December 2, 200916 yr ^ Won't happen....nobody has risen up in the SEC over the years....they have all seemed to be the powers that they are....one may make noise here and there...but the powers are what they are in that league. The only way to move up is to out recruit the powers in the SEC and that is impossible. It is what it is UK does the best with what they have.
December 2, 200916 yr Author :thumb: I have friends in Oregon who told me that they were not convinced that Belotti was the best choice as the heir apparent when Brooks left the Ducks for the NFL. That worked out very well for them. I also remember that the vast majority of the posters on here were very unhappy when Brooks was hired, ... and stayed that way for 3 years. Now? Well, apparently doing positive things that have NEVER been done at UK in football for 100 years isn't good enough. I will keep supporting Brooks and will throw my support to Joker once Brooks retires. :thumb: JUST 25 MORE DAYS UNTIL THE MUSIC CITY BOWL!!! I PLAN ON BEING THERE TO SUPPORT THE CATS! I was one that thought he wasn't the right choice and I think he has done a great job here. I hope he stays, but when he does decide to turn it in, I'll also support Joker 100%. I'll be there as well. 10 Yd. line row B upper section.
December 2, 200916 yr Hmmm I seem to remember a WVU team with no real down field passing game, doing pretty darn going against one of our SEC teams in a BCS game in Georgia. So your little theory there just goes right out the window, about them not being able to do anything. Teams like Pitt, WVU, USF, and even Rutgers would be more than capable of beating them two on a given day, especially Bama. So where would that coach go then? I mean he already is in the SEC the best conference in America and having success. I mean if your having success in the SEC your going to get talked about a lot, your going to get people's attention. Which also means recruits attention. If UK is doing well in the SEC, then they must be doing something right. Also probably would be a system then that players would want to play in. Having success makes recruiting a whole lot easier. So you say he definitely will leave, then to where? Florida? They already have a great coach. USC? Yeah unless Pete Carroll leaves, that aint happening. Bama? Nick Saban is not going anywhere? Miami? Miami already seems to be on the way up, so that would be a no. Oklahoma, Texas have great coaches there already. Notre Dame might be in a good place by that time, depending on how the new coach does. So I mean where exactly would he go. All the top big name schools already have coaches, and very good coaches at that so they probably will still be there even in a few years. So where exactly would he go? Not to a Big East school, not a Big 10 school. Unless Michigan or OSU opens up and I doubt that. I mean in the PAC 10 the only school there that would be tempting to leave to would USC. The Big 12 basically just Oklahoma and Texas as two schools that maybe a coach would leave a successful SEC team for. Then if he is already having success in the SEC, then why would he leave for another SEC school. Especially when the likes of Florida, Bama, UT, and probably even Auburn now have coaches that aren't going anywhere for awhile. I mean seriously think about that, if a coach at UK does have success and has us competiting for the SEC crown every so often. Then why would he leave? Its not the same situation at all as it is with UL, and UC. If a coach is already have success at an SEC school, there really isn't to many jobs out there that would be a step up then. It wouldn't be as likely that they would definitely leave as you think. For the first part of that I have a few responses. A. WVU got an unbelievable performance from Pat White (set a Sugar Bowl Rushing record) and Steve Slaton both. B. That was way before teams had learned how to defend the zone read, and Rich Rod's offense. USF really came up with the blue print, which is creating alot of havoc and a new LOS with the DL. UGA didn't know what hit them. C. No chance in the world would THIS SEASON's WVU, Pitt, USF, Rutgers, etc. beat UF or Alabama. That is comical. The SEC couldn't take them down, but average teams from the WORST BCS Conference in America are going to scare them. How did WVU look against Auburn this season again? But, yeah they could beat the #1 and #2 teams in the country. Cincy would have a decent shot, but the rest of the Big East would get spanked by at least 35 points by UF or Bama IMO. To the 2nd part, where would the coach go to? Let me make this perfectly clear....... UK is a Basketball school. Just because they are in the SEC does not mean it is a good job. A quality coach who could take the to the SEC Title and National Title would get offers from all the REAL football jobs in America if they were available. UK is a garbage job in SEC terms and that's not going to change. The state of Kentucky probably puts out about 10-15 actual D-1 players a year, if they are lucky. Probably only 3 or 4 of those players could actually contribute in the SEC. That isn't going to cut it. Teams a quality coach would leave UK for...... -Almost all of the SEC -Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State. Goes without saying. -USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, you know teams that actually have football tradition. -Miami or Florida State in a heart beat. -Oregon- Oregon is the program on the rise. They have some of the best facilities, and Nike on their side. They are what you think UK could and should be. Actually the rest of the Pac 10 pretty much has better jobs than UK. UK football is never going to be any good, they just don't have the necessary resources.
