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***NOTES FROM KENTUCKY'S TIME AT SEC MEDIA DAYS***

  • Just had some private time for the local guys with Joker Phillips and players. A few notes before I transcribe tape:

    **The UK players came strong in the fashion department. All wearing crisp suits. Matt Smith rocking suspenders and tie clip too. Joker said they have actually had some people come in and talk to the team about how to present themselves, tie a tie, etc. Smith joked that he could have taught it having tied one every day for four years at St. X.

    **As I mentioned in the other thread, UK has hired former player Jeremy Jarmon to replace Tommy Cook as assistant director of player personnel. Big time hire in that now one has more respect and juice than Jarmon. The fact he was in the NFL recently will resonate with players as well. Wouldn't be surprised to see him race up the coaching ranks and be a hell of a coach and recruiter one day. I've maintained a relationship with Jeremy since he left UK and he's simply one of the most interesting and unique people I've met. Terrific hire.

    **Joker said he has learned a lot in his first two seasons and is constantly trying to evaluate what they do and how to get better. That doesn't mean completely revamping things but he has learned that you can only get better as a head coach by being a head coach.

    **Joker said he expects the offensive line to be much improved and is really excited about Darrian Miller and Zach West.

    **Also, it wouldn't be a surprise to see 2-3 freshmen play on offensive line. He said they have come in and measured out just as strong as the guys who left. Matt Smith said several guys have been within 5 pounds of him in their lifts.

    **Joker said he's been very pleased with the work the quarterbacks have done this summer in terms of running the show and getting guys out for skeletons. He said passing and catching is one of the areas you can always improve without the benefit of coaching. It's like shooting free throws on your own. Effort and repetitions can make you better and that starts with the QBs getting those guys out there.

    **Joker said this season reminds him a lot of 2005/2006 in terms of young talent starting to blossom and set up a bowl run like the one UK had before. He said he thinks they may have more talent in the younger classes than that group.

    **Larry Warford wouldn't bite on getting into the stuff Louisville's players have been doing toward UK on Twitter and whatnot. Said that's their prerogative.

    More to come when those guys hit the main room...

    This post was edited by Matt May on 7/18/2012 at 11:05 AM

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    Matt May

  • Thanks, Matt. Wish I could trade you positions for about 8 hours. lol

    Keep Calm & Stoops On..

    _Mike_

  • Good on Warford on two counts: 1) Letting the Cards create the bulletin board material; 2) This is about the SEC. There isn't any point wasting time talking about a team in a 3rd rate league.

    This post was edited by BlueBloodBob on 7/18/2012 at 11:30 AM

    BlueBloodBob

  • Joker just walked into main media room. Away we go...

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    Matt May

  • ***Joker said his 8th grade nephew called him last night and was all excited because he had been to his own football practice. Said excitement reigns this time of year.

    **He again repeats the mantra of how they finished last season, beating Tennessee and how well they played at Georgia. Cites the young players who played significant roles in those games.

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    Matt May

  • **Joker referencing guys like Myron Pryor, Randall Cobb, etc. as recruits who could have gone a lot of places but chose Kentucky. Said they really believe in projecting players. Taking guys who they believe can grow into SEC players. Said he learned it at Minnesota under Glen Mason, who took the model from Wisconsin. Said Wisconsin a great model for Kentucky.

    **Joker praising new assistants Mike Cassity and Pat Washington. Experienced, personable, can coach, etc. History with other coaches on staff and in SEC.

    **Joker says LB Bud Dupree will someday be at SEC Media Days and be a household name.

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    Matt May

  • **Joker said they are putting a lot on the shoulders of the guys he brought to Media Days: Matt Smith, Larry Warford, Collins Ukwu. Said he expects them to lead the locker room and have earned their teammates' respect by their play and the way they go about things.

    **Someone asks Joker about losing Morgan Newton after this season. Awkward. Guess that guy doesn't know Newton isn't the projected starter.

    This post was edited by Matt May on 7/18/2012 at 12:31 PM

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  • **Joker saying not enough people realize or pay attention to how they won the Tennessee game. Defense. Special teams. Toughness. Said you don't always have to score 35 points.

    **Joker asked about football being second-fiddle at Kentucky. Says he sells the hoops program. Said 'he'd be crazy to try and fight that'. Said the amount of time the logo and brand was on display helps them. Said they want to hitch football to basketball wagon. Why wouldn't you? Said football players think they're basketball players anyway so why not sell seeing the type of players UK basketball brings in?

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    Matt May

  • **Joker says 5 minutes before John Calipari walked onto court to coach Dominican team he called in to talk to football recruit w/ Joker. Also said just before last year's North Carolina game Calipari let Joker bring football recruits into basketball locker room to talk to him.

