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Future is bright IMO

  • It seems we have a bevy of you talent at the skill position that just needs some seasoning. Makes me wonder if Joker got one more year if he could get to 8-4. I know he won't get it now, but you have to think that the situation sets up well for the next coach.

    Also, we are all rooting for Towles to be a star, but Whitlow isn't going to go quietly. I think he can be a really good one.

    Just thinking out loud.

    This post was edited by TKE_ on 9/23/2012 at 1:45 PM

    Twitter: @Br_Boston

    TKE_

  • 8-4 really? We have young talent at the skill position but you still win on the line of scrimmage. Our defense isn't gonna be good enough to win 8 next year either. Will we be improved? Probably. But we're at least 2 years away from being competitive with the rest of the sec. IMO.

    jeffries123

  • 8-4? We can't beat UofL or Western as currently constructed. How the hell are we gonna get to 8-4 next year. We'd have to beat UofL, all 3 other NC opponents and beat Vandy, MSU, Mizzou, and one of UF, USC, or UGA. Thats where we should be but we aren't even close.

    tWhit ●

  • TKE_ said...

    It seems we have a bevy of you talent at the skill position that just needs some seasoning. Makes me wonder if Joker got one more year if he could get to 8-4. I know he won't get it now, but you have to think that the situation sets up well for the next coach.

    Also, we are all rooting for Towles to be a star, but Whitlow isn't going to go quietly. I think he can be a really good one.

    Just thinking out loud.

    Sorry, your first mistake was trying to say something positive on this board lol. There is a handful of people on here that won't let that happen unfortunately, but I share your enthusiasm fyi

    shepp2700

  • 1. Joker could be at UK for 20 more years and not put up an 8-4. Hammering by UL and home loss to WKU...if you think this staff can pop an 8-4 you simply can't be a legit opinion
    2. I see better talent at UK the next 2 years vs. the last 2 years...which is a big need.

    However.
    3. OL is going to be iffy w.o Warford and Smith. I have no idea what is going to happen at 4 DB spots. If guys like Rice, Benton are still starting...hard to believe in the kids.

    K__TIME

  • Rice and Benton won't be starting next year because they will both graduate. Harmon, Quinn, and Tiller will all have substantial game snaps. Lowery and Tyler will return at S. Faulkner will return from injury. S. Blaylock and Reed will both be rFR next season. Simmons and Dixon will both be back at either S or CB. I'm much more optimistic in our defensive backfield for 2013, compared to 2012.

    As for OL, Warford and Smith will be huge losses. I hope one of Myers or West can play C for us, and Watson, Eatmon, or Love can lock down the G spot(s).

    JDHLaw11 ●

  • jeffries123 said...

    8-4 really? We have young talent at the skill position but you still win on the line of scrimmage. Our defense isn't gonna be good enough to win 8 next year either. Will we be improved? Probably. But we're at least 2 years away from being competitive with the rest of the sec. IMO.

    UK has talent just not coaching. Coaching really matters just ask Arkansas who started with a top ten team this year. Ask UL who started with a top ten team before Kragthorpe took over. Talent didn't change just coaches.

    footballcat65

  • Give Joker ANOTHER year!?! Good God man....let him send this program further into purgatory than we already are? Thats just crazy talk.

    docjmrmd

  • TKE_ said...

    It seems we have a bevy of you talent at the skill position that just needs some seasoning. Makes me wonder if Joker got one more year if he could get to 8-4. I know he won't get it now, but you have to think that the situation sets up well for the next coach.

    Also, we are all rooting for Towles to be a star, but Whitlow isn't going to go quietly. I think he can be a really good one.

    Just thinking out loud.

    I wouldn't rule out a 9 or 10 win next season from this bunch after having another offseason with "Rock". Our "move the pile" rb's will be unstoppable along with our front 4 on D. Next year could be sick.

    MinterWonderlnd

  • IMO as the young talent matures UK will be a better team next year. Will it improve enough to go 8-4? That is a 64 thousand dollar question that is very difficult to foresee.

    Then you have to figure in that we dont even know what the coaching staff will look like next year and you have a real mystery.

    Cll80

  • MinterWonderlnd said...

    I wouldn't rule out a 9 or 10 win next season from this bunch after having another offseason with "Rock". Our "move the pile" rb's will be unstoppable along with our front 4 on D. Next year could be sick.

    One thing's for certain, we'll always have the most intelligent message board posters around. Keep up the great work!

    JDHLaw11 ●

  • What better players? What game breaker is on this team? Just because we have been told these kids are better means nothing. No one cares what they do against Kent State. Do it this week against USCjr. then you have players.

    Some on here need to wake up and get out of this dream world. If you care for UK's football program and UK's players you should be mad as hell that they have no chance to win now. It is even being reported that they, the team, basically quit at Florida and never tried to win the game. And from that, you get a 8-4 season next year. NUTS.

    we have been told this BS in the past and these web sites like Catspause run stories all spring about how this one and that one is a difference maker and guess what? Nothing changes. Difference makers,and game breakers play as freshman at every school so if they are red shirted they are all unknowns.

    To say these will be any better than the past 2 years is foolish and to say that 8-4 is a possible record is down right delusional based on past history.

    Think, when was the last time UK was 8-4?

    signature image

    The meanest dog in Taiwan.

    mrhotdice

  • I do think that we "can" make a bowl game next yr regardless of who is coaching, but 8-4 is asking a lot. Every position (except the C and RG.....maybe S) should be improved. But think of this:

    -a) Right now the fanbase is really irritable. If Joker returns the fanbase is going to go ballistic. Tickets won't sell at all next yr. Sure, if he starts winning, the tickets will sell.....if... So from a ticket revenue point of view it likely will take at least a yr to recover......maybe 2......if Joker returns and if Joker starts winning.

