By LARRY VAUGHT
So much for Kentucky winning the final four games to save coach Joker Phillips’ job.
Instead of building on the momentum of a 29-24 loss to Georgia, the Cats came unglued at Missouri Saturday and lost 33-10. Forget that UK had played the nation’s toughest schedule coming into this game. Missouri is not an elite team. It’s not even a really good team in the Southeastern Conference and it relied on its backup quarterback to lead the offense most of the game.
Kentucky’s defense allowed a season-low 273 yards, including a season-low 87 passing yards. The defense also forced a season-high three turnovers, including two interceptions by walk-on cornerback J.D. Harmon who only got into the game because of an injury to Cody Quinn early in the game.
But Kentucky couldn’t win because after the first two series, it had no offense. None.
And Kentucky couldn’t win beause it turned the ball over at key times to set up Missouri touchdowns.
One could also argue that Kentucky couldn’t win because of way too many questionable coaching decisions that certaily infuriated many UK fans. Just consider:
— Kentucky had a fourth down-and-seven deep in its territory when Missouri ran into punter Landon Foster. Kentucky coach Joker Phillips accepted the penalty even though Foster had boomed a 53-yard punt that put Missouri at its own 35. Foster had to punt again and this time Missouri took the shorter kick back to the UK 47-yard line — a net loss of 17 yards for the Cats on the play.
Why take the penalty? Did Phillips think Turner might hit a 60-yard punt? So what if the Missouri returner had muffed a couple of punts. That play just didn’t make sense.
— Freshman quarterback Jalen Whitlow led a long drive on its first series where UK would have scored if Jonathan George had not fumbled and then came back with a scoring drive. However, rather than put him back in the game, Phillips said it had been predetermined to play freshman Patrick Towles at quarterback on the third series.
Now I am all for Towles, who was coming back from an ankle injury, playing and giving the passing attack some possible help. But why take Whitlow out when he was as sharp as he’s been all year? Towles values winning and is certainly smart enough to know any predetermined decision in a football game is subject to change even if the UK coaches apparently do not.
— Why has someone not made sure freshman Demarcus Sweat understands he can’t hesitate on kickoff returns in SEC play? Field the kick and head for any hole and get what yardage is possible. Of course, maybe he’s pressing since he’s not caught a pass since his touchdown catch in the third game of the season.
One could go on and on. But what’s the use. Kentucky is 1-8. That’s one win in nine games and on the road UK has no offense. Playing 14 true freshmen and 12 more redshirt freshman is a fact, but not an excuse for such play and mistakes.
It’s time for Kentucky athletics director MItch Barnhart to take a stand. Season ticket sales are down. The team is not winning. Fans are irate.
If Barnhart is not going to make a change, have the courage to say so now. If he knows one needs to be made, then let it be known now so the staff and players, especially the seniors, can somewhat enjoy the final three games.
There are only two more home games. This week against Vanderbilt and then Samford after a bye week. If Barnhart doesn’t want to announce anything this week, he has to do it during the bye week. Kentucky players and fans deserve to know what direction he wants to go and Saturday’s 33-10 loss should certainly make it clear that a change has to be made because things are just not working.
86 Responses to Barnhart has no choice now but to let UK players and fans know about direction of program
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Thank you, Larry. I certainly agree. This has been an embarrassment to the university. Many of the calls were questionable, as you said, but many were just downright stupid. And, when the highlight of your defense is a walk-on, you should be ashamed. I feel so bad for the players. They shouldn’t have to put up with this either.
Your so right Larry this is not what WE fans want for whatever thats worth. We may lose some recruits if a change is made BUT we may have some players transfer out if we don’t make a change. We have a fairly good stable of backs and recievers BUT may not if Joker stays.
I agree the decision needs to be made soon and lets hope it’s over the off week. If he makes a change but waits until after the season he could run into what happened last time. Turn down turn down and then settle on Brooks. Brooks turned out ok but the coach needs to be in Lexington as soon as possible to save recruiting.
Thats all I got to say–it’s just so sad for all concerned–we can do better then this!!!!!!
An SEC school doesn’t get turned down due to timing.
I don’t believe Barnhart has to say anything about the direction of the program.
I watch UK football no matter how things are going because of the occasional surprise like the Georgia game. However, I had the same thoughts about the play calls that you mentioned. It drives me crazy when he tries to kick 50 yard field goals instead of going for it on 4th and 3. KY will not win games kicking field goals. It takes a really good football CEO to manage all aspects of a big time college football program and Joker Phillips does not seem to have it. I am sorry that it is not going to work for him.
