I was around to watch those teams from the late 70's and I think that what we have now is much more special than of what those teams acheived. If you take the time to look in the history books, Fran Curci had to cheat to get teams of that magnitude, and ultimately got Kentucky put on probation. Kudos to Coach Brooks for building a winner the right way.

 

Excellent point! :thumb: It is nice to know that he and his staff have done it the right way. A teammate of mine from high school played for Curci and Claiborne. When I asked him the difference, he said that Claiborne had rules he actually enforced. My former teammate was suspended for 1 game for a team rules infraction by Claiborne that the same infraction the season before under Curci was swept under the rug. Sometimes maybe going 'old school' isn't such a bad idea!

Firing Hudson was the best move is has ever made. I believe that saved him. What I thought this whole time was, let him get his signature on the program and then decide. It rough at first but he steadfastly keep going and added the right personnel to his staff. I hope we can keep Joker Phillips a couple more years.

Firing Hudson was the best move is has ever made. I believe that saved him. What I thought this whole time was, let him get his signature on the program and then decide. It rough at first but he steadfastly keep going and added the right personnel to his staff. I hope we can keep Joker Phillips a couple more years.

 

 

Joker is on the fast track to getting paid big money somewhere.

 

We can only hope his heart is a bigger factor in where he coaches than his wallet.

Joker is on the fast track to getting paid big money somewhere.

 

We can only hope his heart is a bigger factor in where he coaches than his wallet.

 

I think if he sticks around until Brooks retires again, he could be the next head coach at UK.

I think if he sticks around until Brooks retires again, he could be the next head coach at UK.

 

That would be an ideal situation for UK. It is Joker's job if he wants it.

Here's one to ponder on. How many that are singing Brooks praises now will be calling for his head if he were to have a bad year next year?

 

Seems to be the nature of that beast if you are a head coach.

 

Wrong "beast".

 

This is the nature of the uninformed, irrational, rabid, "I want immediate results or else" fan.

I wanted Brooks fired too..but look what he has done for the Cats! They have won 9 out of 10 and are on fire! :fire:

I was never one who wanted Rich Brooks out as the Kentucky coach. He was dealt one of the worst hands in college football when he started out at UK. Probation with scholarship restrictions and a bare cupboard of talent. He had experience methodically building a lowly program at the time (Oregon) into a competitive team in the PAC-10. Rich had been a head coach on the pro level (St. Louis Rams) and the defensive coordinator on a Super Bowl team (Atlanta Falcons).

 

He was experienced and qualified to do just what he has done! My hats off to Rich Brooks and his staff.

 

My sentiments exactly. I was both publicly and privately a big supporter of Brooks. It was clear that he was dealt a mess. When very few other people were willing to step into that mess, he did so. Took a lot of courage and guts. And it was clear from day 1 that he was going to rebuild UK doing it the right way. No cutting corners and allowing rogues on the team. At a time when depth was already a problem, he didn't tolerate disciplinary violations. A lot of other coaches would have looked the other way. He did not.

 

I can't tell you the number of heated "discussions" I got into on the old Wildcat Faithful site with the folks that wanted Brooks given the boot after the first year. Its like they never had played the game and didn't understand what it was like to rebuild a football team the "right way"; particularly one that was playing in what is generally regarded as the toughest conference in the country. They were not only ruthless in their criticism of Brooks, they were ruthless in their criticism of any supporter of Brooks. Its almost a shame that site is gone, as I'd love to see their noses rubbed in it.

 

About the only person whom is enjoying this season more than Brooks is his daughter. She took a lot of garbage over the years from Brooks critics. I am particularly happy for her.

 

And after Brooks and his daughter, the person enjoying Brooks' success the most has to be Barnhart. It took a lot of courage for him to stick with Brooks. I applaud him for it. Jurich richly deserves the accolades he has received as the AD at UL. But Barnhart deserves just as many accolades.

 

Who knows how many years Brooks will continue to stick around. But there can be no doubt that he has done a lot to restore UK football to a level of creditibility and will leave it (unless the wheels fall off and I don't see that happening) in much, much better shape that what he inherited it. And honestly that's all you can ask of any coach or any business leader.

There is no question that he has the program in MUCH better shape then how he found it.

My sentiments exactly. I was both publicly and privately a big supporter of Brooks. It was clear that he was dealt a mess. When very few other people were willing to step into that mess, he did so. Took a lot of courage and guts. And it was clear from day 1 that he was going to rebuild UK doing it the right way. No cutting corners and allowing rogues on the team. At a time when depth was already a problem, he didn't tolerate disciplinary violations. A lot of other coaches would have looked the other way. He did not.

