The fact that another SEC fanbase would REVOLT at hiring our coach tells you all you need to know about the state of our program.

Bluetick2100

All-Conference
Apr 15, 2007
5,590
3,564
113
I think we’ll find out how serious he is about staying here long term by his off-season moves. I hope he’s in high gear looking for staff replacements at the OL, WR, and DB positions. Not that my thoughts mean anything but I think he’d win back the fanbase if he has replacements for those guys and it happens immediately after the bowl game, shouldn’t effect our incoming class at all.
In another thread a poll and his fan base supports Stoops by far. The FOM always think everyone thinks like them.
 

seccats04

Heisman
Dec 6, 2004
13,962
21,686
113
I disagree completely. A poster a few days ago said that Liam would be focusing on playing faster next year so let’s hope that is true.

However if you have a top offense and only run 55 plays a game but are scoring most every time you have the ball you will win way more games than you lose.

The problem is when you run 55 plays a game and the other team runs 75 because you go three and out half the game.

Heck yesterday in the 3rd quarter Kentucky ran 3 plays and had 14 points with like 2 minutes left in that quarter!
But what is playing faster for Stoops? 60 plays a game? We're not gonna see a Heupel or Kiffen offense under Stoops. So we need to be really efficient. No part of our team was efficient this year or last year. Or 2020. We are not well coached in any area. Even our punter regressed this year.
 

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,144
18,551
103
This. Winning 7 games, including a win over Florida and a top 10 win on the road; while on our way to yet another nice bowl would've been beyond my wildest dreams not that long ago. It now being a disappointment says two things:

1) stoops elevated this program where now this season is only average/good

2) fans disappointed in this season are almost definitely recent fans, which is fine, but I wish they'd better understand history and context

One final thought: op asks the wrong question and frames the thought in the wrong way. One should consider why a program with infinite financial resources wants to hire this staff. It's because they're a top 5-10 staff in the nation and that's just a fact.
I’m 55 and been following the cats as long as I can remember which dates back 77’. I’m disappointed with this season, if you’re not good for you, but we played **** football most of the year in a year where we were supposed to make some noise in the SEC. We went 3-5 with wins over teams that combined for a 4-20 conference record. We struggled beating EKU for Pete’s sake. My damn seat wasn’t even warm yet during the Georgia and Bama games before the outcome of the game was decided already. Stoops has done great getting UK to the level he has but he doesn’t have the cajones to get us to a level of consistency which should be what we all want as a fanbase. Playing for an SEC championship in my lifetime may never come with any coach, but I know for damn certain it’s never happening with stoops.
 

Jont0805

All-Conference
Mar 25, 2019
1,010
1,615
0
But what is playing faster for Stoops? 60 plays a game? We're not gonna see a Heupel or Kiffen offense under Stoops. So we need to be really efficient. No part of our team was efficient this year or last year. Or 2020. We are not well coached in any area. Even our punter regressed this year.


I have no idea. Every game is different and a lot of the things that matter don’t matter unless you score. Remember a few years ago Kentucky dominated time of possession and I assume plays against Tennessee but lost because Tennessee scored so quickly every time they touched the ball.

Efficiency as you mentioned seems to be the key to winning. Score when you have the ball and you will win.

How does stoops bring an efficient offense to Kentucky? With balance and great qb play. Something Kentucky has had one season in this era with Wandale/Levis/Rodriguez.

If Kentucky has an offense like that every year I don’t see how they don’t end up with 8-10 wins.
 
Apr 13, 2002
44,001
97,149
0
I’m 55 and been following the cats as long as I can remember which dates back 77’. I’m disappointed with this season, if you’re not good for you, but we played **** football most of the year in a year where we were supposed to make some noise in the SEC. We went 3-5 with wins over teams that combined for a 4-20 conference record. We struggled beating EKU for Pete’s sake. My damn seat wasn’t even warm yet during the Georgia and Bama games before the outcome of the game was decided already. Stoops has done great getting UK to the level he has but he doesn’t have the cajones to get us to a level of consistency which should be what we all want as a fanbase. Playing for an SEC championship in my lifetime may never come with any coach, but I know for damn certain it’s never happening with stoops.

Like I said, we all want to be better. I agree with much of what you said but given the resources and situation - who could UK hire that would get us to an sec championship level?
 
