What we are selling

[shutzhund]

What cities in the SEC are great drawing cards, then?

Tuscaloosa, Gainesville, Starkville, Auburn, Baton Rouge, or College Station?

I could possibly see Nashville, but Vanderbilt was often No. 12 to our No. 11 in recruiting, anyway. In truth, the vast majority of P5 college cities or towns are not going to make a difference one way or the other, except that weather may sometimes be a factor.

For one reason or another some seem to only see Lexington as the subject. Football recruiting is the subject To attempt to answer your question with a question. What do those you mentioned have that we don't? I know you know what I'm going to say FOOTBALL TRADITION. They don't need a great location or even great academics to get a roster of SEC athletes. Our past hx is such we need to scratch and claw and use every outside advantage to barely survive.

Blaming coaches? Believing that a long line of coaches of being incompetent is beyond silly. That's like believing that flipping a coin and heads coming up fifty straight times is a reasonable premise . So what's been consistent all these years to hurt recruiting? I gave you my list and i feel pretty good that it's more valid than blaming coaches for the rosters we field and the on field results.

 

[shutzhund]

I believe it's who you put on the field that has more to do with winning or losing than who you put on the sidelines. Heresy, I know.

 

[mtn cat1]

Lexington isn't a great city, UK isn't a great University, the football history is dismal and the weather isn't tropical. Now we may love it but try and sell that to a four or five star player from most anywhere else. UK coaches have been dealing with that for longer than most of us have been fans. Home grown players don't flourish in Kentucky high schools so not that much help there.

We have players who could play for Auburn, Georgia and Florida sprinkled sparingly through our roster. The truth is that most of the roster would be more at home playing for Eastern or WKU. Some fans have deluded themselves into thinking this is enough to compete successfully in the SEC or ACC. It's not, even on a limited basis.

So then why don't we "coach them up". Well, when your recruiting base is the mid major basement it's too much to expect, no matter the coaching, to arrive in a SEC penthouse. We are decades behind in recruiting and one, two or even four good classes is just a good start. UK football is a tough sell.

What I'm saying is that coaches win or lose very few game. IT'S THE PLAYERS WHO WIN OR LOSE NEARLY EVERY GAME.

I respectfully disagree. There have been more than just the Vandy Game that has reflected poorly on our coaching staff & their seeming inability to get their act together!!!

 

[truebluewildcat_rivals34254]

Petrino and Charlie got kids to come to Louisville...

Cutcliff is getting it done at Duke...

Knoxville?? how do they have any tradition?

Mizzou had it's run...

Sumlin in College Station...it may be warm but that's all it's got going for it...

why were Ohio State, Michigan, and Mich St. able to build what they have...they're not in warm climates, they're further away from the talent in the south...

Notre Dame....Nebraska...Wisconsin...how did they establish programs...Iowa has had it's years in the past and is top ranked this year...

I mean if town, aesthetically pleasing geography, and climate were what mattered most...there should only be two states with competitive programs...California and Florida...Miami, Florida, FSU, UCF, USF, FAU, and FIU should be squaring off against USC, UCLA, Cal, Stanford, San Diego St, San Jose St, Pepperdine (most beautiful campus in the world perhaps ), Cal Poly, Santa Clara, etc...every year for play off spots and titles...

 

[ukalum1988]

For one reason or another some seem to only see Lexington as the subject. Football recruiting is the subject To attempt to answer your question with a question. What do those you mentioned have that we don't? I know you know what I'm going to say FOOTBALL TRADITION. They don't need a great location or even great academics to get a roster of SEC athletes. Our past hx is such we need to scratch and claw and use every outside advantage to barely survive.

Blaming coaches? Believing that a long line of coaches of being incompetent is beyond silly. That's like believing that flipping a coin and heads coming up fifty straight times is a reasonable premise . So what's been consistent all these years to hurt recruiting? I gave you my list and i feel pretty good that it's more valid than blaming coaches for the rosters we field and the on field results.

