Would all be forgiven...

[FanofUK]

If we beat Louisville? 7 win season close game with Georgia with 4 sec wins and knocking the cards out of the playoff for good. If you told me that at the start I would take it all day.

Sure it is more likely they run us out of the stadium but I know for a fact they cannot stop our run game. No way their D is better than an sec defense. We will score at will and maybe win the turnover battle who knows. But back to my original question would you guys be satisfied then with our season? and please if you are gonna answer not gonna happen they will hang 60 on us blah blah -- that is not my question. I am asking IF we beat them would it be considered a successful season?

 

[LeonThe Camel]

Yes

 

[DaBossIsBack]

Some people will never be pleased until we go undefeated and win a national championship. And even then they would complain because we didn't win 15 games. Most are just trolls. Others are just worthless garbage that suck at life.

 

[reflaine]

No some will say Louisville isn't very good cause they play a weak schedule. That an sec team should beat them blah blah blah

 

[OHIO COLONEL]

Any responsible UK fan would say 'yes' in a heartbeat. A W against UL and a W in a bowl would be a success no matter who we beat or how 'down' the SEC East is/was.

 

[akaukswoosh]

If we beat Louisville? 7 win season close game with Georgia with 4 sec wins and knocking the cards out of the playoff for good. If you told me that at the start I would take it all day.

Sure it is more likely they run us out of the stadium but I know for a fact they cannot stop our run game. No way their D is better than an sec defense. We will score at will and maybe win the turnover battle who knows. But back to my original question would you guys be satisfied then with our season? and please if you are gonna answer not gonna happen they will hang 60 on us blah blah -- that is not my question. I am asking IF we beat them would it be considered a successful season?

If we beat them it would be considered a successful regular season. If we don't yet go to a bowl with a second string QB, it's successful enough for me considering next year looks special.

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

If we beat Louisville? 7 win season close game with Georgia with 4 sec wins and knocking the cards out of the playoff for good. If you told me that at the start I would take it all day.

Sure it is more likely they run us out of the stadium but I know for a fact they cannot stop our run game. No way their D is better than an sec defense. We will score at will and maybe win the turnover battle who knows. But back to my original question would you guys be satisfied then with our season? and please if you are gonna answer not gonna happen they will hang 60 on us blah blah -- that is not my question. I am asking IF we beat them would it be considered a successful season?

In short, YES.

 

[BlueRaider22]

Whats to forgive? Before the yr I saw a head coach in infancy, a new OC with a new offense, our multi-year starting QB transfer, the losses along the DL, the youth everywhere, the lack of proven OTs, the lack of a proven QB, etc......and I thought 6-7 wins and a bowl game. Anyone knowledgeable would assume that we would win a game or two that we weren't favored.....that we'd get blown out a time or two....and we'd lose a game or two that we were favored.

So we're pretty much where I thought we'd be. Does it bother me that we couldn't capitalize on the weak East? Yes, but at the end of the day our personnel and make up didn't allow us to do so.....so capitalizing on the East wasn't/shouldn't be expected this yr.

This yr I expected improvement. And I've seen it. Do I think everything is hunky-dory and that we're gonna win championships soon? Nope....still plenty worried. But at least we've moved another step in he right direction.

 

[why_not_kentucky]

Some people will never be pleased until we go undefeated and win a national championship. And even then they would complain because we didn't win 15 games. Most are just trolls. Others are just worthless garbage that suck at life.

But yet here you are complaining.

 

[olblue]

If we beat Louisville? 7 win season close game with Georgia with 4 sec wins and knocking the cards out of the playoff for good. If you told me that at the start I would take it all day.

Sure it is more likely they run us out of the stadium but I know for a fact they cannot stop our run game. No way their D is better than an sec defense. We will score at will and maybe win the turnover battle who knows. But back to my original question would you guys be satisfied then with our season? and please if you are gonna answer not gonna happen they will hang 60 on us blah blah -- that is not my question. I am asking IF we beat them would it be considered a successful season?

The SEC has four rushing defenses that can't crack the top 100 - UT, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Missouri. There is more ways than one that their defense is better than that.

 

[jnewc2_rivals30628]

Some people will never be pleased until we go undefeated and win a national championship. And even then they would complain because we didn't win 15 games. Most are just trolls. Others are just worthless garbage that suck at life.

I have literally never seen anyone on here expecting that..the only thing I've ever seen is our fans asking for a product that's slightly better than mediocre

 

[The-Hack]

Well, I'm not one casting aspersions toward the staff at this point, BUT if we beat Louisville, I am willing to forgive the following, generally:

I will forget and forgive the British for their annoyingly smug and ridiculous accents; I will forget and forgive Northerners for their accents (and that's hard for me); I will forget and forgive every perceived slight my friends, family and neighbors have ever hurled my way; I will forgive the University of Louisville for the remarkably modest size of the exits that stand between the men's restroom, and my modestly sized middle-age bladder (and only my bladder was so affected). There's an awful lot I would forget and forgive if we knock those redbirds out of the Playoffs. And, you know, as bad as they wanted this series, I start to think of Karma . . . .

