I know Gruden was a fairly successful NFL coach but why does everyone think that it will automatically translate to success as a head coach in college? He's never been more than a position coach on the college level with minimal recruiting experience. He may or he may not but I'd rather see them go after a younger up and coming college coach.

Areb you comparing the South Carolina job with the Kentucky job?

 

When Spurrier took over?

 

The best two things SC has come up with to paint on their stadium are "1969 ACC Champs" and "2011 SEC East Champs." That's not a long history of success.

Areb you comparing the South Carolina job with the Kentucky job?

 

I'm comparing UK today with SC before Holtz and Spurrier took over and turned the program around. It was in pretty bad shape.

Was SC the best gig that Spurrier could have got when he took that job? You are probably right, but I want Barnhart to try hard to get him.

 

Mitch has said the money is there to get the top coach.

Mitch has said the money is there to get the top coach.

 

Excellent. Hopefully it was not just lip service and if Joker leaves, Barnhart will spend it to attract the best coach we can get.

I know Gruden was a fairly successful NFL coach but why does everyone think that it will automatically translate to success as a head coach in college? He's never been more than a position coach on the college level with minimal recruiting experience. He may or he may not but I'd rather see them go after a younger up and coming college coach.

 

The bolded is an understandable position to take. The reason I differ is that I'm not sure an up and coming coach will have the "juice" to quickly recruit the necessary level of talent to UK. Perhaps at some other schools, but getting a top talent to choose UK over Florida, Georgia, etc., etc., I think will take a lot more than "I was a successful asst coach at a top level program" or "I was a successful head coach at (you insert a lower level D-1 school)". And if that up and coming coach isn't successful quickly in the recruiting wars, I don't see him being successful at UK. I'm convinced the best way for UK to attract top talent quickly is to go with the "I coached in the NFL, I know what it takes, I can get you there even if we only go 6-6" recruiting speech.

 

And don't get me wrong, it will take more than just a great recruiter. Heck, I think Phillips has done a pretty darn good job recruiting. Could it be better? Sure. Does it need to be better? Obviously when you are playing in the SEC. I really like the young players he's put out on the field. It's the coaching stuff that has me disappointed.

 

Somewhat contradicting myself, I know. I want a "big name" coach that can recruit the best, while at the same time pointing out that I think Joker (certainly not a "big name") had done a pretty good job recruiting the last two years. I guess I feel that UK has slid backwards the last two years and if we don't make a big change soon, Joker will have less success recruiting and we wll start sliding backwards even faster.

 

I say we throw in the kitchen sink to get Gruden. If we don't; we don't. Then we go with the up and coming coach. I do want someone that has been a head coach though. I think Joker's biggest problem is his lack of head coaching experience. He should have left UK, gone to a smaller program as a head coach to gain experience, and then some day returned. The SEC is no place for training wheels.

Mitch has said the money is there to get the top coach.

 

I believe it's there. But do you think UK would ante up the big bucks for a high profile coach?

I believe it's there. But do you think UK would ante up the big bucks for a high profile coach?

 

 

Yes.

Yes.

 

I'm taking a Doubting Thomas position on this one. But I hope you are right.

I'm taking a Doubting Thomas position on this one. But I hope you are right.

 

The key is the "right" guy. I do not see UK's position being strong enough to attract such a guy.

The key is the "right" guy. I do not see UK's position being strong enough to attract such a guy.

 

Agreed.

I'm taking a Doubting Thomas position on this one. But I hope you are right.

 

'Sources' close to the program have stated that Mitch has said money will not be an object when the search for a new coach begins.

'Sources' close to the program have stated that Mitch has said money will not be an object when the search for a new coach begins.

 

And I can't decide if he's saying that because he needs to say that, or if he really means it.

And I can't decide if he's saying that because he needs to say that, or if he really means it.

 

I'm thinking both.

I'm thinking both.

 

So you think, like Clizzy, that Mitch would be willing to spend the money, but that there probably really isn't a candidate worth spending the money on that would come to UK?