The lack of any meaningful UK FB tradition in the now 60+-yr post-Bear Bryant era can be traced in large part to UK's Administration. Perhaps it's now an urban legend, but when Blanton Collier succeeded Bryant, it's my understanding that severe recruiting restrictions were imposed to limit the large number of out-of-state players on the roster. Collier was by all accounts a very good coach but effectively had one arm tied behind his back. Charley Bradshaw (a Bryant disciple) came in to cut out a lot of dead wood on the roster but cut too deep. He actually had a few good seasons but the 25-41-5 record speaks for itself. Then comes John Ray, who had a good pedigree as a Notre Dame assistant, but produced results even dismal than Bradshaw.

Fran Curci is the first UK coach I am old enough to remember, and the 1977 team when I was 12 yrs old helped make me a UK FB fan for life. Unfortunately probation and other off-the-field problems for which he should rightly be responsible for did him in. In my opinion Claiborne was a much better coach than he is generally given credit for. The Nutter Center was built while I attended UK; before that UK football facilities were embarrassingly bad. The facilities issue can be laid at the Athletic Department doorstep. When you have Bernie Shively, Harry Lancaster, Cliff Hagan, and C.M. Newton as your ADs (all of whom either don't care or were simply incompetent in matters pertaining), the results we have seen over the years shouldn't be all surprising. One of my ongoing sore points illustrating UK's short-sightedness is naming the football field after Newton - what a joke!!!

I thought the Bill Curry hire was a great move at the time; little did I know until later just how poor of a coach he was. Mumme was interesting for a few years but once SEC teams figured out how to beat him he was done. I won't go through the Brooks/Joker/Stoops history as we should be well-acquainted with by now.

UK has suffered from a deadly combination of poor coaches and poor support from the Athletics Department. I'm no great fan of Barnhart, but at least here in the last few years he seems to be trying to do the right things. Time will tell if Stoops is successful or not. The last five or six weeks have revealed a lot of weaknesses in his management of staff, players, in-game coaching, etc. Through it all I will remain loyal to UK.

 

[SanAntonioCat_rivals376502]

V

The lack of any meaningful UK FB tradition in the now 60+-yr post-Bear Bryant era can be traced in large part to UK's Administration. Perhaps it's now an urban legend, but when Blanton Collier succeeded Bryant, it's my understanding that severe recruiting restrictions were imposed to limit the large number of out-of-state players on the roster. Collier was by all accounts a very good coach but effectively had one arm tied behind his back. Charley Bradshaw (a Bryant disciple) came in to cut out a lot of dead wood on the roster but cut too deep. He actually had a few good seasons but the 25-41-5 record speaks for itself. Then comes John Ray, who had a good pedigree as a Notre Dame assistant, but produced results even dismal than Bradshaw.

Fran Curci is the first UK coach I am old enough to remember, and the 1977 team when I was 12 yrs old helped make me a UK FB fan for life. Unfortunately probation and other off-the-field problems for which he should rightly be responsible for did him in. In my opinion Claiborne was a much better coach than he is generally given credit for. The Nutter Center was built while I attended UK; before that UK football facilities were embarrassingly bad. The facilities issue can be laid at the Athletic Department doorstep. When you have Bernie Shively, Harry Lancaster, Cliff Hagan, and C.M. Newton as your ADs (all of whom either don't care or were simply incompetent in matters pertaining), the results we have seen over the years shouldn't be all surprising. One of my ongoing sore points illustrating UK's short-sightedness is naming the football field after Newton - what a joke!!!

I thought the Bill Curry hire was a great move at the time; little did I know until later just how poor of a coach he was. Mumme was interesting for a few years but once SEC teams figured out how to beat him he was done. I won't go through the Brooks/Joker/Stoops history as we should be well-acquainted with by now.

UK has suffered from a deadly combination of poor coaches and poor support from the Athletics Department. I'm no great fan of Barnhart, but at least here in the last few years he seems to be trying to do the right things. Time will tell if Stoops is successful or not. The last five or six weeks have revealed a lot of weaknesses in his management of staff, players, in-game coaching, etc. Through it all I will remain loyal to UK.

Very good comments.

 

[UKGrad93]

Petrino and Charlie got kids to come to Louisville...

Cutcliff is getting it done at Duke...

Knoxville?? how do they have any tradition?

Mizzou had it's run...