  • Like
Reactions: ala_kat2

TankedCat

Heisman
Nov 8, 2006
22,792
21,499
0
Maybe all of this can quell some of stoops recent turn into the attitude of ‘look at all I’ve done’ over this last season. He’s gotten more detached from reality and some of the fan base isn’t coming back unless he actually puts together a season where they don’t have a choice.
yea , that was the first thing I thought too when I heard "he turned it down". Maybe he has a better appreciation for his place in the world in light of his accomplishments
 
  • Like
Reactions: kywildcat41086

Nightwish84

All-American
Dec 11, 2020
4,970
6,265
0
If you have a minute, take a gander at the OP's post history. I didn't find a single positive, upbeat post in the last couple of months but I did find immature name calling, wishing a local radio personality could've been sucker punched in public, and a history of someone constantly complaining and trying to crash any positive vibe this site has. For whatever reason, there are some in this world who would rather tear everything and everyone down and just be negative all the time. Those folks are just a drag.

Stoops has flaws, as does every coach. He's gotta change some things going forward as Cal recently did. We're in the SEC and it's only going to get tougher. Sports is a business and perhaps Stoops wanted to leave for a moment. That doesn't hurt my feelings because I'm a grown adult who doesn't take any of this personally. Granted, Louisville got a upgrade with Brohm and Satt was fairly mediocre but Louisville fans whined about Satt's flirtation with Carolina for two years. It's. A. Business.
 

DaDirtyLeb69

Heisman
Jan 4, 2022
36,217
57,391
113
You call it “unrealistic” I call it a fan base that wants to win. We have got to find a fix for this loser culture that has taken over the University of Kentucky.
Kentucky football can’t win a national championship, and won’t compete for many, Kentucky is a 8 win, every one in a while 10 win program. Who is gonna come to Kentucky and make them a contender the answer is nobody. As for Texas A&M they expect to win the sec and maybe compete for national titles which is just as ridiculous given what they have been for a while
 
  • Like
Reactions: ala_kat2

FltDoc

All-Conference
Jan 4, 2003
1,993
1,851
0
I don’t hate Stoops, I just hate his contract. I’m ok with giving him another year, but I’m not getting my hopes up anymore. He’s just too stubborn to change IMO. Hopefully he doesn’t underachieve again next year.
I feel similar except your point that "he's too stubborn to change".... Don't agree. Can't make a square peg round...
 

Rembrandt90

Heisman
Jun 25, 2018
6,758
13,246
0
Stoops has two 10 win seasons the last 5 years. Texas A&M has two 10 win seasons the last 28 years. They act like they have a Bama/Georgia trophy case when they have worse results than UK the last decade.


Terrible look because Texas A&M doesn’t know their place in the world? A&M has performed on the same level as Kentucky the last decade with about 1000 advantages UK doesn’t have.
You are right about this, as far as it goes.

In the 1960s, the popular singer Ral Donner sang "You don't know what you've got until
you lose it". In her song "Big Tellow Taxi", the great Joni Mitchell sang "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone?". It is remarkable and quite unfortunate that our own fans don't appreciate what we have here. Many of these posts here in the last 12 hours are very telling. Before Mark Stoops came, we were 2-9. Even when Rich Brooks was here, we weren't recruiting at a high level. Brooks made stars of players nobody else wanted like Jacob Tamme, Myron Pryor, Braxton Kelly, Garry Williams, and Dickie Lyons, Jr. But Coach Stoops has built UK's roster by not only developing underrated players like Josh Allen but also elevating UK's recruiting capabilities and expanding our program's geographic footprint.

Before Stoops got here, a 7-5 season was viewed as overachievement. Before Stoops got here, we didn't have legitimate SEC facilities. Before Stoops got here, we seldom recruited in the states of OH or TN. Before Stoops got here, we hadn't beaten FL in 3 decades. Before Stoops got here, we were a basketball school in a football conference.

And yet, our fans complain constantly about Stoops. It's like listening to a spoiled 5 year old. I suppose most of these complainers have forgotten the historical perspective around UK football, or else they are conscious of social stratification and jealous of Stoops' salary. By yesterday, the grind of constant whining and complaining had built to a point where the 7th-best paid coach in the country seriously contemplated a lateral move away from a contract with 8 more years on it, away from modern facilities, and away from an employer that has consistently supported him through everything. Ironically, the alternative was TX A&M, the same school that hired away Bear Bryant. And although the reasons were not the same, there are disturbing analogies.

It is being reported that Stoops' UK contract was not extended yesterday. But something surely happened between yesterday morning and last night. Stoops himself is publicly crediting the exhilaration of working with his team to extend our winning streak over little brother. But it can't be that simple. After all, Stoops beats UL every November. To use a popular term, my spider senses tell me that UK "ponied up" something. Whatever is involved, I'll bet it includes a promise to upgrade several of our position coaches. And I wouldn't be one bit surprised if a group of local business leaders has stepped up and committed more NIL money. That would fit the circumstances.

