Why is 6-6 something UK football fans "strive" for.

[JohnDoe090]

I have seen some recent posts about how people are now thinking Kentucky can win 6 games this season after the 2-2 start. While this is highly unlikely in my eyes (I see 3 wins tops and no guarantees vs Vandy, Miss St. and Austin Peay) why is a 6-6 season in year 4 of coaching acceptable?

I understand that we haven't been to a bowl in 6 years and I understand the SEC is tough, but if Mizzou, freaking Mizzou, can win the SEC East back to back years (albeit a down East) why can't Kentucky find the right coach to do the same?

I mean how big of losers are we just yearning for 6 wins and Jo-Shmo-Bowl game? It's embarrassing. Until Kentucky fans say hey 8 wins is what we expect we are going to keep getting these loser coaches that fail to even get us to bowl games.

There is one way this culture can change. We offer Les Miles as much money as Nick Saban makes (because that is the only way he would risk ruining his career) and then we become serious players in the SEC.

4 years ago I was crying for a Petrino hire and we swung and missed on that one, or didn't even step up to the plate. Stoops needs to go, at best he leads us to mediocrity forever.

 

[LeonThe Camel]

I am still hoping for at least 5 wins and a high APR. That gets us in a bowl.
It has to start somewhere. No one is hoping for a 6-6 team forever. We just need to start somewhere.

 

[sambowieshin_rivals]

6-6 looks mighty tall to us football ants.

 

[ThePhoenix_rivals211191]

Why are you assuming that someone talking about how they can still win 6 and go to a bowl means that person accepts that as great and it's all they want?

 

[TuckyFB]

6-6 is a realistic want.

I want us to go 14-0 and win the championship but that's not realistic.

 

[BoNicholas]

Gotta go 6-6before 8-4. 6-6 and a bowl shows progression and won't shut down recruiting.

 

[richbrookstomato]

I agree with your post.

However, you have got to crawl before you walk, walk before you run. That's why the 6 win threshold is used by fans as a barometer for the BEGINNING of success. It's not the ultimate goal but the starting point for something bigger. UK fans are STARVED for football success!!

Why Les Miles? He couldn't win big with top 5 recruiting classes. How many of those do you think he could reel in at UK? It would be Bill Curry all over again.

Petrino has proven he can do more with less. Miles is just the opposite.

We need a coach that can see the potential in underrated recruits and get the very most out of that potential. We need a Bill Snyder or Gary Pinkel.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

I have seen some recent posts about how people are now thinking Kentucky can win 6 games this season after the 2-2 start. While this is highly unlikely in my eyes (I see 3 wins tops and no guarantees vs Vandy, Miss St. and Austin Peay) why is a 6-6 season in year 4 of coaching acceptable?

I understand that we haven't been to a bowl in 6 years and I understand the SEC is tough, but if Mizzou, freaking Mizzou, can win the SEC East back to back years (albeit a down East) why can't Kentucky find the right coach to do the same?

I mean how big of losers are we just yearning for 6 wins and Jo-Shmo-Bowl game? It's embarrassing. Until Kentucky fans say hey 8 wins is what we expect we are going to keep getting these loser coaches that fail to even get us to bowl games.

There is one way this culture can change. We offer Les Miles as much money as Nick Saban makes (because that is the only way he would risk ruining his career) and then we become serious players in the SEC.

4 years ago I was crying for a Petrino hire and we swung and missed on that one, or didn't even step up to the plate. Stoops needs to go, at best he leads us to mediocrity forever.

We don't yearn for 6-6, but you just said you expect 3-9, therefore I have to assume you'd be mighty impressed if we go 6-6. So, why are you so impressed if we go 6-6?

 

[tuck66]

I have seen some recent posts about how people are now thinking Kentucky can win 6 games this season after the 2-2 start. While this is highly unlikely in my eyes (I see 3 wins tops and no guarantees vs Vandy, Miss St. and Austin Peay) why is a 6-6 season in year 4 of coaching acceptable?

I understand that we haven't been to a bowl in 6 years and I understand the SEC is tough, but if Mizzou, freaking Mizzou, can win the SEC East back to back years (albeit a down East) why can't Kentucky find the right coach to do the same?

I mean how big of losers are we just yearning for 6 wins and Jo-Shmo-Bowl game? It's embarrassing. Until Kentucky fans say hey 8 wins is what we expect we are going to keep getting these loser coaches that fail to even get us to bowl games.

There is one way this culture can change. We offer Les Miles as much money as Nick Saban makes (because that is the only way he would risk ruining his career) and then we become serious players in the SEC.