Sumlin in College Station...it may be warm but that's all it's got going for it...

why were Ohio State, Michigan, and Mich St. able to build what they have...they're not in warm climates, they're further away from the talent in the south...

Notre Dame....Nebraska...Wisconsin...how did they establish programs...Iowa has had it's years in the past and is top ranked this year...

I mean if town, aesthetically pleasing geography, and climate were what mattered most...there should only be two states with competitive programs...California and Florida...Miami, Florida, FSU, UCF, USF, FAU, and FIU should be squaring off against USC, UCLA, Cal, Stanford, San Diego St, San Jose St, Pepperdine (most beautiful campus in the world perhaps ), Cal Poly, Santa Clara, etc...every year for play off spots and titles...

I grew up in KY, but have lived in Iowa City for 20+ years now. Lexington is superior to IC in many ways. Iowa football is usually boring, but they go to bowl games nearly every year, with a good bowl game every 3-4 yrs. I saw a stat that Iowa has 8 4* recruits on the team this year. They are 10-0. Granted, they have played a soft schedule, but they have wins against UW & NW (both top 25 teams).

They generally have good line play and don't take too many shots down field. Just enough to get the 1st down. They don't make many mistakes, but they are ready to pounce when the opponent does.

There is no reason why UK football can't have the same level of success as Iowa.

 

[why_not_kentucky]

False hope

 

[shutzhund]

Petrino and Charlie got kids to come to Louisville...

Cutcliff is getting it done at Duke...

Knoxville?? how do they have any tradition?

Mizzou had it's run...

Sumlin in College Station...it may be warm but that's all it's got going for it...

why were Ohio State, Michigan, and Mich St. able to build what they have...they're not in warm climates, they're further away from the talent in the south...

Notre Dame....Nebraska...Wisconsin...how did they establish programs...Iowa has had it's years in the past and is top ranked this year...

I mean if town, aesthetically pleasing geography, and climate were what mattered most...there should only be two states with competitive programs...California and Florida...Miami, Florida, FSU, UCF, USF, FAU, and FIU should be squaring off against USC, UCLA, Cal, Stanford, San Diego St, San Jose St, Pepperdine (most beautiful campus in the world perhaps ), Cal Poly, Santa Clara, etc...every year for play off spots and titles...

My respect for special ed teachers has just gone through the roof. Don't know how they do it.

 

[truebluewildcat_rivals34254]

My respect for special ed teachers has just gone through the roof. Don't know how they do it.

not entirely sure what you're getting at...i would say that it's unnecessary and not very productive to respond in that manner...

I was just simply responding to your original post about UK not being competitive because the coaches can't pitch Lexington being a very attractive town and Kentucky being a desirable destination in terms of climate...

so, I pointed out several examples of less than attractive campuses and college towns in less than desirable geographical areas with less than appealing climates that have competitive football programs...

like I said if campus aesthetics and climate were the main focus of prep athletes, Cal Pepperdine would dominate...there are only a handful of places that can truly boast about how appealing their location is...

you have to remember, kids are only spending 4 years at a college...and really good ones may only be in town for 3 years...so the scenery isn't what is important...

 

[shutzhund]

My respect for special ed teachers has just gone through the roof. Don't know how they do it.

not entirely sure what you're getting at...i would say that it's unnecessary and not very productive to respond in that manner...

I was just simply responding to your original post about UK not being competitive because the coaches can't pitch Lexington being a very attractive town and Kentucky being a desirable destination in terms of climate...

so, I pointed out several examples of less than attractive campuses and college towns in less than desirable geographical areas with less than appealing climates that have competitive football programs...

like I said if campus aesthetics and climate were the main focus of prep athletes, Cal Pepperdine would dominate...there are only a handful of places that can truly boast about how appealing their location is...

you have to remember, kids are only spending 4 years at a college...and really good ones may only be in town for 3 years...so the scenery isn't what is important...

The focus is recruiting and that we have to fight for every advantage that will sway a major player to ignore our lack of tradition. It's telling that no one jumped on the mention of academics and have latched on to geography, almost to a man/women, as so important.

Maybe it's me but I find that more than a little interesting. But that's just me and I should have been more respectful.