December 2, 200916 yr For the first part of that I have a few responses. A. WVU got an unbelievable performance from Pat White (set a Sugar Bowl Rushing record) and Steve Slaton both. B. That was way before teams had learned how to defend the zone read, and Rich Rod's offense. USF really came up with the blue print, which is creating alot of havoc and a new LOS with the DL. UGA didn't know what hit them. C. No chance in the world would THIS SEASON's WVU, Pitt, USF, Rutgers, etc. beat UF or Alabama. That is comical. The SEC couldn't take them down, but average teams from the WORST BCS Conference in America are going to scare them. How did WVU look against Auburn this season again? But, yeah they could beat the #1 and #2 teams in the country. Cincy would have a decent shot, but the rest of the Big East would get spanked by at least 35 points by UF or Bama IMO. To the 2nd part, where would the coach go to? Let me make this perfectly clear....... UK is a Basketball school. Just because they are in the SEC does not mean it is a good job. A quality coach who could take the to the SEC Title and National Title would get offers from all the REAL football jobs in America if they were available. UK is a garbage job in SEC terms and that's not going to change. The state of Kentucky probably puts out about 10-15 actual D-1 players a year, if they are lucky. Probably only 3 or 4 of those players could actually contribute in the SEC. That isn't going to cut it. Teams a quality coach would leave UK for...... -Almost all of the SEC -Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State. Goes without saying. -USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, you know teams that actually have football tradition. -Miami or Florida State in a heart beat. -Oregon- Oregon is the program on the rise. They have some of the best facilities, and Nike on their side. They are what you think UK could and should be. Actually the rest of the Pac 10 pretty much has better jobs than UK. UK football is never going to be any good, they just don't have the necessary resources. I agree with almost everything you said except for one word. Never is an awfully big word that I never use.
December 2, 200916 yr I agree with almost everything you said except for one word. Never is an awfully big word that I never use. I agree. Never is too strong. Most likely UK will never become a football power IMO. But anything is possible.
December 2, 200916 yr For the first part of that I have a few responses. A. WVU got an unbelievable performance from Pat White (set a Sugar Bowl Rushing record) and Steve Slaton both. B. That was way before teams had learned how to defend the zone read, and Rich Rod's offense. USF really came up with the blue print, which is creating alot of havoc and a new LOS with the DL. UGA didn't know what hit them. C. No chance in the world would THIS SEASON's WVU, Pitt, USF, Rutgers, etc. beat UF or Alabama. That is comical. The SEC couldn't take them down, but average teams from the WORST BCS Conference in America are going to scare them. How did WVU look against Auburn this season again? But, yeah they could beat the #1 and #2 teams in the country. Cincy would have a decent shot, but the rest of the Big East would get spanked by at least 35 points by UF or Bama IMO. To the 2nd part, where would the coach go to? Let me make this perfectly clear....... UK is a Basketball school. Just because they are in the SEC does not mean it is a good job. A quality coach who could take the to the SEC Title and National Title would get offers from all the REAL football jobs in America if they were available. UK is a garbage job in SEC terms and that's not going to change. The state of Kentucky probably puts out about 10-15 actual D-1 players a year, if they are lucky. Probably only 3 or 4 of those players could actually contribute in the SEC. That isn't going to cut it. Teams a quality coach would leave UK for...... -Almost all of the SEC -Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State. Goes without saying. -USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, you know teams that actually have football tradition. -Miami or Florida State in a heart beat. -Oregon- Oregon is the program on the rise. They have some of the best facilities, and Nike on their side. They are what you think UK could and should be. Actually the rest of the Pac 10 pretty much has better jobs than UK. UK football is never going to be any good, they just don't have the necessary resources. My man Cats is fired up. :notworthy:
December 2, 200916 yr ^^I just hate when UK fans whine because we don't win enough. It's UK football. This team is something to be proud of. They work their tails off and compete against much more talented teams and come out with some wins. What more could you ask of this program!!!! :lol:
December 2, 200916 yr For some facts for my argument, I did some research at work.... Over the last two years ('09 and '10) here is a break down of players produced by SEC states, as according to the Scout.com rankings. Star rankings mean nothing individually IMO, but as a whole I think they can show a states amount of talent, or lack there of. Kentucky over the last two years: Zero 5-star players, 1 4-star player, 16 3-star players. Tennessee 2 5-star players, 6 4-star players, 20 3-star players. South Carolina 2 5-star players, 19 4-star players, 36 3-star players. Georgia 5 5-star players, 41 4-star players, 136 3-star players. Louisiana 3 5-star players, 13 4-star players, 46 3-star players. Mississippi 4 5-star players, 25 4-star players, 71 3-star players. Alabama 4 5-star players, 19 4-star players, 65 3-star players. Arkansas 2 5-star players, 1 4-star players, 13 3-star players. Florida 12 5-star players, 63 4-star players, 210 3 star players. This is in a two year span. Most of these states put out more than double the amount of quality players that Kentucky produces. For the two comparable states to Kentucky: For Tennessee, UT is a National Brand, usually cleaning up pretty well instate, and they also have some great pipelines out of state. They have a budget that UK will not match. UK cannot compare themselves UT IMO. Vandy is Vandy. They actually do pretty well IMO for that type of school in that type of state. For Arkansas, the Hogs really recruit well out of state. They have Texas as a border, which actually produces more highly ranked players than Florida, as well as getting players from Louisiana, Mississippi, and occasionally Florida. Proximity to these states is an advantage that UK can not create. Ohio produces alot of good players. For instance, in the last two years: 5 5-star players, 26 4-star players, 105 3-stars. But, most of those players are going to stay in the Mid-west, either at OSU, Michigan, ND, Penn State, or UC. Tough state for UK to penetrate IMO. These are the factors that predominantly prevent UK from ever becoming an SEC Elite or even a program like Oregon. JMO, but some of this has to be fact.
December 2, 200916 yr For the first part of that I have a few responses. A. WVU got an unbelievable performance from Pat White (set a Sugar Bowl Rushing record) and Steve Slaton both. B. That was way before teams had learned how to defend the zone read, and Rich Rod's offense. USF really came up with the blue print, which is creating alot of havoc and a new LOS with the DL. UGA didn't know what hit them. C. No chance in the world would THIS SEASON's WVU, Pitt, USF, Rutgers, etc. beat UF or Alabama. That is comical. The SEC couldn't take them down, but average teams from the WORST BCS Conference in America are going to scare them. How did WVU look against Auburn this season again? But, yeah they could beat the #1 and #2 teams in the country. Cincy would have a decent shot, but the rest of the Big East would get spanked by at least 35 points by UF or Bama IMO. To the 2nd part, where would the coach go to? Let me make this perfectly clear....... UK is a Basketball school. Just because they are in the SEC does not mean it is a good job. A quality coach who could take the to the SEC Title and National Title would get offers from all the REAL football jobs in America if they were available. UK is a garbage job in SEC terms and that's not going to change. The state of Kentucky probably puts out about 10-15 actual D-1 players a year, if they are lucky. Probably only 3 or 4 of those players could actually contribute in the SEC. That isn't going to cut it. Teams a quality coach would leave UK for...... -Almost all of the SEC -Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State. Goes without saying. -USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, you know teams that actually have football tradition. -Miami or Florida State in a heart beat. -Oregon- Oregon is the program on the rise. They have some of the best facilities, and Nike on their side. They are what you think UK could and should be. Actually the rest of the Pac 10 pretty much has better jobs than UK. UK football is never going to be any good, they just don't have the necessary resources. Its funny you say WVU would have no chance against the SEC because of no down field passing, and I give you a perfect example of you being wrong. Then you try to come up with an excuse for why that happened. I mean it is pretty comical to hear you say that there is no chance a team besides UC could beat Bama or Florida since they didn't lose in the SEC. I used this example to already, but when did just by going undefeated