Southern Mississippi & Louisville Game !

[The_Godfather_rivals]

Will you be back here posting about how great of a move it was by Mitch if Stoops starts winning big in 17 and that early confidence/support from Mitch built enough loyalty to keep Stoops from jumping when bigger schools come calling? Let's be honest UK is not a destination job right now so if Mitch thinks he's found someone special he has to go the extra mile if he hopes to keep them.

Stoops inherited a minimum 4-5 year rebuild job anyways and he's recruited at unprecedented levels at UK. It's only fair that Stoops gets 5 years and say we miss a bowl this year. The worst that could happen is we sign another historic class by UK standards so the team won't get worse by seeing Stoops through one more year. Stoops is still the 3rd lowest paid SEC coach so it's not like Mitch is throwing away crazy money. I fail to see very many negatives from Mitch's decision but there is a potentially big payoff

People keep touting these recruiting classes, yet the production from that talent doesn't appear to be a whole lot better than production we've seen from classes ranked significantly lower at UK. Actually, we've seen little to support those lofty rankings once they've actually been asked to perform in college football games.

So, the only way a non-bowl season in 2016 is going to be considered "acceptable" from the common fan is if we start to see some actual growth and stability in the roster that makes it easier to recognize that the roster is comprised of players who came from supposedly "historic" recruiting classes.

 

[CATFANFOLIFE87]

People keep touting these recruiting classes, yet the production from that talent doesn't appear to be a whole lot better than production we've seen from classes ranked significantly lower at UK. Actually, we've seen little to support those lofty rankings once they've actually been asked to perform in college football games.

So, the only way a non-bowl season in 2016 is going to be considered "acceptable" from the common fan is if we start to see some actual growth and stability in the roster that makes it easier to recognize that the roster is comprised of players who came from supposedly "historic" recruiting classes.

The talent is obvious with a lot of those highly rated players but to be able to consistently execute against grown men in the SEC that are 4th and 5th year players they have to have time to develop. Did you really think a bunch of freshmen and sophomores were going to turn the program around that quickly?

 

[The_Godfather_rivals]

The talent is obvious with a lot of those highly rated players but to be able to consistently execute against grown men in the SEC that are 4th and 5th year players they have to have time to develop. Did you really think a bunch of freshmen and sophomores were going to turn the program around that quickly?

Quickly? How about simply not being terrible?

This is year 4 of Stoops. If he doesn't have enough experienced talent to avoid being 6th or 7th place in the East than he either didn't really have the level of talent that was expected or he and his staff are doing an inadequate job developing it.

 

[CATFANFOLIFE87]

Quickly? How about simply not being terrible?

This is year 4 of Stoops. If he doesn't have enough experienced talent to avoid being 6th or 7th place in the East than he either didn't really have the level of talent that was expected or he and his staff are doing an inadequate job developing it.

In Stoops' first two seasons we relied heavily on Joker's recruits and most of them were terrible. Last year was the first season that Stoops' players were really featured in a more prominent role and Joker's quarterback was the difference in 5 wins and 7-8 wins

 

[RealCat41]

There are no single "must win" game/games!

I disagree. Dr. Capilouto may lose his job if we get beat by Austin Peay.

 

[RealCat41]

In Stoops' first two seasons we relied heavily on Joker's recruits and most of them were terrible. Last year was the first season that Stoops' players were really featured in a more prominent role and Joker's quarterback was the difference in 5 wins and 7-8 wins

Obama had some point had to quit blaming Bush.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Obama had some point had to quit blaming Bush.

Didn't know he had quit blaming Bush!! When did I miss it? :cool2::cool2::smiley::sunglasses:...there has to be great improvement this year. If the record is no better than 5-7 then the Vandy and Otis fiascos on one end must stop as well as the beat downs on the other...UT, etc

 

[bigbluegrog]

Of course not. If it works out, great. But it was a over reaction by Barnhardt. I've said it time and time again, I don't mind the contract extension but the big buyout is what I question. If he wanted to show good faith by extending Stoops, go right ahead. But by putting in that ridiculous buyout it essentially hamstrung UK. There was no one gunning for Stoops outside of a Michigan rumor (a.k.a plant by his agent) so they took advantage of a knee jerk reaction.

