We'll have to agree to disagree. Blowing an entire years eligibility for PT so he can play a few snaps is silly and isn't in the best interests of the majority of the kids on the team.

 

I completely agree with your last paragraph.

We'll have to agree to disagree. Blowing an entire years eligibility for PT so he can play a few snaps is silly and isn't in the best interests of the majority of the kids on the team.

 

I completely agree with your last paragraph.

 

If it's a few snaps over the last 4 games, your position gains support with me. If on the other hand Towles get's roughly half of the snaps over the remaining games, that equates to some significant experience in my book and is worth losing the medical redshirt for this year (which the more I understand the issue, isn't really possible, making our discussion moot anyway).

 

Do you agree with my point about being able to redshirt Towles next year if Smith beats him out as the starting QB?

 

If Joker does come back, wouldn't you want the UK recruiters out there this winter saying UK won 2 or maybe even 3 of their last 4 games; we have a young team that finished the team strong; and we will be much better next year with all the returning experience, as opposed to having to admit that the only teams we beat were Kent State and Samford? Again, these remaining games mean a lot to the seniors and they mean something on the recruiting trail. Pat could be the next Peyton Manning in 2016, but if we don't recruit well over the next couple of years, will it matter he's eligible in 2016? And trust me, there are no assurances he will still even be at UK in 2016 so I wouldn't be sacrificing anything this year just so he can be eligible in 2016.

 

But I agree with you that we can agree to disagree. Bottom line is I just would like to see UK win this weekend, and if playing Pat at QB or even Matt Smith at QB helps make that happen, I'm all for it.

Which year would be more valuable to PT? Getting half the snaps for four more games? Or an entire season as a 22 or 23 year old ( don't know his age) 5th year senior? I'd say the latter. JMO

Which year would be more valuable to PT? Getting half the snaps for four more games? Or an entire season as a 22 or 23 year old ( don't know his age) 5th year senior? I'd say the latter. JMO

 

 

I understand your logic and I'd say it depends. If due to experience gained over the next four games, he becomes the starter next year and continues to start the following two years, putting up big numbers and then getting drafted, then I'd say getting the experience this year would be more valuable. Wouldn't you?

 

IF he's not good enough to start next year after gaining the experience of the next 4 games, why do people forget he can be redshirted next year, thus being eligible as a 5th year senior in 2016?

Going to give you a couple names just for examples. Flacco-Delaware, Cutler-Vandy, Rothlesberger-Miami University. He might could win a few more games somewhere else, but doesn't have much effect on making it to the next level or not. Being a star at your state university can lead to many long term career opportunities.

 

Scholarship For Life status is only afforded to UK men's basketball players.

I understand your logic and I'd say it depends. If due to experience gained over the next four games, he becomes the starter next year and continues to start the following two years, putting up big numbers and then getting drafted, then I'd say getting the experience this year would be more valuable. Wouldn't you?

 

IF he's not good enough to start next year after gaining the experience of the next 4 games, why do people forget he can be redshirted next year, thus being eligible as a 5th year senior in 2016?

 

Yes, he could redshirt next year, however that doesn't change the fact he would still only have 3 years left. He would lose 1 year for a hand full of snaps. Plus even if he's healthy enough to play he can't be 100%. So he's spliting time for 4 games on a bum wheel.

 

All that said these last 4 are the best chance KY has of putting up some wins. All 4 KY could beat. Will they, probably not, but they could. If PT is 85% and will get the majority of the snaps then I agree with you and say he should play. If it's to go 50/50 I say redshirt him this year. According to Joker on his call in show he can still get a medical redshirt.

Yes, he could redshirt next year, however that doesn't change the fact he would still only have 3 years left. He would lose 1 year for a hand full of snaps. Plus even if he's healthy enough to play he can't be 100%. So he's spliting time for 4 games on a bum wheel.

 

All that said these last 4 are the best chance KY has of putting up some wins. All 4 KY could beat. Will they, probably not, but they could. If PT is 85% and will get the majority of the snaps then I agree with you and say he should play. If it's to go 50/50 I say redshirt him this year. According to Joker on his call in show he can still get a medical redshirt.

