget getting blown out in 3 straight, OT against a FBS school, and losing to Vandy. 6-6 salvages the season but it doesn't make it successful.

 

[BlueRaider22]

Nope. Not going to a bowl this yr hurts, no doubt, but he's far from being completely cooked. It is very possible that the talent that he is bringing in will start to mature in the next yr or two and save him.

That's certainly not to say that he's going to be successful for sure......

 

[docholiday51]

I don't know if I agree with that if he only is winning 6 games a year. If he is winning 7 consistently, with an 8 game season thrown in there, sure he could be here a few more years but at the rate he's recruiting, the fan base is not going to be patient with every season bowl eligibility coming on the fringes of the last game. Look at the fanbase now. They are not too many are happy with the results on the field in year 3 bc of the recruiting the past few seasons.

I see your point but if (big if) we get to bowls the next two years much will be forgiven and forgotten for a while+ recruiting probably holds together.

 

[Stenchymouse]

Stoops will be here for 2 or 3 more years NO MATTER WHAT!

Barnhardt is a patient man and Stoops has recruited well.

I'd rather Stoops succeed than us get a different coach.

I honestly think that Stoops is just green and doesn't have the confidence in himself to tweak things that aren't working.

As we start to enjoy more success, Stoops' confidence will grow and our program will become somewhat competitive.

We're a 6, 7 or 8 win program when things are at their best and I think within a few years, we'll consistently win at least 6 games a year.

 

[UKErik]

Two details people should think about before assuming Stoops will be fired if UK struggles again in '16;

*If UK fires Stoops after the '16 season, they'd owe him 100% of the remainder of his contract ($12 million)

*If UK fires Stoops after the '17 season, they'd owe him 80% of the remainder of his contract (a little over $6 million).

Mitch Barnhart knows the uphill battle UK football faces. He likes Mark Stoops. Recruiting has gone well. And on the field, Kentucky has gone from 2-10 to bowl contention. In other words, it's easy to look at what Stoops has done and say he's making progress.

Hence, I don't see him being fired anytime soon. If the '16 team fell back to 2-10/3-9 AND ticket sales suffered dramatically, maybe that would result in a coaching change. I doubt it though.

I think Stoop is at UK AT LEAST through 2017 no matter what.

GBB!!!

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Two details people should think about before assuming Stoops will be fired if UK struggles again in '16;

*If UK fires Stoops after the '16 season, they'd owe him 100% of the remainder of his contract ($12 million)

*If they UK fires Stoops after the '17 season, they'd owe him 80% of the remainder of his contract (a little over $6 million).

Mitch Barnhart knows the uphill battle UK football faces. He likes Mark Stoops. Recruiting has gone well. And on the field, Kentucky has gone from 2-10 to bowl contention. In other words, it's easy to look at what Stoops has done and say he's making progress.

Hence, I don't see him being fired anytime soon. If the '16 team fell back to 2-10/3-9 AND ticket sales suffered dramatically, maybe that would result in a coaching change. I doubt it though.

I think Stoop is at UK AT LEAST through 2017 no matter what.

GBB!!!

Probably so. It is time to start winning more games though. 6-6, 7-5 is not that tough with the schedule we had this year and most years with the SEC East so down.

 

[kyjohn]

The telling part will be how the UK team performs.Do they come out looking like a team that has been prepared,wiht an attitude they are going to give everthing they have to win,or do they come out like we saw against EKU and too many other games,flat uninspired,going thru the motions,and looking to get the season over with?

 

[jc2010]

I see your point but if (big if) we get to bowls the next two years much will be forgiven and forgotten for a while+ recruiting probably holds together.

First off, I am not one that wants Stoops fired, IMO except for recruiting he has not done a good job, in game coaching has been dreadful. I can't imagine who we could possibly hire to replace him, we can't just be giving a coach 3 yrs . Besides, Barney, who is second only to Pitino for being quick on the trigger gave him that ill advised extension that would have to be paid off.

Hopefully in the off season his daddy and brothers will go over tapes and show him what he did wrong.

The monumental crashes the last two years will be very hard to forget

 

[Teetim]

Mark my words, if Mark Stoops doesn't get this win and ends up with 5 wins, he will not last more than one more season at UK. It is OVER for him at UK if he can't get 6 wins this season.

There have been so many bad coaching decisions and blowouts this season, UL is a MUST win. Don't kid yourself and say "Mitch won't fire him, blah blah....". It doesn't matter anymore how Mitch feels. It's about recruiting and the fan base.