But we all know Barnhart. And that’s the last thing that will happen! Two weeks after the season after he has thought about it a while we will finally find something out. Personally I wouldn’t be surprised if he keeps him.. This is the way of UK football.
It’s all about money.Jokers’ dismissal would cost UK several million,and the new UK ad,imistration probably would prefer keeping him one more year.We will probably see a major change is staff before we see Joker dismissed.
Yep!
Barnhart had no trouble firing Gillispie. That cost UK more that firing Philiips will cost. Gillispie actually had a better record that Phillips. Both major sports. One basketball…one football. Commitment or lack of it? You bet. If Phillips is kept UK fans who normally go to Commonwealth will have a decision to make. Do they buy tickets and support the “kids” or do they stay away and try to save the program?
As long as i can remember i have wandered when will the UK have an football program . This is an great school and has the greatest fan base in the nation whom love Kentucky football. I think Joker has an place with this team i just don’t think head coach is it . I’m tired of teams statements Kentucky football doesn’t matter. The sad part about it is we don’t except the few times threw the pass 50 years . All i hear is in the SEC football it’s impossible to get talent from the great Teams. BS excuse me my friend is an Greenbay NFL fan stocks and all . .I’ll tell you as i told him they should be signing My Old Kentucky Home in the packer’s looker room because they drafted an Kentucky player whom is the packers . . What we lack is an coach . The talent is there. It’ll coast money to compete with the NFL and top schools just as coach Cal . If Mitch will get us an coach Cal of football we’ll forgive him for the JP and BG nightmares inflected on Big Blue Nation .Larry doesn’t he understand it’s embrassing for fans and players and directly on him.
SEC FOOTBALL……I agree, that is an excuse that I hear often. The league is so good there is no reason to try. Be bottom feeders and take the SEC payoff and be happy for Music City bowls. Beating the top 3 or 4 SEC teams is tough and few fans that I now expect to do that on a regular basis. But UK should be able to hang with the lower and middle level SEC teams…..which are beatable every year. The Cats don’t even do that. Another lame excuse is that Kentucky does not produce enough good players. It is true, but there are players for the taking in other states. Louisville does pretty good in the recruiting department. Of course they have Charlie Strong. For those who say that coaches don’t matter…he is proof that they do. Why do we have Phillips and why do they have Strong? Could it be that they are more committed to winning football?
singing not signing My Old Kentucky Home
Since u mention it Larry, makes much more sense to do it after Vandy game. Gives two weeks for the team to deal with the news, the media and get ready to move forward. Fans can wait a week. After Vandy is good cause bball coverage will be increased as well to take the heat off.
Absolutely correct, Larry, I’ve seen 9 HC hirings at UK, unfortunately it’s time for another one. We’ve had a couple of fine ones, let get my 10th a great one!
Larry,
Once again you hit the head of the nail. Why doesn’t the AD do what is right by this program?
We are the laughing stock in the SEC and in the country. They mock us on radio, satelite radio, in newsprint, coaching staff, and fanbases.
If he does keep Joker one more year, has he figured out the losses this program will suffer in revenue alone from addtional fans not renewing their tickets? The losses they will suffer from concession stand sells. The losses that will done from UK gear that is not being bought? Or will UK basketball be able to cover all that? Or how ’bout SEC welfare check? Is that it?
Myself I’d find that shameful taking handouts from the rest of the SEC programs, but then I’m starting to think Mitch Barnhart has no shame with how he lets his football program be run under Joker’s regime. Because the way I see it, it will take the SEC welfare check to keep the UK football program afloat before much longer the way this program is being run to date.
The thing is, I cannot understand that the SEC leadership putting up with this. It has to be costing them money. Basketball may be king in KY but not throughout the SEC. The silence out the AD’s office if deafening.
Why does the SEC put up with UK football. One reason. We are likely wins for other SEC teams. Imagine this: what if the teams of the SEC were all equal. They would knock each other off and the SEC would never have championship seasons. So they take teams like UK, Missouri, Vandy, and both Mississippi teams and pay them well so that the top 3 or 4 can win big. Other teams rise and fall, but the bottom feeders can be found usually where they hang out with only an occasional brief rise. The sad thing is that the bottomfeeders seem to tolerate losing as long as their fan bases are willing to buy tickets and hope….year after year…after year.
You can’t do much about fumbles. Very poor decision to take Whitlow out of the game when he was having success moving the football. We never regained that rthymn. Our offensive schemes were disappointing. You can expect a team to stack the box defensively if the other team is having success running the ball. You scheme for it. We had no answer. We became very predictable offensively.
I agree with oldkentucky. Well said.