in the regular season in the SEC mean that no other team would be able to beat them then. I mean that didn't stop Utah from taking it to all mighty Bama last year now did it? I am sure you will have excuse for why that happened too though. Florida and Bama very well could have lost to some of the teams in the Big East this year, and especially Bama. Its all about matchups, and for some teams in the Big East, they would give Bama some problems. Earlier in the year some of the teams would have given Florida some problems though. Now at this point in the year, with Florida looking like they are starting to click, I don't know if another team could besides UC. However earlier in the year Florida very well could have lost to a few of the teams in the Big East. To say that there is no chance, is just wrong because you really can't prove that they wouldn't. So you could just say you don't think they would, but saying no chance is not right. Now what is your point about teams that a coach would leave UK for? I mean I listed most of those schools, and even admitted that a coach would leave for some of those schools. Your right UK is a basketball school, but to say that is why he would leave for most schools is just not true. I mean you honestly believe that say if a guy here at UK is able to get this program to the next step and really actually competiting for the SEC crown in some years. That he would leave for a Washington job?, Oregon St, Arizona, Purdue, Mississippi, Miss St. etc? You really believe that? I mean yeah if a high profile job like OSU, Florida, or something like that opens up, then yeah he probably would leave. However as I mentioned most of those really high profile jobs are taken, and will be taken probably for a long time. We are seeing most of these high profile jobs, starting to get very good coaches in place. So not a very good chance that one of them would be open. So you really think he would leave to some school in the Pac 10 not named USC? You really think he would leave to some program in the Big 12 not named Texas, OU, or Nebraska? I mean I think you are way off base if you think they would. Yeah this is a basketball school, however this state supports its football program very good, and if a coach has this program winning more than just 3 games a year in the SEC, and some years actually competiting for the SEC crown. Then it would be a very good job to have, and would be easier to get recruits to come here. So if a coach already has a team like UK doing very well in the SEC. Why would he leave for another SEC school, especially with the likes of Florida, Bama, UT, etc having coaches that probably will be there for a long time. Why would he leave for a program in other conferences that are not elite programs? Yeah right now its easy to say a coach would leave UK for a lot of schools, just because we have never really seen UK do that well in the SEC. If a coach is able to get us competing with the best and having a chance to win the SEC. It wouldn't be as crazy to think of the coaching actually staying. I think if we were at that point, there would be less than 10 jobs in America that he would leave for then if a coach was able to get UK to that point.
December 2, 200916 yr ^^I just hate when UK fans whine because we don't win enough. It's UK football. This team is something to be proud of. They work their tails off and compete against much more talented teams and come out with some wins. What more could you ask of this program!!!! :lol: This post right here tells me basically everything I need to know about your thinking. Honestly why don't we just basically get rid of all the other programs across the nation, and only have the normal programs who have football tradition be in a league together. Since basically those are the only teams that ever have a chance to do anything. It is crazy for other teams to even try, because they never will be, it just can't happen. Its not like it took some top notch coach or someone to get all these traditional powers to get going before. I mean it really just is crazy to think, that any program in today's age can compete with these other programs. I know you are right about one thing. It is thinking like you have for the reason why UK football won't even have a chance of maybe becoming a team that can compete for the SEC every so often. I mean as you say its UK football, that just can't happen. If your going to come to UK just be happy with average, because that is the best your ever going to be. I see now why people are just fine with this. I mean people want teams to respect UK, however some of UK's own fans dont respect UK's football program. The thinking of its just UK football this is the best it can get shows that.