 

I can't tell you the number of heated "discussions" I got into on the old Wildcat Faithful site with the folks that wanted Brooks given the boot after the first year. Its like they never had played the game and didn't understand what it was like to rebuild a football team the "right way"; particularly one that was playing in what is generally regarded as the toughest conference in the country. They were not only ruthless in their criticism of Brooks, they were ruthless in their criticism of any supporter of Brooks. Its almost a shame that site is gone, as I'd love to see their noses rubbed in it.

 

About the only person whom is enjoying this season more than Brooks is his daughter. She took a lot of garbage over the years from Brooks critics. I am particularly happy for her.

 

And after Brooks and his daughter, the person enjoying Brooks' success the most has to be Barnhart. It took a lot of courage for him to stick with Brooks. I applaud him for it. Jurich richly deserves the accolades he has received as the AD at UL. But Barnhart deserves just as many accolades.

 

Who knows how many years Brooks will continue to stick around. But there can be no doubt that he has done a lot to restore UK football to a level of creditibility and will leave it (unless the wheels fall off and I don't see that happening) in much, much better shape that what he inherited it. And honestly that's all you can ask of any coach or any business leader.

 

Nice post. :thumb:

My sentiments exactly. I was both publicly and privately a big supporter of Brooks. It was clear that he was dealt a mess. When very few other people were willing to step into that mess, he did so. Took a lot of courage and guts. And it was clear from day 1 that he was going to rebuild UK doing it the right way. No cutting corners and allowing rogues on the team. At a time when depth was already a problem, he didn't tolerate disciplinary violations. A lot of other coaches would have looked the other way. He did not.

 

I can't tell you the number of heated "discussions" I got into on the old Wildcat Faithful site with the folks that wanted Brooks given the boot after the first year. Its like they never had played the game and didn't understand what it was like to rebuild a football team the "right way"; particularly one that was playing in what is generally regarded as the toughest conference in the country. They were not only ruthless in their criticism of Brooks, they were ruthless in their criticism of any supporter of Brooks. Its almost a shame that site is gone, as I'd love to see their noses rubbed in it.

 

About the only person whom is enjoying this season more than Brooks is his daughter. She took a lot of garbage over the years from Brooks critics. I am particularly happy for her.

 

And after Brooks and his daughter, the person enjoying Brooks' success the most has to be Barnhart. It took a lot of courage for him to stick with Brooks. I applaud him for it. Jurich richly deserves the accolades he has received as the AD at UL. But Barnhart deserves just as many accolades.

 

Who knows how many years Brooks will continue to stick around. But there can be no doubt that he has done a lot to restore UK football to a level of creditibility and will leave it (unless the wheels fall off and I don't see that happening) in much, much better shape that what he inherited it. And honestly that's all you can ask of any coach or any business leader.

 

Most people wanted Brooks gone before he ever coached a game...so at the first sign of trouble, which was inevitable given his situation, they pounced. All I heard was, "He's too old, they need to get a young coach who will stay for a while, blah blah blah." It's like UK fans expected up-and-coming young coaches to beat the door down to coach an SEC bottom feeder suffering from scholarship reductions. Talk about delusional...and besides that, let's just consider the what if...what if a young coach had took the job and was enjoying Brooks success. Guess what would happen after this year? There's a 90% chance he'd be gone to greener pastures with Woodson and company scheduled for departure.

 

They also looked at Brooks losing record at Oregon as evidence that he "can't coach". Again, ignore the fact that he took a Pac-10 bottom feeder, a program that was probably worse off than the UK situation he stepped into, and lead it to a Rose Bowl before he left.

 

The fact is, the old man, Rich Brooks, has the experience of building a program from bottom feeder status...he has the patience that a younger coach probably wouldn't have...and, he'll probably stick around to see it through, where a younger guy would probably have used it as a stepping stone. The fact is, when Brooks leaves UK, this could very well be an attractive job...one where good young coaches will want to come, and stay.

 

So, those fans who didn't want Brooks may ultimately get want they want because of him...a hot young coach who will stay...unfortunately, they'll have to suffer through watching the "old man" rebuild the program and do the dirty work.

 

No doubt, if that happened, after Brooks laid the foundation and a hot young coach came in and succeeded, they'll say, "You see...they should have done that to start with."

Most people wanted Brooks gone before he ever coached a game...so at the first sign of trouble, which was inevitable given his situation, they pounced. All I heard was, "He's too old, they need to get a young coach who will stay for a while, blah blah blah." It's like UK fans expected up-and-coming young coaches to beat the door down to coach an SEC bottom feeder suffering from scholarship reductions. Talk about delusional...and besides that, let's just consider the what if...what if a young coach had took the job and was enjoying Brooks success. Guess what would happen after this year? There's a 90% chance he'd be gone to greener pastures with Woodson and company scheduled for departure.

