The House of Blue

We know who it won't be though.

I have been in Jokers corner thruout, but after tonight and seeing where things are going, I just don't see how he can survive without at least 3 upsets in sec play. The way it looks we will be the underdog in every conference game, including Vandy. And some of those games may very possibly end up being as ugly as a couple were last yr. The sad thing is Joker is a great guy and ambassador for UK. But then again, so was Curry, and Tubby, and BillyG (whoops, not so much there). I bleed blue and will be pulling for them to get it together, but when the Sun Belt can come into our house and basically control the game..........

Probably should hire Petrino and hire him fast. Unless you can find somebody just as good without all the baggage. I don't see that guy out there but you never know.

Matt Jones said he would be pushing for Leach. F'ing pathetic. I don't want Leach under circumstances. I'd rather keep Joker.

We agree 100%. First Leach is gone and out of the picture and unless Barnhart makes a home run hire just might as well have Joker stick around another year. Hiring some has been, or some up and coming won't get it done. Barnhart should for once and listen to the fans and like rWhit said hire Petrino who is the best "Coach". available.

I do not want UK to be the moral police, I want UK to play some football and if it takes the devil to do it, bring him into the BBN.

Wow, we have some of the dumbest football fans to ever walk the earth.

Well, you're gonna get to see Leach at his best next week. Giving Trey Burton the ball as many times as he can carry/catch it. Florida will score 50+ points on what little defense we have next week.

I hate this, but it just is what it is. We have an average football team at best, in a good year. And this ain't gonna be a good year!

I'm with you mine Big Blue Brethren. However, I'm really conflicted about when to pull the trigger. A statement needs to be made to the team and recruits by bringing in an awesome hire.....now? Or later?

I feel the same about Petrino that you do about Leach. Petrino is trouble and bad publicity all rolled into one. Under no circumstances do I want him anywhere near UK.

I don't think there is a better coach in the country than Petrino, meaning having a team perform higher than the sum of its individual athletic parts. He's a *bad* person though, and you'd have to accept that baggage and the inherent risks if you were to hire him. I'll support the administration's decision either way on this one, but he may be the only person that can get the job done and done well. Prodigies are often odd and, at best, difficult to manage. Histoey has shown us that coaching Kentucky in football is an almost impossible job. It is my opinion that we should take the risk on Petrino and offer him the job.

Ladies and gentlemen,

With all due respect to each of you, the answer for UK football does not start with hiring another coach this year, next year or any year unless and until the UK administration becomes committed to building a SEC quality football program. We have had good coaches come in here over the years, and while some of them have experienced more success at UK than others, none of them have enjoyed as much success at UK as they experienced at their stops prior to UK. Claiborne at Maryland and Virginia Tech was the envy of the Big Blue Nation for several years. He came here as his last coaching stop, a favor to his alma mater, and he put the best defenses on the field over the course of his tenure that we have seen in these parts since, but he was hounded by the fan base for his outdated wide tackle 6 defense. What could Claiborne have accomplished at his alma mater, if he had the UK administration taking the steps necessary to move this program into the real SEC world? Ditto for Brooks. What could he have accomplished here if he had the UK administration commitment to SEC level success?

Joker is stumbling, and as some say, bumbling his way through what is now his third year. I see improvement on the offensive side of the ball. I see improvement on the special teams. I see potential for improvement on defense in the next 1 to 3 seasons (probably not this season).

Unless the UK administration steps to the plate with a serious plan for football success, I oppose another senseless swing of the revolving coaching door. With that UK administration commitment, I believe Joker can build a competitive football program here, and he bleeds blue more than anyone else I can see out there who would be willing to come here and step into his shoes.

I believe the problem is not fixed on the head coaching position.

I agree with Prof to some extent here. While I believe that coaches make a huge difference facilities do also. Look at Oregon. If you build it they will come. If our basketball team can have the gold standard why can't the football team. A big name coach (fwiw I do not want Bobby P.) can bring only so much. If his facilities are not adequate he will eventually struggle. That being said which comes first chicken or egg. If we get a big name coach can we get upgraded facilities or can we get upgraded facilities to get a better program.

I'm confused as well. For the life of me I can't understand why schools like UNC, UL, Miss. Sate, etc.....can get 4 star recruits and UK can not! Time after time you read where a recruit talks about how nice UK facilities are but yet UK has a hard time closing the deal? I'm not completely sold that it's all about a recruiting room, stadium upgrades, etc... that would be great if they were to happen but not the total solution IMO.

I have supported Joker from day one. But last night left be feeling that he may not be the man for the job. I believe Mitch will have to make a change and open up the pocket book and bring a proven HC in. If South Carolina can get Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier back to back there's no reason UK can't do something similiar. If this was to happen the other thing talked about above would happen easily IMO.