Kentucky Football: Can the 2009 'Cats Break Through?
by Glenn Logan on Aug 8, 2009 11:32 AM EDT
in Kentucky Wildcats Football
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PrintYou can almost feel it in the confident quotes from the players and the determination from the coaching staff -- these Kentucky guys are thinking, "Yes, we can." We can be a factor in the SEC, we can compete and beat some of the better teams. We can win more than two or three games in the league, and we can get to a bigger bowl. And they aren't the only ones, considering that UK somehow managed to garner nine top-25 votes in the pre-season Coach's Poll. So obviously, some non-UK coaches think they can, as well.
But can they? Confidence is great, and you can't win without it. Determination is undeniably important and you can't win without that, either. The confidence of the opposition is great, but it doesn't matter when the whistle blows and the kickoff goes sailing toward the end zone. What it also takes is talent, at least on par with the competition, a sound game plan, consistently good execution and a few lucky breaks. Last year, we saw all these things break down. UK was out-talented at Alabama and Florida, they had a very poor game plan against the Gators and against Vanderbilt, execution was a problem versus Mississippi State, Florida and Georgia, and we had a very lucky game against Arkansas.
I personally believe that Mike Hartline and Alfonso Smith are the big keys to this year's offense. If Hartline can find a way to deliver the ball consistently and find a bit of a vertical game, UK could become a very good team. Hartline was solid, if unspectacular, in the Liberty Bowl last year and if he can build off that, it would be a very good thing. I expect Randall Cobb to be a factor in every game from virtually every offensive position. He is the kind of versatile athlete that you can use to force the defense into a mistake that can be exploited for a first down, or for seven points.
Kentucky's defense looks to be solid, but it looked a lot better last year on paper and didn't exactly deliver on their promise. Not that it would have mattered if they had -- Kentucky's offense could not keep the ball long enough to give the defense any kind of rest, and that showed up in injuries and dings later in the season.
Another critical factor if Kentucky is to succeed is the schedule. We have talked endlessly about the merits of the non-conference schedule, but the fact is, those games should represent at least three wins and four if the Cardinals are not rather stronger than most think. Of course, in rivalry games, the paper advantage means nothing, and as much as I hate to say it, the Cardinals are due.
So assuming we only win three of the four non-conference games, where can we make up the difference? Well, the way I see it, these are the pivotal games for Kentucky:
- October 10th against South Carolina -- The Gamecocks have an unreasonable streak against Kentucky, and one UK badly needs to break. We play the game in Columbia, which is always problematic, but this is a game we should have a chance to win.
- October 17th at Auburn -- Auburn has a new coach installing a new system, and the talent gap between Auburn and UK is not as great as it normally is. Winning this game on the road will take UK's best, but it looks doable this year.
- October 31st hosting Mississippi State -- MSU also has a new coach and a new system, and these two schools are on par, talent-wise. UK gets MSU after Louisiana-Monroe, so hopefully they will be coming off a victory. This is a must-win game.
- November 14th at Vanderbilt -- UK has had success at Vandy, and even though the Commodores have less overall talent, they are well-coached and will be fully capable of defending their home turf. This is another must-win for UK, though, no matter how easy or tough it is.
- November 28th hosting Tennessee -- Tennessee is a much more talented team than Kentucky, but a new coach and new system likely auger to Kentucky's advantage, as does home field. This may be the best chance in a while for Kentucky to break the long streak against the Vols, but it won't be easy as UT will have a feel for their new coach's system by the time they come to Commonwealth.
In the five games I have highlighted above, UK needs to manufacture three wins at least, no matter what happens in the non-conference schedule. If we are able to go 4-0 non-conference, good, we stand a solid chance to win seven or even eight games. If we only go 3-1, three wins in the above group of five would probably get us to a bowl, and four would have to be seen as a solid effort.
UK also gets Florida and Alabama at home early in the season, and even though they are at home, these two teams out-talent us by a wide margin, particularly Florida. Our best chance for a big upset looks like November 21st at Georgia, but defeating the Bulldogs between the hedges is a feat that no UK team has accomplished in 22 years. I'm not counting on that to change this year. But if the 2007 game against #1 LSU taught us nothing else, it is that any team can lose in Commonwealth Stadium, even the consensus #1 team in the land.
The good news is, UK has more SEC games that look winnable this year than last even if our schedule is not really favorable, particularly early. UK will have to quickly demonstrate offensive competence, and injuries, as always, will be key. Last year injuries cost us at least one game. Lets hope we have better luck this year.