I think there is nothing left to say. The Football program is a shambles. No leadership; no risk taking, poor coaching decisions, lack of fundamentalsh Its a sign of someone in over their head and searcing for anything to pull them out because they dont know what to do. Missouri with Berkstresser at QB is a pathetic football team and yet we could not put up points on offense after the defense gave us plenty of opportunities. And it wasn’t freshmen turning the ball over. A team is a reflection of their coach. Our coach is weak and the team is weak. But unfortunately Mitch and Joker are buddies so it makes the decision that much tougher for Mitch. He needs to make the decision and start the search before Auburn, Ark and Tenn announce they are firing their coaches; if not we get 4th choice.
This was a total debacle offensively. After the 2 interceptions, the offense kept going 3 and out. 27 total yards of offense in the 2nd half just make me smh. I don’t know how Mitch will deal with this but he better say something soon. I wonder if Towles was really ready. He looked lost and rattled out there.
Thank you Larry. Its about time someone in the media stood up and called out UK on this. For some reason the media refuses to question Joker or the administration. Barnhart needs to make a statement now. Personally it should have been done after Arkansas.
As you stated Larry, this loss was the result of a lot of “coulda, woulda, shoulda” mistakes, or at least they didn’t help our cause very much. But deeper than that is our inability to adjust. The teams we play against seem to have no trouble adjusting to our having a hot hand. We, on the other hand, just seem to have no answer for their adjustments. It’s almost like our game plans are hatched in a vacume and they stay with the plan no matter what. A very smart military person once said ” a battle plan never survives the firing of the first bullet”. That’s true in football as well.
if we get another bad coach then whats the use to fire joker..if mitch is serious about football then put the money up..if they dont get a decent coach, then to me there tellin me an the rest of us THEY JUST DONT CARE ABOUT FOOTBALL…i was happy to see joker get the job but its time to move on
Look at the history. This program has been blessed with many fine football coaches over the years. Blanton Collier was first class. So was Fran Curci, and Jerry Claiborne. Bill Curry, for all his warts, was a football man through to his core, and was successful as a college and pro player, and a college coach. Rich Brooks is as old school as was Claiborne, and Brooks overcame the institutional inertia, and the low level of understanding among large segments of the Big Blue Nation about football to pull this program up by his own boot straps.
The absence of quality coaching over the decades has not been the principle problem for Kentucky football. Yes, UK football has had coaches that didn’t measure up to this list, John Ray, Hal Mumme, Charlie Bradshaw, and in all likelihood Joker Phillips. But these men are not the cause of the perpetual bottom feeding.
I remain of the view that none of these coaches, not a single one of them, from Collier to Phillips, has had the level of support from above that sustained success requires. I am also confident after watching for all these decades as a fan that Bear Bryant understood this better than any one who has tried to follow in his footsteps here. Placing yet another name on the head coach’s door without providing that support will be nothing more than the latest move in UK’s shell game. They want to cash the huge SEC football check, but they are completely willing to be the SEC’s lackey for those who really play this game.
great point about the overall support being a huge issue Professor. My football friends tell me that daily
Then your football friends are telling you right, daily.
It is so clear to me, and the conclusion is painfully obvious that UK higher ups do not aspire to anything better than what we have had in football.
Curry was one of the worst if not the worst coaching hires UK has ever made. He was pathetic and that is putting it nicely. We UK fans thought we really got something, when he was hired. Boy, did we find out quick what a bad hire that was.
Petrino is my number one choice. My outside the box choice is the former Tampa Bay coach who won a Super Bowl. All the other choices are very risky, imho. An up and comer? How long do you stick with them or how long do you wait? Who is a proven winner, everywhere he has gone, including the SEC? Petrino! Pay the man and get it done.
You may not like Coach Petrino’s personality but hire him and i guarntee you uk will become a winner. He flat out knows how t o coach and recruit.
Bobby, lot of fans I know feel just like you
No thank you. Considering his missteps in the past using each institutuion as a stepping stone rather than being honest to his employers is not his strength. He is only sad because he got busted otherwise, if he really felt bad, he would have thought about his wife and kids before he put them through all of this. Anyone but him. Serious trust issues with this guy just like BCG. Don’t need another coach with personal baggage.
Mitch is smarter than that. That piece of crap doesnt need to be near our program. He has no business being a HC anywhere. UK can do a hell of alot better.
Barnhart skipped over Calipari and hired Gillispie. Fans, at the time felt that Calipari was “a piece of crap.” Gillispie was a disaster and now Calipari has put us on top of the basketball world and Calipari is the king of this state. I don’ t think that Barnhart will hire Petrino, but if he did and if UK began to win the BBN would enclose Patrino in warm fuzzy arms and place him right up there with Calipari. Imagine this…after over a half century of lousy football…the Cats begin to put points on the board…they began to beat quality teams ….and make a BCS bowl game. Think about the excitement…think about the praise that would fall on Petrino…..and all UL fans could do would be to call him Traitor Bob.
