Stop this false narrative!

[CB3UK]

I'm sick of reading on here that we pull the trigger on coaches too quickly every 4-5 years. Since the Bear, with the exceptions of John Ray (worst coach in our history) Hal Mumme (cheating scandal) Guy Morriss (Baylor) and Joker Phillips (2nd worst) EVERY coach has put in at least 7 years. We have, if anything, shown too much damn patience. I dont know where this fool notion we fire guys every 4 years started but stop already!

 

[LowCountryCat]

Thank you, well said. The gaslighters need to be straightened out.

 

[JPFisher]

I don't know that we fire the coaches too much. We do seen to have an issue with continuity, though. We're a stepping stone, retirement home, or a job fit for a glorified high school coach trying to make ends meet.

It's not that we fire the hell out of every coach we come across, it's that we aren't a destination program for decent, proven coaches willing to settle down.

 

[Catlogic15]

We don't fire them too much. We just hire the wrong ones too much.

 

[law1127]

RACK!

 

[catzfanjim]

The ones that have been fired deserved it.

 

[Gabewcat]

You can tell about a Head Coach after 4 years.Stoops has had a problem with organizing the sidelines over the entire 4 years. His loyalty to under-performing assistants like DJ Elliott has handicapped Stoops' progress as a head coach. The next 3 games will tell the tale of whether we go with Stoops or get rid of him at the end of the season

 

[willievic]

CB3UK, you are spot on. If we don't go to a bowl, 6 wins, then it should be "So long Coach Stoops." I don't need to hear the excuse, we played hard.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[shutzhund]

I look to year five when we have redshirt seniors, juniors and sophomores and are red shirting nearly all freshmen. If it doesn't happen then I'll join the hysterical botherhood.

I won't like it, because there's no sunshine. Just hail, sleet, rain, hate, no joy and precious little sense of humor.

 

[PhattyJ4UK_rivals309166]

I look to year five when we have redshirt seniors, juniors and sophomores and are red shirting nearly all freshmen. If it doesn't happen then I'll join the hysterical botherhood.

I won't like it, because there's no sunshine. Just hail, sleet, rain, hate, no joy and precious little sense of humor.

Hate to breaknit to you but 4 or 5 wins will kill recruiting for next year.. the next coach would be starting with very little returning experience.

If you pull the trigger, its this offseason. If not, youre setting your next coach up for failure.

 

[kyboy1998_rivals34276]

I give Stoops credit for this...he has really lowered the bar at a place that had a really low bar to start with. We are treating a 6 win season and a trip to a **** bowl like some holy grail of accomplishment. We should be given 3 wins automatically due to the advantages we have over the FBS schools. Finding a way to beat Vandy, winning one game against a decent opponent and defeating some random team whose season fell apart shouldn't be unthinkable.

I didn't give him credit year one. I knew he wasn't left with much but I expected him to do better than the guy we run off. I mean it's an upgrade right?

I didn't give him credit for collapsing to end out seasons 2 and 3. Why would you?

Between personnel and grouping miscues, clock and timeout mismanagement and second half on-the-job training by opposing coaches, I haven't been left with much to believe in.

He did have a vision and recruiting strategy and started out with bravado and belief. I credit him for that. I'd say at the beginning he truly believed, but like many people who've accepted positions they thought they wanted he may be figuring out he's above his ceiling.

He says why not? I say because you're not good enough and you don't have the "it" factor to offset the obstacles and history challenges that this job brings.

Historically we've been to gracious and patient with coaches.

 

[buckkiller]

Thank You OP! very much! spot on!

 

[andreIGUODOLLAsigns4UK]

We don't fire them too much. We just hire the wrong ones too much.

Preach. Stoops being the most latest, classic example. The stoops hire is the epitome of UK football history. Just terrible hire's after terrible hire's.

 

[TBCat]

Look Vandy might fire their coach this year and he was hired after Stoops. It's a sad state of this program when our standards aren't even as high as Vandy. Stoops is winning about 35% of his games and has 5 conference wins in 4 years. There is no other program in football that would even consider bringing him back for a 5th year. But at UK a 5th year is nearly guaranteed. It simply isn't a goal of our AD to win games.

 

[Chadrock]

Look Vandy might fire their coach this year and he was hired after Stoops. It's a sad state of this program when our standards aren't even as high as Vandy. Stoops is winning about 35% of his games and has 5 conference wins in 4 years. There is no other program in football that would even consider bringing him back for a 5th year. But at UK a 5th year is nearly guaranteed. It simply isn't a goal of our AD to win games.

It simply isn't a goal of our AD to win games.

...the sad truth...

