Big donors care more about basketball. I'm glad they do, because I prefer basketball greatly over football. But that's partially why UK football will never be a big-time player. That and the fact that we're in Kentucky...not exactly a hotbed for football recruiting.

If you and other fans really did care beyond just a passing fancy, the administration would get the message and stop treating football as a third-class citizen in comparison to basketball. You're not really going to try and tell us the level of passion the fan base has for the football program is on par with basketball, are you? The administration feels very little pressure from the fan base to take steps to improve the football program because they know the truth just like I do -- success in football is nowhere near as imperative as success in basketball. They know you guys are satisfied with schedule-rigging a slate of non-conference patsies and a win over Vandy and whoever else in the SEC is down that year in order to get to some garbage bowl nobody in the rest of the country cares about or watches.

 

The fact that the Rich Brooks era is considered a "successful" one by UK fans says a lot. That same level of "success" in basketball is considered a massive failure by Wildcat fans, and that's why Tubby Smith and Billy Gillispie are no longer coaching the basketball team.

 

I agree with most of your post. There will never be enough fans to make this kind of difference in the football program. I think they are aware of the disgruntled fans but the administration doesn't care about the disgruntled fans when the football team is bringing on more money than the basketball program. As long as that happens the administration doesn't have to change anything in the football program.

The fans don't care? And thats why the team sucks? Wow. If I start caring more, does that mean the team automatically gets better?

 

If you want to blame the admin, go ahead (and I probably won't disagree), but blaming the fans is stupid.

 

Point I am trying to make is if the Admin. thought the fans were serious about football there would not been years of POOR football. Think about it this way. There is no way the Admin. would allow the basketball team to finish 14-16 or 16-14 in back to back seasons.

 

But they will allow the Football team to finish 4-8, 5-7, and 6-6 and some how think that is progress.

 

Yes I blame the fan base because MOST (not all) use football as a past time to Basketball. I think that is why you will always have to hire guys like Joker, Rich Brooks, and Mumme.

UK got blasted with probation in basketball. They hired a charismatic coach who recruited well and played a run-and-gun style in his first few years. Some called shooting a bunch of threes a "gimmick". He used that mix of recuiting and gimmickry until they got good. Then UK was a dominant program in less than a decade.

 

I dont understand why UK cant follow the same blueprint for football. I'm not saying they will be dominant within a decade. But this type of plan would have to work better than the current plan. Heck, it worked rather quick for Mumme.

UK got blasted with probation in basketball. They hired a charismatic coach who recruited well and played a run-and-gun style in his first few years. Some called shooting a bunch of threes a "gimmick". He used that mix of recuiting and gimmickry until they got good. Then UK was a dominant program in less than a decade.

 

I dont understand why UK cant follow the same blueprint for football. I'm not saying they will be dominant within a decade. But this type of plan would have to work better than the current plan. Heck, it worked rather quick for Mumme.

 

I also would enjoy seeing a more run-and-gun type of offense. But to be fair, Mumme never had a season that was greater than anything Brooks ever did. Not to mention Mumme was cheating.

I also would enjoy seeing a more run-and-gun type of offense. But to be fair, Mumme never had a season that was greater than anything Brooks ever did. Not to mention Mumme was cheating.

 

I think Mumme did some good things for UK

 

1. Instance Success

2. Fun Offense

3. New Years day bowl

 

Yes he cheated, but if they can land a guy that can do that the right way and get the support of the Admin. then they may become a football program.

Point I am trying to make is if the Admin. thought the fans were serious about football there would not been years of POOR football. Think about it this way. There is no way the Admin. would allow the basketball team to finish 14-16 or 16-14 in back to back seasons.

 

But they will allow the Football team to finish 4-8, 5-7, and 6-6 and some how think that is progress.

 

Yes I blame the fan base because MOST (not all) use football as a past time to Basketball. I think that is why you will always have to hire guys like Joker, Rich Brooks, and Mumme.

 

So dumb. At UK 6-6 WAS an improvement. Does nobody remember all the 2 and 3 win seasons?

 

And if UK fans held the football team to the same standard (top 10) as the basketball team, they'd be blasted for having unrealistic expectations. Heck, during the Gillispie years UK fans were blasted for holding the basketball team to that standard.

 

Don't say the fans don't care, but tell them they have unrealistic expectations when they do care.

So dumb. At UK 6-6 WAS an improvement. Does nobody remember all the 2 and 3 win seasons?

 

And if UK fans held the football team to the same standard (top 10) as the basketball team, they'd be blasted for having unrealistic expectations. Heck, during the Gillispie years UK fans were blasted for holding the basketball team to that standard.

 

Don't say the fans don't care, but tell them they have unrealistic expectations when they do care.

 

 

That is a good point. I want a 10 win SEC challening team but am told that I am being unrealistic. If you say let's get our 6 wins and go to a bowl they say you don't care enough and settle for mediocrity. Great point.

I'll say this. We are watching a team get worse every Saturday. I have lost faith in this coaching staff to right the ship.

I think Mumme did some good things for UK

 

1. Instance Success

2. Fun Offense

3. New Years day bowl

 

Yes he cheated, but if they can land a guy that can do that the right way and get the support of the Admin. then they may become a football program.

 

Oh, I agree with most everything you said, particularly #2. If you're going to be average or below average, at least score a bunch of points.

 

Still, Mumme never accomplished anything from a won/loss perspective that Brooks didn't do.

So dumb. At UK 6-6 WAS an improvement. Does nobody remember all the 2 and 3 win seasons?

 

And if UK fans held the football team to the same standard (top 10) as the basketball team, they'd be blasted for having unrealistic expectations. Heck, during the Gillispie years UK fans were blasted for holding the basketball team to that standard.

 

Don't say the fans don't care, but tell them they have unrealistic expectations when they do care.

 

UK fans should hold them to a top 10 standard. You will never ben top 10 if you don't expect to be there.

 

I know 6-6 is an improvement. Just proving that 50 years of settling for whatever they serve you.

I think Mumme did some good things for UK

 

1. Instance Success

2. Fun Offense

3. New Years day bowl

 

Yes he cheated, but if they can land a guy that can do that the right way and get the support of the Admin. then they may become a football program.

 

I think the best thing Mumme did (related to Item 2) was to make UK football exciting. People were genuinely excited about the Air Raid offense. We had an identity.

 

Ideally, you could get an offensive mind like Mumme in the fold (who doesn't lead the school to probation) to install a unique and exciting offense, give the team an identity, and who would also take the other side of the football seriously. Mumme never did anything more than pay lip service, if that, to the defense.

^ Agree, would have been good to see Curry hire Mumme as an OC. I thought Curry recruited decent and played good defense.

I'll say this. We are watching a team get worse every Saturday. I have lost faith in this coaching staff to right the ship.

 

I concur.

I think the best thing Mumme did (related to Item 2) was to make UK football exciting. People were genuinely excited about the Air Raid offense. We had an identity.

 

Ideally, you could get an offensive mind like Mumme in the fold (who doesn't lead the school to probation) to install a unique and exciting offense, give the team an identity, and who would also take the other side of the football seriously. Mumme never did anything more than pay lip service, if that, to the defense.

His name is Mike Leach.