4 years ago I was crying for a Petrino hire and we swung and missed on that one, or didn't even step up to the plate. Stoops needs to go, at best he leads us to mediocrity forever.

I believe Miles may retire....his time has passed.

 

[olblue]

I believe Miles may retire....

Not going to happen. Baylor looks like a nice fit.

 

[JohnDoe090]

We don't yearn for 6-6, but you just said you expect 3-9, therefore I have to assume you'd be mighty impressed if we go 6-6. So, why are you so impressed if we go 6-6?

I expect 3-9 knowing how bad this team is lol, not that it is my expectation for the program which is completely unrelated.

 

[Fresh Start]

I have seen some recent posts about how people are now thinking Kentucky can win 6 games this season after the 2-2 start. While this is highly unlikely in my eyes (I see 3 wins tops and no guarantees vs Vandy, Miss St. and Austin Peay) why is a 6-6 season in year 4 of coaching acceptable?

I understand that we haven't been to a bowl in 6 years and I understand the SEC is tough, but if Mizzou, freaking Mizzou, can win the SEC East back to back years (albeit a down East) why can't Kentucky find the right coach to do the same?

I mean how big of losers are we just yearning for 6 wins and Jo-Shmo-Bowl game? It's embarrassing. Until Kentucky fans say hey 8 wins is what we expect we are going to keep getting these loser coaches that fail to even get us to bowl games.

There is one way this culture can change. We offer Les Miles as much money as Nick Saban makes (because that is the only way he would risk ruining his career) and then we become serious players in the SEC.

4 years ago I was crying for a Petrino hire and we swung and missed on that one, or didn't even step up to the plate. Stoops needs to go, at best he leads us to mediocrity forever.

Mediocrity forever would be an improvement

 

[tuck66]

Not going to happen. Baylor looks like a nice fit.

Yeah, maybe.....I don't see him at his age packing up and heading across the country though. Baylor is in his vicinity though.....

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

I expect 3-9 knowing how bad this team is lol, not that it is my expectation for the program which is completely unrelated.

So, again, I'll ask the ask same question.

 

[tuck66]

I expect 3-9 knowing how bad this team is lol, not that it is my expectation for the program which is completely unrelated.

I believe the D under Stoops and House will progress quickly.....look what they did in a week. SC has a veteran OL, not a great OL but better than alot, UK still wore them out!

 

[PushupMan]

6-6 isn't the goal. The goal is to build a great, winning football program at UK. At Louisville, Schnellenberger went 2-9, 3-8, and 3-7-1 in his first three years. He then started year four at 0-2, including a 44-9 blowout loss at home to Wyoming. He eventually turned it around that year, by going 8-3. One of his three losses was to Southern Miss, by the way....

If UofL had used your timeframe for hiring and firing coaches, none of what followed at UofL - not the Fiesta Bowl or Liberty Bowl, nor Papa John's Cardinal Stadium - would have ever happened.

 

[shutzhund]

I have seen some recent posts about how people are now thinking Kentucky can win 6 games this season after the 2-2 start. While this is highly unlikely in my eyes (I see 3 wins tops and no guarantees vs Vandy, Miss St. and Austin Peay) why is a 6-6 season in year 4 of coaching acceptable?

I understand that we haven't been to a bowl in 6 years and I understand the SEC is tough, but if Mizzou, freaking Mizzou, can win the SEC East back to back years (albeit a down East) why can't Kentucky find the right coach to do the same?

I mean how big of losers are we just yearning for 6 wins and Jo-Shmo-Bowl game? It's embarrassing. Until Kentucky fans say hey 8 wins is what we expect we are going to keep getting these loser coaches that fail to even get us to bowl games.

There is one way this culture can change. We offer Les Miles as much money as Nick Saban makes (because that is the only way he would risk ruining his career) and then we become serious players in the SEC.

4 years ago I was crying for a Petrino hire and we swung and missed on that one, or didn't even step up to the plate. Stoops needs to go, at best he leads us to mediocrity forever.

All together now lets shout 10 wins is what we expect. What happened? Did someone forget to shout?

 

[jte123]

These poll results are asinine. Some people have said no way they would want Les Miles. Yes he does need to adjust his offense but anyone that would not vote for him is insane he has won a national title and an SEC title. Has UK even had a coach that has won the SEC much less a title in what 50 years? I realize this is just a poll but come on people. No way he would come here but if someone like that is out there, you make that call ASAP.

 

[How Blue Can You Get?]