The 'Cats are poised to break through. Can they pull it off?
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Truz, i think I’m going to have to agree with you on this one. Good points about the Tennessee and Auburn games. Others seem to have the same ideas in their posts.
Wow.....I am so excited about football
Tru, of course I am going to say we can break through. Everyone knows I have faith in our Wildcats. Looks like the nine votes really excited the players and Coach too. I will just have to say GO BIG BLUE !!
:-)
Commonwealth Stadium awaits Wildcat fans today. I am ready for some football !! :-)
Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!
Right On!
You tell em, PJordan. We’re poised right there on the edge of greatness. Yes sir. all those bowl wins and the recruiting is going to pay off this year.
Heh.
Could be. There are a lot of “if’s.” But there always are, aren’t there? :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
6-6
I agree with you on this. Only if we are ravaged by injuries again this year. 7-5 looks more like it this year, but we can hit that 8-4 mark with key wins over auburn, tenn or s.c. I also think the players & coaches are a little peeved that we lost to Vandy last yr. And will make a statement when they meet! Having recently moved to Florida, Im hoping for nothing less than 8 wins!!!
by BornBlue84 on Aug 8, 2009 1:44 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Post Dating?
Truz, tell us, is it hard to post a 9:48 comment between an 8:49 an one posted 8:58? Seems to give you a little advantage in discussions, especially when you say we don’t address your questions. Just thought I’d point that our.
I have no idea what you are talking about.
It is impossible to “post date” a comment. Period.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
And trust me ...
… I don’t need any advantages.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
The Vandy game
comes so late in the season that if they are on a bad roll? We might catch them at the right time. It’s happened to us enough times. UL at our place this year hopefully closes the deal for their coach! See ya. I wish we could catch Superior late in the year! They seem to fold late under him. I think we will see 9 wins. Tenn may be ten!!!!!!!! I seem to get like this every year right about this time? Must be global warming – heat is affecting my brain.
Food for thought: The virgin birth has much more to do with the absense of a natural earthly father then the use of a virgin mother. Now, chew.....Because, it's called a "corrupt seed", not a "corrupt egg"!
It's been a cold summer here in KY
I usually am a big fan of global warming cause I really hate winter but ive been really disappointed this summer.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
Good News
I mentioned this on an earlier football post. Just read today that Alfonso Smith is going to take over the DLJ series that was done last year during fall practice. He says it will be hard to compare to Dicky, but he will give it his best.
Thanks Alfonso!
That's great!
I think I saw that, too, and it just didn’t register.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
I think he will do a fine job....
at Fan Day, the autograph session had been over for about 30 minutes, and he was still signing autographs for the kids. He didn’t want to disappoint them. That impressed me.
:-)
Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!
Very Simple Truz
Truz, is really simple. Go to the first comment on the page. Check the time. Your’s is the second, check the time. Now check the time on the third entry. See anything wrong in the sequence? KyKat, you being of sound mind and a person of logic, you check it too.
Ah, I see what is confusing you.
You just don’t understand how the software works.
This is a threaded comment system, not a chronological one. My comment was in reply to yours, and happened after the next one in the sequence. My comment wasn’t the second, it was actually the third.
If you’ll notice, there is a “reply” link down by the name in each comment. When you click on that link, it places your comment underneath the comment you are responding to, regardless of the time it was sent. That allows people to follow the different threads of commentary rather than using an old-style unthreaded chronological comment.
This is a feature just by clicking the “reply” link on the comment you want to reply to rather than going down to the end of the page. You too, can use it if you want, and so can everyone else.
If it makes you feel like you are time-traveling, consider that a bonus. :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Go ahead and fix this one too.
While your at it go on and explain the one I pointed out in the Rose article. I’m sure its the phase of the moon or at least a different time zone. Nope all seem to be in the Pacific one.
Just An Explanation Will Do.
Look you being the King Poopah of this isite s fine. But I’d either get the timing thing straighten out or fix it better so your posts don’t come in later than the ones that follow.
I certainly am not accusing you of ‘smoke and mirriors’ at least not of the Barnart variety but don’t say it didn’t happen when the proof is one this page. and others.
I can understand with your ego, let’s see how you put it. Page up, please, ‘and trust me, I don’t need any advantages’.
The man who knows everything knows nothing.
