Stoops will be back

[brianpoe]

I love how, when we start beating the teams we have been begging UK to beat for years, it's b/c they suck...not b/c we have a much improved, good, football team.

It's not about pumping sunshine all the time. It's about giving this team the credit, and the respect they deserve. Something you and your Keeneland avatar clearly can't do (which is a joke).

We are definitley getting better.

But there is no denying just how weak these teams are this year.

Since CMS arrived the SEC East has had the worst record ever since the divisions were set.

I'm totally thrilled with 6 wins and a bowl, we have taken a major step in beating all the bad teams.

Next year we need to compete with some good ones.

 

[qwesley]

OL has really stepped up and the D is better now that Stoops is more involved. He deserves a lot of credit.

That first class underperforming really set him back a year.

 

[tntuk]

We are definitley getting better.

But there is no denying just how weak these teams are this year.

Since CMS arrived the SEC East has had the worst record ever since the divisions were set.

I'm totally thrilled with 6 wins and a bowl, we have taken a major step in beating all the bad teams.

Next year we need to compete with some good ones.

A couple of things.

Beating these teams was not on many people's agenda after week 2. The fact that we have now beaten 4 teams in the SEC, weak or not, is better than the alternative of not beating them like most years. Mizzou was so weak that they were 6.5 pt favorites today. We dominated them today. We beat them like a good team is supposed to beat a bad team.

Second - Mr Lair won't give credit where credit is clearly due. Sorry, but 5-3 is better than 2-6 or whatever. It's time for some of our negative nellie fans to see that we are a good team, that is still getting better each week, and to give Stoops some credit.

 

[KYCatAttack]

I wanted to get rid of him as much as anyone after the dumpster fire against Southern Miss but I've hoped all along that he would work out because the reality is a coaching change sets any program back at least 2-3 years. If Stoops works out it's the best case scenario for all. I'm not convinced that we are that good yet but we aren't the worst team in the SEC anymore and hopefully we will continue to climb the ladder in the SEC. I love Benny Snell And our O-Line. Stoops owes all of them a big Thank You.

 

[MrLair]

I love how, when we start beating the teams we have been begging UK to beat for years, it's b/c they suck...not b/c we have a much improved, good, football team.

It's not about pumping sunshine all the time. It's about giving this team the credit, and the respect they deserve. Something you and your Keeneland avatar clearly can't do (which is a joke).

First off, we haven't been beating these teams because they have never been this bad in recent years. I'm talking USC, Missouri, who went to two straight title games, vandy under Franklin, MSU.

So while all of them are rebuilding, we are in year 4 and if we get lucky might get to 7-5. Sorry not what I was hoping when Stoops took over.

Go kiss my *** about my avatar.

 

[tntuk]

First off, we haven't been beating these teams because they have never been this bad in recent years. I'm talking USC, Missouri, who went to two straight title games, vandy under Franklin, MSU.

So while all of them are rebuilding, we are in year 4 and if we get lucky might get to 7-5. Sorry not what I was hoping when Stoops took over.

Go kiss my *** about my avatar.

Lol.

Whatever you say man. Pretty ridiculous to keeping kicking them while they have won 5 of 6. You are in a very very small minority now - must suck. But hey, you do you.

I'm pretty sure going 7-5 this year would be considered a successful season - in fact most on here said before the season started that a bowl game this year = success. Don't forget we return 20 out of 22 starters next year.....maybe Stoops will earn those ridiculous expectations of yours just yet.

 

[MrLair]

Also I'm glad Stoops finally figured it out after 3 offensive coordinator's, and took over for Elliot, in his 4th year.

 

[tntuk]

Also I'm glad Stoops finally figured it out after 3 offensive coordinator's, and took over for Elliot, in his 4th year.

Lol - a nice back handed swipe there.

The first one left for a HC job. The 2nd didn't work out. The 3rd one has an unbelievable well of talent at his disposal - and he's doing awesome.

377 yards rushing today. The most against an SEC team for UK since 1953. Against a team who Vegas said was 6.5 points better.

 

[MrLair]

Lol.

Whatever you say man. Pretty ridiculous to keeping kicking them while they have won 5 of 6. You are in a very very small minority now - must suck. But hey, you do you.

I'm pretty sure going 7-5 this year would be considered a successful season - in fact most on here said before the season started that a bowl game this year = success. Don't forget we return 20 out of 22 starters next year.....maybe Stoops will earn those ridiculous expectations of yours just yet.

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect."

 

[Randy Bob]

I have been against Stoops, but am glad we are going to a bowl and hope we beat Ga. this coming weekend..

 

[Seckatz]

Kentucky looks like an actual SEC football team. Players look bigger, stronger, and faster. QB is a question, but all he does win. Great job.