I have seen some recent posts about how people are now thinking Kentucky can win 6 games this season after the 2-2 start. While this is highly unlikely in my eyes (I see 3 wins tops and no guarantees vs Vandy, Miss St. and Austin Peay) why is a 6-6 season in year 4 of coaching acceptable?

I understand that we haven't been to a bowl in 6 years and I understand the SEC is tough, but if Mizzou, freaking Mizzou, can win the SEC East back to back years (albeit a down East) why can't Kentucky find the right coach to do the same?

I mean how big of losers are we just yearning for 6 wins and Jo-Shmo-Bowl game? It's embarrassing. Until Kentucky fans say hey 8 wins is what we expect we are going to keep getting these loser coaches that fail to even get us to bowl games.

There is one way this culture can change. We offer Les Miles as much money as Nick Saban makes (because that is the only way he would risk ruining his career) and then we become serious players in the SEC.

4 years ago I was crying for a Petrino hire and we swung and missed on that one, or didn't even step up to the plate. Stoops needs to go, at best he leads us to mediocrity forever.

The fault in your logic is that Miles couldn't do it at LSU with all the talent in the world, so why in God's green earth do you think he could at UK? Les would be Bill Curry #2 in the making at UK.

 

[fuzz77]

These poll results are asinine. Some people have said no way they would want Les Miles. Yes he does need to adjust his offense but anyone that would not vote for him is insane he has won a national title and an SEC title. Has UK even had a coach that has won the SEC much less a title in what 50 years? I realize this is just a poll but come on people. No way he would come here but if someone like that is out there, you make that call ASAP.

Yes they have. Bill Curry. Won the SEC the season before he came to UK. How did that turn out?

 

[dgtatu01]

If we go 6-6 this year, then we should definitely give Stoops another year. It would mean we have a QB in Johnson and our defense improved significantly. This doesn't mean it is what we are striving for, but it's close and it's in the right direction. No reason to pay a ton of money to start all over at 6-6. Les Miles with our recruiting base certainly wouldn't be worth that.

 

[dallasg23]

Because 6-6 or 7-6 is showing improvement. And comes with hardware to show better recruits. 7-6 turns into 8-5. 8-5 can turn into 10-3 etc etc. Post season play is big for college football recruiting. 6 wins gives us something to talk about. 6 wins gives us glimmer of hope. That's what the brooks era gave us. Hope. 6 wins and a competitive team that other SEC teams think "damn Kentucky isn't trash anymore and could quite possibly beat our ***."

 

[BoNicholas]

Besides is the argument if we don't go 8-4 we should fire Stoops? That's silly. I don't think we win 6 but if they do you can't fire him. Though Bumblehart will probably extend him if he goes 6-6:

 

[jnewc2_rivals30628]

Low expectations. It's a deeply engrained mindset around here and it's toxic to the players and coaches who see those low expectations and adjust their own accordingly. Low expectations from our fanbase and administration are one of the biggest reasons we've been where we're at historically

 

[BoNicholas]

Low expectations. It's a deeply engrained mindset around here and it's toxic to the players and coaches who see those low expectations and adjust their own accordingly. Low expectations from our fanbase and administration are one of the biggest reasons we've been where we're at historically

I agree if he goes 6-6 for the next four years with no sign of significant steps in recruiting. However if he goes 6-6, 7-5, 8-4, 6-6 and recruiting is improving that's huge progress. My point being, if he goes 6-6 he earns another year.

 

[jnewc2_rivals30628]

I agree if he goes 6-6 for the next four years with no sign of significant steps in recruiting. However if he goes 6-6, 7-5, 8-4, 6-6 and recruiting is improving that's huge progress. My point being, if he goes 6-6 he earns another year.

I would be completely fine with those win-loss totals, but I'm just talking about expectations more than the actual record. I would rather us shoot to actually be an upper level competitive SEC team and fall short and land at 6-6, than shoot for 6-6 as our ultimate goal. You're usually not going to hit your goal so when you have these mediocre expectations of a 6-6 record as our ultimate goal you're likely going to end up with 4 or 5 wins like we've gotten

 

[docholiday51]

Low fan expectations aren't the problem,taking football seriously is the issue.there is player turnover every year,players don't show up with "well I'm at Kentucky so now I can lower my expectations" Do you think Woodyard,Tamme ,Cobb or Danny T showed up with that mindset.

Coaches and players need to care about attention to detail,know your job,do your job and hold others accountable for doing their's.Saban sure as hell does.

