This is how I feel, the talent he's getting this year isn't better though. This class is ranked in the 40's by everyone and at practically the bottom of the SEC.

 

If the talent were equal, they wouldn't be playing so much youth, especially true freshmen. Not a knock on the past classes individually, because there are some guys in each class who can do some things, but I think it's fair to say that on the whole, what's been coming in over the past few years is better than what had been coming in, otherwise there wouldn't have been so many defections, youth playing right away, etc.

It is easy to build hype and perceived recruiting momentum at a terrible program when you are the new guy in town selling ghosts. As those 4-8 and 5-7 season start adding up, kids stop buying and the wheels start spinning. Stoops is finding that fine line approaching fast...

I don't see him fired after next year, but I don't see him being able to rise them anymore barring some major changes.

 

Gotcha. I mean, there is a ceiling and I'll agree with that. I don't think they've reached it quite yet though.

 

Most UK fans are honestly going to be happy with a Music City Bowl every now and then, and things like that alone made Brooks loved to this day. There's still some achievements that are attainable enough that could buy Stoops LOADS of time.

 

I don't know that people really expect them to come in and start challenging Florida for overall National Championships or Heisman trophy winners.

I was thinking about this as well when I saw how this year's recruiting class was dropping. I also believe this season is crucial. If they miss out on a bowl game this year, then Stoops has problems. The buzz is gone. It starts to look like same old, same old at UK. It will tough to get in a top notch recruiting class next year and then you start to just not have the talent you need to win. It is always about the talent on the field. If Stoops can't get the talent level up, then he isn't going to win. It is bowl or bust next year.

Stoops has to get 6 wins this year, without a doubt. Not saying he's fired if he doesn't, just saying that almost all of his support will be gone.

I agree. I don't think he gets fired next year. But the task of getting the necessary talent and building the program gets much more difficult with no bowl next year ... perhaps insurmountable. He needs that bowl to show progress and keep recruits buying in.

It is easy to build hype and perceived recruiting momentum at a terrible program when you are the new guy in town selling ghosts. As those 4-8 and 5-7 season start adding up' date=' kids stop buying and the wheels start spinning. Stoops is finding that fine line approaching fast...[/quote']

 

The shine wore off for the Dowell twins. Stoops has to get to a bowl game to continue any momentum.

This is how I feel, the talent he's getting this year isn't better though. This class is ranked in the 40's by everyone and at practically the bottom of the SEC.

 

He could be 15 overall in the country and be at the bottom of the SEC:popcorn:

He could be 15 overall in the country and be at the bottom of the SEC:popcorn:

 

If that were the case the level of concern would be a lot lower, right???

He could be 15 overall in the country and be at the bottom of the SEC:popcorn:

 

I believe before this class started leaving, UK had a better class than 97 teams. One of those was an SEC team. And the class would have been the best in all of the non-power conferences, and would have been in the top 3-5 of the major conferences.

 

It's an uphill battle, for sure.

What a weak thread! Is there an un-like button?

What a weak thread! Is there an un-like button?

 

There is an unlike button. However, you have to like the post first before it appears...

There is an unlike button. However, you have to like the post first before it appears...

 

not exatly what I meant, but ok.

not exatly what I meant, but ok.

 

Sarcasm is lost on you, isn't it?

I think Stoops can be a pretty good coach. However, I have thought from day 1 that UK needed to be unconventional...a la air raid offense...to recruit the superior talent they need to at least excel on one side of the ball. UK has had a number of outstanding defensive players, but they are never going to get as many as AL, GA, FL, LSU, TN, so they will wear down...every year...just like this year. The key in a situation like UK...take the air raid offense...is to be a bit unconventional and hard to prepare for. Even though the outcome was still a loss, it was a lot more fun seeing our team put 40 up on a Bama or LSU as opposed to losing 40 to 7. I actually thought for a time this year, that I would have to eat my words...and I would have been delighted to do so...but by the end of the season, we were right back where we started.