So, maybe Stoops is a lot shrewder than he gets credit for around here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sambowieshin_rivals

FltDoc

All-Conference
Jan 4, 2003
1,993
1,851
0
so a few crazy fans means the entire fanbase now lol. Stoops is a high level coach. He proved that yesterday again. Just watching the bonehead interception by our QB yesterday trying to give the game away shows how difficult this season has been trying to spit against the wind.
Don't think he proved anything yesterday.... two fumbles, a last second interception AND a 100 yard TD run saved our asses (and a DUDE named Davis...)
 

FltDoc

All-Conference
Jan 4, 2003
1,993
1,851
0
But what is playing faster for Stoops? 60 plays a game? We're not gonna see a Heupel or Kiffen offense under Stoops. So we need to be really efficient. No part of our team was efficient this year or last year. Or 2020. We are not well coached in any area. Even our punter regressed this year.
And what happened to our long kicker? Couldn't put any into the end zone and had to settle for UL still getting the ball out to the 35-50 yard-line!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: seccats04
Jan 4, 2021
350
597
0
Like I said, we all want to be better. I agree with much of what you said but given the resources and situation - who could UK hire that would get us to a sec championship level?

10 mil a year can hire you about anyone except for the likes of Saban, Kirby, etc. Those guys aren’t coming here but knowing our ceiling is the Duke’s Mayonnaise Bowl, it’s time to throw 10-12mil a year out there and see what the interest is. I guarantee we’d have more interest than most realize.

‼️‼️‼️‼️We paid Stoops a little over 1 million a year when he first came here, that’s why we never could hire a good coach in the past. Now we are able and willing to fork out way more money for our football coaches and would now attract bigger names with the salary increase. ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
 

Rembrandt90

Heisman
Jun 25, 2018
6,758
13,246
0
Kentucky football can’t win a national championship, and won’t compete for many, Kentucky is a 8 win, every one in a while 10 win program. Who is gonna come to Kentucky and make them a contender the answer is nobody. As for Texas A&M they expect to win the sec and maybe compete for national titles which is just as ridiculous given what they have been for a while
UK football can do all the things you say we can't. But none of it will happen without more support from the instate business community and a more mature attitude around our fan base. And for those who plead the First Amendment or insist that what fans say has no effect, let me just respond this way. All of us obviously have a right to say what we want. But if we consider ourselves real UK fans, we also have a responsibility to speak intelligently with an accurate historical perspective and put our money where our mouths are. And for those who still say "show me something first", well, he already has. Open your eyes, support our coaches, and stop being haters.
 

FltDoc

All-Conference
Jan 4, 2003
1,993
1,851
0
Kentucky football can’t win a national championship, and won’t compete for many, Kentucky is a 8 win, every one in a while 10 win program. Who is gonna come to Kentucky and make them a contender the answer is nobody. As for Texas A&M they expect to win the sec and maybe compete for national titles which is just as ridiculous given what they have been for a while
This is the thought many of us don't agree with.... Don't you think there might be some innovative minds out there that know how to assemble a great coaching & recruiting staff for 9 FREAKIN' million a year?!
 

TankedCat

Heisman
Nov 8, 2006
22,792
21,499
0
I’m 55 and been following the cats as long as I can remember which dates back 77’. I’m disappointed with this season, if you’re not good for you, but we played **** football most of the year in a year where we were supposed to make some noise in the SEC. We went 3-5 with wins over teams that combined for a 4-20 conference record. We struggled beating EKU for Pete’s sake. My damn seat wasn’t even warm yet during the Georgia and Bama games before the outcome of the game was decided already. Stoops has done great getting UK to the level he has but he doesn’t have the cajones to get us to a level of consistency which should be what we all want as a fanbase. Playing for an SEC championship in my lifetime may never come with any coach, but I know for damn certain it’s never happening with stoops.
and I think that is what rubs people the wrong way. People who argue in support of Stoops only have one argument - do you want to get worse. They don't even acknowledge the concept that UK should challenge for an SEC championship, so the fear of having a few bad seasons ,choosing a bad coach and not going to a meaningless bowl game overrides the mindset that UK should be working toward playing in the college national championship. Now whether it ever happens or not isn't the question, but telling people to celebrate being a 7-5 where you have to frontload your schedule with guaranteed wins to make sure you go to the Music City bowl is just accepting you're a second class program and will always be that.

