Refuse to believe Stoops is an idiot. So, changes will be made.....

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

I know some of you think Stoops is too dumb to count backwards from 10. I refuse to believe he’s an idiot. About football anyway – too much pedigree. So there will be changes.

We can all see how dysfunctional and poorly coached this team was. We all know that the schedule was sitting there begging us to get 8 wins, maybe 9 with a break or two, and we all know that happens once a generation in this league. We all know this year could have been a springboard to really changing UK football and cementing Stoops. Instead we got the opposite, a catapult in the wrong direction. We all know now he has his hands full – will go into next year with some heat, facing a much more difficult schedule. We all know that there was something going on with this team, divisions between players and maybe coaches. And we know, maybe that’s not the ideal environment to assess a coach or a new coach’s potential. We all know that doesn’t matter, that if/when you lose the fan base, the curtain comes down and how “good” a coach you might have become is irrelevant. We all know that if things don’t change, next year will be bad, or at least not good enough, and Stoops time at UK, maybe his career, will be over. We all know that simply vowing to “put our heads down, and go to work” is not enough.

If we all know that, then he must know it. Coaches and players will go. Things will change.

Right?

 

[LadyCaytIL]

Right now I don't even know if Stoops can count to Potato. He's been a stubborn , disorganized mess all season.

 

[Ugoff]

IMO any changes will be driven by ticket sales projections. Heck, if the fans hadn't stayed home in droves for the Vandy game, Joker would still be here.

 

[UKErik]

Well, you can look at that a number of ways mojo. Are there issues within the UK locker room? Are players and coaches not on the same page? If so, is that a product of Stoops and his management style, or is Stoops a victim of people not doing their jobs? The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

I don't believe Stoops is anything close to dumb, but UK DID hire yet another head coach on training wheels. UK is his first head coaching gig, so in truth, we don't really know if he's capable of being a head coach. And not only is this his first HC job, but it's Kentucky, one of the most difficult places to win in the country.

UK football has eaten up some very good football coaches over the years. It's a tough, tough job. I think Kentucky needs to bring in guys that know how to manage programs. Guys that have proven they have the ability to manage football games as well as just about anyone. Guys that have a track record of doing more with less (so to speak). I'm not sure hiring coordinators with no HC experience is the right move for a program that never wins.

GBB!!!

 

[NCukcat62]

No. He isn't stupid. Just don't think he is head coach material. Some of the best coordinators in the country never know how to run a team.

 

[Mr Schwump]

According to another site the staff is out of town recruiting today, isn't that one thing we want?

 

[JHB4UK]

Problem is he is now a head coach on the hot seat. And those kinds of coaches have a difficult time hiring better coordinators/position coaches to help save their jobs. Can't blame other coaches who want to move up their careers not wanting to jump on board a sinking ship.

 

[ALL IN YOUR FACE]

He's smart enough to know a change needs to be made somewhere but I don't know that he's smart enough to fill the position(s) with the right hire.

 

[akaukswoosh]

Problem is he is now a head coach on the hot seat. And those kinds of coaches have a difficult time hiring better coordinators/position coaches to help save their jobs. Can't blame other coaches who want to move up their careers not wanting to jump on board a sinking ship.

Yep.

 

[Anjiejo]

He's smart enough to know a change needs to be made somewhere but I don't know that he's smart enough to fill the position(s) with the right hire.

I agree, But think "WE" as a fan base should give him that opportunity before completely turning on him!
He is here probably 2 more year's so the best thing is to be positive and hope he can close out this recruiting season without
a mass exit..
That talent would go a long way in getting a better coach in the next hire..

 

[BWCatsFan22]

I think Stoops is a good recruiter and program builder. It is easier generally speaking to win more games with better players and depth. That said....they really feel short with game management and tactics at times this year and they must take responsibility for that. That is not on the players! I think they need some sort of strategist on the sideline who's sole responsibility is to manage the game from pre-game preparation to critical game time management. That is my take anyway! THTB

PS....probably would be a good thing to hire a special teams coach and perhaps a new wide receivers coach while we are at it!

