By LARRY VAUGHT
Kentucky is going to have a lot of challenging games in Mark Stoops’ first season, but there will be no more intriguing game than the season opener in Nashville against Western Kentucky and new coach Bobby Petrino.
The Hilltoppers will be trying to beat UK for a second straight season — a huge no-no for a SEC team. And Petrino will be trying to make a statement immediately that Kentucky and other schools made a mistake by not hiring him.
Petrino named his coaching staff this week and the assistants have a wealth of football experience, both as players and as coaches. Combined, the seven assistants have over 100 years of combined collegiate coaching experience, which include coaching stints at schools such as Arkansas, Baylor, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, Marshall, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Wisconsin. Together, the seven announced assistants have coached in a combined 14 bowl games, including four BCS bowl games.
It’s no surprise that he added Mike Summers, the offensive line coach under Joker Phillips, as his o-line coach. Summers spent three seasons as the run game coordinator and the offensive line coach at Kentucky after spending time on Petrino’s staff at Louisville, with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and at Arkansas. At Arkansas, Summers served as the assistant head coach and offensive line coach, as the Razorbacks led the SEC in scoring offense in 2009. Summers has also spent time at Oklahoma State, Oregon State and Texas A&M, among others.
“Mike is a great teacher,” Petrino said. “He does an excellent job of motivating the offensive line. The one thing that Mike has always done is that he has always been able to unify the offensive line. That is a tough position to play and they have really been able to come together as a family and understand that it takes a special person to be part of that group.”
Petrino is also added former UK player Mike Cassity, who has 38 seasons of collegiate coaching experience, including 22 seasons as a defensive coordinator. Last year he was UK’s secondary coach and will have that same role at Western. Cassity has WKU roots, as the former Hilltopper assistant served on the WKU defensive staff from 1983-88, serving as the defensive coordinator and the defensive backs coach. Cassity has previous coaching experience at schools such as Baylor, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Oklahoma State and Wisconsin, among others.
“To be able to have Mike on our staff to coach the secondary is awesome because he used to be my coordinator and did a great job coordinating our defense at the University of Louisville,” Petrino said. “He really changed the culture on defense when he came in and improved our defense dramatically in a short time. He is a great motivator and very enthusiastic.”
Adding Summers and Cassity not only gives Petrino two familiar assistants, but it also gives him two coaches that know plenty about UK’s personnel and adds even more intrigue to this season-opening game.
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Glad Summers landed somewhere close and familiar. Summers was a good coach think he will be missed, but I still like this new staff HC Stoops put together. Cassity not sure if it was the coaching or players, but our DB’s sucked last year. Looking forward to Stoops cleaning that area up personally.
UK better buckle up, this will not be a cake walk against WKU. We gotta bring it. The way I look at it these coaches BP just hired who were fired at UK will have something to prove. And we know how BP feels about UK before and now since he was slighted. Why does UK always wind up with such hard case scenarios in football. It is remarkable.
I am very happy and proud to see potentially 3 wonderful Football Programs at Div. 1 level in the State of Kentucky… Go Wildcats !
Larry T..no disrespect, I only care about one. The other two hurt UK in recruiting top state talent. And it’s gonna get worse if we don’t start winning.
In State Competition is Good…I moved from Lexington to S. Miami in 1980, the same year Coach Schnellenberger had his recruiting class at Univ. Of Miami. Everyone said he would never compete with Florida State or Univ. Of Florida…well, as we saw, ” THE U “, ” Quarterback U ” created A Dynasty…I see this opportunity for The University Of Kentucky. I saw this unfold at The University Of Miami, so in State Rivals, IMO, is great for UK and The State Of Kentucky…But, that being said, ” LP, I totally respect your die-hard stance and I’m just grateful your Passion is for Our University Of Kentucky !
Larry T I hope you are right. I really do. Miami was a winning program under Schnellenberger for starters. On the other hand, UK football has a history of losing streaks to rivals, and are on the bottom of the SEC right now. Twenty six straight losses to Florida, are you kidding me! We are the laughing stock of the football world right now. All one has to do is listen to what’s said about UK football. This has gotten old over the years with me. I’m sick of it. That has to change or we’re dead. No great homegrown athlete is likely to sign at UK if we don’t turn this thing around, and quick, especially with UofL on the rise and headed to the ACC. I am encouraged with our new staff but they have their work cut out for them. I do respect your thoughts and insight. Happy New Year to you too my friend.