 

As to the bolded, fair point. But we are still talking 3 years of eligibility. Heck, I'd say that anyone would be happy to have/be a 3 year starting QB in the SEC.

 

If (and I realize it's an "if") playing the last four games helps Towles become the starter the next 3 years, I'm quite convinced it would be good for Towles and for UK.

 

For the record, my support of playing Towles the next 4 games is based on the following assumptions: 1. he beats out Smith next year and the following years to start 3 years in a row; and 2. the experience gained over the next 4 games helps make that happen.

 

I do feel strongly that gaining the experience of playing in the next 4 games will significantly help Towles compete for the starting job next spring and summer. Whether he wins the starting job is much more difficult to predict.

 

As for the medical redshirt, I've read so many conflicting posts on the issue, I have no idea what is accurate. I'd think that Joker knows what he's talking about on the issue however.

 

And to be candid, if we were talking Alabama, LSU, etc., I'd be in total agreement with you. Those schools don't have to have their best QB on the field to be successful. There is enough surrounding talent out there, that they can afford to do the redshirt thing. Their starting QB may be a shade or two under the kid being redshirted. But with UK, I think it's different. I like the Smith kid as a QB. Been a very pleasant surprise. But if it turns out that Towles is even just a little bit better than Smith, UK doesn't have the luxury of shelving him to gain that 4th year of eligibility. It's already hard enough for UK to win. They have to have the best QB on the field at all times and hope that by the time he leaves, the success he helps create will have resulted in another very talented QB choosing UK and being ready in 2016. At least that's the way I look at it; but I totally understand if you look at it differently.

Edited October 26, 201213 yr by leatherneck

As to the bolded, fair point. But we are still talking 3 years of eligibility. Heck, I'd say that anyone would be happy to have/be a 3 year starting QB in the SEC.

 

If (and I realize it's an "if") playing the last four games helps Towles become the starter the next 3 years, I'm quite convinced it would be good for Towles and for UK.

 

For the record, my support of playing Towles the next 4 games is based on the following assumptions: 1. he beats out Smith next year and the following years to start 3 years in a row; and 2. the experience gained over the next 4 games helps make that happen.

 

I do feel strongly that gaining the experience of playing in the next 4 games will significantly help Towles compete for the starting job next spring and summer. Whether he wins the starting job is much more difficult to predict.

 

As for the medical redshirt, I've read so many conflicting posts on the issue, I have no idea what is accurate. I'd think that Joker knows what he's talking about on the issue however.

 

And to be candid, if we were talking Alabama, LSU, etc., I'd be in total agreement with you. Those schools don't have to have their best QB on the field to be successful. There is enough surrounding talent out there, that they can afford to do the redshirt thing. Their starting QB may be a shade or two under the kid being redshirted. But with UK, I think it's different. I like the Smith kid as a QB. Been a very pleasant surprise. But if it turns out that Towles is even just a little bit better than Smith, UK doesn't have the luxury of shelving him to gain that 4th year of eligibility. It's already hard enough for UK to win. They have to have the best QB on the field at all times and hope that by the time he leaves, the success he helps create will have resulted in another very talented QB choosing UK and being ready in 2016. At least that's the way I look at it; but I totally understand if you look at it differently.

I can pretty much agree with you on this. IF Towles playing now helps him be the starter next year then it is definitely worth it. How ever if him playing now only leads to a red shirt later then not a chance he should see the field.

I'm really looking forward to seeing him vs. Mizzou. I wasn't able to see him earlier. Hope he does great.

My fear is that they've wasted the RS, he's only had 6 practices, he's going to struggle a bit as he adjusts, but UK sits him because he struggles.

My fear is that they've wasted the RS, he's only had 6 practices, he's going to struggle a bit as he adjusts, but UK sits him because he struggles.

 

...and it looks like it is happening as I type.

What a ridiculous waste to play Towles. :irked:

Completely wasted a year of eligibility.

Completely wasted a year of eligibility.

 

Yep

What a ridiculous waste to play Towles. :irked:

If he had picked up where he left off when he got hurt and uk had won the game you guys would be saying how great he is and the experience is good for him for next year. He comes in today in some bad situations and doesn't look good so now it is a waste.