Why do some

[willievic]

Why do some posters keep griping about Mitch Barnhart and Coach Stoops. Mitch has upgraded our football facilities, and when he hired Stoops, I never heard any complaints. Especially after the first recruiting class.
Granted, not many of us were satisfied with the last couple of years of football, but with the shape the program was in after Joker left, meaning the talent level, I didn't expect much better. I know Coach Stoops appeared to be behind the game on some of his calls. Being his first Head coaching job, it showed.
There seems to be some discontent with the players, and even worse, was the discontent with Stoops and a couple of coaches. Hopefully that has been rectified.
I would like to see us get behind MB and Coach Stoops for the coming year. I have been watching UofK football for a long time, and I truly believe we are going to surprise a lot of people. For the first time in a long time, I'm excited for the future of UofK football.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[JPFisher]

UK starts winning and the scapegoats flutter away. The one constant the past few years through all the coaches has been Barnhart. Forget that Brooks had quite a bit of success here. Forget that Stoops is trending upward.

UK is not yet a national brand in football, and because of that, Barnhart and the coach he hired are in the firing line. Thank God they have bullet-proof vests.

 

[BlueRaider22]

JP nailed it.

Also, some people are just never happy.

 

[Blue_White_KY]

Barnhart has done a lot of great things. Our Olympic sports are all pretty solid, but that means jack **** when the football program is constantly terrible. Now I'm all in with stoops and believe he will build us to be great. Especially if he stays here for a while.

IF Stoops ends up fired because of wins and losses, the. Bernhart needs to go as well. Like I said, does a lot of good but he is terrible at fund raising and building new facilities when compared to Jurich at UofL. Same state and restrictions but he has built some nice stadiums for UofL sports in a shorter time span and a smaller budget than Barnhart.

 

[MEMEBLUE]

Stoops trending upward? Amazing what 2 months away from a cluster f@ck season does for some people's perspective. This time next year it will be the same ole crap, that's what being a Kentucky football fan is all about! The new hires are just a distraction, hopefully I'm wrong and I can come on here next year and eat crow. However, I tend to believe the odds are in my favor for another losing season next year and we will start the whole charade over one more time.Again that's what being a Kentucky football fan is all about.

 

[Blue_White_KY]

Stoops trending upward? Amazing what 2 months away from a cluster f@ck season does for some people's perspective. This time next year it will be the same ole crap, that's what being a Kentucky football fan is all about! The new hires are just a distraction, hopefully I'm wrong and I can come on here next year and eat crow. However, I tend to believe the odds are in my favor for another losing season next year and we will start the whole charade over one more time.Again that's what being a Kentucky football fan is all about.

It must suck to live your life as doom and gloom. If you find no enjoyment in UK football and/or have lost all hope the either be a BBall only fan or pick another football team to cheer for. Sports are supposed to be about positives so if Uzk football brings you down as much as it seems, do yourself and everyone else a favor and pick another team.

Not saying this to be rude or anything else, I truly get the sense that UK football is a complete downer for you. I understand over the years what you have grown accustomed to.

 

[MEMEBLUE]

Actually what I get tired of are posters like yourself. I've been watching Kentucky football for over 40 years and there have been few positives. Some people simply don't want the truth, if you want to be positive then I don't think Kentucky football is for you. Again, if Kentucky is successful I will gladly come on here and eat crow.

 

[richbrookstomato]

Mitch and Coach Stoops have got to be in the PROVE IT mode for me.

Would love to have something to be happy about. Nearly 40 years since UK Football has even went above .500 in the SEC much less have a shot at a title. That would make ANY fan base keep "griping" until the program gave them something to stop it.

 

[RV]

Why do some posters keep griping about Mitch Barnhart and Coach Stoops. ..

Just because it's their nature to do so. It can be a mental condition and they probably don't realize it or can't help doing it.

 

[gojvc]

Mitch and Coach Stoops have got to be in the PROVE IT mode for me.

Would love to have something to be happy about. Nearly 40 years since UK Football has even went above .500 in the SEC much less have a shot at a title. That would make ANY fan base keep "griping" until the program gave them something to stop it.

You just kinda get this way after so many years. Take the Gran/Hinshaw hires. They seem like really good hires for UK. Then again, so did Elliot Uzelac when he was hired. I've seen a lot of assistant coaches come and go without much ever changing. CMS....just win some damn football games.