There is some truth with the UL fans say we are their superbowl. There are people celebrating the season because of that win, even though UK achieved no meaningful goals in their conference
 
Last edited:

FltDoc

All-Conference
Jan 4, 2003
1,993
1,851
0
UK football can do all the things you say we can't. But none of it will happen without more support from the instate business community and a more mature attitude around our fan base. And for those who plead the First Amendment or insist that what fans say has no effect, let me just respond this way. All of us obviously have a right to say what we want. But if we consider ourselves real UK fans, we also have a responsibility to speak intelligently with an accurate historical perspective and put our money where our mouths are. And for those who still say "show me something first", well, he already has. Open your eyes, support our coaches, and stop being haters.
It's not always about $$... (though 9 is a high number... Top 10 $$), it's about winning, creating a winning culture, and players knowing that they have a good chance to be developed to the next level.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Blueworld_3.0
Apr 13, 2002
44,001
97,149
0
10 mil a year can hire you about anyone except for the likes of Saban, Kirby, etc. Those guys aren’t coming here but knowing our ceiling is the Duke’s Mayonnaise Bowl, it’s time to throw 10-12mil a year out there and see what the interest is. I guarantee we’d have more interest than most realize.

‼️‼️‼️‼️We paid Stoops a little over 1 million a year when he first came here, that’s why we never could hire a good coach in the past. Now we are able and willing to fork out way more money for our football coaches and would now attract bigger names with the salary increase. ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

My question challenged you to name the guys but you didn't. You didn't because you can't. I understand the frustration, but until there is a better option you stay with your proven successful quantity
 

Cats_2010

Heisman
Jan 8, 2010
11,144
18,551
103
and I think that is what rubs people the wrong way. People who argue in support of Stoops only have one argument - do you want to get worse. They don't even acknowledge the concept that UK should challenge for an SEC championship, so the fear of having a few bad seasons ,choosing a bad coach and not going to a meaningless bowl game overrides the mindset that UK should be working toward playing in the college national championship. Now whether it ever happens or not isn't the question, but telling people to celebrate being a 7-5 where you have to frontload your schedule with guaranteed wins to make sure you go to the Music City bowl is just accepting your a second class program and will always be that.

There is some truth with the UL fans say we are their superbowl. There are people celebrating the season because of that win, even though UK achieved no meaningful goals in their conference
Definitely agree but not the UofL superbowl part. It was fun beating them yesterday due to the year they had to remind them they are good but not as great as they think they are. UK was a bottom 3rd SEC team this year, as they were last year. Florida the same and we beat them and Florida gave Florida st all they wanted last night. ACC sucks so they will always compile a decent record as a result. Give this fanbase a win or Georgia or Alabama all would take that in a heartbeat over UofL,
 

DaDirtyLeb69

Heisman
Jan 4, 2022
36,217
57,391
113
UK football can do all the things you say we can't. But none of it will happen without more support from the instate business community and a more mature attitude around our fan base. And for those who plead the First Amendment or insist that what fans say has no effect, let me just respond this way. All of us obviously have a right to say what we want. But if we consider ourselves real UK fans, we also have a responsibility to speak intelligently with an accurate historical perspective and put our money where our mouths are. And for those who still say "show me something first", well, he already has. Open your eyes, support our coaches, and stop being haters.
Kentucky isn’t going to get any of that happen because Kentucky will always be a basketball school, and basketball will always eat first. Kentucky can be more disciplined on the field and stoops can change some of philosophy’s on it as well, and that may lead to a win or two more, but if anybody thinks Kentucky is going to compete for the sec your going into things with very unrealistic expectations
 

DaDirtyLeb69

Heisman
Jan 4, 2022
36,217
57,391
113
This is the thought many of us don't agree with.... Don't you think there might be some innovative minds out there that know how to assemble a great coaching & recruiting staff for 9 FREAKIN' million a year?!
He should have been better than the last 2 years I agree, he let many chances slip for sure. His pay is very high, but he is also at a school that hasn’t accomplished much in football, and in today’s world it will be very hard for Kentucky to win anything. Going into things with a realistic viewpoint is the best way to look at things
 
  • Like
Reactions: ala_kat2
Jan 4, 2021
350
597
0
My question challenged you to name the guys but you didn't. You didn't because you can't. I understand the frustration, but until there is a better option you stay with your proven successful quantity

I’m not paid to do the research on a nationwide coaching search, therefore, I don’t have a list of candidates for you. For 10 million a year, I’m willing to forfeit the future of Stoops and take a chance on a young guy like Garret Riley or D’Anton Lynn.
 