 

[How Blue Can You Get?]

I don't know that we fire the coaches too much. We do seen to have an issue with continuity, though. We're a stepping stone, retirement home, or a job fit for a glorified high school coach trying to make ends meet.

It's not that we fire the hell out of every coach we come across, it's that we aren't a destination program for decent, proven coaches willing to settle down.

Actually, we have great continuity, just not thr continuity we are looking for. We continue to suck and continue to fail at doing what it takes to suceed, year after year though. Continuity' s a hell of a drug!

 

[How Blue Can You Get?]

Actually, we have great continuity, just not thr continuity we are looking for. We continue to suck and continue to fail at doing what it takes to suceed, year after year though. Continuity' s a hell of a drug!

Oh yeah, and we have stellar continuity when it comes to losing to Florida.

 

[Tomsong]

Stoops will get it done! Elliot is history! The Defense will continue to grow and become dominant! The next DC will be a homerun. Gran will churn out the points. I would hate to see this thing steam rolled by an elitest fan base who think the next guy will do better. When were things ever falling into place any better than they are right now?

 

[UK Cats Rock]

Can we say "enough already"?!" with the "firing threads "until at least the end of the season?

 

[51stFan]

Stoops will get it done! Elliot is history! The Defense will continue to grow and become dominant! The next DC will be a homerun. Gran will churn out the points. I would hate to see this thing steam rolled by an elitest fan base who think the next guy will do better. When were things ever falling into place any better than they are right now?

If we win Vandy, APSU, MIZZ, Miss. st and competitive in two of three UGA, UT, UofL they may be hope. Can't take beat down to UT and Georgia like we have been doing. We shouldn't be that far behind those programs four years in .

 

[allabouttheUK]

G W L T %
Bear Bryant

1946–1953 88 60 23 5 .710 AP SEC Coach of the Year (1950)
Blanton Collier 1954–1961 80 41 36 3 .531 SEC Coach of the Year (1954)
Charlie Bradshaw 1962–1968 70 25 41 4 .386
John Ray 1969–1972 43 10 33 0 .233
Fran Curci 1973–1981 100 47 51 2 .480 AP SEC Coach of the Year (1977)
Jerry Claiborne

1982–1989 90 41 46 3 .472 AP SEC Coach of the Year (1983)
Bill Curry 1990–1996 78 26 52 0 .333
Hal Mumme 1997–2000 46 20 26 — .435
Guy Morriss 2001–2002 23 9 14 — .391
Rich Brooks 2003–2009 86 39 47 — .453
Joker Phillips 2010–2012 37 13 24 — .351
Mark Stoops 2013–pres. 24 7 17 — .292​

Coaches 5 years or less - 5
Coaches 5 years or more - 7 (Includes Bill Curry)

another good breakdown of the coaching history at UK (year by year)

http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kentucky/

 

[allabouttheUK]

can't get the alignment to save...:chairshot:

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

It simply isn't a goal of our AD to win games.

...the sad truth...

Good grief. Think about what you're saying.....

 

[allabouttheUK]

Good grief. Think about what you're saying.....

He's not entirely wrong. Count me in the camp that believes Barney cares more about character and moral integrity and less about success (W-L) of the programs. He preaches more about the those things when talking sports than he does winning.

 

[Shydog]

It simply isn't a goal of our AD to win games.

...the sad truth...

a sad untruth,, I'm not believing that for a minute! I am sure winning games isn't the AD's only goal, but I am just as sure it's one of them. I for one am glad it's not his only goal with any of our programs! If you don't like Mr Barnhart fine, if you don't think he is a good AD fine but to say what you said is not true and I think you know that!

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

He's not entirely wrong. Count me in the camp that believes Barney cares more about character and moral integrity and less about success (W-L) of the programs. He preaches more about the those things when talking sports than he does winning.

big huge difference between

"our AD doesn't care if we win games"

vs

"our AD wants to win games but also wants coaches who have character and integrity"

btw, could also say it as "wants to win but not win at all costs"

 

[Adolph Rollingover]

1973 -2016 is 43 years. In that time UK has had 8 different Head Football Coaches.

That equates to an average tenure of 5.375 years. I'd say the "narrative" is true.

 

[Woodrow24]

big huge difference between

"our AD doesn't care if we win games"

vs

"our AD wants to win games but also wants coaches who have character and integrity"

btw, could also say it as "wants to win but not win at all costs"

"wants to win but struggles in selecting coaches."