 

[truebluewildcat_rivals34254]

The focus is recruiting and that we have to fight for every advantage that will sway a major player to ignore our lack of tradition. It's telling that no one jumped on the mention of academics and have latched on to geography, almost to a man/women, as so important.

Maybe it's me but I find that more than a little interesting. But that's just me and I should have been more respectful.

no one jumped on academics because Harvard, Yale, and the military academies aren't competing for titles...whether its right or wrong...academics are probably down around climate in terms of importance for most recruits...and i think rankings and status are overrated...the laws of biology are the same in lexington kentucky as they are in Cambridge MA or Columbus Ohio, Austin Texas, Tuscaloosa, and so on...the kids that go to UK learn the same thing for a better price...but I digress, that's another rant for another day...

I get your frustration..."what are we selling"...it's a good question...I wish I knew...I would assume its SEC, playing time, BBN, new facilities, plans for the future...

my main point is that UK isn't a bottom dweller because of academics or climate...Big picture It's more institutional and cultural...

instead of the "15 championships in 15 sports in 15 years"...it should have been "compete in football"...all the Olympic sports have improved...so imagine what would have happened if all the time, energy, effort, fundraising, etc that went into improving essentially every other sport the last 13 years was primarily directed to a football strategy...

smaller picture and right now as it pertains to this staff, it's philosophy, scheme, and strategy...

 

[shutzhund]

no one jumped on academics because Harvard, Yale, and the military academies aren't competing for titles...whether its right or wrong...academics are probably down around climate in terms of importance for most recruits...and i think rankings and status are overrated...the laws of biology are the same in lexington kentucky as they are in Cambridge MA or Columbus Ohio, Austin Texas, Tuscaloosa, and so on...the kids that go to UK learn the same thing for a better price...but I digress, that's another rant for another day...

I get your frustration..."what are we selling"...it's a good question...I wish I knew...I would assume its SEC, playing time, BBN, new facilities, plans for the future...

my main point is that UK isn't a bottom dweller because of academics or climate...Big picture It's more institutional and cultural...

instead of the "15 championships in 15 sports in 15 years"...it should have been "compete in football"...all the Olympic sports have improved...so imagine what would have happened if all the time, energy, effort, fundraising, etc that went into improving essentially every other sport the last 13 years was primarily directed to a football strategy...

smaller picture and right now as it pertains to this staff, it's philosophy, scheme, and strategy...

I agree with most of what you say.

I said in another post that people are over thinking this game. It's simple. Beat the guy across from you and everything will probably be ok. Bama will beat UK not because of strategy and UK will not beat Bama with strategy. UK's long time problem is recruiting and not bad coaches. Curci demonstrated the power of recruiting. When he couldn't get the players then he then became another "bad" UK coach.

So why all these consistent decades of poor recruiting and the myth, with a few exceptions, of bad coaching? My idea is that the surrounds are not attractive enough to overcome the past football hx and that may never change. They're the only unchanging aspects of recruiting in all these years.

Stoops is headed in the right direction and going to non traditional recruiting areas where the SEC and UK name is newer and attractive to the better recruits. In the southern states the SEC is just accepted as a matter of normal life. The four and five stars expect to play in the SEC and, except for that other sport, aren't sure UK is in the SEC.

 

[SanAntonioCat_rivals376502]

I agree with most of what you say.

I said in another post that people are over thinking this game. It's simple. Beat the guy across from you and everything will probably be ok. Bama will beat UK not because of strategy and UK will not beat Bama with strategy. UK's long time problem is recruiting and not bad coaches. Curci demonstrated the power of recruiting. When he couldn't get the players then he then became another "bad" UK coach.

So why all these consistent decades of poor recruiting and the myth, with a few exceptions, of bad coaching? My idea is that the surrounds are not attractive enough to overcome the past football hx and that may never change. They're the only unchanging aspects of recruiting in all these years.

Stoops is headed in the right direction and going to non traditional recruiting areas where the SEC and UK name is newer and attractive to the better recruits. In the southern states the SEC is just accepted as a matter of normal life. The four and five stars expect to play in the SEC and, except for that other sport, aren't sure UK is in the SEC.