The fans WILL GIVE UP on Stoops if we don't get this win. 5 wins is completely unacceptable this season. The stadium next season will not sellout for games like it did this season. I can already see the writing on the wall.

However, If we get 6 wins and beat UL, we can keep some of our recruiting momentum and he may survive.

He did this to himself. We should not be in this desperate position. This game is make or break. Recruits will completely frown upon this program if we end up with 5 wins. Our schedule was almost a "gimme" for 6 wins.

It's easily the most important game of his UK career because of recruiting implications and how this will affect the fan base.

Lighten up, Francis...

 

[Cats_2010]

Two details people should think about before assuming Stoops will be fired if UK struggles again in '16;

*If UK fires Stoops after the '16 season, they'd owe him 100% of the remainder of his contract ($12 million)

*If they UK fires Stoops after the '17 season, they'd owe him 80% of the remainder of his contract (a little over $6 million).

Mitch Barnhart knows the uphill battle UK football faces. He likes Mark Stoops. Recruiting has gone well. And on the field, Kentucky has gone from 2-10 to bowl contention. In other words, it's easy to look at what Stoops has done and say he's making progress.

Hence, I don't see him being fired anytime soon. If the '16 team fell back to 2-10/3-9 AND ticket sales suffered dramatically, maybe that would result in a coaching change. I doubt it though.

I think Stoop is at UK AT LEAST through 2017 no matter what.

GBB!!!

yeah I don't see stoops going anywhere until 2017 either barring a total implosion. That being said If next year ends up like this year in terms of how the team is performing (not wins and losses per se but just the overlook of the team), then that could make for a very dismal 2017 from the fans perspective. Might have to start giving tickets away to get a decent number of fans to our home games in that case.

 

[wildcatdon]

The one thing that worries me is the bad decision making that takes the wind out of our sails time and time again. This ties in with the horrid play calling. I like Stoops but he is possibly digging his own grave, especially with Dawson and Towles.

 

[docholiday51]

The one thing that worries me is the bad decision making that takes the wind out of our sails time and time again. This ties in with the horrid play calling. I like Stoops but he is possibly digging his own grave, especially with Dawson and Towles.

Seems like we have seen more of the decision making blunders,bad play calls and clock mismanagement issues in the past few weeks than we did last year or early this year.I don't know it it is a situational thing,communication issue or something else.I can't see that he has forgotten basic football 101 when you consider his background.The Vandy game fiasco however did look almost high schoolish.

 

[theoledog]

Been said every game this season...

That was my first thought as well 86.... Not another one!

 

[merrimanm]

Probably so. It is time to start winning more games though. 6-6, 7-5 is not that tough with the schedule we had this year and most years with the SEC East so down.

I agree we have to make progress, but the SEC East being down should.not be something that is considered due to the fact that those teams were so far ahead of us that their down is a good year for us. We were that far away from a real SEC program.

 

[DACats86]

I don't know if I agree with that if he only is winning 6 games a year. If he is winning 7 consistently, with an 8 game season thrown in there, sure he could be here a few more years...

Do you know the history of UK football?!

 

[Mr Schwump]

Wait to about 3:30PM Saturday before starting this crap.

 

[Soupbean]

OP cannot be more wrong about the timeline. Mitch believes in Stoops and in the foundation he's set with the recruiting classes. There is no way he's gone after 2016 and he'll only be in danger after that if the losses still pile up next year and recruiting falls completely off. The recruiting is the key. If recruiting still hands in there at better than traditional levels but the on field results still suffer, then what you'll see if pressure to get Stoops to make changes in the coordinators and staff before Stoops himself gets the heat. It will take a lot for Barnhart to get there with Stoops because he likes him so much personally and believes in his plan which began with his recruiting plan first.

 

[TJS4UK]

It's important, but I will be very surprised if it's a make or break game. I think that Stoops gets at least 1-2 more years regardless.

 

[Anjiejo]

Not make or break...A lose will bring criticism and rightfully so ..It also probably would result in some changes to his staff.
I think stoops gets a chance to make staff changes and then 2 more years after that. But I expect staff changes to happen next year if things don't improve.Unless he see a need of going more traditional offense and wants to bring coley or someone similar in here and cokey has already agreed to come..
Changing oc after one year isn't the way to build a good offense,but if its not working out with Dawson he may decide change is needed.

