I know its still way to early to tell after just one season. However do you think that just giving the job to Joker without looking at other options was a mistake?

 

This is a point I argued a lot after last season, and most people disagreed with me. I argued that UK should have opened up their search, and not just have gave the job to Joker. I believed that UK was in a good position, to possibly get someone even better. Or maybe another top assistant from a bigger program working his way up looking for his opportunity. I am not saying that Joker shouldn't have got the job, I just said that I thought that UK should have opened it up. Then if he was still the best candidate for the job, then yeah give it to him. I just thought UK missed an opportunity to really maybe make another small step in the right direction.

 

Do most of you all still feel the same that UK made the right choice in just giving it to him, or do you now think that UK maybe should have at least looked at some options and then picked the best choice?

For the record, I do still think Joker will do a good job here. I am just not a fan of the coach in waiting business. I believe schools can say you will be the leading candidate for the job, however I think schools should always at least open it up. You never know if maybe someone else out there might be even better for the job.

For the record, I do still think Joker will do a good job here. I am just not a fan of the coach in waiting business. I believe schools can say you will be the leading candidate for the job, however I think schools should always at least open it up. You never know if maybe someone else out there might be even better for the job.

 

And the only other Coach in Waiting, where the waiting coach ascended to the top spot, is doing pretty well. See Jimbo Fisher.

 

I know its still way to early to tell after just one season. However do you think that just giving the job to Joker without looking at other options was a mistake?

 

This is a point I argued a lot after last season, and most people disagreed with me. I argued that UK should have opened up their search, and not just have gave the job to Joker. I believed that UK was in a good position, to possibly get someone even better. Or maybe another top assistant from a bigger program working his way up looking for his opportunity. I am not saying that Joker shouldn't have got the job, I just said that I thought that UK should have opened it up. Then if he was still the best candidate for the job, then yeah give it to him. I just thought UK missed an opportunity to really maybe make another small step in the right direction.

 

Do most of you all still feel the same that UK made the right choice in just giving it to him, or do you now think that UK maybe should have at least looked at some options and then picked the best choice?

 

Your first sentence says it all.

I absolutely loathe the coach in waiting principle. I am of the mindset you bring in a new coach to change direction and start a new culture... Not to retain some recruits and keep the same philosophies.

Not a fan of the coach in waiting either, but I don't think Joker was a bad hire. He may end up doing poorly and losing his job, but it's not like UK is a dream destination anyway. I think it's getting better. If they have to let JP go in a few years, they will be able to get a pretty good coach so I'm not worried. The other rout you could go is with the up and comer. Sometimes that works for smaller programs, but often you just end up with a short term boost in winning, until you get left for the better looking girl at the prom.

 

I don't think Joker was a bad hire even if it doesn't work out. UK got a coach they thought very highly of for a good price, and it's someone who loves UK. Football will always be 2nd at UK, and the program will suffer because of it, I feel that the only job in this conference that UK is a step up from is Vandy and all the others are easily better. It is what it is.

And the only other Coach in Waiting, where the waiting coach ascended to the top spot, is doing pretty well. See Jimbo Fisher.

 

 

 

Your first sentence says it all.

 

Didn't Jimbo Fischer come from being an assistant at a top school that a lot of people would have wanted? That is also not the only case, we have heard more and more about coaches in waiting over the last 3 or 4 years. I just don't think that is a good idea at all to do that. Especially if say your a program like UK, who is an SEC team and because of Brooks was not a horrible spot to be at anymore. He made it a place that someone who really might be a hot up and coming coach or assistant might want. Now I think Brooks did reach the peak with what he could do with the team, that is why I think UK might have missed its chance to make another step forward. Instead yes we kept things the same, and we are experiencing the same things. Yes we are still going to bowls, however we really have not made any other steps since our first bowl game 4 years ago?

 

As I said I am not saying Joker shouldn't have gotten the job. I am just saying that I don't think they should have just handed it to him. They should have openned it up, and might have found someone even better than him. Then if he really was the best guy for the job after looking at all options, then great give him the job. However I just don't think they should have just handed it over to him.