Like you said, Stoops is the 3rd lowest paid coach in the country so let's say he does start having some success. If you're UK, you're right back at square one. Money is the driving force that's going to keep him here. His extension had a limited buyout for Stoops on his end if he wanted to go. End of the day, that contract extension benefited no one but Stoops and was a horrible decision from day 1. I'll agree with you, UK is not a destination school and if Stoops is your guy, then you pay him but you make him prove himself at least a little and keep some leverage if you're UK. Barnhardt didn't do that.

People make a huge deal about this "buyout" but it is really only paying him a portion of his contract based on how many years are left....this is from an article in the C-J on 10-31-14. There is no HUGE buyout.....this is normal contract language that any coach and any Div 1 school would get.


"There are also $50,000 bonuses for a team GPA of 2.75 or higher in any semester or a score of 950 or higher in the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate. If Stoops leaves UK at any point, he owes the school nothing – Barnhart said he doesn't believe in buyouts – but if he's terminated without cause he is owed various percentages of his remaining pay depending on the timing.

He'd get all of it if terminated before Dec. 1, 2017, 80 percent of it if fired between then and Nov. 30, 2018, and 60 percent if let go without cause any time after that."

 

[Kats23]

People make a huge deal about this "buyout" but it is really only paying him a portion of his contract based on how many years are left....this is from an article in the C-J on 10-31-14. There is no HUGE buyout.....this is normal contract language that any coach and any Div 1 school would get.


"There are also $50,000 bonuses for a team GPA of 2.75 or higher in any semester or a score of 950 or higher in the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate. If Stoops leaves UK at any point, he owes the school nothing – Barnhart said he doesn't believe in buyouts – but if he's terminated without cause he is owed various percentages of his remaining pay depending on the timing.

He'd get all of it if terminated before Dec. 1, 2017, 80 percent of it if fired between then and Nov. 30, 2018, and 60 percent if let go without cause any time after that."

I'm fairly certain that most first time head coaches do not have an 18 million dollar buyout in their contract. That's what it was at the end of the season.

 

[BARBQGRILLER]

I'm fairly certain that most first time head coaches do not have an 18 million dollar buyout in their contract. That's what it was at the end of the season.

BUFFOON BARNHART !

 

[jauk11]

Quickly? How about simply not being terrible?

This is year 4 of Stoops. If he doesn't have enough experienced talent to avoid being 6th or 7th place in the East than he either didn't really have the level of talent that was expected or he and his staff are doing an inadequate job developing it.

Regretfully, I have to agree with one of your posts.

But then I think the chances of us ending up 6th or 7th in the SEC east are about the same as us winning the SEC east------and I think neither are going to happen, although neither are impossible.

 

[jauk11]

People make a huge deal about this "buyout" but it is really only paying him a portion of his contract based on how many years are left....this is from an article in the C-J on 10-31-14. There is no HUGE buyout.....this is normal contract language that any coach and any Div 1 school would get.


"There are also $50,000 bonuses for a team GPA of 2.75 or higher in any semester or a score of 950 or higher in the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate. If Stoops leaves UK at any point, he owes the school nothing – Barnhart said he doesn't believe in buyouts – but if he's terminated without cause he is owed various percentages of his remaining pay depending on the timing.

He'd get all of it if terminated before Dec. 1, 2017, 80 percent of it if fired between then and Nov. 30, 2018, and 60 percent if let go without cause any time after that."

Well, sorry, but I think his buyout is atrocious, but then I think all of them are. Why can't you fire anyone that isn't doing the job? None of them are going to find a cure for cancer in the next couple of years, not even Saban.

Although I am pretty sure the Michigan coach is devoting a lot of his time to it.

 

[andreIGUODOLLAsigns4UK]

IF we somehow lose to southern miss, keep in mind shannon dawson is there HC and he's terrible but if we lose to Dawson and USM. Then the Mark Stoops era will be over. He's pretty much coaching for his job that game. So preventing the upset is a must. Which I'm sure he will do. But that loss would be CATastrophic to the football program and I honestly don't know if the program would ever recover from that loss. Have never envisioned such an important mid major opening game in my life honestly (besides Louisville games until recent years). All the pressure is on stoops that game. Even though either way he's cashing out.

 

[Blue Decade]

One of the few things that might derail UK from having a breakout year in 17 is starting over with a completely new coaching staff.

But some of our fans seem to be looking forward to that scenario.