December 2, 200916 yr Its funny you say WVU would have no chance against the SEC because of no down field passing, and I give you a perfect example of you being wrong. Then you try to come up with an excuse for why that happened. I mean it is pretty comical to hear you say that there is no chance a team besides UC could beat Bama or Florida since they didn't lose in the SEC. I used this example to already, but when did just by going undefeated in the regular season in the SEC mean that no other team would be able to beat them then. I mean that didn't stop Utah from taking it to all mighty Bama last year now did it? I am sure you will have excuse for why that happened too though. Florida and Bama very well could have lost to some of the teams in the Big East this year, and especially Bama. Its all about matchups, and for some teams in the Big East, they would give Bama some problems. Earlier in the year some of the teams would have given Florida some problems though. Now at this point in the year, with Florida looking like they are starting to click, I don't know if another team could besides UC. However earlier in the year Florida very well could have lost to a few of the teams in the Big East. To say that there is no chance, is just wrong because you really can't prove that they wouldn't. So you could just say you don't think they would, but saying no chance is not right. Now what is your point about teams that a coach would leave UK for? I mean I listed most of those schools, and even admitted that a coach would leave for some of those schools. Your right UK is a basketball school, but to say that is why he would leave for most schools is just not true. I mean you honestly believe that say if a guy here at UK is able to get this program to the next step and really actually competiting for the SEC crown in some years. That he would leave for a Washington job?, Oregon St, Arizona, Purdue, Mississippi, Miss St. etc? You really believe that? I mean yeah if a high profile job like OSU, Florida, or something like that opens up, then yeah he probably would leave. However as I mentioned most of those really high profile jobs are taken, and will be taken probably for a long time. We are seeing most of these high profile jobs, starting to get very good coaches in place. So not a very good chance that one of them would be open. So you really think he would leave to some school in the Pac 10 not named USC? You really think he would leave to some program in the Big 12 not named Texas, OU, or Nebraska? I mean I think you are way off base if you think they would. Yeah this is a basketball school, however this state supports its football program very good, and if a coach has this program winning more than just 3 games a year in the SEC, and some years actually competiting for the SEC crown. Then it would be a very good job to have, and would be easier to get recruits to come here. So if a coach already has a team like UK doing very well in the SEC. Why would he leave for another SEC school, especially with the likes of Florida, Bama, UT, etc having coaches that probably will be there for a long time. Why would he leave for a program in other conferences that are not elite programs? Yeah right now its easy to say a coach would leave UK for a lot of schools, just because we have never really seen UK do that well in the SEC. If a coach is able to get us competing with the best and having a chance to win the SEC. It wouldn't be as crazy to think of the coaching actually staying. I think if we were at that point, there would be less than 10 jobs in America that he would leave for then if a coach was able to get UK to that point. WVU this year would have absolutely no shot against UF or Bama. That team that beat UGA had White and Slaton and played absolutely lights out. Brown and Devine going to do the same? What you are missing is that a quality coach is going to see that success at that high of a level can not be maintained at UK. It's not like basketball. Teams like UF or OSU bring in All Americans every year. UK rarely does and they are few are far between on the ones they get. And that's not going to change. Of the teams mentioned Arizona is another Basketball school, but I'd say most Pac 10 teams pay better than UK would for that kind of coach if they were going to try to offer them. Yeah, they would leave IMO for Oregon, probably Cal or UCLA, Washington and I could see Stanford and Arizona State. Those teams, even BBall UCLA have more tradition and probably put alot more in to their football programs. For the Big 12, a coach like that would absolutely kill at Texas A&M IMO. They have great support even though their program isn't very good consistently. Missouri would be tempting IMO, a coach already left UK for Baylor (not a great coach but he had great job security at UK IMO), and Texas Tech could be more appealing. Kansas is a no as it is a basketball school. Kansas St. and Iowa State are probably no's. Either way there are probably 20-25 jobs that would still be more appealing IMO. Most can see that UK cannot consistently get SEC Championship quality players what is so hard about that? This post right here tells me basically everything I need to know about your thinking. Honestly why don't we just basically get rid of all the other programs across the nation, and only have the normal programs who have football tradition be in a league together. Since basically those are the only teams that ever have a chance to do anything. It is crazy for other teams to even try, because they never will be, it just can't happen. Its not like it took some top notch coach or someone to get all these traditional powers to get going before. I mean it really just is crazy to think, that any program in today's age can compete with these other programs. I know you are right about one thing. It is thinking like you have for the reason why UK football won't even have a chance of maybe becoming a team that can compete for the SEC every so often. I mean as you say its UK football, that just can't happen. If your going to come to UK just be happy with average, because that is the best your ever going to be. I see now why people are just fine with this. I mean people want teams to respect UK, however some of UK's own fans dont respect UK's football program. The thinking of its just UK football this is the best it can get shows that. I just think you and some of the others that have posted on here are unrealistic about UK. Under these circumstances UK could become Elite IMO, and all of them would have to happen. 