I will support Brooks until he decides its time to leave... a solid program on the field and off! Yeah, I have seen Kelly and he is a great fit for Cincinnati. But Cincinnati also had Huggins. I just don't see Kelly a good fit in Lexington... he is awfully rough around the edges! Brooks and staff are a class act... and that is what the Cats' deserve during this rebuilding of team and reputation.

 

To compare BK to Huggs is a complete and total joke. Have you followed anything I've posted here about the kind of guys BK insists on recruiting and having in his program?

 

What exactly do you find "rough around the edges" about BK???

How long does the probation pass last? Does the probation pass allow for a team to underachieve at home after a supposed big win on the road? Our recruiting base in KY is never going to change so what does that have to do with anything? You think Oregon is fertile ground for high school 5-star kids? You think Utah is cranking out 5-star kids? No. They go get them. Our recruiting is actually solid. However, the fans like you who accept the "3 bowls in a row" even though, as LABS pointed out, we would not have made a bowl game if not for adding a 12th game to the regular season, tell recruits that "we're cool with 6-6 and going to Shreveport because we've got Coach Cal." Why would a top-notch kid like the kid who just committed to the Canes come here with that mentality? He wants to play for championships. We don't demand that we even TRY to get near the top.

 

UK has great facilities and great resources so the "northern most team" mantra is another excuse that doesn't fly.

 

We've kept the bar so low that we will continue to accept 6-6 and edging Vandy for last in the SEC East.

 

That's disappointing.

2006 8-5 - 3rd SEC East

2007 8-5 - 4th SEC East

2008 7-6 - 6th SEC East

 

So really only one of the past three seasons is as you described. I for one don't think going 6-6 every year is acceptable, but hey it's only happened once in the past three seasons. That is why it's too early to give up on them.

That is why it's too early to give up on them.

 

Its not a matter of "giving up on them." Its a "hey, thanks for everything you've done to rebuild it. However, we now want to take it higher."

 

As I said, Coach Brooks will have a deserved play in the UK HOF some day.

Its not a matter of "giving up on them." Its a "hey, thanks for everything you've done to rebuild it. However, we now want to take it higher."

 

As I said, Coach Brooks will have a deserved play in the UK HOF some day.

 

I get your point... just think it is too early. What if they win out this year?

 

I can't see the UK job being attractive enough to go out and get some one who is for sure better right now. If you told me we could have BK then I would absolutely reconsider. I just think it is terribly unrealistic to think we would get a replacement like that.

I get your point... just think it is too early. What if they win out this year?

 

.

 

Then I'll be wrong.

How long does the probation pass last? Does the probation pass allow for a team to underachieve at home after a supposed big win on the road? Our recruiting base in KY is never going to change so what does that have to do with anything? You think Oregon is fertile ground for high school 5-star kids? You think Utah is cranking out 5-star kids? No. They go get them. Our recruiting is actually solid. However, the fans like you who accept the "3 bowls in a row" even though, as LABS pointed out, we would not have made a bowl game if not for adding a 12th game to the regular season, tell recruits that "we're cool with 6-6 and going to Shreveport because we've got Coach Cal." Why would a top-notch kid like the kid who just committed to the Canes come here with that mentality? He wants to play for championships. We don't demand that we even TRY to get near the top.

 

UK has great facilities and great resources so the "northern most team" mantra is another excuse that doesn't fly.

 

We've kept the bar so low that we will continue to accept 6-6 and edging Vandy for last in the SEC East.

 

That's disappointing.

 

Building a football program the RIGHT way is MUCH more difficult than basketball. Brooks is trying to build tradition at a school that has never been known for their football. He did not build Oregon in a short time either. I understand wanting more, but if you do it the wrong way (ala Curci or Mumme/Bassett) you get in trouble.

 

I am very comfortable with where UK is and where I believe they are headed. Find another period of time in UK's football history (besides Bear Bryant's tenure) where the program has ever shown sustained success at ANY level better than this. You won't because it doesn't exist.

 

Outside of Utah's win over Bama (1 game), what conference do they play in? Put them in the SEC, and you think they are competing for an SEC title every year? The SEC is the toughest football conference to build a program in, otherwise wouldn't someone else be competing for it besides the usual suspects.

 

Fans like me remember what UK football has been for my entire life and appreciate the fact that we are at least an above average program now, compared to years of futility and not competing at all. Brooks has already done things that UK hasn't done in 20-50 years and some things that have never been done. Do I want more? Absolutely! But it is amazing how some UK fans seem to have such a short memory.

 

Simple question, ... is the program in better shape now than when Brooks took over? Yes or no.

I actually think while this year will probably not be much of a step up, if at all, from last year, next year is setting up to be a really good season. Our defense this year looked great in May with 3 future potentially very good NFL guys on it. Well one is in the NFL now, another hasn't played since the Alabama game, and the other one has had injury after injury all year. We have also lost our QB who, while not being that good, was our best option. But now we have a our future QB who is really going to be great IMO and return all our main skill players next year. Our defense is getting used to playing without Lindley and will get better. I am more excited about next year than I have been this year and last year!

Building a football program the RIGHT way is MUCH more difficult than basketball. Brooks is trying to build tradition at a school that has never been known for their football. He did not build Oregon in a short time either. I understand wanting more, but if you do it the wrong way (ala Curci or Mumme/Bassett) you get in trouble.