From where we are now we have to get to 6-6,that isn't a goal it is a step in the process,it amazes me that some here want to act like they don't get that just so they can vent about Stoops. We went 5-7 for two years,yes it should have been 6-6 but the Vandy game did us in last year.The Sou. Miss game will probably do the same this year. Stoops may not be the guy that can build anything at UK but I dislike the thought of going back to 2-10 or 3-9 to start over. Four wins probably buys him another year,five wins surely does.If we win less than that then he should be gone no if's and's or but's

If we were 3-1 right now these conversations wouldn't be happening ....yet. Folks we know where we are,we know we want to get to a better place in football and we know it is a process to get there don't act like there is someone out there with a magic wand who can wave it and get us there overnight.

 

[Los Gatos]

I am still hoping for at least 5 wins and a high APR. That gets us in a bowl.
It has to start somewhere. No one is hoping for a 6-6 team forever. We just need to start somewhere.

The APR is something like a four year trailing average. IE, there is basically nothing you can do now to change it for this year's bowl calculation. Our APR wasn't even close last year, very unlikely it will be this year either.

 

[The_Oak]

Les Miles would be a complete disaster here.

 

[Blue Wildcat]

I am still hoping for at least 5 wins and a high APR. That gets us in a bowl.
It has to start somewhere. No one is hoping for a 6-6 team forever. We just need to start somewhere.

Coach certainly hopes for a 5-7 with a high APR or a 6-6 season. Unfortunately for us and him, hope is not a strategy for success.

 

[BlueRaider22]

Because 6-6 or 7-6 is showing improvement. And comes with hardware to show better recruits. 7-6 turns into 8-5. 8-5 can turn into 10-3 etc etc. Post season play is big for college football recruiting. 6 wins gives us something to talk about. 6 wins gives us glimmer of hope. That's what the brooks era gave us. Hope. 6 wins and a competitive team that other SEC teams think "damn Kentucky isn't trash anymore and could quite possibly beat our ***."

Agreed. UK has averaged 4 wins a yr since Bear left. In any program build you want to set short-term and long-term goals. There is not a UK fan alive that would take a 6 win season over a 9. But right now you focus on the short-term goals. If you can't achieve them then it doesn't matter what the long-term goals are.

 

[why_not_kentucky]

Because most of the sheep on this board are basketball only fans and football is just something to get them by till basketball season.

 

[howercat]

baby steps.

 

[buster3.0]

The problem for UK is that minimum bowl game eligibility is never a first step to achieve bigger things. There are no baby steps. There is no process. Look throughout their history. Every time UK takes one step forward they then take two steps back. This has been the trend going back many coaches and ADs. For example:

Curci takes the Cats to the pinnacle in 1977. A 10-1 record and a very high national ranking. Who would of thought? Of course that great season is to be followed up by 5 straight losing seasons, including one winless season.

Claiborne takes the Cats to two straight bowl appearances in the mid-80s, only to follow it up with 4 losing seasons.

Curry takes the Cats to the Peach Bowl in 1993. We all know what followed. 3 straight disasterous seasons, highlighted by the 1994 1-10 masterpiece.

Mumme comes in, brings a little excitement and leads the Cats to two straight bowl appearances. That ultimately lead to the horrible 2-9 season in 2000 that led to his firing.

Morris has a nice season in 2002, achieving a 7-5 record. Then he bolts to Baylor, which I guess is a step up from UK. Brooks comes in and UK is back to the bottom the SEC heap.

After a few ugly seasons Brooks leads UK to three straight bowl seasons. Joker takes over and continues the bowl trend for one more year.

We all know what happened next after 2010. Rinse and repeat. Rinse and repeat. UK football just can't get out of its own way.

 

[UKUGA]

When we were winning 6-7 games a year, we were striving for 8-10 wins, hoping to compete for an SEC title.

We've fallen below that. So, 6 wins is viewed as an incremental step in the way toward competing for an elusive SEC crown.

 

[CatsCats78]

The problem for UK is that minimum bowl game eligibility is never a first step to achieve bigger things. There are no baby steps. There is no process. Look throughout their history. Every time UK takes one step forward they then take two steps back. This has been the trend going back many coaches and ADs. For example:

Curci takes the Cats to the pinnacle in 1977. A 10-1 record and a very high national ranking. Who would of thought? Of course that great season is to be followed up by 5 straight losing seasons. Including one winless season.

Claiborne takes the Cats to two straight bowl appearances in the mid-80s, only to follow it up with 4 losing seasons.

Curry takes the Cats to the Peach Bowl in 1993. We all know what followed. 3 straight disasterous seasons, highlighted by the 1994 1-10 masterpiece.

Mumme comes in, brings a little excitement and leads the Cats to two straight bowl appearances. That ultimately lead to the horrible 2-9 season in 2000 that led to his firing.