Re: Instate competition is good
I could not agree more. Having more than one quality college athletic program in the state is very good for the state. It is very good for the University of Kentucky. Will the BBN tolerate being hind teat to UL and WKU? It will not. The UL win over Florida should send a bolt of lightening through Barnhart and I believe that it will. He has hired a good staff and he turned loose with a good bit of money for assistant coaches. Let us see if he and the University can stop settling for the SEC basement and their annual payment for losing and commit to compete in the SEC.
As far as following UL and WKU as closely as I follow UK. No, I don’t do that. But I will tell you this. About half way through the first half I turned on the UL-Florida game TO SEE HOW BADLY UL WAS BEING STOMPED. I ended up pulling for the Cards. It is time that somebody from Kentucky beat Florida. Now, UK begin the process. Becoming better than Louisville will move you up in the SEC. It is about time.
I can see your point, I do . But I still say it is good for the state but not necessarily good for UK unless we start winning right now. Winning is key. If we don’t put a winner on the field soon UofL and WKU will steal all the in state talent and leave us in the wake. It is already happening. I believe this is a pivotal year for UK football. We must make substantial progress right now on the recruiting trail and on the field in 2013 season. Take a gander at our 2013 schedule. It is a killer, with Alabama back on, and 8 sec games with 4 on the road. UofL is succeeding because they are winning on the field against what I say is a weaker schedule than Kentucky plays. In time Petrino, if he stays, will be winning, you can count on that. UK is between a rock and a hard place. We muct get ourselves out of this ever continuing tail spin. I believe this staff can take us to the promise land, but it will not be easy.
Truly is a football state and this 2013 football season is going to be so much fun
My only hope is WKU will not be sorry and that coach will stay a full season and not bolt.
Dear Miss Queen of V V Post, I say he will stay 3 years, maybe 4… Congrats Linda ! Email me your address (for your prize) @ ltc721@comcast.net….Happy New Year !
I really don’t think he will stay that long, Larry. Seriously, he is all about himself, he doesn’t care about programs, young kids, creating a lasting legacy. Look how many jobs he has had since he left that ‘other’ school…Signed…The Queen of VV
I agree with your assessment Linda. Petrino has had about 14 jobs in 29 years of coaching. U.of L. & Ark. are the ONLY places where he stayed for 4 years. He has burned bridges many places that he has been – Just ask the Falcons, Ask U. of L., Ask Ark. etc. People talk about giving him a 2nd chance when he has had about 8 or 10 chances when you add up his all of his mis-deeds that we know about. He is a great Coach if you measure it by winning only. He is a terrible role model.
That being said, I wish WKU success (Expept for one game in Nashville).
Summers & Cassity are good people & I hope for the best for them as well.
Maybe one of them will take over when Petrino leaves WKU.
While I am glad to see other good programs in the state, it is harder for me to wish success at U. of L. I do think that C. Strong is a great Coach & Jurich showed how to hold on to a successful coach.
I personally don’t care who Bobby P. has as a coaching staff. I realize that this is the BEST coaching staff that Kentucky has had since Bear & Collier days. How many fans can western put in the stands in Nashville and how many will the BBN put in LPField? It will be a home game folks! You think Stoops cares who is coaching across the field? He wants the “new Cats” to perform well out of the box and I FOR ONE BELIEVE the cats will show up big time in this opening game. Bobby will get his first win the following week against tennessee—You will see!!!! Can we play this weekend Gee!
I pick UK…
I hope you are right Shinny. We have a good football coaching staff at UK now I do beleive, but we have not played a single game yet. We gotta have this one for sure. I also think coach Stoops understands he will be facing a great coach across the field in BP, who by the way hates UK’s guts. Anyone who doubts that has not observed what this guy can do on a football field with the headset on.
Good points Shinny & Larry –
What difference does it make who is Coaching at WKU since we have a GREAT Staff!
Can’t wait for the first game! Can’t wait to see the next recruit!