How’s the chastising fit? Like it? I’d didn’t either on the Rose article. But sometimes things need to be said.
Ban me. Its your page. I’ll understand.
See above.
And spare me the bullcrap. I don’t have time for it. It’s not my fault you don’t understand how the system works. It isn’t exactly rocket science.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Truz
Nice comment. Would you consider that one ‘bashing’?
It seems to me, for someone in your positon, host of this site, they might want to have a little more accomidating attitude with the readers. No, I’m not a computer expert. But certainly putting me in my place, made you feel just that much more superior than me.
Found were I bashed anyone before they jumped me yet? No, and you won’t.
How come someone on the page had to explain to me how the system worked? I’d think for someone who knows it all you would have jumped at the opportunity in a heart beat. I see you found time at 4:10 this morning but it was explained to me last night by another reader. Another ‘save’ by you and l’m going to give you al the credit.
Dude. Read what you wrote. To wit:
Look you being the King Poopah of this isite s fine. But I’d either get the timing thing straighten out or fix it better so your posts don’t come in later than the ones that follow.
That is a very smart-aleck comment, don’t you think? Did you expect me just to say nothing? How about this one:
I can understand with your ego, let’s see how you put it. Page up, please, ‘and trust me, I don’t need any advantages’.
The man who knows everything knows nothing.
I don’t appreciate this kind of commentary. That’s what I meant by bullcrap. Instead of simply saying, “I must be missing something,” you decided to be a smartass.
See, in each of these cases, you are not talking about my comments, you are talking about me, personally. That is not a good idea.
Ban me. Its your page. I’ll understand.
Trust me, that can absolutely happen if you keep up this line of stuff. I won’t hesitate for a second. So do us both a favor and be nice. That way I can be nice.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Precious time!
Just what do you have time for? Copying others previous comments, rewording them a little and posting them as your own. See current article and check one of my posts under TheParisGuy, a little while ago. I think some of your ‘outstand’ ability could come up with something of your own.
Not a bash, just a fact.
What are you accusing me of, here?
Copying others previous comments, rewording them a little and posting them as your own. See current article and check one of my posts under TheParisGuy, a little while ago. I think some of your ‘outstand’ ability could come up with something of your own.
I don’t know where your are going with this, but I don’t like it.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Keys
The primary key to the offensive unit is being able to run the football successfully on first down. The interior of their OL (at OG and C) is better than last year because of the maturations of Hines and Gonzalez and the return of Christian Johnson. Their RB rotation is deep. If they can run the football on first down, this will open up everything else and hide their shortcomings. There are other offensive keys, but their solutions ultimately cascade from this basic one.
Conversely, the primary key on defense is being able to stop the run, thus forcing their opponents into second-and-long and third-and-long scenarios. There are other defensive keys, but their solutions ultimately cascade from this one.
Truzenzuzex does a good job in laying out the premise that the schedule is the wildcard for their season. In most years, visiting Columbia, SC, and Auburn, AL, would represent two almost-automatic losses. And in most years, playing Tennessee is an automatic loss for the Cats regardless of where the game is played. Not this year, though. All three of those games are winnable this fall. In fact, they are probably the keys to the 2009 season from the point of view of the schedule.
But in the end, like every team every year, they will have to get lucky with injuries and win the giveaway/takeaway battle. The former really cannot be controlled. The latter is a matter of playing solid fundamental football and hoping the oblong ball bounces your way….and that your players know what to do when that happens.
But I think there is another intangible factor at work, and Coach brooks does not get nearly enough credit in this particular regard. When Brooks came to UK in Decemberalmost everyone found reasons why UK should lose almost every game. I, and it was pretty obvious that morale inside UK’s locker room was in the dumper. There were lots of problems on the early Brooks teams at every level, and they really aren’t worth rehashing here and now. But the bottom line back then was that people expected UK to lose, and everyone was looking for scapegoats. Fast forward to 2009. Uk’s players expect to win now. Brooks deserves a ton of credit for that. Some people….especially the local newspaper….are still looking for scapegoats, but they sound silly and phoney now.
Meanwhile, many thousands of UK fans look at this fall’s schedule and actually believe UK will win a fourth-straight bowl game….and I am one of them….and the players believe it too. That Rich Brooks could pull this off by the end of the decade is amazing, if we are willing to be completely honest about it. They should build a statue for the man.
Messenger
Hope you keep up the analysis of the team this year. The Brooks statement was dead on. He has never gotten enough credit. Would love to see him retire on a 9-3 or even an 8-4 season. He definitely deserves it.
