Most view the 2016 schedule as more difficult. Many think 4-5 wins is the ceiling. That said, if that's the expectation and we meet that expectation (don't underachieve, but still miss another bowl) should Stoops be given a 5th year?
Yep. Sure looks like he gets two more years no matter what happens next year.Honestly man, I think Stoops gets a 5th year even if UK goes 1-11 in '16. Kentucky isn't going to pay him $12 million to go away.
IMO, he needs to get to a bowl in 2017. If he leads UK to a 5th straight losing season, it would be tough to justify bringing him back (unless the product was clearly better).
GBB!!!
At first glance the schedule appears more difficult but looking closer, I'm not really so sure. We'll be underdogs in all 5 road games most likely, and in three there would appear to be very little realistic chance for us. But....a lot of the "toss up" type games are at home. You look at those - you have three scheduled victories, South Carolina sucks, Vanderbilt sucks, and there's no Dak Prescot (or maybe even Dan Mullen) at Mississippi State anymore. Only Georgia might project to be really formidable and that's one SEC power program we've actually had some luck against over the years. So the schedule thing doesn't wash. Mark Stoops has done enough to deserve a 4th year but we better get a trip over the 2016 holidays or his time is up IMO.Most view the 2016 schedule as more difficult. Many think 4-5 wins is the ceiling. That said, if that's the expectation and we meet that expectation (don't underachieve, but still miss another bowl) should Stoops be given a 5th year?
We all get that,the question is what will the football program look like in 3 years.Are we looking at a sub Joker situation?Right now his buy out is 15.5 million, next year it is 12 million. Thanks to Barney he isn't going anywhere.
I agree with most of your post, but would take issue with the idea that we have three scheduled victories at home. In fact, right now, I would rate Southern Miss at least as tough as Vandy or South Carolina. But we have five games at home where we can presumably see our as favorites. Without Prescott, Mississippi State might be a lot more winnable than we think.At first glance the schedule appears more difficult but looking closer, I'm not really so sure. We'll be underdogs in all 5 road games most likely, and in three there would appear to be very little realistic chance for us. But....a lot of the "toss up" type games are at home. You look at those - you have three scheduled victories, South Carolina sucks, Vanderbilt sucks, and there's no Dak Prescot (or maybe even Dan Mullen) at Mississippi State anymore. Only Georgia might project to be really formidable and that's one SEC power program we've actually had some luck against over the years. So the schedule thing doesn't wash. Mark Stoops has done enough to deserve a 4th year but we better get a trip over the 2016 holidays or his time is up IMO.
At first glance the schedule appears more difficult but looking closer, I'm not really so sure. We'll be underdogs in all 5 road games most likely, and in three there would appear to be very little realistic chance for us. But....a lot of the "toss up" type games are at home. You look at those - you have three scheduled victories, South Carolina sucks, Vanderbilt sucks, and there's no Dak Prescot (or maybe even Dan Mullen) at Mississippi State anymore. Only Georgia might project to be really formidable and that's one SEC power program we've actually had some luck against over the years. So the schedule thing doesn't wash. Mark Stoops has done enough to deserve a 4th year but we better get a trip over the 2016 holidays or his time is up IMO.
To be clear, I always call those OOC games against mid-major/FCS teams "scheduled victories". That's what they're supposed to be even if they turn out to not be. But I'll stick with that because if Stoops loses one of those then the rest of this discussion is moot anyway. I guess what we do know about USCjr is they were 3-9 this year and they'll be a program in transition with a first year coach. They can't be all that great. If we're making the strides we're supposed to be making then I think that should be a "W". But you're right - we have to go 6-1 at home and I think we should be able to do that against this schedule. And if we can't, call Jim Tressel.How do we know SC will quote "suck" next year? They almost beat UT and almost beat Clemson later this season. I am sure those 3 schools you listed have UK scheduled as a road win IMO as well. I agree, the home schedule is managable but "schedule victories" is comical for UK football at this point in time when it comes to the SEC.
We have 5 near sure losses @UT, @FL, @Bama, @UL (never gonna pick Stoops to beat Petrino again), and UGA (IMO, but your point is fair). So we have to win 6/7 including a bunch of toss up games. Can UK win 4 out of 5 of SC, Vandy, MSU, @Missouri, and Southern Miss (New Mex ST and APSU are sure wins IMO)? Time will tell.