Cats192

Heisman
Apr 22, 2011
14,437
16,585
93
He should have been better than the last 2 years I agree, he let many chances slip for sure. His pay is very high, but he is also at a school that hasn’t accomplished much in football, and in today’s world it will be very hard for Kentucky to win anything. Going into things with a realistic viewpoint is the best way to look at things
This is without a doubt the Kentucky mindset.

We've never done anything, so we're content with what Stoops has done and continues to do.

A&M isn't content with that. They looked at Mark Stoops resume and said "Hell nah." They want more than the mid-ness we've risen to.
 

seccats04

Heisman
Dec 6, 2004
13,962
21,686
113
And what happened to our long kicker? Couldn't put any into the end zone and had to settle for UL still getting the ball out to the 35-50 yard-line!!
Yea, did Poore play yesterday? I did not pay attention. But I do not recall seeing him against USCe, I believe.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FltDoc

TankedCat

Heisman
Nov 8, 2006
22,792
21,499
0
Definitely agree but not the UofL superbowl part. It was fun beating them yesterday due to the year they had to remind them they are good but not as great as they think they are. UK was a bottom 3rd SEC team this year, as they were last year. Florida the same and we beat them and Florida gave Florida st all they wanted last night. ACC sucks so they will always compile a decent record as a result. Give this fanbase a win or Georgia or Alabama all would take that in a heartbeat over UofL,
we all would take that just like UL would take a win over Florida St

but the problem is, a good number of fans are resigned to UK not ever beating a top tier SEC school and therefore, beating , on paper anyways, a good UL team is the high point of the season. When we play a 6-6 team in a bowl game on channel ocho, they won't be as excited as they were about the win over UL.
 

ukwazoo

All-Conference
Sep 8, 2001
11,317
3,991
0
we all would take that just like UL would take a win over Florida St

but the problem is, a good number of fans are resigned to UK not ever beating a top tier SEC school and therefore, beating , on paper anyways, a good UL team is the high point of the season. When we play a 6-6 team in a bowl game on channel ocho, they won't be as excited as they were about the win over UL.
I don't know...some seem thrilled with any bowl
 

UKWildcats1987

Heisman
Sep 9, 2021
17,976
30,219
113
This is the thought many of us don't agree with.... Don't you think there might be some innovative minds out there that know how to assemble a great coaching & recruiting staff for 9 FREAKIN' million a year?!

Apparently not. We have Stoops and that'd as good as it gets according to this board.

I agree with the other guy that UK has 0 shot at a national title or sec title. UK is a middle school team playing high school teams n the SEC and with NIL that's not gonna change. Alabama, uga, and about 6 to 8 other teams aren't gonna let UK outbid them for recruiting classes ever.

I am not sure why the above is so difficult for people to comprehend.
 

TankedCat

Heisman
Nov 8, 2006
22,792
21,499
0
Apparently not. We have Stoops and that'd as good as it gets according to this board.

I agree with the other guy that UK has 0 shot at a national title or sec title. UK is a middle school team playing high school teams n the SEC and with NIL that's not gonna change. Alabama, uga, and about 6 to 8 other teams aren't gonna let UK outbid them for recruiting classes ever.

I am not sure why the above is so difficult for people to comprehend.
lets just get to solidly playing against whoever is the leader of the SEC East , a consistent top 25 ranking and winning the games you're supposed to win.

You get there and at worst you'll steal one every once in awhile , play for the SEC title and be in the mention of the college football championship.

Why does that seem unreasonable?
 

DaDirtyLeb69

Heisman
Jan 4, 2022
36,217
57,391
113
This is without a doubt the Kentucky mindset.

We've never done anything, so we're content with what Stoops has done and continues to do.

A&M isn't content with that. They looked at Mark Stoops resume and said "Hell nah." They want more than the mid-ness we've risen to.
Can kentucky do what Mizzou has done and maybe make a sec championship game and go 10-2 in a year sure, but Kentucky isn’t winning a championship or consistently competing for one here, that just being real. Texas A&M isn’t competing for anything either, they have been about the same as Kentucky with a lot more money and Better players
 
  • Like
Reactions: ala_kat2 and Catluv

bluecoon1

Heisman
Jul 18, 2017
4,928
13,075
0
In another thread a poll and his fan base supports Stoops by far. The FOM always think everyone thinks like them.
Yeah, I voted in support of Stoops on that poll but the glee club probably feels the same way about people thinking like them. One thing for certain is there’s always middle ground and people should open their mind to that fact. Problem is both sides exhibit narcissistic behavior that others are stupid and poor fans if anyone doesn’t follow their train of thought.