Not a fan of the coach in waiting either, but I don't think Joker was a bad hire. He may end up doing poorly and losing his job, but it's not like UK is a dream destination anyway. I think it's getting better. If they have to let JP go in a few years, they will be able to get a pretty good coach so I'm not worried. The other rout you could go is with the up and comer. Sometimes that works for smaller programs, but often you just end up with a short term boost in winning, until you get left for the better looking girl at the prom.

 

I don't think Joker was a bad hire even if it doesn't work out. UK got a coach they thought very highly of for a good price, and it's someone who loves UK. Football will always be 2nd at UK, and the program will suffer because of it, I feel that the only job in this conference that UK is a step up from is Vandy and all the others are easily better. It is what it is.

 

I know I am making it sound like I am bashing Joker, but I really am not trying to. I do think he will end up doing a good job here. However I do think UK should have at least opened it up and looked around, to see maybe who all would have been interested. Dan Mullen of Mississippi State was willing to go to a horrible Miss. St. team and has shown that he is a very good coach. I do think maybe we could have gotten a top assistant coach who was on their way up to come here. That maybe could have gotten UK to take another step up, instead of basically staying where we are. Yes UK will never be close to an elite SEC football team. However I do think they can get to a point, where they could get to a point. Where every so often they could at least make sorta a run at the east, or atleast finish higher in the standings instead of only above Vandy. I just think they had an opportunity to build from what Brooks got started, and maybe could have taken another step forward. Joker Phillips really might have been the best guy for the job, I just think they should have atleast looked at all their options.

Didn't Jimbo Fischer come from being an assistant at a top school that a lot of people would have wanted? That is also not the only case, we have heard more and more about coaches in waiting over the last 3 or 4 years. I just don't think that is a good idea at all to do that. Especially if say your a program like UK, who is an SEC team and because of Brooks was not a horrible spot to be at anymore. He made it a place that someone who really might be a hot up and coming coach or assistant might want. Now I think Brooks did reach the peak with what he could do with the team, that is why I think UK might have missed its chance to make another step forward. Instead yes we kept things the same, and we are experiencing the same things. Yes we are still going to bowls, however we really have not made any other steps since our first bowl game 4 years ago?

 

As I said I am not saying Joker shouldn't have gotten the job. I am just saying that I don't think they should have just handed it to him. They should have openned it up, and might have found someone even better than him. Then if he really was the best guy for the job after looking at all options, then great give him the job. However I just don't think they should have just handed it over to him.

 

I'm curious as to who you think Kentucky could have gotten, that was better than Joker. Do you believe a big name coach will come to Lexington and compete with basketball? I personally don't see them getting anything better than what they already had as an OC.

 

BTW, I believe in promoting from within, and that is essentially what happened to Joker. He deserved a chance at a head coaching position, and I would just as soon have him do it at the school he knows and loves, as opposed to a rival.

 

Also, Joe B. Hall was promoted when Rupp retired and that worked out pretty well. When Hall retired, UK decided to change direction. How'd that go again?

I'm curious as to who you think Kentucky could have gotten, that was better than Joker. Do you believe a big name coach will come to Lexington and compete with basketball? I personally don't see them getting anything better than what they already had as an OC.

 

BTW, I believe in promoting from within, and that is essentially what happened to Joker. He deserved a chance at a head coaching position, and I would just as soon have him do it at the school he knows and loves, as opposed to a rival.

 

Also, Joe B. Hall was promoted when Rupp retired and that worked out pretty well. When Hall retired, UK decided to change direction. How'd that go again?

 

 

If you want we can go round and round with how hiring from within has also not worked out a lot too. I have no idea who they could have gotten, that is why I said if Joker was the best person for the job after just looking at all options then give it to him. Your not getting it, I have no problem that he got the job. I just think they could have looked at all their options, and maybe there would have been someoen better. Yes some big name head coach is not going to leave a top football program to come to UK. However an up an coming head coach maybe would, or even a hot assistant coach at a top program probably would. Also I believe the whole that the days of well since you have one great program, that means your other program will never be to successful is over with. Your starting to slowly see more and more a program that traditionally use to only a powerhouse in one program, starting to get their other program to be good too. So I don't buy that whole argument.