 

[EdNygma]

G W L T %
Bear Bryant

1946–1953 88 60 23 5 .710 AP SEC Coach of the Year (1950)
Blanton Collier 1954–1961 80 41 36 3 .531 SEC Coach of the Year (1954)
Charlie Bradshaw 1962–1968 70 25 41 4 .386
John Ray 1969–1972 43 10 33 0 .233
Fran Curci 1973–1981 100 47 51 2 .480 AP SEC Coach of the Year (1977)
Jerry Claiborne

1982–1989 90 41 46 3 .472 AP SEC Coach of the Year (1983)
Bill Curry 1990–1996 78 26 52 0 .333
Hal Mumme 1997–2000 46 20 26 — .435
Guy Morriss 2001–2002 23 9 14 — .391
Rich Brooks 2003–2009 86 39 47 — .453
Joker Phillips 2010–2012 37 13 24 — .351
Mark Stoops 2013–pres. 24 7 17 — .292​

Coaches 5 years or less - 5
Coaches 5 years or more - 7 (Includes Bill Curry)

another good breakdown of the coaching history at UK (year by year)

http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kentucky/

Curry should have fired sooner and it would be 6 and 6 on coaches 5+ or 5-

 

[oboroCATfan]

Can we say "enough already"?!" with the "firing threads "until at least the end of the season?

What else are we going to talk about? The only options with this program are blind optimism, apathy, or anger. Waiting to discuss till the end of the season will just grow the apathy and that is the most dangerous thing for any program.

 

[allabouttheUK]

Curry should have fired sooner and it would be 6 and 6 on coaches 5+ or 5-

A closer look at the years for each reveals it's not as it seems.

 

[allabouttheUK]

big huge difference between

"our AD doesn't care if we win games"

vs

"our AD wants to win games but also wants coaches who have character and integrity"

btw, could also say it as "wants to win but not win at all costs"

Agreed, and I admit I interpreted the post a bit differently. It's not the he doesn't want to win, it's just not at the top of the list for him, unlike most AD's.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

Don't think the timing of any firing was terrible (too early or too late). Been pretty fair.

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

"wants to win but struggles in selecting coaches."

yep, that's true.

I think the argument that takes place daily on this board is a red herring. Because Petrino is doing so well this year, and because there is a perception that Barnhart is a holy roller, the argument becomes something about whether we would hire a known scoundrel, whether Barnhart is willing to do that, etc. I think that's just a distraction.

The truth is there are plenty of good coaches who are not "scoundrels" and Barnhart has simply been unable to either find them or talk them into taking the UK job.

 

[Woodrow24]

yep, that's true.

I think the argument that takes place daily on this board is a red herring. Because Petrino is doing so well this year, and because there is a perception that Barnhart is a holy roller, the argument becomes something about whether we would hire a known scoundrel, whether Barnhart is willing to do that, etc. I think that's just a distraction.

The truth is there are plenty of good coaches who are not "scoundrels" and Barnhart has simply been unable to either find them or talk them into taking the UK job.

Well said sir. Plenty of good coaches out there if stoops doesn't work out.

 

[jc2010]

Well said sir. Plenty of good coaches out there if stoops doesn't work out.

What would be the odds of Barney signing one of them?

 

[vhcat70]

The truth is there are plenty of good coaches who are not "scoundrels" and Barnhart has simply been unable to either find them or talk them into taking the UK job.

It's OK to not be able to do "simply"?

 

[308955]

A closer look at the chart also reveals that UK's winning percentage since the 1962 season is .396. The coaches hired by MB have a winning percentage of .381. I am not saying that any fan should be happy with either of those numbers or the way this season has started, but there are many on here that would have you believe that MB is solely responsible for destroying UK football. The reality is that UK football is what it has been for 50 years.

Maybe UK should move on in hopes of program improvement, but the hate toward MB on this board is excessive.

 

[allabouttheUK]

What would be the odds of Barney signing one of them?

Probably pretty good until two years later when things aren't progressing fast enough for a vocal portion of the fan base. Then that coach will be horrible at what he does, and the hire should have been someone else. Same song and dance, rinse and repeat.

 

[jc2010]

A closer look at the chart also reveals that UK's winning percentage since the 1962 season is .396. The coaches hired by MB have a winning percentage of .381. I am not saying that any fan should be happy with either of those numbers or the way this season has started, but there are many on here that would have you believe that MB is solely responsible for destroying UK football. The reality is that UK football is what it has been for 50 years.

Maybe UK should move on in hopes of program improvement, but the hate toward MB on this board is excessive.

Looks like Mitch can't even keep up with our miserable past. Mitch couldn't keep a guy that was turning the program around and putting it on solid ground. He then passed on the opportunity to hire two proven winners, maybe that's why no one has faith in Mitch.