The House of Blue

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it's not that simple. ALL coaches, fans and programs want to recruit better players EVERY year.... no matter what their record is (even Saban). Your answer is too obvious... and therefore, lame.

What you fail to acknowledge is... we ARE recruiting better players. The only difference in us fans is... some expect to see the Green Bay Packers perform in game one, while some of us are more patient and realistic enough to know these kids need time to develop.

Sometimes, when you ask for too much too fast... you get very little (if anything at all). It's okay to expect more... we all do. However, you must have "realistic" expectations... like crawling, before walking.

Joker deserves a chance to show us what he can do with his recruits.... and 2013 appears to be a strong class. "Better" anyway... and that was your answer to our woes, so why not show some patience and see what they can do.

+1 to both Shepp and Wildcatbelle

Why should UK's fans be more patient than UL's fans?

Strong and Joker have been headcoaches at their respective schools for the same ammount of time. Each has been largely responsible for their 2010, 2011, and 2012 classes.

Each has had the ability to hand select their staff from assistants to S&C to administrative.

With such similar circumstances, one would expect Joker to have his program neck and neck with UL in a WORST CASE SCENARIO.

Why would I say worst case scenario?

UK has the luxary of recruiting as an SEC program with some of the best facilities around (according to our "insiders" on this board). UL is weighed down be the fact that the BCS is dead, the BIg East is dead, and the hopes of making it to a major conference are looking slimmer and slimmer. They play in a conference that gets slammed by the media on TV every single Saturday of College Football Season. Nothing short of a laughing stock. UK has now lost it's last 3 games in a row against that "laughing stock" conference.

Simply put, UK fans should be beyond pissed off at the state of affairs of UK football compared to their in-state little brother. You should be FURIOUS!

"Its time for UK fans to start raising their expectations"

You're not bursting my bubble. The answer is that simple. If being right makes it "lame" so be it. The question was silly. And I didn't "fail to acknowledge" the Cats are recruiting better players. That is some messed up logic btw. A team that just two years ago was coming off of 5 straight bowl games, then had a losing record last year, and looks to be headed that way this year has recruited better players? If you're talking about the FR and SOPH classes, you may be right, you may not be. I don't think anyone can objectively comment on the talent level of the younger guys until they do something. After one game, I assume you will concede the young guys that played yesterday on the defense have a lot of room for improvement. Also, I'm not asking to see an NFL defense in game one, but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to see better from an SEC team than we saw yesterday. Watching UL amass a staggering amount of yards (particularly on the ground) I could not help thinking about what guys like Marcus Lattimore have the potential to do against this D. As I said earlier, though, I'm not going to worry about the rest of the season. There is enough to worry about with a very game Kent State team that I think can come in to CWS and win.

1. Let Joker do the coaching. He is the professional. The program is going to thrive or fail on his decisions, not ours. Our decision is whether to buy tickets or spend money on websites like this one to discuss football. The easy answer is to play the new kids who are supposed to be considerably better like Sweat, Mobley and Collins more. Tell Minter to toughen up the defense and teach it so that guys know where to line up with their eyes to the front. You know that sort of thing.
2. Facilities are a straw dog in my opinion. Ours aren't that bad and a lot of good football programs had worse. Miami, Pitt, UC, UL, and others. You win first then get better facilities. We are not in a state bonding contest. This is about football.
3. Recruiting is a real issue. Recruits come to play for coaches not stadiums. They don't generally like to commit to guys who are rumored to be close to leaving a school. You can always get players and guys who are big these days. The key is who else wants them. UK is just not going to move ahead by building a team of "hidden gems" who are flying under the radar. Occasionally that works but not very often. What UK needs is players who the opposition want as well.
4. If Joker fails to satisfy his bosses. He needs to go after this season. If that happens Barnhart needs a committee like the one that found and negotiated with Calapari to address this issue and he should be prepared to give up something worthwhile if UK really wants a program. Coaches want money and control of the program. If this is not on the table we will likely find some retread or a desperate coach who doesn't demand the contract which will allow success. This would be a chance to fix UKFB by fixing the support structure that has been inadequate for decades. That is if UK wants it fixed.

UK's facilities are has good as half of the SEC. It has nothing to do with that. It's about attitude, believe, players, coaches, etc.....We have got to get over the fact that people think we are a BB school only! UK is not! Fans have shown that for years! I strongly believe while you and I are on here posting right now Joker is taking his defensive coaches to task! He wants UK to win more than any of us period. You'll see wholesale changes in scheme, players, and maybe even staff responsibilities. Joker loves UK and bleeds blue and he'll put his fingerprint on the defense now just like he did on the offense. JMHO.

The only the legit answer in my mind is just winning. I honestly believe Joker understands this. It will be interesting to see what he says tonight? I would bet there were several heated conversations today between the staff and even players and there should have been. JMHO.

Joker certainly wasn't dealt any worse of a hand than Strong 3 years ago. Now one coach has turned his hand into a royal flush and the other on on the brink of going "bust".

As fans, we have no other way to judge Joker and Strong than what each have done with their programs in the same exact ammount of time on the job.

Quite simply, UK fans should demand more and stop accepting the "life isnt' fair" line when trying to explain why our program has taken such a fall in such a short period of time.

Since 1960, Joker has won more games in his first two years than any other coach at UK. Mumme tied him with wins and having one bowl appearance, but he might have had a better "hand" with a fella named Tim Couch. I guess we have come a long way if that is the brink of going bust?

John L. Smith and Bobby Petrino had better records their first two years at UL than Charlie Strong. I guess that qualifies as a royal flush?

Yes, they just smashed us in the first game of the season between two young teams, and may be better than us this season. But, with only one game played in season 3, I think you are stretching it a bit regarding the coaching comparison. But, I often see you do the same thing with regards to Franklin, so maybe you switched to Strong since Vandy lost, lol..jk.. Or you just truly do not llike Joker, or simply think he could never turn UK around, which is completely fair.

I think we have improved recruiting, and i think it is a fair comparison based on the argument I was responding to in the post.