I think you have it nailed down in we don’t have an SEC quality offense.
BUT, don’t be picking on Joker. He is the hand picked successor to what we’ve got now. I want him to come in with a clean slate, run the program as he sees fit.
Any way, he’s what we’re going to get. Cut and dried.
Good to see someone is still interested in football here.

to see some people with more football knowledge come out and defend Hartline. If you think you are unhappy now, wait until another 2 weeks and we are sitting at 2-4. Too many people are just too critical of the UK team after playing two of the best teams in the country. To play your biggest rivalry and then in the next 4 games play 4 of the 5 best teams in the best conference in the land, what do people expect. The fans have lost touch with reality and it reminds me of the Tony Dungy situation in Tampa when the fans forgot how bad the Buc’s had been and ran a great and classy coach out of town. I hope we can pull an upset off in the next two weeks and shut some of the critics up. ALLBLUCAT, I am glad you finally seem to give some understanding of the football situation, and I appreciate your articles that you contribute. But for us who enjoy UK football, understand it better, and appreciate what Brooks and Joker have accomplished, I would appreciate it if you would quit writing on a subject you do not understand. Your response to ParisGuy is another example, turn it over to the freshmen and prepare for next year. We will have a shot at winning our last 6 games. Are you saying we should give up a chance at a bowl which means the players get another month of practice. The same young guys you want to throw to the wolfs of the SEC need that practice time. Your just as bad ParisGuy. Both of you should stick to basketball.

But I am tired of Hartline taking the brunt. The defense was the one that let Alabama go 99 1/2 yards for the second score not to mention Alabama’s opening drive. It was Lock that had another untimely fumble but nobody says a word about him but Brooks. One of Hartlines interceptions hit the receiver in the chest. Alabama’s defense made Arkansa’s quarterback, the second best quarterback in the SEC and stats wise one of the best in the country look like he belonged at Miami of Ohio. Nobody tells the whole story. Going into this season, nobody that pays attention would of thought UK would have a better record than it does right now. We all certainly thought UK would have a better showing against Florida. That WAS coaching and Brook’s took the blame. I am disappointed like everybody else in the penalties. But this Hartline kicking needs to stop. Our problems are spread around but we will get better. He will be our starting Quarterback next year also unless one of the RS freshman really step up. I don’t see that happening though. I hope Newton can pick up enough of the offense that UK uses him like Florida used Tebow as a freshman. All I ask is people not to lose hope and don’t be so hard on somebody that is giving there all to get better. Interceptions are going to be thrown but it is not always the quarterbacks fault. I have watched and played football just like most people have, the quarterback is the hardest position to play and Hartline has improved from last year when he unexpectedly had to be thrown to the wolfs and I think it will show by the end of the year. I still say at least a 6-6 year and another bowl game. That is darn important to accomplish, just another month of practice is critical for the young players and it helps in recruiting. Building UK football is a long term job, and patience is a virtue. hobcat33, tell me where I am wrong on so many levels. I rarely comment on here and do enjoy reading what everybody has to say. Last year in he early part of the basketball season I was very hard on BCG and some people got in an uproar. I was proven right then and feel very confident that I am right now.

You all quit worrying about what I said and think about the Cats. You are going to change my opinions or what I write. Bashing some ones thoughts is childish.
Grasslands, good for you and your thoughts. Just don’t try to ridicule someone because your differ with them.
Every one loosen up.
Anyone ordered their Sugar Bowl tickets yet?

always please for sure on Jokers play calling. I do believe he is a very good recruiter and I hope after he takes over for Brooks, my guess is after the 2010-2011 campaign, UK pays for a very, very good recruiter to go along with Joker’s staff. I think Joker deserves the chance to lead this team. Joker might just be a better head coach than he is an offensive coach. ALLBLUCAT, I believe you write very well and have thought to myself you could be a good addition as a full time contributor to this site, but in all honesty, I believe you need to open your views up about the football program and be less harsh like Tru and Ken. I am not saying don’t call a spade a spade. Today in your article, I think you did do much better. I knew some people would take what I said wrong, but some of the bad things being said about the UK football program, I believe are wrong also and sometimes the whole picture is not looked at constructively.

I have been critical of every coach we have ever had both basketball and football, when I see something that is worth being critical of.

I hope you can also give praise when praise is due, if something happens that deserves a good ol’ pat on the back. Just saying….