.
"SPORTS"--Not interested----"CATS"--Pull up a chair,I've got all night.
Thanks
Here you go….
Kat. all comments are in the PDT. Yours, mine and everyone elses. Doesn’t explaing the entries. You did see that, right?
Again, if I’m wrong I’ll accept that fact and fix But I’d like to see others follow the same procedure.
PDT? I don't think so...
by ParisGuy on Aug 8, 2009 8:12 PM EDT reply reply actions actions
I copied and pasted this Paris Guy from your comment. The EDT is Eastern Daylight Time.
Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!
I believe the time is the time zone set up in your computer
For instance, all my times are given as CDT.
Now I know.....
thanks hoboat…..I learned something after all, in this “discussion”….LOL
Go Big Blue ! !
:-)
Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!
Statue!
Well I agree with you messanger. One question for anyone who may know! Does the feild at commonwealth have a name? If not, I wouldn’t mind calling it Brooks Feild..
by BornBlue84 on Aug 8, 2009 8:18 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
CM Doesn't Deserve It
He was great for basketball, but didn’t do any favors for the football team whatsoever. I’d much rather take his name off and put Brooks’s on.
http://anythingbutgatorade.blogspot.com - yet another SEC sports blog
by Anything but Gatorade on Aug 10, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I have never quite understood why it was named for C.M.
The only thing that I remember him for, in regards to football, was hiring Mumme.
First Injury (Minor)
DaQuin Evans out with hamstring pull.
"The urge to save humanity is always a false front for the urge to rule it."
- H.L. Mencken
WW
Am I thinking right on this? Hamstrings never heal 100% and are succecptable to reinjury, with a loss of speed and cutting ability? I think I read this a couple of years ago when someone else was hurt.
Coach Brooks didn’t seem too concerned. That makes me feel better.
"SPORTS"--Not interested----"CATS"--Pull up a chair,I've got all night.
Hammies
heal up fine but they can be lingering if you dont rest it.
Rip Hamilton pulled his last season and didnt rest it enough and reinjured it later in the year. If he doesnt take care of it now it could be aggravating for the whole season.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
Results
I went to your profile and clicked on the entry you posted. My post appeared in order of the time I submitted it. Still confused. R
It worked.
I clicked on the post its self and bingo it worked. A little confusing to follow unless you read the in its entirely each time you log on. But hey, I was wrong. I admit it. Tell Truz. Of course he probably all ready knew it and was just at a lost to explain it to us of lesser intelligence.
Statue
I would comment on the statue thing but some things are just left unsaid. You guys going to put the whole record on it or just the bowl results? He certainly is the best thing since Bryant, Heck, he’ll out do the Bear so forget what that guy did. Four bowls in a row!
Yep, Brooks has brought a Kentucky football to the apex of football.
See, I still am going to makie my comments. My opinion only. Sorry rah, rahs. Can’t help it.
Please.
Stop being relentlessly negative. You are surely entitled to think whatever you want about the Wildcats, but you are obsessing over something that just isn’t relevant. You can’t really compare eras, and there is no doubt that by any reasonable measure, Brooks has done a good job bringing UK back from its pathetic state pre-Brooks.
Obviously, Kentucky needs to go to the next step, which is being competitive in their own conference. They aren’t there yet, and nobody will disagree with that statement. Brooks explained as much at the links above.
But there is no need to continually pound on this subject. It is getting old. You don’t have to “rah rah,” but you do have to quit treating people like they are jerks because they don’t agree with you, and you do have to stop beating subjects into the ground. It isn’t productive, it angers people, and it gives an overall negative tone which is completely unjustified.
So please, try to keep your comments cogent, and add to the discussion. Don’t just provoke people.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
RE: Please
How is the results of what Brooks’ teams have done not relevant? How are you going to measure the success and failure of the program if you don’t go by what’s happened on the field?
Please point out any time I’m bashed anyone here who didn’t go after me first. I’ve tried to treat people with respect and if I’m not one to hurt anyone feelings until they go after me.
I’m not on here for a pep rally. I point out facts, records and results.
You went after me on the Rose comments so, it was open season. See if I’ve gone after Kat or others before they bashed me.
Follow your own suggestions and every thing will be fine.
I don't think I used the word "bashed."
Let me give you an example of your reasoning:
Statement of fact: Brooks’ teams have won at a higher percentage over the last three years since than in any three year period since 1954.