 

[Poetax]

Stoops trending upward? Amazing what 2 months away from a cluster f@ck season does for some people's perspective. This time next year it will be the same ole crap, that's what being a Kentucky football fan is all about! The new hires are just a distraction, hopefully I'm wrong and I can come on here next year and eat crow. However, I tend to believe the odds are in my favor for another losing season next year and we will start the whole charade over one more time.Again that's what being a Kentucky football fan is all about.

I don't think anyone on here thinks that Stoops was brilliant in his decision making on the field. First of all we should have expected that from a staff where none were experienced at Head Anythings. A couple of things that I think Stoops didn't realize was 1) how down the talent was on the roster, 2) that he would be playing his freshmen much more then he wanted, 3) and even with all of us liking his recruiting, I still think that he thought he and Marrow would do better. Plus. a big thing in staff is trust, I think Stoops lost some trust in Dawson which led him to be overcome on the sideline with worrying about the players, the coaches, the special teams, the defense, and the offense. I think that's why the bad calls bothered him so bad, he was already stressing with all of the stuff and ranting with the officials only took him further out of the game. But all in all, I think we see Stoops grow this season, be more relaxed, and be really more trustful of the guys under him.

 

[Blue_White_KY]

Actually what I get tired of are posters like yourself. I've been watching Kentucky football for over 40 years and there have been few positives. Some people simply don't want the truth, if you want to be positive then I don't think Kentucky football is for you. Again, if Kentucky is successful I will gladly come on here and eat crow.

I'll stand by my statement. Negative attitudes and expectations will result in negative results. It's my opinion that's it's fans like you who have sat around spewing garbage to anyone who will listen and many like you that continue to keep this program down.

I say again, if you are as deplorable as you seem, get a new hobby because UK football isn't for you.

 

[gojvc]

I'll stand by my statement. Negative attitudes and expectations will result in negative results. It's my opinion that's it's fans like you who have sat around spewing garbage to anyone who will listen and many like you that continue to keep this program down.

I say again, if you are as deplorable as you seem, get a new hobby because UK football isn't for you.

If it wasn't for MEMEBLUE we'd have won The Sugar Bowl. [laughing]

 

[jauk11]

If it wasn't for MEMEBLUE we'd have won The Sugar Bowl. [laughing]

Nope, wouldn't have happened, not even close.

But if not for the wholesale negativity prevalent among a lot of fans on here we might have attracted a few more players that were very close to coming here (Stoops might have even had a bit more talent from the Joker era, although Joker seems to have given up on even offering the best in state talent), I'm sure there were a few cases where it was the straw that broke the camels' back. Seems like the "fire Stoops now" crew has shut up for a while, but no doubt in my mind that they were having a negative effect on recruiting. I don't see how anyone can see it as a positive, or even say they know it had no effect.

But I see the new hires as a big positive for both recruiting and the negativity.

 

[willievic]

Actually what I get tired of are posters like yourself. I've been watching Kentucky football for over 40 years and there have been few positives. Some people simply don't want the truth, if you want to be positive then I don't think Kentucky football is for you. Again, if Kentucky is successful I will gladly come on here and eat crow.

Only 40 years!!!! Try 70, but I don't give up, and I see some positives, recruits, hiring asst. coaches who are proven, upgraded facilities, etc. Do you take salt with your crow?

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[Mr Schwump]

Some people would ***** if you hung them with a new rope don't you know.

 

[willievic]

I don't think anyone on here thinks that Stoops was brilliant in his decision making on the field. First of all we should have expected that from a staff where none were experienced at Head Anythings. A couple of things that I think Stoops didn't realize was 1) how down the talent was on the roster, 2) that he would be playing his freshmen much more then he wanted, 3) and even with all of us liking his recruiting, I still think that he thought he and Marrow would do better. Plus. a big thing in staff is trust, I think Stoops lost some trust in Dawson which led him to be overcome on the sideline with worrying about the players, the coaches, the special teams, the defense, and the offense. I think that's why the bad calls bothered him so bad, he was already stressing with all of the stuff and ranting with the officials only took him further out of the game. But all in all, I think we see Stoops grow this season, be more relaxed, and be really more trustful of the guys under him.