 

Yes UK will never be a top SEC football school like Florida, Alabama, etc, where they are usually always good. However they can become a program to where they can have their times where they could make sort of a run at it with the right coach. I believe this program could have taken another step, yet we right now have seen this program stay basically at this same level for 4 years, and possibly getting a little worse. UK when Brooks retired, was a place that would have been an intriguing place for an up and coming head coach, or a top assitant from a big school looking for their chance. I just think they should have looked, and interviewed people including Joker. Then if Joker was the best choice, then give him the job. I have no problem hiring from within, but at least look at all options IMO.

It's far too early to judge; I believe that he will end up doing pretty good.

If you want we can go round and round with how hiring from within has also not worked out a lot too. I have no idea who they could have gotten, that is why I said if Joker was the best person for the job after just looking at all options then give it to him. Your not getting it, I have no problem that he got the job. I just think they could have looked at all their options, and maybe there would have been someoen better. Yes some big name head coach is not going to leave a top football program to come to UK. However an up an coming head coach maybe would, or even a hot assistant coach at a top program probably would. Also I believe the whole that the days of well since you have one great program, that means your other program will never be to successful is over with. Your starting to slowly see more and more a program that traditionally use to only a powerhouse in one program, starting to get their other program to be good too. So I don't buy that whole argument.

 

Yes UK will never be a top SEC football school like Florida, Alabama, etc, where they are usually always good. However they can become a program to where they can have their times where they could make sort of a run at it with the right coach. I believe this program could have taken another step, yet we right now have seen this program stay basically at this same level for 4 years, and possibly getting a little worse. UK when Brooks retired, was a place that would have been an intriguing place for an up and coming head coach, or a top assitant from a big school looking for their chance. I just think they should have looked, and interviewed people including Joker. Then if Joker was the best choice, then give him the job. I have no problem hiring from within, but at least look at all options IMO.

 

I don't think you get a real hot up and coming coach to come to UK. I don't see someone like Mullen, Brian Kelly, Urban Meyer making a pit-stop in Lexington. It's too hard to win there and advance. That's what these up and comers are about, win quickly and get out. That makes a place like U of L more attractive IMO, or Mississippi State which has had about the same amount of success as UK but better recruiting grounds.

Recruit, recruit, recruit.

 

I am pretty pleased with what Joker has done since coming here. IMO, Joker was a big part of Brooks' success, by bringing in talent. I'm not sure if Joker is a head coach yet or not. We lost a couple of games that we shouldn't, but I'm willing to give hime time to learn. I do believe there is value in being a Kentucky man and wanting to be here.

 

All but one of our recruits this year are 3 or 4 star players. In the past we have settled for a lot of 2 star players.

 

 

FC,

I understand your reasoning completely. While I have no issue grooming someone for a job (happens all the time), I would never give someone a job in waiting status.

 

On the flip side, I have no problem with giving somone the job from within and not interviewing others, if I knew he was the right guy.

 

IMO, it's the coach in waiting status thing that bother's most people. Not the promoting from within.

I'm curious as to who you think Kentucky could have gotten, that was better than Joker. Do you believe a big name coach will come to Lexington and compete with basketball? I personally don't see them getting anything better than what they already had as an OC.

 

BTW, I believe in promoting from within, and that is essentially what happened to Joker. He deserved a chance at a head coaching position, and I would just as soon have him do it at the school he knows and loves, as opposed to a rival.

 

Also, Joe B. Hall was promoted when Rupp retired and that worked out pretty well. When Hall retired, UK decided to change direction. How'd that go again?

Ron Zook and Bob Davie were disasters. Look, I am not saying it does not work, I am just not a big fan of it. The main reason you name a coach in waiting is to secure recruits.

They did fine. Brooks had made good improvements at UK, and they wanted to build on that. Joker had been successful with the offense and recruiting. No reason not to give him a shot to build on what Brooks did.

 

If it doesn't work out, you can also get rid of him quicker than if you'd brought a new guy in. You have the reasoning that he's been here already for a while, so he shouldn't need 4 or 5 years to make his mark.

recruiting is better, Joker has got better coaches to get beter recruits, but he still IMO isnt the guy for the job. lack of discipline.