This is entirely true. In my opinion, Mark has to take charge and show the leadership he is clearly capable of providing. As fans, alumni, students, donors and friends of the university, we want to see and experience our football team succeed.

Our entire athletic program is among the best in the country in terms of competitive teams, academics and compliance.....except football. As a fan, I want to hear a positive plan to succeed. If coaching adjustments are required, tell us what is needed to help us succeed. We need our coach to tell us what will be done to rally us around the team for future success.

We now have an updated, quality SEC stadium and a state of the art training facility under construction. That facility is second to none in the SEC. We have young, highly talented players and recruiting is the best we've experienced in decades

This is a season where we should be looking at nothing less than 6-6 to 7-5. Instead, there is doubt we can compete with Charlotte. This is insane. But, this is the fragile nature of our fan base. Let us hope Mark steps up and does whatever it takes (within the rules) to lead us down the Glory Road.

 

[ukalum1988]

I agree with most of what you say.

I said in another post that people are over thinking this game. It's simple. Beat the guy across from you and everything will probably be ok. Bama will beat UK not because of strategy and UK will not beat Bama with strategy. UK's long time problem is recruiting and not bad coaches. Curci demonstrated the power of recruiting. When he couldn't get the players then he then became another "bad" UK coach.

So why all these consistent decades of poor recruiting and the myth, with a few exceptions, of bad coaching? My idea is that the surrounds are not attractive enough to overcome the past football hx and that may never change. They're the only unchanging aspects of recruiting in all these years.

Stoops is headed in the right direction and going to non traditional recruiting areas where the SEC and UK name is newer and attractive to the better recruits. In the southern states the SEC is just accepted as a matter of normal life. The four and five stars expect to play in the SEC and, except for that other sport, aren't sure UK is in the SEC.

Finally, I think I'm understanding where you're coming from on this thread. You comment that the "surrounds are not attractive enough ... and that may never change."

As myself and others have stated, Lexington's actual location and the amenities it offers aren't what has prompted elite college FB players to go elsewhere. As far as geography goes, Lexington's (i.e. UK's) main problem is that "we" are not in an area that produces a multitude of local elite talent. The nearest location for such talent is Ohio, where O$U has pretty much locked up the state, and Michigan and other Big 10 schools have taken up most of what's left. And, as you correctly point out, the other SEC states for the most part produce a sufficient level of SEC-Caliber talent to sustain themselves. Stoops has made significant inroads into Ohio recruiting, but we still need to wait another year or two to definitively claim it's making a difference IMO.

As to an explanation of poor recruiting, I just go back to one of my earlier posts on this thread. Until very recently, UK's FB facilities badly lagged most of the other SEC schools, which contributes to a recruit's perception that FB hasn't been a priority. I hate to make this comparison because I love UK basketball almost as much as I love UK football, but historically it is clear that the administration and even a sizable segment of the fan base were OK with the football team being second fiddle. Witness the Joe B Hall Wildcat Lodge and compare that to the Kirwan I dorm where the FB team stayed when I was in school at UK. A succession of ADs whose pedigree and focus was on basketball (Lancaster, Shively, Hagan, and Newton) contributed significantly to both the perception and the facts on the ground in terms of wins/losses etc.

I know Barnhart is another lightning rod for UK fans. He has definitely made serious blunders in his tenure as UK AD. However, at least very recently, he is demonstrating at least an honest effort for UK Football to succeed, an effort I have not seen at UK for the 30 years of my adult life. I only hope that Barnhart is paying attention, and hope that he takes decision action if and when he is convinced Stoops is not succeeding. Just to be clear, I want Stoops to succeed, but the events of this season have left me unconvinced.

Go Big Blue!

 

[bigbluegrog]

I'm considering it myself. But while we're at it did you notice no one objected to the references to the University, high school football, past football hx or weather? Interesting.

BTW no hard feelings although it's hard to hide my outrage about disparaging remarks about Owensboro. So cruel. :boxing:

Shutz - what is your definition of a "great" university. UK has 31K students that I am sure a large portion would disagree with you. They are one of the top public universities in attracting NHS students. They are keeping more of the top students home every year. Child #3 is now at UK and have seen nice improvement being made since I sent my first one there in 2004. Not saying it is Ivy League but you could do a lot worse for sure. I am a firm believer you get out of it what you put into it.