 

They also looked at Brooks losing record at Oregon as evidence that he "can't coach". Again, ignore the fact that he took a Pac-10 bottom feeder, a program that was probably worse off than the UK situation he stepped into, and lead it to a Rose Bowl before he left.

 

The fact is, the old man, Rich Brooks, has the experience of building a program from bottom feeder status...he has the patience that a younger coach probably wouldn't have...and, he'll probably stick around to see it through, where a younger guy would probably have used it as a stepping stone. The fact is, when Brooks leaves UK, this could very well be an attractive job...one where good young coaches will want to come, and stay.

 

So, those fans who didn't want Brooks may ultimately get want they want because of him...a hot young coach who will stay...unfortunately, they'll have to suffer through watching the "old man" rebuild the program and do the dirty work.

 

No doubt, if that happened, after Brooks laid the foundation and a hot young coach came in and succeeded, they'll say, "You see...they should have done that to start with."

 

Also very true... My biggest fear (well, in terms of Kentucky football that is) is they'll get some hot upstart coach that jumps at the second the Tennessee (for example) job becomes available... Or has his eyes firmly set on being the next coach to fail in the NFL.

Also very true... My biggest fear (well, in terms of Kentucky football that is) is they'll get some hot upstart coach that jumps at the second the Tennessee (for example) job becomes available... Or has his eyes firmly set on being the next coach to fail in the NFL.

 

Randy Sanders intrigues me as a head coach candidate...I don't know if he'd be a good one or not, but I have hunch that he wouldn't be a bad guy to put in control should Brooks leave. I love Joker as an OC, but for some reason I'm not sold on him being the head coach...and please, don't accuse me of being racist. I've been on the Joker bandwagon ever since they let him take over as OC with two games left a few years ago...actually before that I thought they should have given him a shot. I think he's one of the most underrated and underappreciated offensive coordinators in college football. I like his game plans and his play calling...the pro-style offense he runs and the way he balances the run and pass and keeps defenses off balance. I'd love to see him remain the OC for a long, long time at UK. Anyway, that's looking ahead a bit...

 

As for now, I like our staff. I like Brooks as head coach, Joker as OC and Sanders as QB Coach...Steve Brown is the unknown, but I like what I've seen thus far. The UK defense is definitely improved and has been solid...I believe it will get better with time and more recruiting. They held U of L to one TD in the second half, and of Arkansas' 29 points, the defense really only allowed 10...7 came on the early fumble return, 2 on a safety and 7 on the ensuing kickoff return, and 3 from a FG after a turnover, I think. All in all, I was pleased with our defense against Arkansas....I knew McFadden would get some yardage, but we kept them out of the end zone.

Randy Sanders intrigues me as a head coach candidate...I don't know if he'd be a good one or not, but I have hunch that he wouldn't be a bad guy to put in control should Brooks leave. I love Joker as an OC, but for some reason I'm not sold on him being the head coach...and please, don't accuse me of being racist. I've been on the Joker bandwagon ever since they let him take over as OC with two games left a few years ago...actually before that I thought they should have given him a shot. I think he's one of the most underrated and underappreciated offensive coordinators in college football. I like his game plans and his play calling...the pro-style offense he runs and the way he balances the run and pass and keeps defenses off balance. I'd love to see him remain the OC for a long, long time at UK. Anyway, that's looking ahead a bit...

 

As for now, I like our staff. I like Brooks as head coach, Joker as OC and Sanders as QB Coach...Steve Brown is the unknown, but I like what I've seen thus far. The UK defense is definitely improved and has been solid...I believe it will get better with time and more recruiting. They held U of L to one TD in the second half, and of Arkansas' 29 points, the defense really only allowed 10...7 came on the early fumble return, 2 on a safety and 7 on the ensuing kickoff return, and 3 from a FG after a turnover, I think. All in all, I was pleased with our defense against Arkansas....I knew McFadden would get some yardage, but we kept them out of the end zone.

 

 

Joker has been an excellent OC. He was excellent as the recruiting coordinator, establishing contacts everywhere and getting some awfully good kids. I think in the next few years, he will be ready to be a head man and a darned good one.

"Leatherneck" said it very well!

 

"Who knows how many years Brooks will continue to stick around. But there can be no doubt that he has done a lot to restore UK football to a level of creditibility and will leave it (unless the wheels fall off and I don't see that happening) in much, much better shape that what he inherited it. And honestly that's all you can ask of any coach or any business leader."

 

I am told from a very reliable source that Rich Brooks would like to coach five more years. He is 66 now and in great shape. I would think that Joker Phillips would/will be his successor. He has methodically done a great job and I hope UK fans continue to have confidence in him next year when the Cats will need to find so new players to replace the likes of Burton, Woodson, Little, Tamme, and Woodyard!