Is UK's opening game against USM the biggest game in Stoops' tenure so far? Some could argue that last years Louisville game, on the verge of a bowl, was the biggest. I think it's this game. Absolutely no way UK can lose this game and retain any momentum going forward in the season. A season where a bowl game has to happen to keep Stoops comfortable, IMO.

 

Cats fans, what do you think? If it's not, why not?

If UK football fans are seriously worried about losing to Southern Miss (yes I know SM is a decent team for a non-power 5 school, but they aren't Houston or anything), then the state of this program is STILL on the downturn.

It's close, but I would put last year's Vanderbilt game ahead of Southern Miss. That game was more winnable than UL and would have gotten the Cats to a Bowl.

It's close, but I would put last year's Vanderbilt game ahead of Southern Miss. That game was more winnable than UL and would have gotten the Cats to a Bowl.

Thats the game I would point to as well. UL was a halfway decent team last year despite starting 0-3. Vandy is Vandy and at no point would I have ever envisioned UK would lose to them.

No.

 

Regardless of the outcome of this game, me thinks Stoops is in his last season in Lexington.

No.

 

Regardless of the outcome of this game, me thinks Stoops is in his last season in Lexington.

I agree. I think he needs to not only make a bowl game, but win a bowl game as well. With the new facilities they just built, they are going to expect results and expect them now.

I honestly don't think most UK fans understand how low the program actually had gotten when Stoops took over. The wins they were experiencing were mainly anomalies and were won with virtually no depth at any position. Frontline players were solid but their backups just didn't measure up. That type of poor recruiting and poor player development shows up over time and is only remedied over time. I know Stoops has been here awhile, but I honestly think it will take longer. I'm as big a Big Blue fan as you will find (I usually hide it well), but realistically I don't see a bowl game this year. And yes, this IS Stoops biggest game to date in my opinion. If there truly is a hope for a bowl game, this is a MUST win.

I honestly don't think most UK fans understand how low the program actually had gotten when Stoops took over. The wins they were experiencing were mainly anomalies and were won with virtually no depth at any position. Frontline players were solid but their backups just didn't measure up. That type of poor recruiting and poor player development shows up over time and is only remedied over time. I know Stoops has been here awhile, but I honestly think it will take longer. I'm as big a Big Blue fan as you will find (I usually hide it well), but realistically I don't see a bowl game this year. And yes, this IS Stoops biggest game to date in my opinion. If there truly is a hope for a bowl game, this is a MUST win.

I don't think they've really progressed any since Stoops has taken over. I think they are in as bad a shape as they were when Joker left. I think they have showed potential i.e against Florida and taking care of SC who is about at the same spot UK is, maybe slightly better. But that's it. I mean they lost to Vandy last year. Vanderbilt! If I was Mitch Barhart I would have gotten rid of Stoops on the spot.

I don't think they've really progressed any since Stoops has taken over. I think they are in as bad a shape as they were when Joker left. I think they have showed potential i.e against Florida and taking care of SC who is about at the same spot UK is, maybe slightly better. But that's it. I mean they lost to Vandy last year. Vanderbilt! If I was Mitch Barhart I would have gotten rid of Stoops on the spot.

 

I don't know about that, under Joker, the program was tumbling quickly and would have been a two win program for the foreseeable future. At least with Stoops, UK is at least winning most of the games against weak programs, Vandy last year being the exception. Under Joker, UK was even losing against just about all the weak programs.

 

Firing Stoops would be setting a terrible precident to all possible hires out there that not only is UK an tough place to coach, you also will only be given a few years to clean things up before getting fired. Then who worth a lick would want to coach at UK? UK is in a position where they pretty much have to give a coach more years than is usual before pulling the carpet (like UK did with Brooks giving him several years to turn around the program) unless the program is tumbling backwards like it was with Joker. UK went from 2 wins to 5. Unfortunately last year could not make the leap to 6 but I am more than content to give Stoops more time if for no other reason, who better could UK get at this point?

I don't know about that, under Joker, the program was tumbling quickly and would have been a two win program for the foreseeable future. At least with Stoops, UK is at least winning most of the games against weak programs, Vandy last year being the exception. Under Joker, UK was even losing against just about all the weak programs.

 

Firing Stoops would be setting a terrible precident to all possible hires out there that not only is UK an tough place to coach, you also will only be given a few years to clean things up before getting fired. Then who worth a lick would want to coach at UK? UK is in a position where they pretty much have to give a coach more years than is usual before pulling the carpet (like UK did with Brooks giving him several years to turn around the program) unless the program is tumbling backwards like it was with Joker. UK went from 2 wins to 5. Unfortunately last year could not make the leap to 6 but I am more than content to give Stoops more time if for no other reason, who better could UK get at this point?

How do you know Stoops is the right guy? His last name? I'm not super convinced Stoops is a great coach. I think a coach can win at UK, I'm not sold it is Stoops. I think good coaches get their players amped up enough where they don't lose to Vandy. Stoops has done an OK job recruiting considering it is hard to recruit to UK, relatively speaking. But he has done a really poor job of developing the players once they get there.

How do you know Stoops is the right guy? His last name? I'm not super convinced Stoops is a great coach. I think a coach can win at UK, I'm not sold it is Stoops. I think good coaches get their players amped up enough where they don't lose to Vandy. Stoops has done an OK job recruiting considering it is hard to recruit to UK, relatively speaking. But he has done a really poor job of developing the players once they get there.

 

I don't know Stoops is the right guy or the wrong guy but I feel certain for sure had he been fired last year, whoever the right guy would have scratched UK off their list of possible next jumps and waited for the next school to call.

 

I give Stoops credit for 2 things, 1) bringing recruiting from the Vandy level to the Mizzu, S. Carolina, etc. level (not great but certainly better than when he walked in) and 2) taking UK from a 2 win team to a 5 win team so those tell me UK is not losing water like under Joker but I do concede, the UK is gaining water at too slow of a speed but I am still willing to give more time if ANYTHING to make it clear to future coaches should he not work out that the University will give them adequate time to rebuild. Otherwise, I think the list of possible future coaches is much, much shorter and much less appealing.

It easily is and in many ways he's coaching for his job.

If UK football fans are seriously worried about losing to Southern Miss (yes I know SM is a decent team for a non-power 5 school, but they aren't Houston or anything), then the state of this program is STILL on the downturn.

I don't think it's worry as much as having no freaking idea what UK will look like. I remember the hype last year that UK was going to be really good, then it just didn't happen. I think in a way this is Stoops' biggest game yet.

I don't think it's worry as much as having no freaking idea what UK will look like. I remember the hype last year that UK was going to be really good, then it just didn't happen. I think in a way this is Stoops' biggest game yet.

Was there really that much hype going into last year for UK? They finished the year before with 7 straight losses?

Was there really that much hype going into last year for UK? They finished the year before with 7 straight losses?

Might have been the year before I was thinking of.