The new offense should be exciting next year. Better defensive coaches should beef up the defense. Stoops has a reputation of being a believer of good discipline. Joker may have been too close to his players. Stoops will not likely do that.
But Stoops and co will be playing with what’s left over and what ever freshmen and JUCO players he can sign. I would not expect him to win immediately. I stated that UK should be headed in the right direction by Stoops’s 3rd or 4th season. I would not worry about WKU. Next year’s game will be interesting, but after that UK will probably drop them for what UK thought WKU would be…a sure fire cupcake. UL will continue to be a problem and I don’t feel that UK will be able to drop them. But as UK continues to improve the recruits will come, and they will get their share of Kentucky kids. There are not enough good football recruits in Kentucky for either UK or UL to have good teams. UK has followers across the state. UL is an urban university and cannot have the large fan base that UK has. The UK fan base, when UK begins to win, will help direct the best kentucky players to UK regardless of what UL does.
Joe I hear you and I surely don’t want to beat a dead horse, but we need some big football wins starting in 2013. I don’t know if WKU will be dropped or not, but BP will put a winner on the field for sure in due time. UofL is a rising star. If we don’t start beating them we lose in more ways than just in wins and losses. Strong has that program moving upward. We are losing ground every year in football to them. Just look at their athletes in the sugar bowl, They are reloading with new and better recruits every year, and Teddy is back for two more. UofL is gaining in popularity across not only Kentucky but the nation. My goodness, their football team is ranked in the top 25, and will probably finish in the top 5. Their Basketball team is top 5. They are getting plenty of exposure. Look at Strongs recruiting success in the state of Florida alone. I now live in a small town in Ky. There are as many UofL fans here as UK. They are all coming out of the woodwork, of course. I agree UK has more fans nationally. My point is they are winning and we are not. Stoops has to start to turn that around right now, or he will not get much of a honey moon with the fans, and I know he won’t with the press. Listen, it can be done. I think with just a better defense on the field would do wonders.
IMO it would be difficult for Soops to begin to compete against the SEC teams or UL right off the bat. He needs to play with his recruits. If he is able to make UK rise from the dead immediately I would be thrilled. But I need to realize that there has only been one Lazarus. So let us have hope, but let us have patience. Patience should not extend to the 3rd or 4th year. If UK is not able to beat the SEC bottom feeders and compete head to head with the mid level teams and occasionally scare the top 2 or 3 SEC teams by then the BBN should start to make their dissasification known in the only way that has been demonstrated to move Barnhart..by having empty seats in Commonwealth.
We must face this fact. UL is here to stay. And the excellence is not just in the men’s two major sports. Women’s basketball is pushing UK. Baseball and lots of minor sports are competetive at UL. AND THEY ARE MOVING TO THE ACC. UK is competing well with UL in every thing except football. We either will compete with them or hunker in the dark corner of the SEC with our tails between our legs. Time will tell, buy IMO UL will be a stimulus rather than a deterrent. Think of the pressure brought forth by our so called “little brother” when they beat the SEC power that we could not beat in more than a quarter century. Nothing helps more than a good kick in the seat of the pants.
But let us not panic if the turn around does not come immediately.
I guess we will know pretty quick what Coach Stoops is
Bringing to the party… First game of the year against Petrino
Then U of L as Sugar Bowl Champions. The U of L that beat
The gators who we haven’t beaten in 26 years. Season
starts With a bang
You’re on the right page Pacman. UK has gotta get after it! We have lost alot of momentum over the past three or four years. UofL and now WKU have left us wanting. That has to change and quick.
IF this looks like it is going to be a lasting thing, UK football, IF they look good even with a few loses I MIGHT become a football fan.
Welcome to Football Linda!
It will be easy to be a fan with this new staff.
Bring your Evil Twin – She will be needed before the first season is over.
We shall see, we shall see! Evil twin is also thinking about it right now. Do you think she will have to go off on someone before the season is over? Someone better send us a play book or something, we know nothing about football except we like the tight pants.
Hopefully we will not need your evil twin as much as previous seasons but I am sure that she will be needed. We will all need a play book this season as it should be much more exciting.
Tight Pants? Don’t think we have ever discussed that here. Maybe you can help us get more women involved in Football.
