Since many are jumping ship with UK, especially on the future with Joker I'm left wondering who UK should get to replace Brooks. Of course this is hypothetical, since Joker is the coach in waiting but let's have some fun.

 

Who would UK get that would:

 

A. Actually come to UK.

 

B. Do better than what we currently have.

 

One choice that I like in this hypothetical situation would be Charlie Strong. I don't know if he would take it for a few reasons, but if they could get him it would be a great hire IMO.

Since many are jumping ship with UK, especially on the future with Joker I'm left wondering who UK should get to replace Brooks. Of course this is hypothetical, since Joker is the coach in waiting but let's have some fun.

 

Who would UK get that would:

 

A. Actually come to UK.

 

B. Do better than what we currently have.

 

One choice that I like in this hypothetical situation would be Charlie Strong. I don't know if he would take it for a few reasons, but if they could get him it would be a great hire IMO.

 

The only way you replace Brooks is if he retires. Let me get that out of the way first.

 

I think Joker is good at his position 50 out of 60 minutes. It just seems like they struggle when the pressure is on.

 

I do think Charlie Strong would be a good choice, but I don't know if he would be the best they could get. Being in the SEC is a huge marketing tool, and I think that could lure other coaches here. Brooks brought us out of the cellar, so we're not that bad of a team. With renewed interest in the football program, with possible upgrades to Commonwealth, and the great fanbase, I think Kentucky could lure someone like Mike Leach from Texas Tech. They could get a few other coaches on the rise. Perhaps Peterson (maybe). Kyle Whittingham. Gary Patterson is a possibility - and don't say he wouldn't come. He talked to Washington before they hired Steve S. from USC.

 

I would rather Charlie prove he can handle it all at a smaller program - but that's just me.

^^ I could see Patterson or Whittingham. I can't see Petersen, because I think he is above the UK program but that's JMO. UK is more of a job like Miss. State to me, kind of need an up and coming guy. I don't think Strong would come, but he'd be a great fit IMO.

^^ I could see Patterson or Whittingham. I can't see Petersen, because I think he is above the UK program but that's JMO. UK is more of a job like Miss. State to me, kind of need an up and coming guy. I don't think Strong would come, but he'd be a great fit IMO.

 

I'd put Kentucky ahead of Mississippi State.

 

You could probably ask any coach and they'd choose Kentucky.

 

Unless it is more to do with recruiting ground, etc. Kentucky is higher up than Mississippi State right now. But that's just my opinion.

I'd put Kentucky ahead of Mississippi State.

 

You could probably ask any coach and they'd choose Kentucky.

 

Unless it is more to do with recruiting ground, etc. Kentucky is higher up than Mississippi State right now. But that's just my opinion.

 

Similar programs though. It's hard to imagine either one becoming a dominant program in the SEC in the near future. Both are kind of dead end jobs, IMO.

Similar programs though. It's hard to imagine either one becoming a dominant program in the SEC in the near future. Both are kind of dead end jobs, IMO.

 

But you could say the same about Stanford and Oregon State and both are doing pretty well in the Pac10. I just think with a new coach, Kentucky could reach a higher level.

 

That's nothing against Rich Brooks.

But you could say the same about Stanford and Oregon State and both are doing pretty well in the Pac10. I just think with a new coach, Kentucky could reach a higher level.

 

That's nothing against Rich Brooks.

 

I won't disagree with you here. It is easy for those guys to get players though. I know Stanford is a tough school, but they have some talent. McShay said that Luck could end up being the best QB prospect since P.Manning. Also outside of USC no one is just loaded with talent year in and year out in the PAC-10 IMO. Oregon is getting there, but not yet IMO.

 

Also with no conference championship, it makes it easier for those schools to win their conference IMO. In the south, UK is always going to be known as a basketball school and that hurts them recruting-wise IMO, along with other factors. I think that unless the next Urban Meyer comes in and is a life long Cats fan, 7-9 wins is the max for UK football annually. JMO.

I won't disagree with you here. It is easy for those guys to get players though. I know Stanford is a tough school, but they have some talent. McShay said that Luck could end up being the best QB prospect since P.Manning. Also outside of USC no one is just loaded with talent year in and year out in the PAC-10 IMO. Oregon is getting there, but not yet IMO.

 

Also with no conference championship, it makes it easier for those schools to win their conference IMO. In the south, UK is always going to be known as a basketball school and that hurts them recruting-wise IMO, along with other factors. I think that unless the next Urban Meyer comes in and is a life long Cats fan, 7-9 wins is the max for UK football annually. JMO.

 

How is it easy for Stanford and Oregon State to get good players? State is in Corvallis, Oregon, which has 60,000 people max. Stanford could claim location, I guess, but still, it's difficult to get many good players with those standards. You can get smart, scrappy players, but not the big guys, year in and year out.

 

Kentucky could have won ten games this year, so I don't think 7-9 is the max. But we'll agree to disagree.

How is it easy for Stanford and Oregon State to get good players? State is in Corvallis, Oregon, which has 60,000 people max. Stanford could claim location, I guess, but still, it's difficult to get many good players with those standards. You can get smart, scrappy players, but not the big guys, year in and year out.