I’m not one who jumps to “fire the coach” when things turn bad, but I’m afraid that’s where we are with this program. I understand the need to give new coaches time to get their players and implement their system, but there were no significant changes to scheme or staff when Joker took over that players needed to adjust to and the team has looked worse each of his three seasons. I think the fact that they made a bowl his first season shows how important a player Cobb was to the UK offense. Yes there have been key injuries, but the difference between Kentucky and the upper and middle ranks of the SEC is those other teams seem to have people ready to step in and play without having to dumb down the plan. Why is it that we have to limit our offense for our backup quarterback? Why do we have a quarterback we bring in when we want to run and a quarterback we bring in when we want to pass? Surely these players are capable of doing both well enough so opposing DCs can’t just focus on stopping one thing.
So, I really do think this season needs to be the Joker Phillips Farewell Tour and I hope he gets another job at a school where he can fit better. He seems like a good guy and I wish him the best. But who does Barnhart get? People keep saying we need to get a “good coach”, I even saw the “Coach Cal of football” thrown out there, but let’s face it, the elite coaches aren’t going to line up to take this job. Cal came to KY because it has been an elite program with a few off years. That’s just not the case with football. So what big name coach are we going to get?
It is amazing that Mitch will take a chance on Joker and stand firmly behind him, when everyone knew last year that is was not going to work! Then when it comes to taking a chance on a coach that might be able to turn this program around, no that is too risky! I will always be amazed at what is KY risking by taking a chance for the fans! Mitch, now is the time to act!
Sorry, but I have zero confidence in Mitch Barnhart having the ability to find and sign a quality football coach.
See my remarks above, and in former threads. This has much less to do with Barnhart’s ability to find and hire a quality football coach than it does with any coach’s ability to be successful in the UK job.
I am not a Mitch Barnhart fan, and I am sure he is no fan of mine. However, Barnhart’s track record of finding and hiring quality coaches has been solid for basketball, football, women’s basketball, and all of the Olympic sports.
My issues with Mitch Barnhart focus on his misplaced loyalty toward Tubby Smith while he allowed the men’s basketball program to become more like Minnesota’s than North Carolina’s. I concede that hiring Gillispie was a mistake, and I have been critical of Mitch Barnhart’s handling of that hire with respect to the due diligence, but Gillispie was a hot commodity on the scene when Mitch hired him, and he was received here, at the time of the hiring, with great expectations. It did not work out for Gillispie, or for Mitch Barnhart, but he did correct the mistake quickly, and he did make the right hire for basketball, and we are all enjoying the benefits of those actions.
I remain of the view that to replace Joker without making the institutional commitment to football is not even a band aide for a severed limb.
Timing is everything especially if you sit at the bottom of the SEC!!!
Barnhart is supposed to be a football guy. He screwed up the basketball hire and got advice from others to tell him who the obvious choice should have been all along. Gabriel said on his radio show that the Joker hire was a deal worked out by Coach Brooks and Lee Todd and that Barnhart was coerced into going along.
If that is the case, Barnhart has yet to make his mark on the football program. He had a hard time his first go round, and ended up with Brooks. I do believe there is some young talent on the team. One would think that it would be easier to to get a top coach this time around. But, there are several other SEC schools that will be looking for a new coach, next season. That is why I am in favor of announcing that it is Joker’s last year, letting him finish the season, and nail down the right guy before he gets snatched up by another school.
IT IS TIME for Barnhart to speak. It is plain to all but the dumbest of us that Coach Phillips will not be back next year. An announcement NOW would signal a new direction which should help with recruiting. But his statement needs to go beyond simply stating that UK will have a new coach next year. UNLESS HE MAKES A POSITIVE STATEMENT DECLARING THAT UK FOOTBALL IS ABOUT TO BE GIVEN A NEW EMPHASIS NOTHING WILL CHANGE. UK football now has a history long record of losing more games than it has won. No football coach in over 50 YEARS has won half of his games. No organizaton can fail for so many years and be truly dedicated to winning!
We fans must also change. We have been so used to losing that even the foolsgoals minor bowl games under Brooks were celebrated as great achievements. Some of get all excited about an occasional decent performance such as the recent Georgia game. We need to compete in our conference or get out. Losing and taking the SEC payoffs just is not cutting it. Yes, I know that the weakness of the basketball SEC gives our basketball team a great advantage, but there are two major sports at UK and elevating one to God Status and allowing the other to be the conference whipping boy just is not fair to the kids who represent our University on the football field.