BTW – We are all B-Ball fans as well!
We certainly are, Love SEC F-Ball, we certainly are. I just hope they don’t start wearing meggings, I might lose my almost interest in football if they do. I use to like football when I was in high school and at UK, just lost interest in it. I really am excited for the football fans, I know how I feel about basketball and so hope you get those feelings back about the football program. Go Cats!
Larry Pup I have no doubt with the Jr. college talent that will come in(yes I don’t think Stoops is through on that front for next year) and the returning talent equals 4 more wins then last year. Having said that western will be the first–BP will not be blocking or catching. It’s western and it will take him a couple of years(if he stays that long)to install his system and gather talent. The offense Brown runs is simple and the QB talent we already have in place helps explain the little win over western. RELAX it will happen–the Louisville game is another matter–we shall see.
Shinny..I sure hope you are right, and I hope BP dosn’t start gathering talent at the expense of UK. I would love to start hearing more UK football recruiting news. I know Stoops has signed at least two, and needs more time. UK must beat UofL and WKU on the recruiting trail. Strong has a great recruiting class inbound. I watched UofL against Florida and their athletes looked bigger and faster than Florida’s. They were impressive. They have many from Florida on their roster. UK must match their recruiting success or we will struggle to win.
Stoops and Brown, Will also make our current Players better….ala…Irvin Meyer – Ohio State. I believe in these Coaches and so will Our Team ! Plug a few holes in current recruitment and ” wallaa ” instant Competitors…sprinkle in a little Bluegrass for Luck and you never Know what could happen, ” should Be Fun “…
Well if there is not a sense of urgency for this schedule there will never be one. I hope they pick up things quick. Is it possible to get 6 wins?
Aug. 31: vs. Western Kentucky (Nashville)
Sept. 7: MIAMI (OHIO)
Sept. 14: LOUISVILLE
Sept. 21: OPEN
Sept. 28: FLORIDA
Oct. 5: at South Carolina
Oct. 12: ALABAMA
Oct. 19: OPEN
Oct. 26: at Mississippi State
Nov. 2: ALABAMA STATE
Nov. 9: MISSOURI
Nov. 16: at Vanderbilt
Nov. 23: at Georgia
Nov. 30: Tennessee
Ares…Shinny thinks so. No doubt it is a tough schedule. I think it is the toughest we’ve had in some time with Alabama back on. We have a decent shot at WKU, Miami of Ohio, and Alabama State for starters. Louisville is going to be tough, but we are at home, and that should help. The others are all sec games with four on the road. If we can be 3 – 0 after the Louisville game, look out. The open date before starting sec play will be a blessing too. GO CATS!
Amen Larry T, that is encouraging to an old pilgrim like me. I needed that! Urban Meyer has turned every program he has ever been at around. I’d bet Florida wishes about now they still had him. If Stoops can do it at UK he will go down in football history and Kentucky folklore We need to start with a big win against Western. Should be fun is right. I’m sure pullng for him.
Pup:
Here we are hoping for a victory over Western Kentucky. Strange is it not? Beaten by two other state schools when UK is the flagship University. I don’t think that UK fans will tolerate that. And if they don’t then things will change at UK. I have seen many coaches come and many go. It is always the same. New coach brings hope, hires good staff and we think THIS TIME IT IS DIFFERENT. Well maybe this time things really are different. We don’t have to beat UL or WKU this year. Our eyes should be on years three and four. By then we will know how commited UK is to winning football and our high octane offense should have moved us well past WKU and into the mid level SEC. We should be beating the basement dwellers, whoever they may be and we should be able to toss a scare into whichever 2 or 3 SEC teams that dominent at the time.
That is my hope. I can’t see Western being a threat past next year and I double that they will remain on the schedule anyway. UL is another question. That thorn in the behind is just the medicine UK needs to blossom.