1. UK somehow finds a coach who can match wits with Urban Meyer or Nick Saban, smooth-talk recruits like Lane Kiffin, and have the persona of a Coach Cal or Pete Carroll. 2. Create a steady pipeline in either Florida, Texas, or California. Not one or two players, but a true pipeline. Similar to what they have with a few schools in GA or SC, but a program today to maintain Elite Status must have access to really good players in the Big 3 football states IMO. 3. Really sell the football team. Play someone out of conference, perferrably once every year on Thurday night until their national profile raises. ACC teams would be the most accessible unless they could get in on whoever the Hot Big East team is. 4. Once excitement catches on they would need to add fuel to the fire. Pay what SEC teams pay for assistants. UK would need to shell out UT or Bama type assisstant coach type of money. 5. Have a high scoring offense. But, not a Texas Tech, Boise State type of deal. Recruits don't want to play in the Air Raid and no one takes trick plays seriously if you have to do them every week. It worked for Spurrier, but I think it hurts Boise's image. People see them as kind of gimmicky IMO. A true spread or spread option offense seems to work, but really we haven't seen a team rise up and sustain success with it. WVU or Oregon are making a case, so I do think it is possible especially if UC continues to win. 6. Get an NFL Defensive Coordinator. I think that is something that sells well to recruits. 7. Work on the environment at UK. It's not really like an SEC school. Our fans aren't as loud as the Big SEC schools, and I think it has to do with the fact that most are counting down the days until basketball IMO. It's not like that at any quality program in the country. 8. Market the coach. Make him a star and pay him extremely well. Do what ever he wishes. Throw all kinds of crazy incentives into his contract, including maybe a possible huge bonus if he is still the coach in a given year. 9. Do something with the KHSAA to strengthen KY HS football. Kentucky would need to study what the Big time states do football wise, and try to apply as much of it as possible. Maybe no dead period? More emphasis and training on speed and strength programs? I think that you almost have to have strong recruiting grounds to have an elite program now-a-days, and especially if you are going to try to rise in the SEC. Basically UK would have to commit to having Championship football. Basketball is king in the Bluegrass (though I personally wish it wasn't) and football is never going to catch it. UK could do it I suppose. But I think most of, if not all the factors I mentioned would have to happen for the success to be maintain for the extended amount of time it takes for a program to be an SEC power. There's a difference in what is possible (no matter how unlikely) and what is reality. It's possible that UK could become a football power, but the reality is that more than likely it's not going to happen. Too many variables would have to change IMO.
December 3, 200916 yr :thumb: Outside of UC, I can't find another team that would compete. Pitt certainly could compete in the SEC.
December 3, 200916 yr WVU this year would have absolutely no shot against UF or Bama. That team that beat UGA had White and Slaton and played absolutely lights out. Brown and Devine going to do the same? What you are missing is that a quality coach is going to see that success at that high of a level can not be maintained at UK. It's not like basketball. Teams like UF or OSU bring in All Americans every year. UK rarely does and they are few are far between on the ones they get. And that's not going to change. Of the teams mentioned Arizona is another Basketball school, but I'd say most Pac 10 teams pay better than UK would for that kind of coach if they were going to try to offer them. Yeah, they would leave IMO for Oregon, probably Cal or UCLA, Washington and I could see Stanford and Arizona State. Those teams, even BBall UCLA have more tradition and probably put alot more in to their football programs. For the Big 12, a coach like that would absolutely kill at Texas A&M IMO. They have great support even though their program isn't very good consistently. Missouri would be tempting IMO, a coach already left UK for Baylor (not a great coach but he had great job security at UK IMO), and Texas Tech could be more appealing. Kansas is a no as it is a basketball school. Kansas St. and Iowa State are probably no's. Either way there are probably 20-25 jobs that would still be more appealing IMO. Most can see that UK cannot consistently get SEC Championship quality players what is so hard about that? I just think you and some of the others that have posted on here are unrealistic about UK. Under these circumstances UK could become Elite IMO, and all of them would have to happen. 1. UK somehow finds a coach who can match wits with Urban Meyer or Nick Saban, smooth-talk recruits like Lane Kiffin, and have the persona of a Coach Cal or Pete Carroll. 2. Create a steady pipeline in either Florida, Texas, or California. Not one or two players, but a true pipeline. Similar to what they have with a few schools in GA or SC, but a program today to maintain Elite Status must have access to really good players in the Big 3 football states IMO. 3. Really sell the football team. Play someone out of conference, perferrably once every year on Thurday night until their national profile raises. ACC teams would be the most accessible unless they could get in on whoever the Hot Big East team is. 4. Once excitement catches on they would need to add fuel to the fire. Pay what SEC teams pay for assistants. UK would need to shell out UT or Bama type assisstant coach type of money. 