If anyone thinks Stoops will be fired before he has a chance to coach his 2014 recruiting class as seniors, they don't have any clue at all. The Negative Nancies wanted Rich Brooks fired in 2005. LOL! They are totally reactionary, and have never happy with anything as long as I can remember. 2017 will be Stoops' litmus test season, and he needs to hold his staff together between now and then. In 2017, Stoops will bring back about 20 incumbent starters including an experienced junior quarterback, and his offensive line will be a real SEC line. Our 2016 team won't be nearly as good as 2017. Not even close IMO. I expect a big breakout in 2017. If Stoops can't win at least 7-8 games then get to a decent bowl in 2017 with 20 starters back, then I will have to re-evaluate my opinion of his suitability for the job. But not until 2017. I am not crazy about our 2016 team, and the schedule is worse than people think. Unfortunately 2016 is another rebuilding season.

 

[Blue Decade]

IF we somehow lose to southern miss, keep in mind shannon dawson is there HC and he's terrible but if we lose to Dawson and USM. Then the Mark Stoops era will be over. He's pretty much coaching for his job that game. So preventing the upset is a must. Which I'm sure he will do. But that loss would be CATastrophic to the football program and I honestly don't know if the program would ever recover from that loss. Have never envisioned such an important mid major opening game in my life honestly (besides Louisville games until recent years). All the pressure is on stoops that game. Even though either way he's cashing out.

You are missing the forest for the trees. If we lose to Southern Miss, it will happen because Southern Miss is the better football team and because they outplay us that day. No more, no less. And they might very well be the better team. I think this is a tougher game than the Louisiana Lafayette opener last year. You might want to do some reading on Southern Miss. They don't have a very impressive historical record against SEC teams, but they have beaten some including Alabama. This particular Southern Miss team is very good. They have 1 of the most underrated quarterbacks in the country, and lots of returning starters from a bowl team. We have a new offensive coordinator, a new quarterback, and a completely rebuilt front 7. Dawson or no Dawson, this is a very tough opening game for us, We could easily lose this game. If we win it, that would be a big win for Stoops in my book.

 

[Oldtrainer_rivals]

Think Southern Mississippi opening game is toughest CATS foe in coach Stoops era. Their past rosters had many players that were barely passed over by SEC teams. Wouldn't doubt that is still not true. USM like UofL in the past had the luxury of taking prop 48 players!

 

[andreIGUODOLLAsigns4UK]

You are missing the forest for the trees. If we lose to Southern Miss, it will happen because Southern Miss is the better football team and because they outplay us that day. No more, no less. And they might very well be the better team. I think this is a tougher game than the Louisiana Lafayette opener last year. You might want to do some reading on Southern Miss. They don't have a very impressive historical record against SEC teams, but they have beaten some including Alabama. This particular Southern Miss team is very good. They have 1 of the most underrated quarterbacks in the country, and lots of returning starters from a bowl team. We have a new offensive coordinator, a new quarterback, and a completely rebuilt front 7. Dawson or no Dawson, this is a very tough opening game for us, We could easily lose this game. If we win it, that would be a big win for Stoops in my book.

Shannon Dawson is USM's OC. We have no business losing to that team as long as Dawson is there, would be most embarrassing loss ever, and the end of the stoops era. We SHOULD roll all over them, if we don't. Then that speaks volumes about stoops' coaching ability, which thus far in his career has seemed to be nonexistent. Stoops is a very inept HC to this point with too much room for improvement.

 

[TBCat]

Shannon Dawson is USM's OC. We have no business losing to that team as long as Dawson is there, would be most embarrassing loss ever, and the end of the stoops era. We SHOULD roll all over them, if we don't. Then that speaks volumes about stoops' coaching ability, which thus far in his career has seemed to be nonexistent. Stoops is a very inept HC to this point with too much room for improvement.

I'm not convinced that Dawson is as bad as most think. It was clearly a train wreck last season but at least 50% of that has to be on Stoops. Don't bring in an OC who runs a wide open Air Raid system if you want an offense that lines up with 3 backs and runs the ball. Dawson ran a system that just wasn't built to be a ball control running the ball type of offense. If we get the same kind of interference with Gran's offense we will be just as bad this year as well. Dawson is a passing oriented OC and he will have a very strong passing QB to work with. I do fully expect USM to score on us. Hopefully Stoops is smart enough to realize that and is prepared to score. I don't see USM shutting us down so if we aim to have an offense we should win the game fairly comfortably. If Stoops on the other hand is preparing for a 10 to 7 grind it out game then we will probably lose the game. I believe we will need to score at least 30 points to win the game. I don't see 30 points as being a really big problem as long as we aren't trying to grind it out on offense.