 

[shutzhund]

Shutz - what is your definition of a "great" university. UK has 31K students that I am sure a large portion would disagree with you. They are one of the top public universities in attracting NHS students. They are keeping more of the top students home every year. Child #3 is now at UK and have seen nice improvement being made since I sent my first one there in 2004. Not saying it is Ivy League but you could do a lot worse for sure. I am a firm believer you get out of it what you put into it.

I agree with all you have said. I sent two daughters, rather they chose UK, and I'm flattered to imagine because I graduated there and am such a fan. They went onto advanced degrees at Vandy and South Fla. But my point is that it is not one but many situations that holds UK back vs the other SEC teams. Major of which is past performance. Another is that UK is the most northern of all SEC schools and we try, with varying success, to recruit those southern players. If you don't think that is a problem then think again. Folks in Ga think that UK is on the banks of Lake Michigan. Only a slight exaggeration here.

Here I disagree with a great number of fans. The long line of "bad coaches" is a myth. I used Fran Curci as the best example. Had the players and dominated the SEC. Lost recruiting battles and became another "UK bad coach".

Stoops has gone to another page and is recruiting where the SEC is novel and attractive. Props to him. Geography, academics and weather won't reverse the tide. Thay've been the same for decades.

 

[gojvc]

I agree with all you have said. I sent two daughters, rather they chose UK, and Im flattered to imagine because I graduated there and am such a fan. They went onto advanced degrees at Vandy and South Fla. But my point is that it is not one but many situations that holds UK back vs the other SEC teams. Major of which is past performance. Another is that UK is the most northern of all SEC schools and we try, with varying success, to recruit those southern players. If you don't think that is a problem then think again. Folks in Ga think that UK is on the banks of Lake Michigan. Only a slight exaggeration here.

Here I disagree with a great number of fans. The long line of "bad coaches" is a myth. I used Fran Curci as the best example. Had the players and dominated the SEC. Lost recruiting battles and became another "UK bad coach".

Stoops has gone to another page and is recruiting where the SEC is novel and attractive. Props to him. Geography, academics and weather won't reverse the tide. Thay've been the same for decades.

I've thought for years we would be a better fit in the Big 10 than in the SEC, athletically at least as I know we aren't an AAU member school. There was talk (probably not serious) about a move to the ACC some years ago and we'd be a much better fit there too. But we are where we are and I do believe we can have a solid program here. It's going to be harder here than in one of the schools in the south but, on the other hand, UK historically hasn't put it's best foot forward with the football program so hopefully we're ready now to do that.

 

[ukalum1988]

I've thought for years we would be a better fit in the Big 10 than in the SEC, athletically at least as I know we aren't an AAU member school. There was talk (probably not serious) about a move to the ACC some years ago and we'd be a much better fit there too. But we are where we are and I do believe we can have a solid program here. It's going to be harder here than in one of the schools in the south but, on the other hand, UK historically hasn't put it's best foot forward with the football program so hopefully we're ready now to do that.

I remember reading somewhere years ago, maybe in an issue of The Cats Pause in an article by Oscar Combs, that former UK president Dr. Otis Singletary seriously considered having UK move to the Big 10 back in the late 70s / early 80s timeframe. Not sure if there was ever any truth to that or not. Overall I'm glad we're in the SEC.

 

[gojvc]

I remember reading somewhere years ago, maybe in an issue of The Cats Pause in an article by Oscar Combs, that former UK president Dr. Otis Singletary seriously considered having UK move to the Big 10 back in the late 70s / early 80s timeframe. Not sure if there was ever any truth to that or not. Overall I'm glad we're in the SEC.

I love the SEC. But it is what it is. I'm confident our basketball program would be fine in any league. But being in the SEC hasn't really worked for UK football. Hopefully it can get better going forward as we put more into it. I'm not getting any younger though so I hope the tide starts turning soon.

 

[BIGBLUEQ]

Sorry Burpin but people from Lexington are just a little too sensitive. It's almost as if you said something about their parents. I have nothing against Lexington and if the inhabitants think it's the garden spot of the world then let them.