 

I am very comfortable with where UK is and where I believe they are headed. Find another period of time in UK's football history (besides Bear Bryant's tenure) where the program has ever shown sustained success at ANY level better than this. You won't because it doesn't exist.

 

Outside of Utah's win over Bama (1 game), what conference do they play in? Put them in the SEC, and you think they are competing for an SEC title every year? The SEC is the toughest football conference to build a program in, otherwise wouldn't someone else be competing for it besides the usual suspects.

 

Fans like me remember what UK football has been for my entire life and appreciate the fact that we are at least an above average program now, compared to years of futility and not competing at all. Brooks has already done things that UK hasn't done in 20-50 years and some things that have never been done. Do I want more? Absolutely! But it is amazing how some UK fans seem to have such a short memory.

 

Simple question, ... is the program in better shape now than when Brooks took over? Yes or no.

 

Thanks for typing all that and saving me the time it would've took me half an hour. I agree 100%.

As most of you know I used to coach at Frankfort which is a small 1a school. We may have a kid every five or ten years that can play in the SEC, but very shortly after Brooks was hired Archer and Joker would stop by just to check in. Up until then a UK coach had never been to the school. Because of that they ended up with EJ FIelds and barely missed on Quan Weaver. They do things the right way and that suits me fine.:thumb:

Let me begin this by saying I LOVE Papaw. Probably my favorite all around coach at UK during my lifetime. BUT, I do think it's a very fair question of whether or not it's time to move ahead. I'm not sure he has what it takes to take us to the next level. Whatever happens though, the split between us and Brooks needs to be very amicable because the university does owe him a lot for what he has done for the program so far.

 

I have said all along that I'm not for sure if Joker is the answer for getting us to the next level. And even though I see the reasoning behind making him the "coach-in-waiting" I'm not so sure if it was the best idea as we have backed ourselves into a corner.

 

I believe if there is a guy like BK out there who is willing to listen then you need to go after him. And by go after him I mean throw everything you can at him...treat him like Coach Cal and if he doesn't come you keep firing at similar coaches. The conference is here, the TV contract is now here, the facilities are here, and IF UK wants to do it the money is there too. That is the only way you can truely say you tried to be a football power.

Thanks for typing all that and saving me the time it would've took me half an hour. I agree 100%.

As most of you know I used to coach at Frankfort which is a small 1a school. We may have a kid every five or ten years that can play in the SEC, but very shortly after Brooks was hired Archer and Joker would stop by just to check in. Up until then a UK coach had never been to the school. Because of that they ended up with EJ FIelds and barely missed on Quan Weaver. They do things the right way and that suits me fine.:thumb:

 

:thumb:

 

I know all UK fans want more, as do these players and coaches at UK. But just a few years ago I remember reading posts on this very board, ... 'If we could only go to a bowl game every once in a while, I would be happy.' Well, now we are there, and currently on a nice streak, but that isn't good enough.

 

If Brooks were rebuilding at UGA, LSU, UF, Ohio St, Mich, Notre Dame, USC, etc, the expectations should be MUCH higher (as they always are for UK hoops). But he is trying to build ANY tradition at a school that virtually has none.

Simple question, ... is the program in better shape now than when Brooks took over? Yes or no.

 

Your simple question and the obvious answer are just that. A simple question with no bearing on the debate.

 

All I hear from you and others is "we're better than we used to be."

 

Is anyone actually questioning that or are you just being Mr. Obvious?

 

I don't buy the "we used to stink now we've OK so we should be satisfied" thinking. Plain and simple.

 

Your post and others seem to indicate that we can't do any better nor should we try. I don't subscribe to that theory. The ability as a coach to get a program to "OK" does not mean the coach has the ability to get us to "really good." That's my point.

 

So can Coach Brooks and his staff get us to "really good?"

Your simple question and the obvious answer are just that. A simple question with no bearing on the debate.

 

All I hear from you and others is "we're better than we used to be."

 

Is anyone actually questioning that or are you just being Mr. Obvious?

 

I don't buy the "we used to stink now we've OK so we should be satisfied" thinking. Plain and simple.

 

Your post and others seem to indicate that we can't do any better nor should we try. I don't subscribe to that theory. The ability as a coach to get a program to "OK" does not mean the coach has the ability to get us to "really good." That's my point.

 

So can Coach Brooks and his staff get us to "really good?"

That's the million dollar question that UK fans don't seem to want to answer. The signs are starting to point towards no.

UK made a mistake by naming Joker the next coach. I'm not saying he will not be a good coach and shouldn't get the chance to be the next HC but to name him so far in advance and not look at what will be available at the time is a mistake. Let him go through the interview process like every other candidate. If he's the best, hire him.

 

Now we've locked ourselves into a no-win situation.

UK made a mistake by naming Joker the next coach. I'm not saying he will not be a good coach and shouldn't get the chance to be the next HC but to name him so far in advance and not look at what will be available at the time is a mistake. Let him go through the interview process like every other candidate. If he's the best, hire him.

 

Now we've locked ourselves into a no-win situation.

 

It sure as heck isn't no-win if Joker turns out to be a great coach.

It sure as heck isn't no-win if Joker turns out to be a great coach.

 

Correct.

 

However, that's true no matter what coach you hire and when you name them, right?

 

What was the rush to name Joker?