Not that there'll be any stress on our fine feathered friends . . . .

Kinda' odd this thing got shifted to the very end of the season, just a while back, now ain't it?

I hope the very thought of the final game of such a special season, with EVERYTHING on the line doesn't cause the birds to tighten up just a little bit.

 

[billoliver40]

I don't know what I'm forgiving. I thought this was MAYBE a two win team after the Florida debacle.

Kids have come a long way. Yes, still miles of rough road to go. But there's a spark of competitiveness that's been missing for a lot of years.

 

[BlueRaider22]

I have literally never seen anyone on here expecting that..the only thing I've ever seen is our fans asking for a product that's slightly better than mediocre

I think much of the problem is a misunderstanding of what is mediocre. The definition of mediocre means in the middle. A mediocre team overall would average 6 wins a yr. A mediocre team in the SEC would go 4-4 on average......or about 7-8 wins overall. Same definition but different viewpoint.

Then you add in fans who have a misunderstanding of Kentucky football. In ~120 yrs of football we've been to 15 bowls......1/3rd of those were under Brooks relatively recently. I realize that there weren't always a ton of bowls throughout history.....got it. So what about wins? Since the Bear we've averaged something to the tune of 4-4.5 wins per yr......total.

For those keeping count that is not mediocre....that is well below mediocre.

The reality of Kentucky football is that making a bowl game is a big deal because it means we've exceeded our yearly win average over the last 60-70 yrs. Making consequetive bowl games is a big deal.....even if it's the MCB every yr. The culture changes slowly over time. Take Brooks' streak for instance.....we are now clamoring for bowl games and beyond because Brooks showed that we could do it. Before Brooks fans just hoped for a single bowl. Now we expect a bowl and want more.

 

[CB3UK]

Beat the Dirty Birds, then win a bowl game and finish 8-5 in year 4? Sign me up.

 

[mhroe1984]

Beat Louisville and Mitch can give Stoops a 10 year 30 million dollar extension for all I care.

 

[21Goose]

I live in Louisville. If we beat them I'll cook Christmas dinner for the staff. So the answer is hell yes.

 

[Fresh Start]

Forgiven? We are going to a bowl with a back up quarter back

 

[The_Oak]

Beat Louisville and Mitch can give Stoops a 10 year 30 million dollar extension for all I care.

He would do that anyways even if we lost.

 

[BlueRunner11]

Beat Louisville and Mitch can give Stoops a 10 year 30 million dollar extension for all I care.

No way this is serious.

 

[Xception]

I don't know where people got the idea that we could have been in a drastically different position , on what basis would you get to that conclusion ? I guess it's the almost totally flawed notion that whatever success Petrino has at UL would have translated here . It wouldn't have and anybody even slightly able to assess both teams status would know that . It's fine to want it but to think we could have been there already is wrong .

From ground zero Stoops is closing the gap , we are improving and have a marquee run game despite significant attrition this year . People just really don't understand how bad UK was when they took over . Whether Stoops gets it done or if he's the answer , the program is in a much better state . We need to go bowling every year from here on out and periodically upgrading in bowls . After a number of years bowling you can expect even better recruiting .

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Some people will never be pleased until we go undefeated and win a national championship. And even then they would complain because we didn't win 15 games. Most are just trolls. Others are just worthless garbage that suck at life.

If we went undefeated and won a national title we WOULD WIN 15 games.

 

[irishcat1965]

The SEC has four rushing defenses that can't crack the top 100 - UT, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Missouri. There is more ways than one that their defense is better than that.

The tard troll strikes again.

 

[JW PRPcoach]

Forgive who?

 

[DaBossIsBack]

But yet here you are complaining.

Doesn't work that way bub. Sorry your limited intellect doesn't allow you to think critically.

 

[DaBossIsBack]

I have literally never seen anyone on here expecting that..the only thing I've ever seen is our fans asking for a product that's slightly better than mediocre

It's called exaggerating a point for the sake of comedy.

 

[FanofUK]

Forgive who?

I guess the coaching staff, or at least that seems to be who people are mad at when things go bad.
And to be totally honest I only ever got really upset this year when we lost to Southern Miss, and even then I was over it in a few hours. I just want to be competitive, I want when teams play us they are afraid they may lose. And living in TN I can tell you they were afraid last week. And then maybe ever so often have an awesome run like maybe a SEC championship game.
But to be honest without fan support at the games this is not gonna happen, people keep calling for us to stop going to the games do not realize that when an kid comes to watch KY play the atmosphere means EVERYTHING. I made a point to go to a game this year and I live several hours away. and I may go to 2 next year. But If I lived locally I would have season tickets and support like crazy.