 

Kentucky could have won ten games this year, so I don't think 7-9 is the max. But we'll agree to disagree.

 

California is a better recruiting base for both of those schools than what UK has. UK could potentially go into Ohio for players, but those guys are going to OSU, Michigan, ND, Penn State, UC etc. California produces good players who can get in with tougher standards IMO, look at how ND tries to get players from there. Not every good athlete is terrible student. California is probably the best state IMO for recruiting an athlete if your school has tougher standards. Stanford has had some great recruiting classes under Harbaugh when you consider what they were doing before he got there.

 

What does UK have to offer that UF, UGA, BAMA, OSU etc. do not for a football player?

California is a better recruiting base for both of those schools than what UK has. UK could potentially go into Ohio for players, but those guys are going to OSU, Michigan, ND, Penn State, UC etc. California produces good players who can get in with tougher standards IMO, look at how ND tries to get players from there. Not every good athlete is terrible student. California is probably the best state IMO for recruiting an athlete if your school has tougher standards. Stanford has had some great recruiting classes under Harbaugh when you consider what they were doing before he got there.

 

What does UK have to offer that UF, UGA, BAMA, OSU etc. do not for a football player?

 

What does Oregon State or Stanford have to offer? Sure, you'll get a few to go to Stanford because of their academics, but not an entire team. For most students, that's probably the toughest part about that program.

 

Kentucky (atleast in the Brooks era) has recruited very well in Georgia. I'm not asking for the next coach to bring in five star players. I think the staff now does a good job at developing their talent into great players. That's not the problem. I think Brooks put all his energy into getting us out of probation and geting us to where we are that his philosophy has finally run it's course. He put us in great position. We're got Newton out of Indiana, he was a 4-star. We got Moss out of Texas (I think?), and he was 4 or 5-star.

 

But like you said, what does UK have to offer? How about playing time? UF, UGA, Bama, and the like cannot take every player. Oregon State, Cincinnati, TCU, Boise State, Utah have no more to offer than Kentucky does at this point. All those teams could go undefeated and still be left out of the national title race. If Kentucky were to go undefeated in the SEC, they'd be playing for it.

What does Oregon State or Stanford have to offer? Sure, you'll get a few to go to Stanford because of their academics, but not an entire team. For most students, that's probably the toughest part about that program.

 

Kentucky (atleast in the Brooks era) has recruited very well in Georgia. I'm not asking for the next coach to bring in five star players. I think the staff now does a good job at developing their talent into great players. That's not the problem. I think Brooks put all his energy into getting us out of probation and geting us to where we are that his philosophy has finally run it's course. He put us in great position. We're got Newton out of Indiana, he was a 4-star. We got Moss out of Texas (I think?), and he was 4 or 5-star.

 

But like you said, what does UK have to offer? How about playing time? UF, UGA, Bama, and the like cannot take every player. Oregon State, Cincinnati, TCU, Boise State, Utah have no more to offer than Kentucky does at this point. All those teams could go undefeated and still be left out of the national title race. If Kentucky were to go undefeated in the SEC, they'd be playing for it.

 

You make some very good points. I just don't see UK becoming the next UGA caliber program in the near future.

Very unfair to put Stanford University into any comparison with UK.

 

Stanford recruits on a national level. They are, arguably, the best academic institution in the country that plays Division I football. Typically, the Stanford football roster is made up of players from over half the 50 states. Stanford determines who can academically qualify at their prestigious university before the recruiting process even begins.

 

Kentucky is very regional in their recruiting. Typically the southern states with a little Ohio and Indiana sprinkled in.

 

What Stanford has to offer a football recruit is to get a full ride at one of the top academic institutions in our country. Kentucky can't compete with that!

Stanford recruits on a national level. They are, arguably, the best academic institution in the country that plays Division I football. Typically, the Stanford football roster is made up of players from over half the 50 states. Stanford determines who can academically qualify at their prestigious university before the recruiting process even begins.

 

Kentucky is very regional in their recruiting. Typically the southern states with a little Ohio and Indiana sprinkled in.

 

Stanford does recruit on a national level, but don't kid yourself. The majority of their roster is composed of kids from California...

After USC it seems like the rest of the PAC-10 school are about even recruiting wise. Oregon, Cal, UCLA, Stanford, Oregon State, Washington seem to all get about the same quality of players IMO. UK is probably extremely far down on the list when it comes to schools from southern states. Most would rather play for the SEC Heavyweights, Miami, FSU, Clemson and even schools like OSU, or WVU. UK gets guys mostly that other teams pass on or don't recruit as hard. Not that it's always bad, but it catches up with you most of the time.

Stanford does recruit on a national level, but don't kid yourself. The majority of their roster is composed of kids from California...

What school in the country doesn't have the majority of their players from the state the school is in?

 

On the other hand, how many schools, typically, have players from nearly two-thirds of the states in the U.S.?

 

Stanford is a unique university that plays football, and plays it rather well of late.

 

I am happy for Ryle's Tate Nichols. Fantastic opportunity for this young man heading off to the Farm!