Interesting question in general. Can he? Sure. Anything can happen. Will he? I'd guess at him having about a 10% chance. He's a good guy and has helped us get some great improvements done, so I hope he can. However, I'm now of a pretty permanent mindset. DC's and OC's who are unproven as HC's should never be hired at a P5 school. Sure it works now and then but they tend to be mediocre to bad more often than not. A successful coordinator works within a proven system controlled by a proven HC most of the time. I just don't think Stoops is a HC, he's a DC. We're trying to force a square peg into a round hole and I think thats pretty obvious at this point. That's my opinion.
Who Here Thinks Mark Stoops Will Turn Things Around?
- Thread starter UKWinsAgainYep
- Start date
As bleak as the beginning to this year is, and as hard as it is to realize that not much has been accomplished in 3+ seasons, I still think he MAY still turn the program around.
There is nothing concrete that leads me to believe that other than more time needed to make changes--really good Kentucky football has almost never existed. We must go back to my senior year (Fall of 1977) to find a team that was close to dominant and securely on the college football map. I'm almost 60, and since I have watched we have been possibly the worst major college program during those 45+ years. That lack of tradition is difficult to change. Even Brooks was on the brink of disaster before having some decent--not ever great--teams.
For some reason, we are the Chicago Cubs of college football--perennial losers. I am interested to see the events that will unfold soon--we'll know soon whether he'll legitimately be able to complete the job. This I absolutely know: It wouldn't be easy for Nick Saban either, or the best coach you know. With our situation and our tradition, or lack thereof, it may require six or seven years to rebuild.
It's going to be tough, but I hope he does it. The losing culture this program is immersed in on daily basis by its very existence in Lexington makes it even harder. When your told how bad you are day after day, year after year it's got to be nearly impossible to overcome.
It has gone on for the better part of 50+ years. The answer is always fire the coach and it gets no better. That should tell folks something.
It has gone on for the better part of 50+ years. The answer is always fire the coach and it gets no better. That should tell folks something.
That's the majority of the problem as I see it....
A lot of the players "act" and "play" like losers......
How do you change that?
Look how Jordan Jones plays compared to some of our players who act defeated.
I do. There is little to no other option.
1) Stoops turns it around
2) We continue to hope and see no improvement for the next 2 years
3) No improvement this year and the administration makes life so horrible, Stoops leaves on his own (cause we aren't paying).
I think the primary issue is the state of KY has very football players. We basically have to build the majority of a roster on out of state kids. That's tough going, when we're competing in states with big time programs also competing.
But as to this point there is something to it. I wouldn't go as far as to say a lot of players act and play like "losers". That's too harsh. They're kids, and they're trying. With our history of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, I can understand how a kid might be a bit more easily discouraged by rough going, but that doesn't make them a loser. You change it by winning ballgames. And yes, that is a catch 22. But that's how it changes. You change the culture.
I will say though, as to this issue, I've always felt that Stoops made a huge error in going overboard with suspensions for big hits in previous years. Think it was Harmon that laid somebody out on a kick return last year or year before nad got suspended. I thought it was a good hit. Then the LSU thing as well. If you're gonna go waaaay overboard in stamping out big hits, you shouldn't be surprised when your players aren't aggressive enough. Never agreed with the way he handled that.
If he can hang on I still think so as the recruiting is still going pretty well. Most people forget the cluster f*** he was left with and he has still only had three years to build up the depth in the classes and little time the first class to add a lot of players. Brooks did not start winning till year 5 and that turned out ok. Not my decision but would be my wish. Waited 63 years, 2 more would not kill me.