 

[ORCAT]

OP, to answer your original question. Absolutely, I would be extremely happy with our season IF we were to beat UL and go 7-5 and head to a bowl game. Then, a possibility of win #8 in a bowl game, that would be a terrific season in my book, especially considering we would be doing it with a back up QB who isn't very good at passing the ball. As for forgive? I'm not real sure what you mean by forgive as I'm not in that business, there's another Guy who does that, in my opinion. But, I assume you are referring to all that bad stuff that has been said about Stoops. I would be more than willing to support him and welcome him back next season if he and the team were to pull off what you are suggesting. Does that answer your original question? I'd be All In!!!!!!!!

 

[Kats23]

Of course, but you could of said the same thing about a win over UT or UGA. People would take 7 wins all day.

 

[why_not_kentucky]

Doesn't work that way bub. Sorry your limited intellect doesn't allow you to think critically.

Cheese is part of your every day life.

 

[truebluewildcat_rivals34254]

beating UL and/or getting to a bowl would be great, but would not change the fact that there needs to be some overhauling this off season.

Something has to be done on D. I've long been advocating for a complete reset. A top DC needs to be brought in addition to a DL coach.

On offense we are leaving a lot to be desired in the passing and catching game. It's not just SJ and the improvements he needs to make, and i'm not going specifically at Gran/Hinshaw because we've been lacking in consistent and reliable play making through the air since CMS took over.

We're on our 3rd offensive staff/philosophy and third QB and there is something that just isn't clicking through the air. We may not have had the most ideal QB situation at any point, but we haven't gotten consistent production from the WRs and TEs either.

Our wrs just haven't pulled their share of the wait. Way too many dropped balls over the last 4 years, and not only dropped balls but dropped balls at the most crucial times. Balls that hit the hands and chest of the wr.

I don't know if they're just plain missing on the recruiting trail, or if they have just failed to properly develop the talent as well as failed to game plan effectively. Probably a combination of both.

I would like to see a passing game coordinator brought in to really juice the O and compliment the ground attack we have going.

Sark is out there and will be rising back up through the ranks again sooner rather than later I think. Maybe Kendall Briles if Baylor moves to severe all ties from the Briles era.

Going to be a lot of staffs out in limbo this off season as things turnover and change through out the landscape, I think CMS needs to be ready to go after some people.

All in all I think after 4 years we can kind of see what we will be and not be if a few things and people don't change.

 

[JW PRPcoach]

I agree something has to be done on defense. Either staff shake-up, bring in some JUCO help on the line, or most likely both.
However, for people to still be complaining about the offense is laughable to me. We ALL knew, going into the season, that if something happened to Barker we were in deep trouble. He gets hurt early, and this staff, with zero time to prepare, had to basically revamp the entire scheme. With limitations at QB, we are putting up monster stats, especially on the ground, and have maybe, partially by luck, found an offensive identity to build on for the future.
I, for one, think this offense would be looking even better if N Brown was still our OC - but he left for a HC job. Dawson was a bad hire, and Gran so far has won me over. Give him a serviceable QB - we might be a top 20 offense.

 

[KyCatFan1]

I'd be happy but will always remember this season as a what could have been. As many issues as we have had, we were so close to winning the East. Likely won't have it this easy again for a while.

 

[uk_king_cat2]

Wills to Bama.....:joy:....We got it got it...Coach Stoops...Team....Defense..Defense..Defense..Team

 

[BlueRaider22]

beating UL and/or getting to a bowl would be great, but would not change the fact that there needs to be some overhauling this off season.

Something has to be done on D. I've long been advocating for a complete reset. A top DC needs to be brought in addition to a DL coach.

On offense we are leaving a lot to be desired in the passing and catching game. It's not just SJ and the improvements he needs to make, and i'm not going specifically at Gran/Hinshaw because we've been lacking in consistent and reliable play making through the air since CMS took over.

We're on our 3rd offensive staff/philosophy and third QB and there is something that just isn't clicking through the air. We may not have had the most ideal QB situation at any point, but we haven't gotten consistent production from the WRs and TEs either.

Our wrs just haven't pulled their share of the wait. Way too many dropped balls over the last 4 years, and not only dropped balls but dropped balls at the most crucial times. Balls that hit the hands and chest of the wr.

I don't know if they're just plain missing on the recruiting trail, or if they have just failed to properly develop the talent as well as failed to game plan effectively. Probably a combination of both.

