The House of Blue

I'm curious. What do you suppose the record will be next year?

LOD v SPers. Call me what you want.

My guess: 4 wins. IF, I'm correct - which direction will the program go?

O-line, QB, TE, WR, LB, S, CB all have to step up this year. It's funny how we finally get some thick Dline guys and all the rest of our pieces are underdeveloped.

Bad coaching management of players and playing time makes problems

There seems to be some serious insecurity and paranoia over on Cooper Drive in Lexington right now.

Question.... What is the policy of other SEC programs in terms of what they allow at spring practice? Are they open?

Come on!

If you don't understand marketing, promoting, selling, appealing to your fans who need a little TLC at this juncture, I don't have time to explain.

Media shut out also. Yeah most fans dont attend practices, but those who care and are interested in the program usually want to read stories about what is going on. What local media (tv, print, radio) are going to waste time covering UK football practices when all they can do is catch guy strolling out of the cocoon and ask how things are going?

Less media coverage for a program already struggling for fan interest (and more importantly ticket $$$$) is a pretty awful choice, IMO

I really don't mind that practices are closed. I actually think this is great for the players and staff. They can focus only on practice, learning their new players, evaluating and teaching instead of giving sound bytes to the media and putting on faces and smiles for the fans. The staff and players have so much to work on in just a short period of time, they NEED to maximize that time. As a fan, this actually makes me MORE excited to attend the spring game.

*cough*
bullshit
*cough*

So sorry for our fragile players and coaches, but they are for damned sure gonna have to focus and perform in front of fans come next September....tens of thousands of them each Saturday, in fact.

Maybe the most disappointing aspect of the Joker era is how in the 2 years he has retreated further and further into a bunker mentality, even moreso than Rich Brooks ever did (as JDrum pointed out). You would have hoped that a young coach comfortable with social media would know and appreciate the value of selling yourself and the program to the widest possible audiences moreso than the previous older guy....but the opposite is what we've gotten.

Yeah I know it is a sin to make the comparison....but this news cannot help but be contrasted with Calipari putting a post-Christmas practice on a webcam video, and a midweek scrimmage available that got picked up by ESPNU. Of course UK football isnt UK basketball and if Joker did the same it wouldnt be as popular or as viewed as what Calipari did....but retreating from public view with less access and less publicity isnt the right answer for this program.

Exactly JDHLaw11 !!

I don't think this shows a lack of disdain for the public or media but Joker knows that at THIS time THIS is what is needed for THIS team. It is not intended as a snub towards fans or media.

This is hilarious on many levels...

1. As stated, not even reporters will be doing much reporting on the team. So barely a pulse of excitement and Joker just does this crap as well. Hell...why not just close BlueWhite game while you're at it.
2. UKAA will do an annual crap job of even communicating there is a BlueWhite game...bank on that one.
3. What is so secretive...running the ball off tackle? Throwing 5 yard out patterns? Checking at LOS into draw play?
4. What are any major competitions that need to be hidden? Newton is out of spring with a shoulder...so Max takes all the reps along with EKU kid..>Towles won't be at UK until August.
5. I've always thought the Saturday scrimmages were the best to gauge the team. Most of the Blue White games don't even have 1 vs.1...mostly watching 1 vs. 2/3rd string kids that is a mis match most of the time.
6. Joker's last spring comments:
- Newton really is grasping the offense...(geez)
- The OL looks to be the best I've seen at UK...(gasp)
- Raved that Aumiller was most complete player...went on to get a whopping 0 receptions in 2011

I'm sorry, UK football does not need my negativity...but Joker sinks the Titanic faster than an iceberg. Joker is Billy Gillespie-ish..except he is a cream puff soft on players. He is awkward on camera, speaks in vague/non specific terms and almost ignores major issues with the program. And is getting worse as opposed to bettering the program.

Sign me up Mitch for more of that.

Coach Phillips hired virtually everyone that you like. If you don't consider hiring the coaches you like sufficient, what is it that you want to see in a 'real' HC?

Pure comedy!