 

[Frydaze]

Beat Georgia and I'll eat crow.

Beating vandy, msu, and mizzu changes nothing.

Must suck to be a 'so-called" Cat fan but yet root against them every game so the coach gets fired and you can get your pipe dream guy in there.

GO STOOPS! GO UK!

 

[donngottie]

This team has gotten better every week since week 2. Today they made some mistakes but still dominated the game! I'm so happy for the team and coach Stoops! Four weeks ago we were having discussions of who may be a good replacement if Stoops got fired, today were in the hunt for the sec title. Georgia game deserves a packed house in frenzy mode! Stoops has proven he can run this program and it's time for this fanbase to unite and get behind these kids. If your not excited about this opportunity I don't know what its gonna take? Get on the train or get run over!

 

[TBCat]

So, you've had 3 years of Stoops that you dislike and you want to compare all 3 to this one?

Year 1 - Mid MAC level talent with a good but not great recruiting class of freshman, so let's throw that one out.
Year 2 - Upgrade in talent, but talent is Freshman/RS freshman, and outside of the SEC, those Freshman + MAC level talent actually overachieved.
Year 3 - Had the season teed up, favorable home schedule, more experienced players, so yes, we should have went bowling.
Year 4 - 5-3 and a game with AP to go bowling. Talent is older, but still young, and they're learning how to win. They finally have the talent to go past 1 deep.

All in all, we are about where we should be with most people pointing at 2017 as the breakout year.

Remember, we are "YOUNG". We have more room for improvement than most and we will get better next year. It's not a senior laden team where we take steps back.

Like him or not, Stoops is doing a good job, and you should just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. However, after reading your posts, I'm not sure you can enjoy much.

We don't throw any years out. He should have been and was being evaluated in year 1. Nobody expected him to win the SEC but he shouldn't have lost to Western. Year 1 was a downer. And by the way we most certainly had far better than mid level MAC talent. Far better. Remember Joker destroyed Kent the previous year which went 8-0 in the MAC. This Mid level MAC stuff is hyperbole. I understand the effort to lionize Stoops by exaggerating the size of the hill he had to climb but just understand that that's what it is. We would have destroyed all teams in the MAC that year.

Year 2 wasn't too bad except for the 2nd half collapse. No way to write that off it was just bad. Probably shouldn't have won any of those games but under no circumstance should they have been the beating they turned out to be. The year was progress but ended with a sour taste.

Year 3 was nothing short of a debacle. You won't see a more favorable situation that we had last year. 8 home games. Down Florida team. Down Georgia team. USC and Missouri were both worse than expected. Same with Auburn at home. They should have been an upset victim. You not only have to win 7 games that year but it was also the best chance for UK to pull of a win against one of the power teams in the league as they were as good as normal.

Year 4 started off as a disaster but is coming together. Part of that is due to the SEC being as weak as I have ever seen it. Still winning league games is winning league games. With today you can finally claim an unqualified successful season for Stoops.

 

[OneBigCat]

Some posters here owe Coach Stoops a few apologies.....but the ones who choose to hate will still hate.

If you're not on the side of the guy who got us to a bowl game after so long, then who's side are you on?

 

[Xception]

I don't need to wait and see anything to know we're on the right track , we've never beaten the teams we're supposed to until now . That's progression right there , once you master that the next step is to beat some teams you aren't supposed to . Wait if you want but you're missing something that's rare at Kentucky . I think next year will be the next step of getting upsets .

 

[catfanjd]

Glad I kept going to games, and more glad that many on here don't run the Kentucky football program

Absolutely agree. Very young team getting reps and making plays. Let's keep recruiting and building depth

 

[Blueaz]

Glad I kept going to games, and more glad that many on here don't run the Kentucky football program

Don't break your arm, there.

 

[JC CATS]

Beat Georgia and I'll eat crow.

Beating vandy, msu, and mizzu changes nothing.

Some people it is never enough!

 

[JC CATS]

Dam those conference wins.

Only have 4 SEC wins, don't we usually win more than that per season?

 

[ukdoc11]

I love people saying how down the SEC is to justify the teams progress. News flash folks the east has been down more than a few years and we typically lose these games. Just saying

 

[TNCatfanforever]

The jury is still out on Stoops......but I will enjoy seeing the Cats in any type bowl. For us old guys a Liberty Bowl in football is almost final four in basketball.

 

[JPFisher]

Also I'm glad Stoops finally figured it out after 3 offensive coordinator's, and took over for Elliot, in his 4th year.

I know, right!? Pretty impressive how much he's progressed from being a mere DC without a clue to year four in his first high level head coaching gig.

Really impressed. On a scale of 1-10, Stoops is an 11.