Joe..I hear you. I do think however we must win against WKU, and maybe Louisville in 2013 to stop the bleeding. Another loss to Louisville and it’s three in a row. Another loss to WKU and it’s two in a row. We have brought Stoops in to turn this thing around starting in 2013. With that said, I think we look at WKU and Lousiville as winnable games on our schedule in 2013, especially WKU. That may sound unrealistic, but it is and has been a yearly mindset for most UK football fans as we look down our schedule. Louisville will be tough, no doubt, but we have them at our house the third game in, and it’s a rival game. We always play them tough. A big win over UofL would do much for our confidence going forward. Bridgewater is back for two more years, and Strong has a good class coming in. I say it is the most important game on our schedule in 2013. We need to upset them! The SEC schedule is another story as UK begins to lineup against those teams week after week beginning in week 5. It becomes very difficult fast. If we can pull off 6 wins, maybe 7, counting potential wins over WKU and UofL, we are on our way. Your scenario for years two, three, and four of the Stoops era brings UK to top dog status instate. I say we must see some big wins in 2013 to build momentum now, and to promote future recruiting. If no win against Louisville in 2013, we need to upset an SEC foe along the way. It is not an easy task, but That is what Stoops gets paid to do. To suffer through another losing season in 2013 would be a serious blow. I do understand too that the good coach needs time. Nothing helps more than to win some that all the experts say you can’t.
I don’t think success can be counted in wins and losses next year. What we need to see is improvement in offense, defense, special teams and most of all – recruiting. Years two and three will be telling. James Franklin had Vandy turned around by year 3 (9-4 overall; 5-3 in the SEC); Charlie Strong has U of L turned around by year 3 (Big East Champs; Sugar Bowl Champs). Hugh Freeze brought Ole Miss back to 6-6 and a Bowl in Year 1. If Stoops has what it takes we should see marked improvement (less complete breakdowns; guys playing with passion; consistent execution) in Year 1 and a Bowl by Year 2 and a winning record in the SEC by Year 3.
The schedule is tough but it is like Coach Cal said” I’m not worried about what other teams are doing to improve, I’m concerned about my team improving”.
Pacman..I hear you and you make sense, but recruiting gets very difficult if you keep losing. If you don’t count wins and losses next year then we can’t measure success can we? Under your assessment we could go 1-11 next year and say we have improved based on statistics. Tell that to alot of these fickle fans and the blistering press. No, we need improvement in the win column starting in 2013 as far as I’m concerned. Cal recruits well because of his winning ways, and hard work. We need to start winning more on the gridiron in 2013.
Improvement to me in 2013 is 3-9, 4-8, 5-7, or maybe 6-6. Now that would be nice! anything above 6 wins would be awesome.
Shinny says 4 more wins–western-miami(ohio) miss st-missouri-alabama st then 2 of last three(vandy-Georgia-Tenn take your pick! Unless we upset Fla. at home or South Carolina on road–then we would win one more Fla.St in 2013 Peach Bowl!!!! How does that sound BBN!
We gotta beat Louisville Shinny. They are at our house. Stoops will have our boys ready for battle don’t you think? I’ll take yours and you take mine and that gives us 8 right? I love it! It doesn’t hurt to dream a little BBN. Lighten up
I have never seen so many stories about football after the season was over in my whole life. I don’t think there has been this many positive comments on football ever! Man, it’s basketball season, let’s put this on the back burner for awhile….said Evil Twin Sister!
Love it. I’m a football fan. BBN can do both Linda. Glad you are joining. There is plenty of room.
I know, I think it is exciting to see all the love and anticipation for the upcoming season, you guys have suffered too long!
Boy you said it right there girl! We need to start winning our share. I just have a gut feeling we will. I love you posts, they are unique. I’m still laughing about the tight pants comment.
Thanks, Larry Pup, it’s the truth! My idea of football…they stand in a huddle for 10 minutes telling stories, eying the girls in the stadium, patting each other on the backside and then they pay for maybe 4-7 seconds. I have timed it and former UK players told me I was correct. Therefore, the tight pants. BTW I like to make people smile or think or just roll their eyes! Go Cats!
Now we know why UK has been so bad. They think a huddle is 10 minutes long.
WKU beat UK this past season, because of the previous coaching staff. The Hilltoppers will not beat the Wildcats next year. I predict Kentucky beats them by 21 or more. Gone are the days that UK will not be able to find the end zone. Gone are the days that the players will be undecisive on defense. WKU should be commended on hiring Petrino. He will win games there. If he stays more than 2 years, I will be very suprised.