The House of Blue

Totally agree Jeff. There's no denying Joker's love for UK football. If he can make it past this season and improve all the hard work in recruiting should pay off next season.

x3.

Have to take this thing head on and UK can't afford CWS to be half-empty.

I'm glad to hear he came out and said that. The old school approach he and Mitch had been taking, combined with the struggles on the field just pissed everyone off. Joker is a good guy and a good football coach, and I believe he is learning and will continue to grow as a head coach. Looking over the summer depth chart earlier and seeing all of the potential for the next few seasons, along with the incoming class and the 2013 recruits, I really hope (at least) enough is accomplished to keep him going past this season. The right pieces (coaches and players) seem to be coming together. I figure, if we have given non-KY guys like Curry (7 wasted years) and even Rich Brooks more than 3 years (which obviously paid off), then the least we can do is give Joker more time to get things going (and I think he will). Here's to a successful season and career Joker!

https://twitter.com/smosswkyt

Joker makes passionate plea to fans. "I'm selling you. I'm not selling Joker Phillips. I'm selling you all. So please support these kids."

What a shame that fans have let administrative issues (real and/or perceived) affect their support for a bunch of kids trying to win football games.

It's spectacularly short-sighted to deny support from those who truly affect the outcome of the games.

At the rotary club luncheon earlier today WCD22. Joker stated" Im selling you, the fans..Im not selling Joker...said hed be a UK fan even if hes not the coach...I really think it was heartfelt and semi sad that he knows his jobs on the line...geez..we gave ol Bill several years...I think we can give Joker at least 5 or 6 to prove himself. But if you ask me..after the next 2 seasons...I think Joker will solidify his job and we will move forward and upward. Ga, SC, they will be in rebuild/reload mode after the next 2 years whilst Uk will be in awesome shape the next 3 or so years as these talented sophs and frosh gain valuable experience.
Im 100% behind Joker..love the new hires in Cassity and Washington...I think we have a real shot at moving out of the SEC east basement soon!!!

I agree. I'm all in for supporting the team.

This will be huge for the players if they think the coaches plea will help fan support for them. Players and recruits feed off fan support, coaches do not. Very smart by Joker. Also glad not to hear the same ole same ole.

Problem is that this should have been done months ago. Maybe if Barnhart had said he will do everything to help the football program that also would have helped.

Coaches can't ignore the fans and hide in the locker room and AD's can't call die hards "microwave" fans in the media.

And then expect a full stadium. UK had the best fans in the world but no one knew it but themselves.

Better to say nothing than to not acknowledge the fans complaints and issues within the football program.

Funny that when season ticket sales drops the powers that be become "humble". Joker has never been a PR wiz but Barnhart should have seen this coming from a mile away.

Loose lips sink ships

Joker is a young Head Coach learning everyday. As we all do hopefully. His most recent statement is very mature and thoughtful. He seems to be very open to change at this point and that may be what makes him a successful head coach long term. The jury is still out, but he has made an overhaul on the defensive side of the ball with Minter. He says we are going to be a 70-30 passing team on the offensive side of the ball. Now, it appears that he is working hard to make changes with the way he addresses the fans and handles some things off the field. Maybe this is a new formula for success?

Let's see what happens on the field and watch how the kids respond. Hopefully he can get us to a bowl game and continue to mature as a head coach.

Spot on. The only thing that matters is right now.
This season. Go Cats.

I agree, smart for Joker to acknowledge. Time for this fan base to move on and get behind the team instead of against the coach! For a second, I ask the haters to stop and put themself in Jokers shoes. Your working your butt off, you love the university you are coaching, you played for this university and you live and breath blue, as much, if not more than the fan base. Things didn't go well for a lot of reasons. Some for good reasons and some for not so good reasons. And you are being chewed up and spit out daily by your "fans". Tell me who would not get defensive. I know he signed up for it, but "some" of the fans have taken it beyond what is acceptable criticism IMO. Trust me, I know for a fact that Joker, the entire staff and the team is committed to winning. These young student/athletes are working their butts off daily and doing the extras. Let's put the past behind and get behind this team. And when they lose one they shouldn't, don't jump off the band wagon and go crazy with the hate. We all have opinions and the freedom to express them, but remember the players will respond better to support than feeling they have been given up on. I want to say, I do appreciate the passion this fan base has for their UK Wildcats. It is awesome and I am just asking that we as a fan base move forward with positive support for this team and let our players and coaches feed off that! Enough of my 2 cents worth...... GO CATS!!

My opinion is if you are a fan, then you should be a fan and show some support even after a bad year. Doesnt mean this year will be bad and Ive always thought it funny when fans compare a team to last years team when a down hasnt been played yet. I will be there in SEC 109 Row 11 seats 9 and 10 which is 45 yard line behind visitors bench. Man I cant wait stop by and say hello.