 

[akaukswoosh]

Early line. UK only favored by 7.5 points.

Covers ‏@Covers 2h2 hours ago
Week 1 college football lines from @southpointlv. Two images for easier viewing. http://bit.ly/1ZOsxFCpic.twitter.com/DjjZcIx9yx

 

[ajgcardman]

Early line. UK only favored by 7.5 points.

Covers ‏@Covers 2h2 hours ago
Week 1 college football lines from @southpointlv. Two images for easier viewing. http://bit.ly/1ZOsxFCpic.twitter.com/DjjZcIx9yx

FWIW, early line on UK-UofL is UK+16.5

 

[sluggercatfan]

I'm not convinced that Dawson is as bad as most think. It was clearly a train wreck last season but at least 50% of that has to be on Stoops. Don't bring in an OC who runs a wide open Air Raid system if you want an offense that lines up with 3 backs and runs the ball. Dawson ran a system that just wasn't built to be a ball control running the ball type of offense. If we get the same kind of interference with Gran's offense we will be just as bad this year as well. Dawson is a passing oriented OC and he will have a very strong passing QB to work with. I do fully expect USM to score on us. Hopefully Stoops is smart enough to realize that and is prepared to score. I don't see USM shutting us down so if we aim to have an offense we should win the game fairly comfortably. If Stoops on the other hand is preparing for a 10 to 7 grind it out game then we will probably lose the game. I believe we will need to score at least 30 points to win the game. I don't see 30 points as being a really big problem as long as we aren't trying to grind it out on offense.

I have said forever that 30+ ppg should be a goal unless you have Ala defense...last year's team averaged 17 ppg in conference play...if that is what Stoops is willing to settle for here he WILL NOT be successful . PERIOD

 

[Goingfor9]

This time next year stoops will be a footnote of UK FB history and that isn't easy.

 

[Blue Decade]

Coach Stoops will not be around for 2017 if the Cats lose to Southern Miss.

This is shortsighted thinking, not supported by anything I have seen. I think there is a 50-50 chance Southern Miss wins this game. But there is basically zero chance Stoops gets canned before he has a chance to coach 20 returning starters in 2017. From the beginning, the school has been committed to letting Stoops turn over the roster before judging his coaching results. He will coach our football team in 2017. But he has to show results in 2017. He will not be judged in 2016, which has rebuilding season written all over it.

 

[Blue Decade]

This time next year stoops will be a footnote of UK FB history and that isn't easy.

Wrong. Stoops will coach Kentucky in 2017. However, I am expecting another rebuilding season and another year of panic by some of our fans in 2016.

 

[Goingfor9]

Wrong. Stoops will coach Kentucky in 2017. However, I am expecting another rebuilding season and another year of panic by some of our fans in 2016.

Ugh I don't know what world you live in but stoops will be out next year unless there are huge strides

 

[andreIGUODOLLAsigns4UK]

This is shortsighted thinking, not supported by anything I have seen. I think there is a 50-50 chance Southern Miss wins this game. But there is basically zero chance Stoops gets canned before he has a chance to coach 20 returning starters in 2017. From the beginning, the school has been committed to letting Stoops turn over the roster before judging his coaching results. He will coach our football team in 2017. But he has to show results in 2017. He will not be judged in 2016, which has rebuilding season written all over it.

If we seriously only have a 50/50 shot at beating a SHANNON FREAKING DAWSON OFFENSE. Then what's the point of even kicking off this season? We should win this game big. And if it's close, then that will be very alarming, if we lose. Stoops will have lost all faith from the fanbase, keep in mind stoops just canned Dawson, so if Dawson beats the guy who just canned him, then by that point he will have lost around 90% of fan support, with 10% supporters being only the most hardcore stoops apologists. And yes stoops does get judged for his FOURTH SEASON. He deserves at least some judgement for last season. Season number 4 is definitely time enough to judge him. He has pretty much an entire roster of his players. Also, idk if you haven't noticed but the in game coaching has been atrocious, a big part of our problems is the coaching itself. Not just the players.

I can't believe how much of a pass stoops gets and how the players get every bit of blame. It's sad to me. We had no business losing the vandy game. That was the worst display of coaching from kickoff to the end of a game I've ever seen in my entire life from any team in any sport at any level ever in a game that was winnable the whole time. If the coaches don't poop the bed we go bowling. Also another aspect where stoops gets way too much of a pass. WE NEVER HAVE ONCE MADE IN-GAME/HALFTIME ADJUSTMENTS FROM A STRATEGY STANDPOINT since stoops has been here. That and that itself has been just so painful to watch. The man can recruit but at some point he needs to learn HOW TO COACH AN ENTIRE TEAM.