So go ahead and say something bad about Owensboro and I'll try not to get upset and we'll be even.

Sounds fair to me.

Listen shutz, Lexington may not be paradise, and I'm not from Lexington, but I do live here now. But it is a hell of a lot better town than Starkville, Oxford, Tuscaloosa, and Auburn. If it weren't for the colleges, there would be nothing in those places, zero, zilch, nada.

Now, as far as why we lose at football, you are correct, we are usually behind the 8 ball in recruiting, It's getting better, but we ain't there yet. But we have better players right now than we have had in the past 15 years across the board. We have players who had big time offers vs what we were getting several years ago in guys who had MAC and other mid-major offers.

As far as Owensboro goes, well Moonlight BBQ sucks!

 

[Senore2006]

Listen shutz, Lexington may not be paradise, and I'm not from Lexington, but I do live here now. But it is a hell of a lot better town than Starkville, Oxford, Tuscaloosa, and Auburn. If it weren't for the colleges, there would be nothing in those places, zero, zilch, nada.

Now, as far as why we lose at football, you are correct, we are usually behind the 8 ball in recruiting, It's getting better, but we ain't there yet. But we have better players right now than we have had in the past 15 years across the board. We have players who had big time offers vs what we were getting several years ago in guys who had MAC and other mid-major offers.

As far as Owensboro goes, well Moonlight BBQ sucks!

You obviously missed the Old Hickory. ;-)

 

[OHIO COLONEL]

I've lived in a number of cities/town and to tell you the truth I like Lex the best. Go to a big city and yes you have more bars, clubs, fancy restaurants, high end malls, etc. but you also have traffic, crime, etc. I would love to live in Lex, but it's not to be for now. Always enjoy when I go back.

But the OP, even though he began his OP about Lex, he said in a subsequent post that it was more about talent, why they wouldn't go there, the level of talent in the state, etc. So, let's talk Nebraska shall we? Or, mentioned earlier, how about Boise State? Or Iowa and Iowa State? Or Utah?And the list goes on. I don't know why UK football is always a cluster you-know-what. Everybody has an opinion from a curse from the Bryant days, to not enough money spent, to the administration could care less, to the AD is no good, to the coaches have been terrible, to there's no in-state talent, etc, etc,
Hell, if I had the answer, like in a lot of things, I'd be a multi-millionaire many times over for fixing the problem.

 

[ukalum1988]

Listen shutz, Lexington may not be paradise, and I'm not from Lexington, but I do live here now. But it is a hell of a lot better town than Starkville, Oxford, Tuscaloosa, and Auburn. If it weren't for the colleges, there would be nothing in those places, zero, zilch, nada.

Now, as far as why we lose at football, you are correct, we are usually behind the 8 ball in recruiting, It's getting better, but we ain't there yet. But we have better players right now than we have had in the past 15 years across the board. We have players who had big time offers vs what we were getting several years ago in guys who had MAC and other mid-major offers.

As far as Owensboro goes, well Moonlight BBQ sucks!

I agree 100% with your post, except for your last sentence. Don't be slamming Western KY barbeque! :boxing:[winking]

 

[BigBluePhantom]

I agree 100% with your post, except for your last sentence. Don't be slamming Western KY barbeque! :boxing:[winking]

Moonlite is the name you are familiar with when you think if WKY bar b q. Old Hickory is best I have ever had. It is like judging pizza by what Papa Johns sells. Ask a local, they will tell you.

 

[shutzhund]

I harshly mentioned special education teachers in a post to someone who didn't deserve it. I apologized. However, the ones whose minds came to a skidding halt, when they only saw Lexington, are a special case who might deserve the inference.

Old Hickory is the best.

 

[BoulderCat_rivals187983]

Though I obviously chose to leave Kentucky a very long time ago I have to disagree with your premise. I think Lexington is a very interesting city, and many find it a great place to live. And while UK may not be in the very top tier of universities I believe it's become an outstanding school. I know one thing about it for sure, it did a great deal for me, more than I have time to say, and helped provide me with many opportunities. In the end isn't that why people go to college? To grow intellectually and as a person, and to provide themselves with more and better opportunities. So fail on both those assertions IMO. As a football program UK offer's a player a chance to come to a school where there is a strong fan base, and where they will have to chance to play against the highest levels of competition. Any fan would agree the SEC is one of the best, and many feel the best football conference in America. Combine that with first class facilities, and a beautiful, vibrant campus, and I believe there's plenty to sell.

