I was seeing a lot of talk that Stoops has to lead the Cats to a bowl game (6-6) to at least keep his job. With the way that he's been recruiting (top notch for UK standards (4 straight top 35 classes)), shouldn't the bar be set a little higher, with at least 7-8 wins? I mean UK has a bunch of talent, and yes I understand that even when they're ranked 28 nationally, they're still #7 in recruiting in the SEC. By this year with all those high 3 and 4 star recruits (with a couple of 5's) sprinkled in with the "culture" that Stoops has spoken of for 3 seasons, shouldn't those Senior former 4 star players be developed enough to knock off some teams with younger 5 star players? I mean their recruiting is better than ever, but I don't see much of an improvement on the scoreboards (besides occasional scares) from the previous regime. Then Rich Brooks won more with less talent. Is setting the bar at 6 wins enough with a complete roster of his own recruits? I feel like it's selling the program short with all of the talent they've accumulated over the past 4 years. I'm okay with them staying mediocre since I'm a UofL fan, but from the outside looking in as a sports enthusiast I'm wondering do any UK fans feel the same way?

The short answer is no, the bar does not need to be set at 7-8 wins for Stoops to keep his job this season. The current team is still young and as you said the majority of the SEC is still ahead of UK in recruiting the last few years, as they have been for a long long time. I'm not sure who the two 5* players your referring to UK landing since Stoops has been there. But to put things into perspective half the teams on UK's schedule this year have been landing 5 star players for years and years.

They should fire Stoops and hire Barrow.

They should fire Stoops and hire Barrow.

 

Tony Barrow?

Tony Barrow?

 

My bad Vince Marrow.

Five.

The short answer is no, the bar does not need to be set at 7-8 wins for Stoops to keep his job this season. The current team is still young and as you said the majority of the SEC is still ahead of UK in recruiting the last few years, as they have been for a long long time. I'm not sure who the two 5* players your referring to UK landing since Stoops has been there. But to put things into perspective half the teams on UK's schedule this year have been landing 5 star players for years and years.

 

Wasn't Elam a 5 star recruit? #1 dt? Then they got an ol this class i thought.

Wasn't Elam a 5 star recruit? #1 dt? Then they got an ol this class i thought.

 

Pretty sure Elam was a 4*by most recruiting services. Young from this year's class is indeed a 5* player, but he hasn't even played a single game of football in college yet. I wouldn't put Stoops career on the line of a 5* true freshman doesn't win his team an extra game or two this season.

 

Basically what I am saying is that several of UK's opponents have been landing 4 and 5* players consistently year after year and even have enough of those type of players that a lot of the young ones don't start, they play backup to the older 4 and 5* players. Prior to Stoops UK was landing 2 and 3* players with an occasional 4* here and there, so until they have the depth that some of these other schools have its unreasonable to say that if UK doesn't win 7-8 games this season that the coach needs fired.

Pretty sure Elam was a 4*by most recruiting services. Young from this year's class is indeed a 5* player, but he hasn't even played a single game of football in college yet. I wouldn't put Stoops career on the line of a 5* true freshman doesn't win his team an extra game or two this season.

 

Basically what I am saying is that several of UK's opponents have been landing 4 and 5* players consistently year after year and even have enough of those type of players that a lot of the young ones don't start, they play backup to the older 4 and 5* players. Prior to Stoops UK was landing 2 and 3* players with an occasional 4* here and there, so until they have the depth that some of these other schools have its unreasonable to say that if UK doesn't win 7-8 games this season that the coach needs fired.

 

Understood. Just eyeing the schedule. 7 wins would be winning 4 out of 5 games in a pretty weak non conf schedule (which they'll do), and go 3-4 in sec. Should beat vandy, missou, and 1 of miss st/sc/or tenn games. Seems pretty obtainable. Not expecting wins against the bamas and georgias, but to catch ok sec teams on down years should happen. But completely agree with top half of the league.

8 minimum

6 - Gotta get to a bowl.

UK will miss a bowl and Stoops still won't get fired.

 

The only way that's possible is if he wins less than 5.

I don't care how many games he wins if UK fires Bob Stoops after this season then the football program should just disband. For real. It will be a waste of everyone's time and money if they fire Stoops after this season.

UK gave Grandpa Brooks a lot more time than people thought he deserved and they will need to do the same for Stoops. Many UK fans are delusional in believing that the job UK is an attractive job simply because it is in the SEC and UK can ditch a coach after 3-5 years and expect a good replacement can be found. To possibly someday attract a good coach, UK needs to set a precident that shows it gives coaches plenty of time before canning them to even hope of landing a decent replacement.

As long as he wins 4 he isn't going anywhere.