 

[Anon1639625937]

I hear ya! I'd like to think that what you’ve stated is true. When we look at the team as a whole, it would be hard to point to any area of the team that has improved from last season to this season and from the beginning of this season to the end of the season. As a great “Defensive" minded coach. If that is the case, one would think after three years that UK would be better at defending the quarterback run option. In my opinion, weve gotten worse. Do I think Coach Stoops is an idiot? Absolutely not! Do I think Stoops can be a good head football coach, yes I do think so. Do I think he’s there now, sorry to say but no. His lack of experience has soon itself in almost every game we’ve played this season.

 

[docholiday51]

I think the coach on training wheels is a bit overused as an excuse or explanation.I can see a first time coach having a problem in the areas of program management and how to deal with coaching personnel issues and such as that.Now when you put him on the field in football game management situations it is another matter.The man has been around football all his life,it is not like he showed up 3 years ago and said ,"so this is what it is like on the sidelines,I always wondered what it was like" he had been there before and had seen it done at many levels

Some of the things we saw in clock management situations,critical decisions in strategic down and distance situations and decisions made at game turning points leave me to wonder about his thought process

A few examples

Late 2nd half (last 2+ minutes of AUB game,same in Miss St game,going on 4th down at mid field in UGA game multiple clock management issues and play calls in Vandy game,having a 21 point lead on an average UL team and getting beat.

Maybe he has no help(or thinks he has no help) on the sidelines or in the press box.

We have seen a whole lot of the same things over the past 2 seasons,no improvement (actually things getting worse in the second half of the season) and a sense of disorganization.There doesn't seem to be a plan in place to make things any better.

 

[jc2010]

IDK if he's a moron but he may be insane. If the definition of insanity is trying the same thing and expecting different results......he did blow several games in a row by completely screwing up the last couple of minutes of the first half. We went from a competitive ballgame to a blowout.

 

[ukalumni00]

You are either a leader or you are not. Many assistants simply find out they are not the leader they thought they were when they take over as the head coach. Especially at an SEC school like KY, the HC is being pulled many different ways by outside folks and responsibilities and also has to manage his players and staff. It is a ton of organization and takes the right person to be able to manage. His only chance is getting some older experienced guys on his staff that can take some responsibilities away from him and allow him to concentrate on the high level items. Honestly, someone like Ortmeyer would do wonders for Stoops.

 

[Katwatcher]

I think the coach on training wheels is a bit overused as an excuse or explanation.I can see a first time coach having a problem in the areas of program management and how to deal with coaching personnel issues and such as that.Now when you put him on the field in football game management situations it is another matter.The man has been around football all his life,it is not like he showed up 3 years ago and said ,"so this is what it is like on the sidelines,I always wondered what it was like" he had been there before and had seen it done at many levels

Some of the things we saw in clock management situations,critical decisions in strategic down and distance situations and decisions made at game turning points leave me to wonder about his thought process

A few examples

Late 2nd half (last 2+ minutes of AUB game,same in Miss St game,going on 4th down at mid field in UGA game multiple clock management issues and play calls in Vandy game,having a 21 point lead on an average UL team and getting beat.

Maybe he has no help(or thinks he has no help) on the sidelines or in the press box.

We have seen a whole lot of the same things over the past 2 seasons,no improvement (actually thing getting worse in the second half of the season) and a sense of disorganization.There doesn't seem to be a plan in place to make things any better.

Doc, you hit on some good points, I have thought the same thing about the inexperience thing. As long as he has been coaching and being around football he should have seen about all there is to know. Any coach should realize you have to have discipline and I think he has been too lenient with certain players.

Hints of division in the locker room should have been picked up by the coaching staff. What bothers me more than anything is not having a power play with the right players for getting the ball in end zone. when you need just 1 yard or less. Trying to run from the shotgun with small backs won't get it on the goal line.

Correcting these types of problems doesn't require a lot of experience, just a little planning. jmho

 

[3kidsandme]

Stoops is not on any hotseat. He took over a program that literally would be a lower tier Mac team. After year 3 we are better. I hoped for miracles but reality is most of uks talent is very young. Only way Stoops loses his job is if we win 2 or 3 games next year. Anybody who thinks UK should change coaches yet again just does not understand football very well. This is not basketball and UK needs more talent.

 

[DACats86]

I hope you are right, but any change requires critical, honest self-evaluation. Placing blame on others and making changes won't correct the problem(s) if you're a big part of the problem to begin with. I'm not sure I'm hearing (reading) the things from Stoops to make me believe that self-evaluation will be a key component to any change.