Excellent observation and post Poetax.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[wvcat54]

While CMS may not be the right person, I think he may have the most viable plan in the last 18 years for success. CMS has elevated recruiting, particularly to the north and east. His recent hires have been coaches with some ties to Florida especially South Florida. This is the only way UK is going to improve, GET BETTER PLAYERS. I have never understood why UK seamed to abandon FL after the early 1980s while other northern teams were using FL speed to improve their rosters.

Since 1998 (The last year UK went to a New Years Day Bowl), UK's record against teams currently in Power 5 Conferences is 50 W - 126 L - 0.284. Their SEC record is 36 W - 108 L - 0.250. Their record against Power 5 Conference teams not is the SEC is 14 W - 18 L - 0.438. That is a dismal record. It can't all be coaching, a lot of it has to be the lack of SEC quality players.

At least with CMS's recruiting we may still be 12th or 13th out of 14 but at least we are on the same planet as the other SEC teams. Before CMS most of the time we weren't even in the same solar system.

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

Why do some posters keep griping about Mitch Barnhart and Coach Stoops. Mitch has upgraded our football facilities, and when he hired Stoops, I never heard any complaints. Especially after the first recruiting class.
Granted, not many of us were satisfied with the last couple of years of football, but with the shape the program was in after Joker left, meaning the talent level, I didn't expect much better. I know Coach Stoops appeared to be behind the game on some of his calls. Being his first Head coaching job, it showed.
There seems to be some discontent with the players, and even worse, was the discontent with Stoops and a couple of coaches. Hopefully that has been rectified.
I would like to see us get behind MB and Coach Stoops for the coming year. I have been watching UofK football for a long time, and I truly believe we are going to surprise a lot of people. For the first time in a long time, I'm excited for the future of UofK football.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

WKU and UL have better football coaches than the main state school, the University of Kentucky.

Any more questions?

Until that changes, Mitch is an utter failure.

 

[JPFisher]

WKU and UL have better football coaches than the main state school, the University of Kentucky.

Any more questions?

Until that changes, Mitch is an utter failure.

My God, I really hope that's not how you get judged at your job. You have 50 little jobs to do and if someone you hired to do one of those takes a little longer than anticipated to get the historically **** project off the ground, then you fail.

Personnel matters. Experience matters. Conference affiliation matters.

 

[law1127]

Financially UK cannot afford anything now,but a competitive football program ! That's why you will see more emphasis than in the past. One thing from close in observers,is that Stoops needs to exert more overall team discipline . The 2014 class and others need to be coached and disciplined hard ,to get the results we all want! Only been watching since 1953!

 

[Shavers48]

I'll stand by my statement. Negative attitudes and expectations will result in negative results. It's my opinion that's it's fans like you who have sat around spewing garbage to anyone who will listen and many like you that continue to keep this program down.

I say again, if you are as deplorable as you seem, get a new hobby because UK football isn't for you.

i agree. if we'd all just say how grand things are it will be so.

 

[jauk11]

WKU and UL have better football coaches than the main state school, the University of Kentucky.

Any more questions?

Until that changes, Mitch is an utter failure.

While I think mitch deserves very little praise about UK football I don't think the jury in in yet on Stoops and his Troops------that probably just got a huge upgrade.

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

While I think mitch deserves very little praise about UK football I don't think the jury in in yet on Stoops and his Troops------that probably just got a huge upgrade.

I certainly hope you are right, but of course the on-field results are troubling.

Losing to WKU, and UL twice in a row, and barely beating EKU in OT is not a good state of affairs to say the least. If we can't even dominate our state, how can we compete in the SEC? This is just common sense and needs to be faced squarely.

Again, I REALLY hope you are right and this is going to change because I've been suffering for over 30 years as a UK football fan with this crap and I'm tired of the excuses as to why we can't even be the best in our own state against smaller schools.

 

[jc2010]

While I think mitch deserves very little praise about UK football I don't think the jury in in yet on Stoops and his Troops------that probably just got a huge upgrade.

Haven't seen anything to give me confidence in Stoops but we've bought him for the next couple of years so I hope he gets it done.

 

[billoliver40]

It seems to me that MB has done more for the total athletics department than anyone before.

 

[SanAntonioCat_rivals376502]

UK starts winning and the scapegoats flutter away. The one constant the past few years through all the coaches has been Barnhart. Forget that Brooks had quite a bit of success here. Forget that Stoops is trending upward.

