Brooks was not fired at Oregon, he left for a better job in the NFL. A losing record yes, but he was not fired...he moved up to the professionals. Brooks is similar to a Greg Schiano. Brooks was so good that they named the stadium after him when he left Oregon.
Randy Shannon was FIRED at Miami with top level talent what makes you think he could win at UK w/o the luxury of Florida athletes, Ed Orgeron was FIRED at Ole Miss and was a disaster there, Nutt went 2-10 his last year at Ole Miss and were so bad they lost to Joker and UK and was FIRED, June Jones had a losing record at SMU and resigned and was being called disinterested and a terrible coach before resigning because of the pressure and is now an OC at a high school. These guys were run out of town and haven't proven they can build a program at a high level.
I'm all for 2nd chances on guys that have turned their careers around at another school first(Maybe Ed O could), but those guys above were run out of town at their last jobs and there is a reason they are not coaching anywhere now.
You talk about how we need experienced guys who know how to build a program like Brooks, but you bring up guys who have not accomplished anything and have been embarrassed at their last job, and compare that to Brooks who built a program from nothing and ended his career at Oregon in the Rose Bowl and left for an NFL job. If those guys couldn't even be above average at better programs, how do they have the knowledge to win big at a traditional SEC loser that struggles to compete talent wise in recruiting.
Nutt may have ended rough, but you are ignoring what he did at Murray St and Arkansas. He has 135 wins as a head coach.
Would hardly call June Jones putting Hawaii on the map nothing. For the love of God, it's hawaii. Maybe he lost interest at SMU, doesn't change the fact that he took that program from the deep dark abyss to competitive relevancy. If he's no longer interested in coaching more than high school football, so be it, that's all he has to say if someone gives him a call.
Randy Shannon, really small sample size at Miami. Also consider the scandalous mess he inherited. Would like to see what he does at another stop that isn't caught up in turmoil. Maybe he's better off as a DC. With his florida D performing like they are, i would say that he will get another gig at some point. Maybe Vandy.
Big Ed is a reach, but he seems to be trending in the right direction. Like shannon, maybe he is just a top coordinator/assistant.
Again, not saying these guys are the top of the list home runs that we have to go all in for.
I think there is a fundamental detachment from reality with all UK fans who throw out all the popular names every time a coaching change seems inevitable, and then snub their noses at any candidate that isn't the next Saban, Meyer, or Chip Kelly.
All these cats on the rise with no baggage or bumps in the road on their resume and who will have a number of suitors, are not going to be realistic for UK.
If we wan't the home run guy then we need the home run money and commitment to football and that will never happen.
Realistically we are not looking for someone who is going to win 9 games in short order. We are looking for someone who can come in and in a couple years time be winning 6-7 games and not getting embarrassed by big boys.
Once we can accomplish some sort of respectable stability over a period of time, then you look for somebody who can come in and take the next step.