Yes I know he was a great DC at FSU. That's nothing like being a head coach ask muschamp. If you watched last season you would've seen a very uninspired team take the field on many occasions and at one point a week to week basis. And we still finish between 11-13th in sec recruiting every year. You just can't expect those players to play above there ranking we need someone who can coach them up. Like how brooks coached up teams with way less talent than stoops has to win games. We need him to do that but since he has more talent he needs to outdo brooks but I don't see that happening.

 

[Blue Decade]

Why are we treating Southern Miss. like LSU is our opening game? Yes, their program has turned around the last couple years. They are a worthy opening game, but UK is an up and coming SEC program. UK wins the game and upsets Florida in the swamp to end the streak.

What a strange response. Show me where I treated Southern Miss like they are LSU! LOL! I didn't. What I said, and I will say again, is that this will be a tougher game for Kentucky than last year's opener against Louisiana Lafayette was. If you don't think so, then you probably ought to educate yourself about their football team. They aren't the Denver Broncos, but they have a very underrated quarterback and a decent returning defense. Kentucky has a new offensive coordinator, a sophomore quarterback, and a new defensive front 7. Our team is rebuilding. I know some people don't like to hear the truth, but that is the truth. Southern Miss is enough to give a rebuilding Kentucky team a lot of trouble in this opener. I think it's an even game.

 

[Blue Decade]

If we seriously only have a 50/50 shot at beating a SHANNON FREAKING DAWSON OFFENSE. Then what's the point of even kicking off this season? We should win this game big. And if it's close, then that will be very alarming, if we lose. Stoops will have lost all faith from the fanbase, keep in mind stoops just canned Dawson, so if Dawson beats the guy who just canned him, then by that point he will have lost around 90% of fan support, with 10% supporters being only the most hardcore stoops apologists. And yes stoops does get judged for his FOURTH SEASON. He deserves at least some judgement for last season. Season number 4 is definitely time enough to judge him. He has pretty much an entire roster of his players. Also, idk if you haven't noticed but the in game coaching has been atrocious, a big part of our problems is the coaching itself. Not just the players.

I can't believe how much of a pass stoops gets and how the players get every bit of blame. It's sad to me. We had no business losing the vandy game. That was the worst display of coaching from kickoff to the end of a game I've ever seen in my entire life from any team in any sport at any level ever in a game that was winnable the whole time. If the coaches don't poop the bed we go bowling. Also another aspect where stoops gets way too much of a pass. WE NEVER HAVE ONCE MADE IN-GAME/HALFTIME ADJUSTMENTS FROM A STRATEGY STANDPOINT since stoops has been here. That and that itself has been just so painful to watch. The man can recruit but at some point he needs to learn HOW TO COACH AN ENTIRE TEAM.

Yes I know he was a great DC at FSU. That's nothing like being a head coach ask muschamp. If you watched last season you would've seen a very uninspired team take the field on many occasions and at one point a week to week basis. And we still finish between 11-13th in sec recruiting every year. You just can't expect those players to play above there ranking we need someone who can coach them up. Like how brooks coached up teams with way less talent than stoops has to win games. We need him to do that but since he has more talent he needs to outdo brooks but I don't see that happening.

That's a whole lot of words, but not much insight. In 2013, Stoops inherited a 2-10 team. In 2015, most of Stoops' own recruits were still freshmen and sophomores. Stoops is going to get a chance to turn over Kentucky's entire football roster. Anyone who thinks Stoops will be fired in 2016 doesn't have a clue what they are talking about. You can go back and read all the posts on this thread. Every poster who thinks Stoops might be fired in 2016 is a poster without a clue. It isn't a free pass. That's ridiculous to suggest. It is an acknowledgement that when a new coach inherits a roster as terrible as Kentucky's 2012 and 2013 rosters were, and then he recruits classes as good as Stoops' 2014, 2015, 2016 classes have been, the athletics director will allow Stoops to finish the job of turning over the roster before Stoops is judged by the school. In 2016, Stoops has a new offensive coordinator, a sophomore quarterback with 3 career starts, and a shaky defensive front 7. Sorry, but that isn't a formula for success against an SEC schedule. It defies the imagination to see how many posters on this thread expect Stoops to take this 2016 team to a bowl. If Stoops takes this 2016 team to any bowl, he ought to be named national coach of the year. But 2017 is a completely different story. By 2017, Eddie Gran will have had a full year to implement his offensive system. In 2017, all our seniors will be Stoops' own recruits. Stoops will have about 20 incumbent starters coming back, and the offensive line should have turned the corner. That's a recipe for a big breakout season. If Stoops can't take his 2017 team to a decent bowl, he's in real trouble. But I think 2017 will be the year Stoops becomes a hot SEC coach. It is lining up that way.