Example of your style of rebuttal: But UK hasn’t beaten an SEC team with a winning record on a Thursday in the Year of the Rat.
That is not a valid argument, even if it is accurate. You might say that Brooks’ record against teams with winning records hasn’t been that good, but that fact is largely irrelevant. If you want, you can go back to the last time, between 1954 and 1957, and see if UK had a better record against winning teams in that three-year period. That would be a relevant argument. But taken in isolation it is meaningless.
If someone takes you to task, you may defend yourself, but you may not go about attacking people because you feel like you were attacked. You most certainly may not attack me, because as far as your posting privileges are concerned, I am the last person you want to arouse. I didn’t “go after you” on anything, I pointed out your lack of logic — in other words, I was commenting on your post, not on you personally. If you were offended, I’m sorry, but may I respectfully suggest that you get over it. It is never “open season” on A Sea of Blue, and I expect you to abide by the rules.
So please, if you want to make remarks about Brooks, fine, but please read the community guidelines and stay within the rules.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Year of the Rat?
I don’t remember an article about the year of the rat. But whatever. Did you find where I bashed, attacked, went after, anyone before they went after me?
Read your Email.
Can you explain yourself
Paris,
Im really trying to understand why you are the way you are. Can you please expound a little for me on what makes you so dislike Brooks and Co. or if you dont dislike him why you are so down on his accomplishments? Im not being sarcastic either. Please bear in mind kentucky’s football history and also keep in mind it takes a little more time to turn the rudder on a 60 man team sport as opposed to a 15 man team sport. I really would appreciate if you would explain what makes you have the opinion you do. I realize parts of this paragraph seem pretty sarcastic and rude. They arent meant to be. I would really like to fully understand where you are coming from in an effort to dislike your opinion less.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
I'm now dumber from reading most of these comments
First time I shot her, I shot her in the side.
Hard to watch her suffer, but with the second shot she died...
Especially the part where....
….Tru’s guy on the grassy knoll “post dated” his comment or something.
First time I shot her, I shot her in the side.
Hard to watch her suffer, but with the second shot she died...
Davw, good question and my answer
davw, I understand. Let me see if I can make myself clear. Eveyone is going ape over the accomplishments of Brooks’ program. Let’s examine it. In 2006 they added the 12th game permamently. Since they we have gone to three bowls. One of those seasons if the 11 game schedule was still in effect we’d stayed at home. No 6-6, just a 5-6 season. Ok, of the four non conference games, one is with Louisville. Have to play it. Frankfort says so. The last two years we beat Louisville. That’s good. Did the Cats actually get better, along with everyone else on the Cardinals’ schedule or did Louisville get worse. From the results of their last two season, 11-13. I say the latter. Our other three games are against, a division aa school, and two of the worst we can find in division one. Check the teams and their records in each season before they were scheduled. In my way of thinking its not a way to build respect.
We have 13 conference wins in six seasons. Two of them are fantastic. LSU and Georgia. Eight of them came against the bottom or next to bottom teams in their respective divisions. Miss State and Vandy. If you remove the games against Vandy, wins and losses, we are 1-23 against the Eastern Division.
We accept statements made by the athletic director and head coach like the one they made coming off the field at Tennessee last year after losing to the worst Vol team in a LONG time as satisfactory. The statement, when asked how did they feel about the season? “We’re tickled to death”. A six and six season, no wins against a team with a winning record in the regular season. Last in the division. I believe I’d found some other words to summarize the season beside ‘tickled to death’.
We are going to bowls, along with the majority of the other teams in the country, 68 in all, while 52 stay at home. Brooks like to mention that a lot. He said he doing something that only he and Bear Bryant have done. Bryant took Kentucky to bowls like the Cotton, Sugar and Orange Bowls. In the first two years, 1949 and 1950, there were sixteen teams going to a bowl. In 1951 there were only 14. Comparing himself to Bear Bryant is stupidity at its highest.
After the first bowl, not even a winning regular season, 6-6, Brooks and Barnhart announce Joker Phillips is going to be the ‘coach in waiting’. Not let’s see who might be available when Brooks retires but they remove that from any possiblity right then. Wouldn’t it have been OK to just say Brooks reccomends Phillips for the head job when he leaves? Nope. Its cut and dried. Let’s just hope Brooks goes out on a winning note, because Kentucky is going to be the laughing stock of football if the Head Offense Coach takes over after a losing season.