I would like to see a passing game coordinator brought in to really juice the O and compliment the ground attack we have going.

Sark is out there and will be rising back up through the ranks again sooner rather than later I think. Maybe Kendall Briles if Baylor moves to severe all ties from the Briles era.

Going to be a lot of staffs out in limbo this off season as things turnover and change through out the landscape, I think CMS needs to be ready to go after some people.

All in all I think after 4 years we can kind of see what we will be and not be if a few things and people don't change.

There already has been a complete reset on defense which is part of the problem. Eliot and Stoops know a 4-3 base.....and yes I know that we are a multiple defense.....but whatever talent they did have leftover from Joker knew the 4-3 alignment, philosophy, and concepts.

I think Stoops experimented too much when he took the job. Changed over base defense. Rookie DC. Tried to go Air Raid with Brown. He should've went with veterans and systems that he knew and used.

Now, he's kinda stuck. Top notch DCs are not going to come right now if there's a chance Stoops is gone after a yr. Changing scheme back to a 4-3 will take another 2-3 yrs to flip the personnel. So, Stoops probably has 2 choices.....fire Eliot and hire someone "so-so".....or retain control himself hoping some perceived stability is reached in 2017.

 

[Poetax]

If we beat Louisville? 7 win season close game with Georgia with 4 sec wins and knocking the cards out of the playoff for good. If you told me that at the start I would take it all day.

Sure it is more likely they run us out of the stadium but I know for a fact they cannot stop our run game. No way their D is better than an sec defense. We will score at will and maybe win the turnover battle who knows. But back to my original question would you guys be satisfied then with our season? and please if you are gonna answer not gonna happen they will hang 60 on us blah blah -- that is not my question. I am asking IF we beat them would it be considered a successful season?

We got to 6 after blowing an easy early game. We are going to a bowl if we win Saturday, it's successful to me. Next year the bar is raised again.

 

[SanAntonioCat_rivals376502]

I think much of the problem is a misunderstanding of what is mediocre. The definition of mediocre means in the middle. A mediocre team overall would average 6 wins a yr. A mediocre team in the SEC would go 4-4 on average......or about 7-8 wins overall. Same definition but different viewpoint.

Then you add in fans who have a misunderstanding of Kentucky football. In ~120 yrs of football we've been to 15 bowls......1/3rd of those were under Brooks relatively recently. I realize that there weren't always a ton of bowls throughout history.....got it. So what about wins? Since the Bear we've averaged something to the tune of 4-4.5 wins per yr......total.

For those keeping count that is not mediocre....that is well below mediocre.

The reality of Kentucky football is that making a bowl game is a big deal because it means we've exceeded our yearly win average over the last 60-70 yrs. Making consequetive bowl games is a big deal.....even if it's the MCB every yr. The culture changes slowly over time. Take Brooks' streak for instance.....we are now clamoring for bowl games and beyond because Brooks showed that we could do it. Before Brooks fans just hoped for a single bowl. Now we expect a bowl and want more.

At the end of the day, we are beaten down and defeated fan base. There is no hope beyond a 6-6 or 7-5 season and bowl games in Memphis, Nashville. Shreveport or Birmingham. We cling to hope only to experience coach after coach preaching "we need to get better." Someday, a coach will come like the Messiah to lead us out of the SEC wilderness. Who knows where or when?

 

[BlueRaider22]

At the end of the day, we are beaten down and defeated fan base. There is no hope beyond a 6-6 or 7-5 season and bowl games in Memphis, Nashville. Shreveport or Birmingham. We cling to hope only to experience coach after coach preaching "we need to get better." Someday, a coach will come like the Messiah to lead us out of the SEC wilderness. Who knows where or when?

Understood. My point was just to illustrate that some seem to think that just hiring a coach is going to make it rain 10 win seasons at UK. If it was that easy we've would've already done it. The problem with UK is that the problem is deeper than just finding a coach who can win. It's finding a coach that can change the culture and overcome history.

For example, James Franklin got Vandy to 9 wins then bolted. Did that change their culture? Not really. I worked there and have plenty of family/friends who are fans. It basically worked the fan base into a frenzy but the fans "knew" that they'd go right back to "good ole Vandy." I would wager that Brooks' run at UK did more to change the UK culture than Franklin's Vandy's run did for theirs.

In a perfect scenario Stoops (or another) would win well and stay for a very long time.

 

[Anon1660081258]

I'm not sure SEC mediocre actually checks in at 4-4 in conference play these days. Probably more like 3.5-5.5 thanks to the dominance of Bama and others in the West.

 

[Deeeefense]

I think they've achieved the minimum of what they needed to do this year. A win over the Ville would be icing. But we need to take a few more steps up the ladder next year. I think 8 should be the bar.