Mr. Barnhart quit hiding. Be a leader or move on.
I agree with the fact that we need a new football coach but you are totally wrong when you speak of the weakness of SEC basketball. The SEC has produced 6 National Champions in The Ncaa men’s basketball in the last 20 years between 3 different teams as well as sent 12 teams to the final four from 4 different schools. That does not sound too weak to me.
Ron, great points. SEC very underrated in basketball and with Cal at UK, only going to get better
You’re talking to a Indiana fan, what do you expect him to say about the SEC.
No Indiana fan here. When I write that the SEC has been good for UK’s basketball program I say this with pride. I challenge you to research any SEC team and post their win loses vs UK. If you don’t know now, you will find that UK has dominated each and every SEC team for the history of the league. I want UK to play in a basketball league that it can dominate. I want these teams to come into Rupp with their tails between their legs and a whipped expression on their faces. I like the results. I do wish that football had a higher priority. Admitting the truth does not lessen the great history of the UK basketball program.
Re: strength of SEC basketball
The SEC is a football conference. In the last twenty years the SEC has won 6 championships but three of them belong to UK. Arkansas has one and Florida had that two year period. In fact, those three are the only NCAA championships other than those of UK in the entire history of the conference. No SEC team comes close to UK when it comes to won-lost records against the Cats. UK is now and has almost always dominated this conference….and that is good. Preseason rankings have only Florida mentioned and the other SEC teams are not even included in the also rans. The SEC has been great for UK basketball and very bad for UK football.
While we may share our misery and cast about looking for a “savior,” I’m not certain there is one without significant changes in commitment to football at the higher levels. The President appears, at best, indifferent. There are other priorities in economic hard times. For whatever reason, however, I am impressed with the financial support Louisville has been able to generate in these same economic conditions. I can’t help but wonder what this season would look like if Max Smith had not been injured. Regardless of who is coaching next year, I see significant talent on this young team. My primary concern is to build on the talent level we have. Arkansas will be searching for a new coach. It’s very likely Auburn and Tennessee will be casting about for a new coach. The competition for hiring the best available will be as difficult as our schedule has been.
In UKs’ case one loss does make a season.The opening loss at Louisville set the tone for this team,and this season.The performance of the team or lack thereof,showed us all that the staff did not have the team headed in the right direction,and lackluster performances have been the agenda ever since.
Yes,there has been injuries,but injuries are a given in football.The problem with UK was the head coach and his assistance not having a plan in place for a backup system for losing key personnel.Case in point was the debacle at quarterback.Newton was said to be in contention as the starter.If he was fighting with Smith for the starting position,why is’nt he a factor today.Sadly this analagy can be used for anu postion on the field.Either this staff is incapable of developing players,or there is simply no talent left when a starter falls.
I never liked Joker. I asked when he was hired why are we paying him more that Rich Brooks and giving him a 5 year contract. Schools were not standing in line to hire Joker. He has taken the football program to the bottom as fast as Gillispie took the basketball program to the bottom. Every game since he has become the coach I have scrached my head and said what could he have possible been thinking. I think if he was a high school coach his record would be about the same. Can you really think of a worse coach? I know Barnhart watches Volley ball, do you think he ever goes to a football game? I don’t care who the next football coach is because in my mind he has to be an improvement!!!!!!!!!
Very good read Larry. I agree 100%
Thanks Shawn. Some columns are no fun to write. This was one. But UK football is a big business that is not operating very well right now
A new CEO would have been chosen a long time ago if this were a business. That said, it’s about results whether it’s college sports or business profitability. Results.
A big time athletic program like UK football is a business. The strange thing is that seldom is there a business that fails for most of it’s history and stays in business.But this business is propped up by a conference that rewards it winners and losers with millions of dollars and by ticket buying fans who begin each seasons with high hope.
same old song and dance.
We have lost yet another year without a team that is consistently competitive. Many teams come in here “flat”, ( Georgia ) looking to their next game. Now we will wait until every decent candidate has taken a higher profile program and hire someone who has had a team that can score, but does not know how to spell d-e-f-e-n-$-e, at a entry level salary that screams of 5 more years in the SEC basement. We need to give the AD job to Mike Pratt and hopefully, some Coal Magnate will buy out Mitch’s “good Ole boy” contract issued by Todd. Getting a proven Coach is doable….but, much more difficult if we wait.
I have been following UK football since 1970. I have reached the conclusion that we will never, EVER have a successful football program. There are in my opinion too many people in the administration and state politics that simply don’t want success and seem to be destined to make certain that it never happens.