UK is not yet a national brand in football, and because of that, Barnhart and the coach he hired are in the firing line. Thank God they have bullet-proof vests.

In today's instant gratification world bullet proof psyches and vests are part of the job description.

 

[rye48]

Nope, wouldn't have happened, not even close.

But if not for the wholesale negativity prevalent among a lot of fans on here we might have attracted a few more players that were very close to coming here (Stoops might have even had a bit more talent from the Joker era, although Joker seems to have given up on even offering the best in state talent), I'm sure there were a few cases where it was the straw that broke the camels' back. Seems like the "fire Stoops now" crew has shut up for a while, but no doubt in my mind that they were having a negative effect on recruiting. I don't see how anyone can see it as a positive, or even say they know it had no effect.

But I see the new hires as a big positive for both recruiting and the negativity.

And we would still have Joker !!

 

[Shavers48]

UK starts winning and the scapegoats flutter away. The one constant the past few years through all the coaches has been Barnhart. Forget that Brooks had quite a bit of success here. Forget that Stoops is trending upward.

UK is not yet a national brand in football, and because of that, Barnhart and the coach he hired are in the firing line. Thank God they have bullet-proof vests.

i thought Brooks left because they wouldn't spend any money on the program. doing nothing for a decade then playing catchup with the spending because ticket sales tanked doesn't seem like something too commendable on Barney's part.

 

[Beatle Bum]

Voicing temporal disappointment is understandable. Losses suck and bad seasons suck more, so that sort of complaining is natural and is not what I believe the OP is referencing. Everyone gets mad occasionally about their program. But, there are three groups that constantly complain.

(1) some are pretenders stirring the pot
(2) some people really like to *****, they get satisfaction from complaining even though we all experience the losses together, they are compelled to get that satisfaction - is is what they do well and endorphin is released from the negativeness.
(3) some people think using their voice to complain somehow actually helps the program

We can ignore #1 and #2. UK basketball does better than any program in the country and these two groups still show up on the basketball board. Some of these people will surely disappear during the good times, but not all.

#3 is the problem, because they think they induce change through their constant moaning. When Stoops was hired, they likely took credit. They are a delusional crew on a mission. They are the people who flood news comments pages with debate and contention. They just do not know how useless their griping truly is.

 

[Beatle Bum]

Actually what I get tired of are posters like yourself. I've been watching Kentucky football for over 40 years and there have been few positives. Some people simply don't want the truth, if you want to be positive then I don't think Kentucky football is for you. Again, if Kentucky is successful I will gladly come on here and eat crow.

I love the poster who feels their bitching is somehow relevant or important because they have been doing it for 40 years.

Can we see the fiction in that contention? Lol

 

[Beatle Bum]

It seems to me that MB has done more for the total athletics department than anyone before.

That would be an easy case to make.

 

[JPFisher]

I wouldn't say that their griping is always useless. The boycott of Joker ball forced Barnhart's hand. Good guy griper.

Their griping is useless when we have a new coach building from the ground up including redshirts, talent, recruiting, mindset, and staff. Calling for the job to go to someone else more proven? Sorry to say, UK isn't a destination program for coaches. Stoops is incredibly passionate about the program and is doing everything necessary to bring it up: recruiting, dedicated and talented staff, and new unis/facilities. Why would anyone bring in another coach who will do the exact same thing just to turn the program over again?

 

[Beatle Bum]

Message board griping had very little to do with Joker. First, this idea that Barnhart is an idiot who does not care about football is perpetuated by idiots. Second, Barnhart saw that the wheels were coming off and that year 3 was not going to be better and that $$$ was going to take a hit.

But, I do agree that when the reasonable fan complains, it resonates more than what you will read on this board this week.

 

[bthaunert]

Barnhart has done a lot of great things. Our Olympic sports are all pretty solid, but that means jack **** when the football program is constantly terrible. Now I'm all in with stoops and believe he will build us to be great. Especially if he stays here for a while.

IF Stoops ends up fired because of wins and losses, the. Bernhart needs to go as well. Like I said, does a lot of good but he is terrible at fund raising and building new facilities when compared to Jurich at UofL. Same state and restrictions but he has built some nice stadiums for UofL sports in a shorter time span and a smaller budget than Barnhart.