    **Joker on being on hot seat: 'I'm not sitting down right now so there's nothing hot. I don't have time to think about those things. It's like negative recruiting, the time I take to do negative recruiting is time taken away from selling my own program. I don't have time to deal with those things. I just need to make sure we put product on the field that can be successful.'

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    Matt May

  • **Joker says RB Josh Clemons will work/practice about 2 days a week in camp in an effort to protect him leading up to season.

    **Joker says QB and RB will be two most heated competitions this season.

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    Matt May

  • That's it for Joker's time at the podium. Keep it locked to House of Blue for more throughout the afternoon and evening. Make sure to check out Jeremy Jarmon story on front page.

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    Matt May

  • ESPNU guys breaking down the press conference really pumped up Joker and program. They talked to Joker's high character, loyal fanbase and staff upgrades.

    But...they predicted only 3 wins for this season. They claimed too many newcomers to fill holes.

    Hope they are wrong on the latter.

    Kooky Kats 247

  • Kooky Kats 247 said...

    ESPNU guys breaking down the press conference really pumped up Joker and program. They talked to Joker's high character, loyal fanbase and staff upgrades.

    But...they predicted only 3 wins for this season. They claimed too many newcomers to fill holes.

    Hope they are wrong on the latter.

    I'd say not too many outside of our fan base are giving much of a chance for more than 3-4...nothing new being the underdogs though. Nothing wrong being the underdogs either though...love proving people wrong!

    signature image signature image signature image

    #BBN #WeAreUK #BoyleCountyAlum

    CampbellSoup07

  • They know nothing and are all lod'ers.

    jeffries123

  • jeffries123 said...

    They know nothing and are basing their predictions on offensive output from a horrendous 2011 campaign.

    Fixed that for you.

    Nice bait post, though. Really glad to see those coming back into style.

    JDHLaw11

  • JDHLaw11 said...

    Fixed that for you.

    Nice bait post, though. Really glad to see those coming back into style.

    I like that, very nice correction clap

    shepp2700

  • Kooky Kats 247 said...

    ESPNU guys breaking down the press conference really pumped up Joker and program. They talked to Joker's high character, loyal fanbase and staff upgrades.

    But...they predicted only 3 wins for this season. They claimed too many newcomers to fill holes.

    Hope they are wrong on the latter.

    Did that mean overall, or in the conference? Did they predict 0-8 in conference?bs_sign

    shepp2700

  • shepp2700 said...

    Did that mean overall, or in the conference? Did they predict 0-8 in conference?bs_sign

    0 fer SEC cry.

    Trevor Mattisch (sp) knew we have talent but too young at too many positions... He begged UK fans to be patient.

    Kooky Kats 247

  • Just say the pictures of Matt, Larry and Collins all dressed up. I would hate to have a teacher as big as Matt. Jesus.

    Keep Calm & Stoops On..

    _Mike_

  • BlueBloodBob said...

    Good on Warford on two counts: 1) Letting the Cards create the bulletin board material; 2) This is about the SEC. There isn't any point wasting time talking about a team in a 3rd rate league.

    Agreed, Bob...but 3rd rate? That may be a bit generous...

    BigBlueNation 7

  • "**Joker said this season reminds him a lot of 2005/2006 in terms of young talent starting to blossom and set up a bowl run like the one UK had before. He said he thinks they may have more talent in the younger classes than that group."

    I've been saying for some time that this team reminds me of the 2006 team in a lot of ways. IMHO we'll see that type of improvement and will win enough games to get back into a bowl game. The team is hungry and wants nothing more to shut the naysayers up! #WeareUK

    Whitaker568

  • If that means 4 SEC wins but an ugly loss to Louisville like 2006, I'd take it. Hell, I'd take 3 SEC wins. I hope and expect the Cats to show some improvement throughout the year since its such a young team and come back in 2013 looking to get back to a new years day bowl.

    Don't get me wrong, I want to stomp the Cards just as much as the next guy but at this point I'd take a strong showing in the SEC if I can't have both. In the long run it'll mean more and provide a stronger base for handling the Cards in 2013 and beyond.

    BlueBloodBob

  • BlueBloodBob said...

    If that means 4 SEC wins but an ugly loss to Louisville like 2006, I'd take it. Hell, I'd take 3 SEC wins. I hope and expect the Cats to show some improvement throughout the year since its such a young team and come back in 2013 looking to get back to a new years day bowl.

    Don't get me wrong, I want to stomp the Cards just as much as the next guy but at this point I'd take a strong showing in the SEC if I can't have both. In the long run it'll mean more and provide a stronger base for handling the Cards in 2013 and beyond.

    agreed.

    nbtoppers2

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