Morris has a nice season in 2002, achieving a 7-5 record. Then he bolts to Baylor, which I guess is a step up from UK. Brooks comes in and UK is back to the bottom the SEC heap.

After a few ugly seasons Brooks leads UK to three straight bowl seasons. Joker takes over and continues the bowl trend for one more year.

We all know what happened next after 2010. Rinse and repeat. Rinse and repeat. UK football just can't get out of its own way.

Excellent, excellent post, Sir.

 

[docholiday51]

The problem for UK is that minimum bowl game eligibility is never a first step to achieve bigger things. There are no baby steps. There is no process. Look throughout their history. Every time UK takes one step forward they then take two steps back. This has been the trend going back many coaches and ADs. For example:

Curci takes the Cats to the pinnacle in 1977. A 10-1 record and a very high national ranking. Who would of thought? Of course that great season is to be followed up by 5 straight losing seasons, including one winless season.

Claiborne takes the Cats to two straight bowl appearances in the mid-80s, only to follow it up with 4 losing seasons.

Curry takes the Cats to the Peach Bowl in 1993. We all know what followed. 3 straight disasterous seasons, highlighted by the 1994 1-10 masterpiece.

Mumme comes in, brings a little excitement and leads the Cats to two straight bowl appearances. That ultimately lead to the horrible 2-9 season in 2000 that led to his firing.

Morris has a nice season in 2002, achieving a 7-5 record. Then he bolts to Baylor, which I guess is a step up from UK. Brooks comes in and UK is back to the bottom the SEC heap.

After a few ugly seasons Brooks leads UK to three straight bowl seasons. Joker takes over and continues the bowl trend for one more year.

We all know what happened next after 2010. Rinse and repeat. Rinse and repeat. UK football just can't get out of its own way.

Curci's team was 8-4 the year before and went to a bowl because he had the choice of going then or the next year,he took the bowl in hand.As to the losing seasons that followed NCAA violations saw to that.

 

[buster3.0]

Curci's team was 8-4 the year before and went to a bowl because he had the choice of going then or the next year,he took the bowl in hand.As to the losing seasons that followed NCAA violations saw to that.

Exactly. Every positive thing that ever happens is always followed by something negative. Overall, there were more negatives in the history of the program than positives. Whether it be NCAA trouble that caused it or bad coaching hires or lack of recruiting or AD support. UK can never maintain momentum.

 

[shutzhund]

All together now lets shout 10 wins is what we expect. What happened? Did someone forget to shout?

I have seen some recent posts about how people are now thinking Kentucky can win 6 games this season after the 2-2 start. While this is highly unlikely in my eyes (I see 3 wins tops and no guarantees vs Vandy, Miss St. and Austin Peay) why is a 6-6 season in year 4 of coaching acceptable?

I understand that we haven't been to a bowl in 6 years and I understand the SEC is tough, but if Mizzou, freaking Mizzou, can win the SEC East back to back years (albeit a down East) why can't Kentucky find the right coach to do the same?

I mean how big of losers are we just yearning for 6 wins and Jo-Shmo-Bowl game? It's embarrassing. Until Kentucky fans say hey 8 wins is what we expect we are going to keep getting these loser coaches that fail to even get us to bowl games.

There is one way this culture can change. We offer Les Miles as much money as Nick Saban makes (because that is the only way he would risk ruining his career) and then we become serious players in the SEC.

4 years ago I was crying for a Petrino hire and we swung and missed on that one, or didn't even step up to the plate. Stoops needs to go, at best he leads us to mediocrity forever.

To answer your question 6-6 is the first step towards respectability after having been down for so long. The rest of your post was just internet crap.

 

[reflaine]

And to carry on. Better players tend to recruit to a 6-6 bowl team than a 2-10 team (this is what our jr and sr commited too). The whole adage of walk before you can run is exactly why we want improvement. 6-6 gets us some improvement and should allow staff to put the negative rumors of hot seat talk, while showing progress (we are better now than when stoops took over) on the field.

This team talent wise is heads and shoulders above the first Mark stoops team (they sposed be sec commit was very true). The young talent especially with the defense will get better every week. Think we started to see that alittle bit last week. Most of these players last time getting minutes was against high schoolers who they out talented on god given ability. You can not do that in NCAA football. It takes a bit of an adjustment. We start 7 sophomores and two first year juco said there.

We were so short handed on talent needed to compete we had to bring in way more juco players than normal to be competive last two years. The. Attrition on the front seven has killed the progress. But next year for first time in as long as I can remember both offense and defense should have plenty of experience. Usually it's one or the other.