The probation thing was an excuse for a while. Alabama has been on probation twice in the same period of time. I know we aren’t an Alabama but they don’t seem to miss any steps due to their stints in the dog house.
I could go on but I think you see where I’m coming from.
I would love Kentucky to be competitive in the SEC in football. I think they’ve rode this horse as far as it going to take them. Other schools in the SEC don’t seem to have a problem in replacing a coach who is mired in the mud. Mud as deep as 1-23 in the Eastern Division as an example. This year we should beat some of the teams we haven’t in a long time. Actually we should have beaten them before now. If we go eight and four in the regular season, I say he’s improved the program. Less than that and it’ll be ‘wait until next year’ again. Its time for someone, Brooks, Barnhart or the guy shining the cleats to be held accountable. The head coaching job at Kentucky in football is the most secure job in the country. Nothing expected, no disappointments.
In closing, we are all excited about getting nine votes in a pre season poll. A person on this board said it shows what we have accomplished. To me it shows they couldn’t think of any one else to vote for. If you had a vote would you have given it to a team that had a season like the Cats did last year? I bet most of the nine came from the SEC or friends of Brooks’. A nice fair well gesture if he decides to hang it up.
This is my opinion and you can have yours. I only ask you go by what been done and the accomplishments he’s made and not spectulation of what you think it going to happen. I can spectulate too.
OK
You make some valid arguments but i think you take it to the extreme and dont consider several factors I deem important.
Everyone agrees with you about the need to be more competitive in the conference portion of the schedule. As far as the OOC goes our schedule is not tougher than the vast majority of teams in our conference and I dont see the need to make things harder for ourselves. There are valid arguments on both sides of the fence as far as the OOC schedule is concerned.
As far as Brooks accomplishments I think the tenor of your comments are extremely ingrateful considering the history of the program. 12th game or not we werent going bowling with those other 64 teams before Brooks arrived. If you want to stay home in the post season so you can feel better about our out of conference schedule have a good time. I’d rather be playing in January and chillin out in Nashville rooting my team on. As far as Guy Morris goes the class that turned UK around was brought in by Brooks. I think you have give Guy some of the credit for that class but lets not forget it was Brooks that landed Woodson and Co. and it was Brooks that brought in Jacob Tamme (who wasnt offered by Morris). I hear he turned out pretty good. He catches passes from a Manning now.
I know you just want UK to be where everyone else does. We all have the same goals for this program. Im not going to gripe about how Brooks gets us their though. I think your attitude displays a real lack of understanding regarding the modern history of the program though. It’s going to take a little longer than you think to get there. I think Brooks and Co have earned themselves at the very least another 1 to 2 seasons to reach 8-9 wins.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
With regard to OOC
I really don’t care if other teams have a very weak OOC schedule. Those other teams are winning the majority of their conference games so the OOC is essentially a non factor in post season bowl positioning.
Kentucky isn’t winning a majority of the conference scedule so the OOC is more critical for our bowl positioning. It shouldn’t be hard to find competitive games with lower ranked teams from major conferences. I’d rather see us beat a lower level Big 10/Big 12/ACC team than a highly ranked (but lowly regarded) FCS team.
Lower ranked major conference games
You are forgetting the economics of the situation. Many times even lower ranked major conference teams are going to demand a return game and it’s just not going to happen as UK would lose too much revenue from the lost home games.
DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!
Oh yeah, I forgot
First thing I"ve forgotten since……………..i don’t remember.
Point to ponder. Would the increased revenue from a better bowl offset the loss in revenue of one game changed from, say, La.-Monroe, to Indiana?
Actually ...
… it would have to be a much better bowl. Quite honestly, with the tie-ins the SEC has, Kentucky just needs to win all their NC games and four league games to have a shot at a better bowl. Bowls tend to look more at records than anything else, except at the very top of the food chain (i.e. BCS). So UK could have both a fairly easy OOC schedule and a good bowl just by winning 4 or 5 SEC games.
So once again, it comes down to the question — why play much tougher teams when easy teams will allow you to accomplish essentially the same goals? It’s very hard to argue that point from a financial or purely logical perspective, as I pointed out some time back. I sympathize totally with an argument to replace the FCS team on our schedule with a BCS home-and-home, even if it was Duke or Stanford or some other historically below average BCS team. But then there’s that whole revenue loss thing …
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
O.k..