5. Have a high scoring offense. But, not a Texas Tech, Boise State type of deal. Recruits don't want to play in the Air Raid and no one takes trick plays seriously if you have to do them every week. It worked for Spurrier, but I think it hurts Boise's image. People see them as kind of gimmicky IMO. A true spread or spread option offense seems to work, but really we haven't seen a team rise up and sustain success with it. WVU or Oregon are making a case, so I do think it is possible especially if UC continues to win. 6. Get an NFL Defensive Coordinator. I think that is something that sells well to recruits. 7. Work on the environment at UK. It's not really like an SEC school. Our fans aren't as loud as the Big SEC schools, and I think it has to do with the fact that most are counting down the days until basketball IMO. It's not like that at any quality program in the country. 8. Market the coach. Make him a star and pay him extremely well. Do what ever he wishes. Throw all kinds of crazy incentives into his contract, including maybe a possible huge bonus if he is still the coach in a given year. 9. Do something with the KHSAA to strengthen KY HS football. Kentucky would need to study what the Big time states do football wise, and try to apply as much of it as possible. Maybe no dead period? More emphasis and training on speed and strength programs? I think that you almost have to have strong recruiting grounds to have an elite program now-a-days, and especially if you are going to try to rise in the SEC. Basically UK would have to commit to having Championship football. Basketball is king in the Bluegrass (though I personally wish it wasn't) and football is never going to catch it. UK could do it I suppose. But I think most of, if not all the factors I mentioned would have to happen for the success to be maintain for the extended amount of time it takes for a program to be an SEC power. There's a difference in what is possible (no matter how unlikely) and what is reality. It's possible that UK could become a football power, but the reality is that more than likely it's not going to happen. Too many variables would have to change IMO. You mentioned elite in that post. And I might agree with you that UK football probably won't ever get to say "elite" status where they always talked about being one of the best programs. My point is that this program can get to the point of being a very good program, and very good programs do make runs at BCS bowls every so often and even title games. That is my whole point with this all. It seems like a lot of you all think that what we are at now is the best its going to get, and basically content with it. I mean obviously I will take where we are now compared to the past. However this program really can make the next step after Brooks retires. Remember I have said I am all for Brooks staying as long as he wants, he has earned that right. I just think after he retires, that UK would be in a situation where they really could maybe take that next step in becoming a very good program with the right hire. If the Joker thing does end up being a failure or not really doing anything to get this program up anymore. Then we might have wasted a good chance at possibly getting the program better, because we didn't give the job to someone possibly better for it. I just would like to program to at least look and interview people, because maybe there would be someone better. Maybe the could find their Urban Meyer, Brian Kelly, etc. You have to remember its not like Florida knew they was going to get as great of a coach as they got. They got a coach that was coming from a school that was not in a BCS conference, was not use to playing top competition all the time, etc. Yeah he had success at Utah and won a BCS game, however that in no way meant that they knew for sure he would be as successful as he was. Brian Kelly came from Central Michigan or some school like that, its not like people really knew then what he would become. Or else he probably wouldn't have landed at UC and would have been at even at better place sooner. I mean especially UC could have just tried to hire someone on Danotoni's staff to take over where he had gotten that program. But do you think they would be where they are today if they did that? I know I don't think so, they went out though and got a guy that they thought would be best for them and look how well it worked out. I think UK really could do the same thing. One thing Meyer, and Kelly had in common was that they both were pretty successful at the places they were at as head coaches. So they had successful experiences as being head coaches. With what Brooks has now gotten this program to, I think this program could find a successful coach who has had success running a program maybe that is at a non BCS school right now, who could be that next great coach coming up through college football. I mean finding someone who already has success as a head coach, is a thing that really could help to even get this program even better, than hiring someone really who does not have much experience if any at all as being a head coach. I just think this program can be more, I just wish it would at least open itself up to that possibility by at least looking. I am not completely against Joker getting the job if he is the best guy for it. However I just believe that we probably could find someone else even better that could really get us going even more, instead of probably just staying at this level.
December 3, 200916 yr I give up. UK could have a run of very good teams, but over the long haul great success cannot be sustained at UK for a number of reasons. JMO and I'm through.
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