I know I haven’t been here at ASoB for a long time, but this fan is looking forward to some good things being said about a coach. :-)

… which is why I promoted the post.

I do think that by facing the top 2 defenses in the SEC back to back, it’s a little hard to assess Hartlines progress. There is no doubt that Chris Matthews is having some trouble with routes. I haven’t seen Cobb blow any, but he probably has as well.

When it comes to assessing blame, failed execution has many mothers. The first you mentioned — coaching. If coaching hasn’t been up to par, then execution will not be.

But another thing you did not mention, and it is a big one, is confidence. I don’t believe Kentucky, as a team, had any confidence in their ability to succeed against Alabama and Florida. To some degree, that is understandable. These players don’t live in a hole somewhere in the hills of Lexington where they are fed mushroom food and kept blind, deaf and dumb until game time. They know perfectly well that Florida and Alabama are much more talented football teams, and it takes success competing with good teams to give you the confidence that you need to execute well.

Despite that, Kentucky did some good things against Alabama, and that should give them a bit of confidence. They also know that South Carolina, although a good football team, is not like the two teams they just played, which will also give them confidence. What the coaching staff has to do is channel that and make some good play calls right away. The old saying goes, “Nothing succeeds like success.” What Kentucky needs is early success against USC. When UK’s defense had early success against Alabama, but for a fluke play, they could easily have wound up in the locker room at half time with the lead.

I think the biggest thing Hartline, and the team, needs right now is success. They need success to build confidence, and with confidence, they can win games.

but what does “is it hartline or is memorex” mean?

ABC…we’re definitely on the same page and again, I’ll say you’re much more articulate than I am….must be that UofL degree that I have on the wall.

Being a born and bred UK fan and 53, I’ve watched UK’s up and downs under various coaches since Charlie Bradshaw.

I keep reading the supposed “football” experts saying….“of course we were going to loose to Flordia and Alabama.” I do agree that beating either the #1 & #3 teams would have been huge upsets but I also watched Washington beat USC.

Now before all the “football” experts jump in to point out the Washington is much more of a football school than UK, here are their records under their last 2 coaches before they hired Steve Sarkisian from USC: 2003 6-6, 2004 1-10,2005 2-9,2006 5-7,2007 4-9,2008 0-12 .

Already this year they’ve played a very good game against LSU if anyone remembers the stunned anouncers that day, they’ve beaten USC and taken Notre Dame into OT at Notre Dame……not bad for a first year coach.

Now the point is……did they just suddenly just “remember” that they’re a football school? did they have a huge top recruiting class that came in? What happened?

They hired a young bright coach with fire in the belly who’s obviously already got them thinking they can beat anyone. Where is that attitude at UK?

I’m upset that we played like we did against Flordia and Alabama but I’m REALLY upset about the UofL game. Yes, it’s hard to predict rivalry games but did anyone else watch the last 15 seconds of the first half?

That wasn’t Hartline….that was just bad coaching and this is my concern and I think yours too. Coach Brooks and his staff definitely deserve credit as many have said for the bowl games and winning some games that in the past, UK would probably have lost (LSU) but the concern I see and I think you’re expressing is that UK does not seem to be on a upward track of improvement.

With Coach Brooks already naming a successor and apparently almost everyone on board with that choice, are we looking at this level for years to come? Yes, things may be totally different with Joker as head coach but what if they’re not?

Rumors are flying around Louisville that Jurich met with Kraigthorpe Monday and told him this would be it. I had lunch with a UofL buddy yesterday and he teased me that if UofL makes the right choice, they could hypothetically be sitting in a MUCH better position that UK in just 3 years or so if the present tread continues.

How could I argue that? Last years last second win against Arkansas was the lynch pin of getting to a bowl. This year, in my humble opinion, we aren’t going to a bowl. So where is the program going?

Many think it’s just fine to win 6 games and go to the Whocares Bowl but after watching UK football for 40 years, I think the University deserves more!!

And, I have to agree with Tru. A little success would go a long way. If we can upset S. Carolina, the confidence level of this team would surely go way up. Last year, I was completely unimpressed with Hartline. This year, I think his arm strength is improved. But even though he’s stronger, I still think the best, most dangerous weapon we have is #18. Cobb just presents more problems for defences. Just one man’s opinion…

Its Hartline. ;)