Why some much negativity from u bro? Brooks has brought to the table in the last 3yrs. What no other coach since Bryant has done. That is SEC size & speed. Take for instance the LB position. In my time as a fan I hve never seen a more sec ready squad then Kentucky has produced the past 3yrs. Yes! I consider myself a LBer guru.. All time favorite, #17 Jeff Sneadager.. Also, if I hear anyone talk about our NCS again like it’s to easy I’m gonna commit Harry Carry. Every team in the country schedules cupcakes. But when kentucky gets smart & starts helping themselves like the southern californias and floridas of the world, we get reemed by the media, rival fans & now in this case our own FANs!!! Were not getting any better packing our schedule with more monsters to get smashed by. Yet we have a coach who is smart enough & doesn’t let his ego get in the way of building his players confidence, which leads to higher moral, which leads to team unity, which leads to VICTORY!!!!!! Every coach worth his salt knows this formula and atleast trys to exacute it!
by BornBlue84 on Aug 9, 2009 2:03 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
By the way..
Thanks Dav for awensering my question about the feild name. I kinda feel like a new fan not knowing the awenser myself..
by BornBlue84 on Aug 9, 2009 2:12 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
OK
Born, good comment. We have proven we can handle the non conference games. What have we gotten better at in the conference portion of the schedule? Guy Morriss recruited the best team that’s been at Kentucky in a while. They graduated or left. last season was the first all Brooks class. What were the results? Does Florida and Southern Cal absolutly have to win the cup cake games to get to .500? Do we?
I think you make a good point .
My opinion and mine alone.
Your right.
Although we may not be winning against they elite, we have been competing with them and have been within a few plays here & there of beating them every year. Exclusion Florida! We had our chances last year to be 9-3! That is what I beleive is why we are saying we are making progress.. This is not the uk bball team were a coach would have been & has in recent history been fired for less, as u were stating above. This resurrection is going to be a few more years in the making, past brooks time I beleive. But he his making progress & to beleive otherwise is someone who just plain out doesn’t like the man.I will say, your thoughts are more often then not, well thought out and relavent.
by BornBlue84 on Aug 9, 2009 1:47 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Pardon The Redundancy
But it’s just that Sarah Jessica Parker so perfectly defines ParisGuy:
“As we speed along this endless road to the destination called who we hope to be, I can’t help but whine, ‘Are we there yet?’”
"The urge to save humanity is always a false front for the urge to rule it."
- H.L. Mencken
So you are saying Paris looks like a horse too?
rimshot
First time I shot her, I shot her in the side.
Hard to watch her suffer, but with the second shot she died...
New levels of professionalism
I believe I been called a smartass by the owner of the board. I didn’t know such language was allowed. Of course I didn’t take it personally because its ‘his’ board. I’m not going to do anything to show my feellngs about the football team, its coach, and athletic director because it is contrary to the readers. Please forget those posts were I simply expressed my opinions and please follow the direct the owner of this board is going.
Truz, who do I report such language to since its your board? I wnat to tell him about the level of professionalize by the managing editor. I really don’t think such language is necessary but if it is, this site could get interesting fast.
Thank you.
Truz as owner of the board. please review the last comment about me and see if I should respond. Thank you.
You brought this on yourself Paris
Anytime anyone makes comments about Truz such as you did, you can expect outrage from the members here who truly appreciate his effort on this site because he also runs 2 at home businesses besides this blog.
Anyway I am glad you got your time setting corrected and can be nice as that is the general attitude of this site. Stay cool! if you posssibly can in this August heat.
If you read the community guidelines ...
… you will find that occasional mild language is allowed.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Thank you wild weasel, may I have another?
I’m not going to respond further Weasel. I can’t The owner of the board said I can’t post anything that is going to stir up the members. But thank you anyway.
Enough about me, please.
Stick to the topic.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
SEC East is no easy place to build a FB team
considering the strength of the division.Just look at South Carolina,the last 2 coaches,Holtz and Spurrier, both won a National Championship.Spurrier won 6 SEC Championships.
Look at the USC winning %
Lou Holtz .471 6 seasons
Steve Spurrier .560 4 seasons
USC has brought in 2 High profile coaches,and Spurrier was pretty much “The Man” in the SEC during his Forida run of the 90’s.In the last 10 years combined,this is the winning % at USC-.515%.
Good Point.
Nice point Zoso. I saw where South Carolina has been listed as having the toughest schedule in the country.
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