Brent, hard not to feel that way. Caller to WLAP this morning told us that Duke is getting ready to spend $75 million in football facility upgrades
UK spent $240,000 on a light show at Big Blue Madness and they handout a few free hot dogs and Cokes at the Spring Football game and Fan Appreciation day in the Fall. I think that tells you all you need to know about the UK Administration support for Football.
Pacman, facts are facts and that says it all about attitude toward football
Great article Larry. The committment needs to be made before we see sustained success. The mindset has to change. UK can have a great FB program if the committment is made. We are supposed to be an SEC school. SEC schools don’t lose to the ULs or WKUs of the world. It can be done if certain adminstrators get their heads out of their backsides.
Anyone who says they don’t want Petrino doesn’t truly want to win. I say get Petrino in here right now. Six decades of bottom feeding is enough, let’s go all in with this next hire.
Bill and Terry, valid points. UK has to decide where to value winning. Petrino has to be at top of list if winning is the biggest priority even though I would still prefer seeing a guy like Sonny Dykes get a chance
If this were to take place I would not renew my tickets. I have been a season ticket holder for 27 years. I know several others that feel the same way. I can’t support a program that would win at all costs by hiring a scumbag like Petrino.
I repeat what I posted earlier. If Patrino were hired and if he turned this program into winners fans would elevate him to the status of a state hero. For those who would drop season tickets there would be many in line to buy them. HERE IS A QUESTION FOR YOU. Has your loyalty for 27 years helped or hurt the program? IMO the only way that Barnhart will be forced to really commit the University to winning football is for fans to vote with their feet and not with their seats. But that is a decision for you and all of those who continue to buy tickets if you do not see a real statement of commitment from Bartnhart.
Petrino is poison. He lived off John L’s players at ul. Was a joke with the Falcons and from what I understand the recruiting at Ark was subpar. He would have ended up being let go or left under the cover of darkness. Not to mention all the off the field crap. It is a point of CHARACTER.
Larry I agree with you and all of the Ky fans there has to be a change now and If we don’t go after a high profile coach than we are no better off just as well keep coach Joker. I think right now we should go after Louisville former coach Petrino he winner everywhere he been and he can he can get the job done. To get Ky attention us fans need to stop going to all home games and it will make Mr. Barnhart fire coach Joker. Thanks
Fans, what makes you think that Petrino would want to come to UK? Seriously. Why would he, other than he’s “broke”. No support from the administration, no tradition (other than losing) and no serious recruiting base; I guess the state of GA is pretty good. Coach Brooks left out of here saying UK needs support and better facilities; Recruiting room, whatever that is…
I don’t think he would come unless he has ZERO offers any where else, that includes DIV II. Just my honest opinion.
Petrino will come to Ky if they will put up the big money and If Ky don’t spend big bucks on a coach than forget about Ky ever going to a big bowl and maybe just a little bowl every 8 or 10 years
my 1st memorie of uk football was seeing my grandma watching the game on tv saying what a bad coach they had in curry
Lunchbox, your grandma must have been a wise lady
after all these years it seems like not much has changed with uk football
No much has changed since the 1950s:
Bryant begat Collier.
Collier begat Bradshaw
Bradshaw begat Ray
Ray begat Curci
Curci begat Claiborne
Claiborne begat Curry
Curry begat Mumme
Mumme begat Morriss
Morriss begat Brooks
Brooks begat Phillips
Phillips will beget someone.
Yet, I completely agree not much has changed with UK football, even with all of this history of begats.
A business planning expert will tell you that if you have a business problem that appears at one level, the correction for the problem lies at the next organizational level up. If tactical problems, look at strategies. If strategic problem, look at goals. If goals are the problem, look to long range objectives. If long range objectives are not working, look to the Mission Statement.
The problem here appears to be poor coaching. Look at the AD office, and if it does not happen there, look to the UKAA(Bd of Trustees, President). If not there, look to the Legislature (Funding, and HIgh School Football throughout the state).
When the UK-UL football series began, one selling point was how it would improve Kentucky HS Football, and the local talent pool. Has that happened? Louisville’s strength this year is built on a group of kids Strong brought in from Florida.
I know Joker is done here. It seems everyone knows this, and my bet is Barnhart knows this too. The players know this. Joker and his staff know this.
However, I also know that the more things change, regardless who Joker begats, the more things will remain the same with respect to UK football.
I do not reach this conclusion easily, or happily. It actually makes me very sad.
I think it is important for Barnhart to comment of the short term future.