I would disagree that he is terrible and facility upgrades (even compared to Jurich at UofL. Since Mitch has been the AD, here is what he has done:

Major football stadium renovation ($110 million)
New football practice facility ($45 million)
Joe Craft Center ($30 million)
Joe B Hall Wildcat Lodge ($8 million)
Soccer Complex ($7.7 million)
Softball Stadium ($9.5 million)
Baseball Facility Expansion coming soon ($32 million)
New Track complex ($13 million)

That's $255 million over the past 8 years or so.

 

[rmattox]

I would disagree that he is terrible and facility upgrades (even compared to Jurich at UofL. Since Mitch has been the AD, here is what he has done:

Major football stadium renovation ($110 million)
New football practice facility ($45 million)
Joe Craft Center ($30 million)
Joe B Hall Wildcat Lodge ($8 million)
Soccer Complex ($7.7 million)
Softball Stadium ($9.5 million)
Baseball Facility Expansion coming soon ($32 million)
New Track complex ($13 million)

That's $255 million over the past 8 years or so.

If mb had not done any of the above; had the minor sports all floundered but Football had had a high level of success, would people be complaining? Would he still have his job?

 

[jauk11]

I would disagree that he is terrible and facility upgrades (even compared to Jurich at UofL. Since Mitch has been the AD, here is what he has done:

Major football stadium renovation ($110 million)
New football practice facility ($45 million)
Joe Craft Center ($30 million)
Joe B Hall Wildcat Lodge ($8 million)
Soccer Complex ($7.7 million)
Softball Stadium ($9.5 million)
Baseball Facility Expansion coming soon ($32 million)
New Track complex ($13 million)

That's $255 million over the past 8 years or so.

And how many of those football projects were done before he had to------and believe me, he had to. Also the practice facility has been done with contributions AFTER he finally did something for football, AND what else would he have done with all the gobs of money from new contracts------MOST of it because football is now the money cow------and HAS been for quite a while, recognized by other ADs MUCH sooner.

Then, once again, he borrowed a lot more money than CW cost and obligated the athletic department to repay it.

And by the way, mention ONE thing the basketball program is lacking, his unworkable plan to borrow half a billion with 80% of it going to a new BB arena when the present one leads the nation in attendance was all about squeezing more money out of it, not improving recruiting. They already spend as much on Midnight Madness as they did on football recruiting in both Brooks and Joker's era, not sure where it is now..

 

[Beatle Bum]

Give the Barhart hate a rest. There is nothing more juvenile than watching people try to make a case against Mitch.

 

[bthaunert]

And how many of those football projects were done before he had to------and believe me, he had to. Also the practice facility has been done with contributions AFTER he finally did something for football, AND what else would he have done with all the gobs of money from new contracts------MOST of it because football is now the money cow------and HAS been for quite a while, recognized by other ADs MUCH sooner.

Then, once again, he borrowed a lot more money than CW cost and obligated the athletic department to repay it.

And by the way, mention ONE thing the basketball program is lacking, his unworkable plan to borrow half a billion with 80% of it going to a new BB arena when the present one leads the nation in attendance was all about squeezing more money out of it, not improving recruiting. They already spend as much on Midnight Madness as they did on football recruiting in both Brooks and Joker's era, not sure where it is now..

I agree that the football upgrades were overdue, but again, he has put $255 million in major upgrades (not including smaller upgrades) into the athletic facilities.

I also have no problem with borrowing more money to put some major cash towards an academic building. It's genius by the University. Use that cash cow to better the entire campus and not just the athletic department. I applaud the agreement between the academic and athletic side of the University.

 

[Kats23]

Barnhart has largely ignored the sport until recently. Even with the success Brooks had at UK, he never had the opportunities that Stoops has been awarded since arriving here. Most of that is largely due to the TV contract that the SEC cut with ESPN. Before the SEC network, the middle of the pack SEC teams didn't receive a whole lot more in television revenue than the bottom feeders. With every SEC game virtually being guaranteed to being broadcast on a network channel, you want to get to be middle of the pack because the revenue is much greater for those teams. That's why you have the AD hate. That, and that contract that has somewhat hamstringed UK.

I want Stoops to succeed. I want these hires to work out. But you can't wish it to happen. Realistically, you can't look at the program and feel good about next year. Not until some results are seen on the field.