    -b) What if Joker returns and we become stuck in the 6-7 win regular season purgatory. He has shown some questionable things while making on the field decisions. You've already seen some warning signs of less than stellar coaching. What if he isn't good enough to get us past 6-7 regular season wins. I called this purgatory b/c if he wins 6-7 regular season games a yr only for numerous yrs......do you let him go hoping to get a coach that can get us more? Do you keep giving him contract extensions? Do you just wait and see?

    -c) What if you return him after an absolutely horrid season and he doesn't get us to a bowl game next yr......then what? It would mean poor ticket sales, an even more rabid fanbase, and the likely dismissal of Joker. And since the AD stuck his neck out to bring him back for another yr, then it may mean that the AD goes as well. This is a very, very real possibility.

    Most football programs (save for a very select few) go through 2-4 yr periods of high and low waves of production. Obviously we are in a low. Some of this is due to coaching and some is due to personnel. We should start rising the next 2-3 yrs when looking at our personnel. This is the ideal time to bring in a new coach. With the introduction of the new coach ticket sales for next yr would immediately be higher than if Joker returns.......and it really wouldn't matter who the new coach is. Just bringing in someone new would boost fanbase morale. Shoot, if the new coach gets us to a bowl game that first yr then the fanbase would go nuts, the players would buy in more, and recruiting may get a kick in the pants.

    The best play would be to bring in a new HC. If you make a good hire then great. If the new HC fails, well then get someone else. The fanbase would be much more forgiving if you get a new HC and he fails, then if you bring Joker back and he fails.

    BlueRaider22

  • JDHLaw11 said...

    One thing's for certain, we'll always have the most intelligent message board posters around. Keep up the great work!

    With the UL game being in Lexington, there is a legitimate shot at a 10 win season next yr for UK. "Weeee......Belieeeeeeeeve!!". Warford and Smith will be gone which will allow the new guys to plow some SEC sizes holes.

    MinterWonderlnd

  • I agree. The fans have for the most part checked out on Joker. But this hire better come with a ton of due diligence. The last bad coaching hire was fixed with an energetic young coach with an offensive mindset. The problem was he didn't realize he had a defensive responsibility and when the terribly coached but SEC caliber players left the program he had nothing. We know how that turned out.

    BenSam

  • mrhotdice said...

    What better players? What game breaker is on this team? Just because we have been told these kids are better means nothing. No one cares what they do against Kent State. Do it this week against USCjr. then you have players.

    Some on here need to wake up and get out of this dream world. If you care for UK's football program and UK's players you should be mad as hell that they have no chance to win now. It is even being reported that they, the team, basically quit at Florida and never tried to win the game. And from that, you get a 8-4 season next year. NUTS

    Think, when was the last time UK was 8-4?

    Don't know exactly when they were 8-4 but I know when they were 8-5...2006. You know what their record was in 2005? 3-8. Some of you dooms day posters need to realize sometimes a little experience goes A LONG WAY...

    I'm not saying Joker should or shouldn't get another year but what I am saying is everybody was ready to run Rich Brooks out of town too. Guess when, right after a terrible 2005 when the team went 3-8 and "quit" on Coach Brooks. Mitch stuck with him in 2006 and that is the only reason any of us are even sitting here talking about getting back to a bowl to start with. Because if he had fired Rich like many (including myself) wanted we'd still be trying to get to a bowl game not getting back to 7 and 8 win seasons.

    I'm just saying think about what you want before you get it. We fire Joker and end up with a, well another Joker. Another unproven guy that will come in and implement his system only to fail or take three years and then we start all over.

    All these get Gruden, get Petrino, get (insert name of any other coach that does not want to come here no matter the money that is out there) might as well hang it up. Kentucky is not a destination football school. Even if you got a coach like that. At the first sign of winning he's is gone to a bigger school anyway.

    shauner17 ●

  • If our defense plays like it did in the early minutes against Florida and Max Smith is playing well I think we're going to be competitive in some of our games. I think Vandy and Arkansas are possibilities this year. Missouri at home will be tough, but I think we'll have a shot. I personally think we can pick up another 3-4 more wins this year. I'd have to see the schedule for next year before I start predicting though, lol.

    BlueGhost

  • MinterWonderlnd said...

    With the UL game being in Lexington, there is a legitimate shot at a 10 win season next yr for UK. "Weeee......Belieeeeeeeeve!!". Warford and Smith will be gone which will allow the new guys to plow some SEC sizes holes.

    Are you itchy from that strawman?

    JDHLaw11 ●

  • The input is great, but do notice I said 'could get to 8-4.' That's only like a two game turnaround in the SEC, not running the board.

    it's very possible.

    Twitter: @Br_Boston

    TKE_

  • TKE_ said...

    The input is great, but do notice I said 'could get to 8-4.' That's only like a two game turnaround in the SEC, not running the board.

    it's very possible.

    Its a 2 game turnaround in the SEC if you win your non conference games.

    tWhit ●

  • tWhit said...

    Its a 2 game turnaround in the SEC if you win your non conference games.

    Let's drop UL and WKU. I vote for Berea College and Bellarmine. 8-4 heeere we come!!!

    poliglotcat

  • poliglotcat said...

    Let's drop UL and WKU. I vote for Berea College and Bellarmine. 8-4 heeere we come!!!

    Nah those teams are to good. I vote for Transy and Spalding.

    tWhit ●

  • tWhit said...

    Nah those teams are to good. I vote for Transy and Spalding.

    Touche!biggrin

    poliglotcat

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