 

[3kidsandme]

I hope you are right, but any change requires critical, honest self-evaluation. Placing blame on others and making changes won't correct the problem(s) if you're a big part of the problem to begin with. I'm not sure I'm hearing (reading) the things from Stoops to make me believe that self-evaluation will be a key component to any change.

Stoops needs experienced coordinators. Eliot and Dawson are green as grass. I hope the Pelini rumor is true this defense needs an attitude.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

He's not an idiot, but he is not a good football coach. That much is for sure thus far.

 

[yoshukai]

I originally thought and still think he should get 5 years . I gotta admit it's not looking good . With me it's not so much about wins and losses , it's about steady improvement . And I'm not seeing it . Yet . We'll see .

 

[Levibooty]

I think Stoops made some pretty bad decisions this year on the sidelines. I think he needs coordinators around him that he has faith in. I believe the fact that he is so new to the HC decision process he is in fact learning his job. I think he had to deal with some very ugly problems that a lot of coaches never face this year. The locker room sounds like a mess this year. I think fans needs to rethink about how they talk about our players as, "the Joker leftovers". That probably doesn't help with team cohesion.

I want Stoops to succeed and like his recruiting--- I think. (Hope he doesn't have a penchant for bringing in bad apples, don't know) I will however note his bad decisions along with his good ones and will try not to let my wants blind my eyes. If he cannot delegate authority while keeping all coaches on the same page then he does not have the required management ability. If however he has coordinators that do not work within his system that is a pruning job for the off-season.

Both coordinators were spoken highly of when they came here as fresh up-and-comers but maybe what is needed is a little old iron-*** experienced coaching talent similar to what Brooks brought here.

 

[BlueRaider22]

I think we are close to being on track from my original prediction when Stoops was hired. So, I'm not as worried as some. Plus, a lot of posters are still very emotional about how the season ended. Once everything calms down, we will get a little better perspective on how things are.

He is learning how to coach. And, no, being a DC with pedigree does not mean that will know what to do as a head coach in certain situations. Nor does it mean that you will be a good HC overall. I'm not extremely worried about his on-field mistakes.....but I am worried. I'm more worried about his staff decisions. If it were me, as a first time HC, I would've hired more experience on the staff.....still had the recruiters but added some more experience.

Right now it's a race against the clock. Can Stoops get the talent to develop and overcome his mistakes in time before he is fired? Honestly, Mitch may have solved that for us. The contract all but assured him another 2 yrs here. We're going to know what we have.

 

[jaknfo90]

I know some of you think Stoops is too dumb to count backwards from 10. I refuse to believe he’s an idiot. About football anyway – too much pedigree. So there will be changes.

We can all see how dysfunctional and poorly coached this team was. We all know that the schedule was sitting there begging us to get 8 wins, maybe 9 with a break or two, and we all know that happens once a generation in this league. We all know this year could have been a springboard to really changing UK football and cementing Stoops. Instead we got the opposite, a catapult in the wrong direction. We all know now he has his hands full – will go into next year with some heat, facing a much more difficult schedule. We all know that there was something going on with this team, divisions between players and maybe coaches. And we know, maybe that’s not the ideal environment to assess a coach or a new coach’s potential. We all know that doesn’t matter, that if/when you lose the fan base, the curtain comes down and how “good” a coach you might have become is irrelevant. We all know that if things don’t change, next year will be bad, or at least not good enough, and Stoops time at UK, maybe his career, will be over. We all know that simply vowing to “put our heads down, and go to work” is not enough.

If we all know that, then he must know it. Coaches and players will go. Things will change.

Right?

He can't seem to count to 11 on a consistent basis. 8 men on the field for a punt return, numerous timeouts for too many/few players on the field. Oh, if Josh Forrest is to be believed, no game plan for Lamar Jackson. Probably not an idiot but he's no frickin genius either.

 

[Nuke99m.]

I think he needs to quit micro-managing things and delegate to capable assistants. Let the assistants worry about their side of the ball and don't step in. Hire a special teams coach that makes sure all the teams are ready to go on the field when it's their time. Stoops needs to step back and see what happens when he lets his assistants do their jobs.