BUT, as far as timing goes, I really doubt that pulling the string before; Auburn, Tenn, and Ark is going to give us a leg up in hiring anyone. We as fans know that there will be four SEC jobs open up real soon. I think any coach that wants to coach in the SEC knows that there will be four jobs open.
We need to realize that we are not going to be the prettiest girl at this dance.
If we were to announce today that a search is under way for our next head coach, I seriously doubt we would be able to sign a (top) coach before all or most of the other SEC schools that will be looking for a coach.
I think Barnhart needs to go to Manhatton, Ks. and see what they are doing at K-State.
If they can do it there, why can’t we put forth a competitive team here?
Because they have a coach and coaching staff that know what they are doing. Plain and simple. I venture to say that their recruiting classes aren’t that much better than UK’s.
The game was painful to watch, mainly for the coaching decisions. Like everyone else, I was incredulous as to the QB change when Whitlow was moving the team. Make the other team stop what you are doing before you make a change. It wasn’t fair to either QB to make the change then. Then you have a punt that netted 49 yards. Why take a penalty unless you are going to go for it on 4th and 3. That made no sense at all. It is time for a change. Let’s go ahead and make the change now and get a heads up on Tennessee and Auburn for the available choices, because if we don’t, we will be picking third in the SEC.
If the other SEC schools grab the available “name” coaches, then let’s at least get someone we can get excited about…..like the Defensive Coordinator at Alabama, Kirby Smart….someone to get this fan base excited. As mentioned by a very good friend of mine, Will Barnhart accept the responsibility for hiring Joker or blame his dismissal on a restless fan base?
I am afraid Kirby Smart will be the first choice of Auburn and Tennessee.
KY pays the BB coach 4 mill, Bama pays the FB coach 4 mill. KY pays the FB coach 1 mill, Bama pays the BB coach 1 mill. In life, it always seems to me I get what I pay for.
Barnhart came out and said that UK has the money to make our next coach the highest paid coach in college football. The real question is if Barnhart will do it. He hasnt shown any signs of wanting to get UK to a top football program. If the administration will actually spend some money on the football program, we have the potential of being a real SEC football school. The fan base would be just as wild/crazy about football as it is about basketball if they turn the program around. We showed that in 07 with sold out crowds and setting the attendance record for college game day. We have all the materials to become a top tier program. We have the conference, fans, and money but none of that matters until the guys at the top make the first move. It all starts with Barnhart. How can he expect fans to go support a program that he wont even try to improve. A program that has no potential, nothing to look forward to in the near future. UK fans want to have a good football team. They want to go into the games and support a winning team but the only way fans are going to start going to the games again is if Barnhart makes a big change this year to give fans hope.
When I read the comments from folks who want Bobby Petrino to be Kentucky’s next head coach (and I, personally, don’t ever give a name myself in such threads because we have a head coach who has neither resigned nor been fired and I will, thus, still be supporting him with all my heart while he is on our sidelines — that’s just me), I just shake my head. Sure, with our currently having only one win there is a direct contrast to Petrino’s records. Then, though, I think how many times I’ve heard our head coach speak of teaching “life lessons” to our players and to the stark contrast of the example Petrino has set for his players through the years, along with a seeming lack of concern for them. It’s pretty obvious that some folks do want to win at ANY cost, though — and, evidently, for our players to have only the ONE life lesson that winning is ALL that matters. Instead, this gal who loves Kentucky football second only to God and family would be one of those fans who would no longer renew her most treasured “luxury item,” and, true, I would be quickly replaced by some likely bloodthirsty fan who cares nothing whatsover about integrity or class — or, actually, the young players themselves as human beings with futures in a real world outside of football, futures with real jobs, wives, and children.Thankfully, though, I don’t think I have to worry, though. for I feel that sure that Mitch Barnhart WOULD NEVER offer the job to Bobby Petrino with his history of one after the other example of dishonesty and lack of loyalty and character.
Further, in anyone else is offered the job, yes, he had better be, in addition, assured of more support for Kentucky football (and, by the way, I believe Mitch Barnhart himself badly wants Kentucky football to be successful). I agree with the Professor and many others in that regard, and I badly want to see winning Kentucky football, but done the right way (and, yes, this fan still appreciates that wins under both Brooks and Phillips have been part of an honorable, clean program — with a head coach who cares about what his players become as young men in life after football and, thus, values the model he himself sets for those young men).