 

[andreIGUODOLLAsigns4UK]

That's a whole lot of words, but not much insight. In 2013, Stoops inherited a 2-10 team. In 2015, most of Stoops' own recruits were still freshmen and sophomores. Stoops is going to get a chance to turn over Kentucky's entire football roster. Anyone who thinks Stoops will be fired in 2016 doesn't have a clue what they are talking about. You can go back and read all the posts on this thread. Every poster who thinks Stoops might be fired in 2016 is a poster without a clue. It isn't a free pass. That's ridiculous to suggest. It is an acknowledgement that when a new coach inherits a roster as terrible as Kentucky's 2012 and 2013 rosters were, and then he recruits classes as good as Stoops' 2014, 2015, 2016 classes have been, the athletics director will allow Stoops to finish the job of turning over the roster before Stoops is judged by the school. In 2016, Stoops has a new offensive coordinator, a sophomore quarterback with 3 career starts, and a shaky defensive front 7. Sorry, but that isn't a formula for success against an SEC schedule. It defies the imagination to see how many posters on this thread expect Stoops to take this 2016 team to a bowl. If Stoops takes this 2016 team to any bowl, he ought to be named national coach of the year. But 2017 is a completely different story. By 2017, Eddie Gran will have had a full year to implement his offensive system. In 2017, all our seniors will be Stoops' own recruits. Stoops will have about 20 incumbent starters coming back, and the offensive line should have turned the corner. That's a recipe for a big breakout season. If Stoops can't take his 2017 team to a decent bowl, he's in real trouble. But I think 2017 will be the year Stoops becomes a hot SEC coach. It is lining up that way.

Until this is separated into paragraphs I will not read it. I skimmed it. The entire roster has been turned over. So that's a ridiculous statement. The entire team, 99% of it is his players. You can't blame joker for anything at this point. It's sad people still think our suckiness is jokers fault. And your 100% wrong. MB pooped the bed on stoops extension. Only reason he won't get fired at end of season regardless how bad we do (unless we go 3-9 which isn't entirely impossible) is because the buyout he has. If we go to bowl he deserves coach of year? so if he goes from 5-7 to 6-7 he deserves coach of the year? If we don't go to a bowl game this season then stoops seat will be scorching hot, if it isn't already, it will be scorching if we lose to USM. We should've went to bowl game last season but the worst coaching I've ever seen in my life cost us the vandy game, not the players.

So a team that should've went to bowl game last season but failed to because of awful coaching, if that team that should've went last season goes this season stoops deserves COY? You're just a homer from hell aren't you now? If he doesn't go to bowl this season then fans will be fed up considering that would be showing zero improvement over a 3 year span. We went 5-7 year 2. You think it's ok to go 5-7 year 3 and 5-7 year 4? Where's the improvement with the addition of all of his players? Oh but if we go 6-7 stoops sure as hell deserves COY even though we should've went 6-7 last season if it weren't for putrid coaching. Makes sense.

Also if you didn't notice, we regressed between year 2 and year 3 under stoops, even though we had same record we had a way easier schedule than the year before. When your team regresses, that's not a good sign. You're the biggest homer ever for saying stoops deserves coy if he takes a team that should've went 6-7 if it weren't for his bad coaching to an actual 6-7 season. Makes sense. A 6-7 record now that the entire roster is his in year 4 deserves COY. Ok. Now that stoops has a team made up of all his players, he was magically able to get them darn wildcats to a 6-7 record. And now he deserves COY since he showed us all he could get to 6-7 instead of 5-7 with a team made up entirely of his roster in year 4. So you're saying these are our glory days? Now that the roster is all his in year 4 and that he got his complete roster turnover. If he somehow gets 6 wins with a roster of his players he deserves COY?