 

[Ajax10]

I think the coach on training wheels is a bit overused as an excuse or explanation.I can see a first time coach having a problem in the areas of program management and how to deal with coaching personnel issues and such as that.Now when you put him on the field in football game management situations it is another matter.The man has been around football all his life,it is not like he showed up 3 years ago and said ,"so this is what it is like on the sidelines,I always wondered what it was like" he had been there before and had seen it done at many levels

Some of the things we saw in clock management situations,critical decisions in strategic down and distance situations and decisions made at game turning points leave me to wonder about his thought process

A few examples

Late 2nd half (last 2+ minutes of AUB game,same in Miss St game,going on 4th down at mid field in UGA game multiple clock management issues and play calls in Vandy game,having a 21 point lead on an average UL team and getting beat.

Maybe he has no help(or thinks he has no help) on the sidelines or in the press box.

We have seen a whole lot of the same things over the past 2 seasons,no improvement (actually things getting worse in the second half of the season) and a sense of disorganization.There doesn't seem to be a plan in place to make things any better.

You hit the nail on the head......there are basic situational football decisions that every competent coach knows and makes. This staff does not seem to have the ability to make solid coaching decisons - simply too much evidence to the contrary. These exceptionally poor decisions, in my opinion, are not caused by a lack of 'head coaching" experience - but lack of common sense football knowledge. Coach Stoops may surprise me, but I simply can't see him lasting anymore than 2 more years.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I know some of you think Stoops is too dumb to count backwards from 10. I refuse to believe he’s an idiot. About football anyway – too much pedigree. So there will be changes.

We can all see how dysfunctional and poorly coached this team was. We all know that the schedule was sitting there begging us to get 8 wins, maybe 9 with a break or two, and we all know that happens once a generation in this league. We all know this year could have been a springboard to really changing UK football and cementing Stoops. Instead we got the opposite, a catapult in the wrong direction. We all know now he has his hands full – will go into next year with some heat, facing a much more difficult schedule. We all know that there was something going on with this team, divisions between players and maybe coaches. And we know, maybe that’s not the ideal environment to assess a coach or a new coach’s potential. We all know that doesn’t matter, that if/when you lose the fan base, the curtain comes down and how “good” a coach you might have become is irrelevant. We all know that if things don’t change, next year will be bad, or at least not good enough, and Stoops time at UK, maybe his career, will be over. We all know that simply vowing to “put our heads down, and go to work” is not enough.

If we all know that, then he must know it. Coaches and players will go. Things will change.

Right?

Way in over his head...so was JP

 

[oboroCATfan]

I don't think Stoops needs to fire any one coach but I do know he needs to bring in a veteran guy; whether on offense, defense, or both; that can help him with certain areas that are lacking.

Right now it feels like every coach we have is throwing **** at the walls to see what sticks. When you are a young coach that is how you learn but when every coach from the head coach to the towel guy is doing it you get what we had last year.

 

[Nuke99m.]

Stoops needs a "team Mom"

 

[BlueRaider22]

Stoops needs a "team Mom"

Oddly enough, I made a comment like this around the office just the other day. I said, that the team lacks "parents or teachers." The last few yrs we've had a first time HC, first time DC, now breaking in basically a first time OC, and most of the depth chart is littered with underclassmen. It's like having a house or school without parents or teachers......only led by a few teenagers. And everyone is trying to mature at the same time without guidance. Of course things are a mess.

 

[Anon1639625937]

Let’s face it. Hiring Stoops was based on his pedigree and the work he's done as a defensive coordinator. We all knew, including the AD, Stoops had zero HC coaching experience. With that thought in mind, we all realized that Stoops would be an OJT type HC for UK. I don’t know about you but coaching football in the SEC is bad enough. Having to learn to be a head coach while doing throught on the job training and be in the SEC - well it’s next to impossible.

 

[GridCats]

As I have said before, we were "Blindsided!" We bought into the recruiting and most all thought the contract was OK. Little did we know that we would see these results on and off the field. Looks like we just have to ride it out and see what happens.

But if some changes aren't made soon, there won't be many left on the wagon.

 

[BlueRaider22]

Let’s face it. Hiring Stoops was based on his pedigree and the work he's done as a defensive coordinator.......