 

[K_TIME]

UK isn't eating anything less than 3 ....and probably 2 at most years of that crazy contract Mitch gave out last year. So Stoops has 5 years after this season...so Stoops is perfectly safe IMO for 2 and probably 3 seasons. Each year is 3.25M...so you're nuts if you think UK is eating 15M..or 12M for that fact. It will have to be less than 10M for UK to buy Stoops out.

Sad problem is it ins't about UK's on field...it is the off field $$$ that make this decision

 

[frost1]

stoops is going to turn this program. Changing QB.S Is a start to improvement.

 

[Levibooty]

The OP is not hysterical but is very close.

 

[truebluewildcat_rivals34254]

I would disagree that he's gone after next season if he doesn't get the win...a lot of money has been invested in him and i'm not sure the decision makers would want to pay the buy out...

However, I believe this game is very important for program momentum...

-the Governor's Cup would go a long way in boosting overall moral, and it would help patch up the bleeding of the second half of the season...
-would quiet the fan base somewhat and bring a lot of folks back on board...
-the extra bowl practice would be huge for the development of the team...
-the actual bowl game would help recruiting...

-a bowl victory would be huge...7 wins for a young staff and team would be a great confidence booster...

 

[shutzhund]

Why am I suspicious of the op's motives?

 

[Burly]

Keep Stoops I like him...just give him time to get all his kids in & see what he can do. Not like we have ever won. He at least is recruiting better. He will make needed staff changes.

 

[buckkiller]

Must win if not I think he should hit the road. I like the way he recruits but if you cannot coach plus develop players recruiting does not matter. I think he is a bonehead coach. He must win this game period! Will not recover if he loses this one.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Why am I suspicious of the op's motives?

Because he is an extremely pessimistic pollster who fools no one when he makes some positive type posts calling out the "haters" to try to cover his tracks. He may not even be a UK fan...there is that as well

 

[NCukcat62]

He most certainly will be on the hot seat if he doesn't win Saturday. There was 3 games that we could/should of won.

 

[willievic]

First off, I am not one that wants Stoops fired, IMO except for recruiting he has not done a good job, in game coaching has been dreadful. I can't imagine who we could possibly hire to replace him, we can't just be giving a coach 3 yrs . Besides, Barney, who is second only to Pitino for being quick on the trigger gave him that ill advised extension that would have to be paid off.

Hopefully in the off season his daddy and brothers will go over tapes and show him what he did wrong.

The monumental crashes the last two years will be very hard to forget

Coach Stoops Dad passed away several years ago. He was a high school coach in Ohio, and a very well respected one.
Stoops is going to get 5 years at UK, as long as he's showing improvement, not necessarily wins, and continuing recruiting the way he is. As I've said before, any coach needs 5 years to right a program, and with what Joker left, definitely 5 years.
Has he made a lot of mistakes in his coaching, definitely, but a lot of people make mistakes in their first job, and being the DC is definitely not the same as being the Head Coach.
If we keep getting the recruits we are getting, we will see a lot of improvement. At the present, if we have an injury, the backup, in most cases is a big step down.
I still believe Stoops is the man for the job.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[jauk11]

The OP is not hysterical but is very close.

Are you sure?

I think he has been like this for quite a while, I think we should call in a doctor for further evaluation.

 

[gojvc]

Are you sure?

I think he has been like this for quite a while, I think we should call in a doctor for further evaluation.

The OP is over the top to be sure. But.....it's bound to be a lot less difficult building a football program if you haven't lost a significant portion of the fanbase. And if we lose Saturday then, rightly or wrongly, he's going to lose a good portion of this fanbase. Maybe not forever but you're dealing with a lot of off-season negativity that I'm sure CMS would rather do without.

 

[Katwatcher]

This is a big game for Stoops, but I don't think his job is riding on it. 3 years is not enough time to turn around a program that has been down for several years.

You are just spinning your wheels when you change coaches every 3-4 years. If Coach Stoops continues to recruit successful, the team will continue to improve . That doesn't mean he can't have a down year once in a while. I think he will be given at least 2-3 more years and rightly so because he will have to face the tough SEC schedule every year. jmho

 

[Anjiejo]

Its pretty obvious that stoops made some bad mistakes this year...I do think it's a good chance that he grows as a head coach this year,after all this is his first head coaching gig.. He deserves that opportunity to make changes and correct the mistakes..
You really don't know how good/bad he will be.Next year we should not see the bad game management ect.better game management ect..
We would be sick if in 5 years he would be a coach in another program and turned out to be a very good coach ect..