Ok man we get it you're delusional. We didn't compete in most of our games last season we just laid down and rolled over because obviously the team wasn't fired up to play. Btw if it weren't for the BS extension his seat would be scorching right now. No coach deserves 5 years to prove what they can do. You never see that anywhere. 4 years is more than long enough to to know if someone truly sucks or not. And without the extension. Had he gone 4-8 this season he would've been fired. which 4-8 is my prediction due to his coaching ability and our schedule.

 

[jauk11]

Obama had some point had to quit blaming Bush.

Are you sure, have you talked to him lately?

 

[jauk11]

Shannon Dawson is USM's OC. We have no business losing to that team as long as Dawson is there, would be most embarrassing loss ever, and the end of the stoops era. We SHOULD roll all over them, if we don't. Then that speaks volumes about stoops' coaching ability, which thus far in his career has seemed to be nonexistent. Stoops is a very inept HC to this point with too much room for improvement.

Hard to say how it came about, a lot involved, but I do think the team won't be relying on him nearly as much next year, particularly the offense. I think he is smart enough to leave most of the offense to some coaches he thinks he can trust-----now.

 

[WildCard]

... I think there is a 50-50 chance Southern Miss wins this game. But there is basically zero chance Stoops gets canned before he has a chance to coach 20 returning starters in 2017. From the beginning, the school has been committed to letting Stoops turn over the roster before judging his coaching results. He will coach our football team in 2017. But he has to show results in 2017. He will not be judged in 2016, which has rebuilding season written all over it.

Oh, he'll be "judged" on 2016 but not to the point of dismissal. I believe he gets 2017 regardless; at least his contract suggests that will be the case. He presumably started "rebuilding" when he arrived and 2016 will be his 4th season at it.

Returning starters does not mean wins; "good" returning starters means wins. And this year is the year for these guys to show they are "good". And, at least to me, that means winning at least 6 games this year. Given the "down" condition of the SECE middle-weights plus the home field boost against Vandy, MSU and SC. IF both the talent and the coaching are what most think it is I just cannot see where expecting a 6 win season is unreasonable.

BTW, a 7.5 home favorite wins 69% of the time. [winking]

Peace

 

[Blue Decade]

Ugh I don't know what world you live in but stoops will be out next year unless there are huge strides

LOL! What world are you living in? People wanted Rich Brooks fired in 2005. That was smart, wasn't it? Regardless of your personal preference, there is no chance Stoops and his big contract will be fired in 2016. Not only would Barnhart be on the hook for Stoops' contract, but Kentucky would lose Mac Jones, JaVonte Richardson, Jedrick Wills. Not happening in this world. Maybe in yours.

 

[Blue Decade]

Oh, he'll be "judged" on 2016 but not to the point of dismissal. I believe he gets 2017 regardless; at least his contract suggests that will be the case. He presumably started "rebuilding" when he arrived and 2016 will be his 4th season at it.

Returning starters does not mean wins; "good" returning starters means wins. And this year is the year for these guys to show they are "good". And, at least to me, that means winning at least 6 games this year.

I doubt Kentucky will win 6 games this year. It's possible, but Stoops would have to thread the needle. Here is the schedule: Southern Miss (home), Florida (away), New Mexico (home), South Carolina (home), Alabama (away), Vandy (home), MSU (home), Missouri (away), Georgia (home), Tennessee (away), Austin Peay (home), Louisville (away). I know people here get crazy over playing Louisville and Florida, but I don't see Kentucky winning any of our 5 road games. In my mind, all wins this year must come at home. If Kentucky can win 3 out of 4 in Lexington against Southern Miss, South Carolina, MSU, Georgia, then we can win 6 games. We haven't taken the field yet, and I'm sure some of our fans think this is going to be easy. It won't be. People will point to vulnerabilities for Florida, South Carolina, Missouri, MSU, Georgia. But, trying to be realistic, Kentucky's vulnerabilities this year may be more serious. We have a new offensive coordinator, an inexperienced sophomore starting quarterback, a shaky offensive line, and a very suspect defensive front 7. These are real problems. Hope always springs eternal, but I think 2017 will be our year. While I agree with you that returning starters won't help unless they are good players, Stoops' program will be at a point in 2017 where lots of talented young players that he signed himself will be reaching the red meat of their college careers. I believe in the talent of our players, but they need just a little more time to develop. I see 5 wins again in 2016, and I'm sure this will make some of our fans crazy. But 2017 looks like Stoops' breakout year to me.