The actual hire wasn't a big deal. Anytime a program like UK goes out and gets the hot coordinator....it's generally thought of as a good hire. Like Kirby Smart. Programs have been trying to land him for yrs. Whomever does get him hired, is going to consider it a home run. Doesn't mean that he'll end up a good coach. When Stoops was hired, it was widely considered a home run.......we'll just have to see how it turns out.

 

[BlueRaider22]

As I have said before, we were "Blindsided!" We bought into the recruiting and most all thought the contract was OK. Little did we know that we would see these results on and off the field. Looks like we just have to ride it out and see what happens.

But if some changes aren't made soon, there won't be many left on the wagon.

Much of this is brought on by the fans. I'm not as shocked as others as to the product on the field. We have performed more or less about what I expected. But the fans see the improved "on paper" recruiting....they hear the "Stoops" name........UK fans in general are emotional and basketball first fans......so, they expect everything to be perfect overnight.


Also, about the fans. "If" Stoops is successful, the fans will jump right back on the wagon.......no matter how many jump off in the process to success.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

I think he needs to quit micro-managing things and delegate to capable assistants. Let the assistants worry about their side of the ball and don't step in. Hire a special teams coach that makes sure all the teams are ready to go on the field when it's their time. Stoops needs to step back and see what happens when he lets his assistants do their jobs.

I think this is Stoops' greatest fault. By title, he has coordinators. But it seems he wants to still run every minute detail. Its just not possible. Hes stretched too thin, especially on game day. I think thats why we see so many odd/missed decisions during the games.

Stoops needs to either trust his assistants and let them work, or fire them and find assistants he does trust. The only exception is Elliot, because Im assuming Stoops is basically a co-DC with him in terms of game planning.

I think we'll see Elliot demoted and Stoops take over defensive playcalling. I dont think Elliot will be fired, because hes been too good on the recruiting trail, and hes actually done a decent job defending traditional offenses. This decision will be good for 2 reasons. 1) It will provide us with a more talented DC in Stoops and 2) it will keep Stoops from micromanaging everything else during the game.

 

[OFortuna]

In terms of program building Coach Stoops has had some success in certain areas: (1) Improved facilities, and an apparent buy in from UK administration to help him develop a competitive team; (2) renewed fan excitement and enthusiasm -- well, at least until now; (3) improved marketing efforts that produced quality videos and even commercials during the Super Bowl to help raise external perceptions; (4) improved player recruitment, especially by UK's previous standards. Hell, even the band is better, although I don't know that we can give Stoops credit for that....

The problem, of course, is that the on field product did not "get better every day," in fact seemed to worsen and at times appeared downright dysfunctional. Some head-scratching coaching decisions and subsequent public comments further eroded confidence in key decision makers. As a result, all this other "progress" seems hollow, which is pretty much how I feel. Ready to bury this season in the same mass grave with all the other forgettable ones.

Lets hope, as the OP suggests, Stoops can address the source(s) of this team's problems effectively, and as DACats86 points out, he can include himself in that hard look as well. Without some serious change we are in deep, deep weeds, and yet another promising attempt to crawl up the competitive ladder slips back into the muck.

 

[DACats86]

There were pics on Twitter last night of Dawson (with Stoops and Marrow) and Eliot (with Ansley) visiting committed recruits. Unlikely those two are going to be asked to leave.

 

[kb22stang]

Problem is he is now a head coach on the hot seat. And those kinds of coaches have a difficult time hiring better coordinators/position coaches to help save their jobs. Can't blame other coaches who want to move up their careers not wanting to jump on board a sinking ship.

He's not on a hot seat. You guys might want to think that, but he's got two years without question. Like it or hate it, it's going to happen unless he quits.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

He's not on a hot seat. You guys might want to think that, but he's got two years without question. Like it or hate it, it's going to happen unless he quits.

No, but he has the appearance of being on the hot seat. That's just as bad in terms of recruiting/hiring.

 

[docholiday51]

He's not on a hot seat. You guys might want to think that, but he's got two years without question. Like it or hate it, it's going to happen unless he quits.

There is little doubt that you are right,now what happens in the next 2 years is the big question..We could show signs of progress or we could be a dumpster fire. I would put that as a toss-up right now.I think when we know who stays,who goes and who comes on board(players and coaches) at the close of this recruiting year we will have a better idea of where we are headed.