Still further, one poster named “Bill” says something here, still again, that so applies to my own thoughts and feelings. He said that he cannot help but wonder “what this season would have looked like if Maxwell Smith had not been injured.” Saturday had been a sad day for me as I had watched the game — and there has been a lot of legitimate criticism. I thought back to the fire I had seen within our Wildcats only a week earlier, when a bowl game had still been in reach. That had not remotely seemed the case yesterday. There had seemed to be a lack of focus, particularly after the preplanned quarterback switch that had followed the two impressive drives down the field, and things went downhill to the point that it had become painful to watch (basically minus J.D. Harmon’s interceptions and Avery Williamson’s tackles). YET, oh, yes, Bill, having watched so many examples of other teams’ horrid performances without their starting quarterback, I, too, cannot help but wonder what “might have been” with Maxwell Smith available for more than three games and two plays (and Smith had been second in the SEC in passing, and our team had been thirteenth in the nation), along with some defensive execution with some added experience, something of which we had seen so very little in the early losses to Louisville and WKU. I hear you, Bill, but, sadly, we will never know.
Regardless, yes, God-willing, I will still be in Commonwealth Saturday, supporting those guys with all my heart and hoping to see the heart I had witnessed out on the field against the Bulldogs. Obviously, the Commodores are a much more formidable opponent than the Tigers that just embarrassed us. Frankly, I’m still feeling disappointed and sad today, but, who knows, Saturday just could be different. We’ll see. GO CATS! BEAT THOSE ‘DORES!
P.S. FWIW, I tend to think Mitch Barnhart will stick to his pattern of evaluating his head coach after the season concludes. By the way, some potential head coaches just might find a principled athletic director’s abiding by that principle appealing. Just a thought for you guys.
Yes Barnhart has come out and said we have the money to hire any coach we want in football. He never said he’d spend the money did he? 10 years of sealing the pipes at Commonwealth stadium and he called that upgrades. He has proven in 10 + years that he will not spend money on football. The true upgrades to the stadium when he replaced the Video boards and added the ribbon boards were 2-3 yrs overdue. He doesn’t like to spend money on football. So no in reality I have no great hope that he will do what is right about football.
But what is right about football is this. Get the jump on Auburn, UT, Arkansas who are looking for a coach at the end of the Season. This doesn’t include all the other Namebrand coferences who have teams that will be firing and hiring coaches as well. So its not just the SEC. We will be behind the 8 ball behind not just 3 teams in the SEC but other teams in the ACC, Big 10-12, PAC 12 as well.
Be proactive AD name an interim HC, let Joker go, and get out there and form a hiring committee of former players etc and find us that home run hire. Petrino, Sonny Dykes
I really doubt that pulling the string before; Auburn, Tenn, and Ark is going to give us a leg up in hiring anyone. We as fans know that there will be four SEC jobs open up real soon. I think any coach that wants to coach in the SEC knows that there will be four jobs open.
We need to realize that we are not going to be the prettiest girl at this dance.
If we were to announce today that a search is under way for our next head coach, I seriously doubt we would be able to sign a (top) coach before all or most of the other SEC schools that will be looking for a coach.
I promise you that Ark. is already looking for a coach. And most likely UT and Auburn. Mitch probably is also, but he certainly knows the pecking order.
You’re right he never said that he would spend that money and thats the problem. If our football program is going to get going we have to send money. The first step is getting a coach that you can build a program around and that means he has to spend money. It aggravates me that he wont. The only program he is willing to do that for is the basketball program and that is why Barnhart is not a good AD. It hurts me to say this but if we had Tom Jurich we would be a top 25 football program because he knows what it take, MONEY. He went out and spent the money to get Charlie Strong to Louisville and he will offer as much money as he wants to keep him there and thats what an AD is supposed to do.
UK could easily be one of if not the top athletic university in the nation. That might sound absurd but we could. UL is recognized as one of the top athletic universities and they are a city college with not even a quarter of the fan base that UK has, probably around equal in facilities, we are in the better conference, and campus life at UK blows UL out of the water. So why is UL out performing us in pretty much every sport except basetball? Because they have an AD who spends the money to get the right coaches there and keeps them there and spends the money for upgrades that are needed to continue building top programs. Barnhart doesnt do that in any sport except basketball.
Lets go a head fire Joker and start out next year fresh and Put out the big money for a big high profile coach!!!
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Yes, I will agree that there would probably have been a couple more wins with Smith healthy, but the fact remains that for years this staff (under Joker and Brooks) brings in players in skill positions that are supposed to be game changers and nothing usually happens with them. Yes, Smith would have changed things, but there is a senior quarterback named Morgan Newton that was supposed to set the world on fire. The guy struggles to complete passes. They moved him to wide receiver (a la Randall Cobb) to get his talent on the field, but he doesn’t seem to be out there doing much. They may be bringing in talent, but they are not doing a very good job at developing it.
Fire Coach Joker go after a big name coach and if they don’t fire Joker us fans should stop going to home games untill Ky wants to win!!