 

[Dallas-Wild]

I've worked the College and University markets in 5 States for 8 years now.

Texas-OK-Kansas-Arkansas and Louisiana............Been to every Campus, if you think Lexington is

bad you need to get out more and know what you're talking about.

Go to Stillwater, Waco, Lawrence, Manhattan, Fayetteville, Baton Rouge ...I'll take Lexington any day!

UT in Austin I find to be just a cluster, the UK Campus is so much better its not close.

The issue is a desire by the UK administration and it's past failures....looks to be vastly improving in my opinion.

But we've been so far behind it's going to take some time.

 

[Senore2006]

I can tell you this. As a UofL fan originally from Owensboro who has lived in some beautiful districts in the world, I have never had a bad drive through the horse country surrounding Lexington. For my money, it is total eye candy and the sort of natural glamour families love to see when they visit Junior. Frankly, it is so lovely, it could easily be its own destination.

 

[ukalum1988]

[QUOTE="Old Hickory is the best.[/QUOTE]

I'm partial to Peak Brothers in Waverly, never tried Old Hickory, but Moonlite is pretty good too.

 

[shutzhund]

How simple do you have to make a thread? You Lexington responders defy description but you are funny in a sad way.

 

[carolinacat]

Congrats to the OP for one of the most absurdly ridiculous posts in the history of this message board. It's hard to be that tragically inept. Obviously he hasn't been to any other SEC cities....Lexington is cosmopolitan compared to every other SEC town ex maybe Nashville.

 

[GoCatsForever2k15]

Find a single poster on this site that expected us to be in the penthouse of the sec at this point.

You can't. People don't expect that. They just expect to not be the utter grime at the bottom of the basement floor boards for most of our conference season.

If that's expecting too much, fine. I'm an unreasonable fan.

 

[AirRaidFan_rivals164446]

Must be hell to be on a constant suicide watch. Good luck.

 

[shutzhund]

Find a single poster on this site that expected us to be in the penthouse of the sec at this point.

You can't. People don't expect that. They just expect to not be the utter grime at the bottom of the basement floor boards for most of our conference season.

If that's expecting too much, fine. I'm an unreasonable fan.

Well in some unusual back door way I think we agree.

 

[ukdesi]

You could say all those things about East Lansing, Michigan.

Cold weather. Meh city. Mediocre football history. Decent university, but not great.

Yet look at what Mark Dantonio has built there.

 

[shutzhund]

You could say all those things about East Lansing, Michigan.

Cold weather. Meh city. Mediocre football history. Decent university, but not great.

Yet look at what Mark Dantonio has built there.

You got a point and I won't contest it too much. But do you think their high school football had an impact and just for humor's sake they at least had a mediocre football history. However, your point is well made and I was just nit picking.

 

[ukdesi]

You got a point and I won't contest it too much. But do you think their high school football had an impact and just for humor's sake they at least had a mediocre football history. However, your point is well made and I was just nit picking.

They have better high school prospects and also benefited from Michigan being down while they were building.
That said, if you look at their recruiting class rankings while they were building, they were no better than what Stoops is doing now. Now their classes are getting better because of all their success, but they built success on similar classes to what Stoops gets now (as far as rankings).

 

[shutzhund]

All nice points relating to our present position of trying to come out of previous years of poor recruiting. I'm confident that Soops' recruiting efforts will pay off particularly in shifting our attention to the North rather than exclusively the South. The southern recruits have already been combed through by the SEC elite and their is little left but those they didn't think would fit in their rosters.

We have players that would start for nearly all the big conference teams. Just not enough to turn the corner. With some maturing, of our improved recruiting classes, maybe we can emulate Michigan State.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Levibooty]

Cause I've been up and down this highway
Far as my eyes can see
No matter how fast I run
I can never seem to get away from me
No matter where I am
I can't help feeling I'm just a day away
From where I want to be
Now I'm running home baby
Like a river to the sea

Jackson Browne