The big news of today, of course, is Joker Phillips' firing yesterday as football head coach. Now, the speculation about who will replace him begins in earnest.

Tweet of the Morning:

Former UK quarterback Pookie Jones on the coaching search: "We can throw out all these big names. They're not coming."

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_CJ) November 5, 2012

Pookie gets it.

Your Quickies:

Kentucky football

• Kentucky fires football coach Joker Phillips // Kentucky.com

  “In the end there are realities we must face and overcome,” he wrote. “Right or wrong, we must respond to those realities to protect the 22 programs and 500-plus student-athletes for whom we provide.”

  As I said early on, this is why Phillips could not be retained. Lost revenue at the level it would have been next year would've damaged the athletics department. There really was no alternative.

• Tim Sullivan | Mitch Barnhart let Joker Phillips retain his dignity // The Courier-Journal
  Phillips did all he could to help Barnhart get out of the spot he was in, which says a lot about him.

• Kentucky announces that Joker Phillips will be replaced as football coach at end of season // The Courier-Journal

  In the wake of a humiliating 40-0 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday, his football team’s eighth consecutive defeat and ninth in 10 games this season, a demoralized Joker Phillips all but fell on his sword when he said it would be best for everyone involved if his boss at the University of Kentucky would say something about the coach’s future.

  This is right.

• Things could have been different // Life as a Basketball Coach in Indiana
  The author makes a great point:

  Really, with a couple of breaks either way this could be playing out the complete opposite than it is now. If you are a sports fan, you can't help but feel good for Strong and bad for Phillips. Both are good men as I stated before.

• Kentucky fires Joker Phillips; welcome to silly season // CBSSports.com
  I think this writer's perspective is the most cynical and ethically questionable I've seen.

• A name to watch in UK football search: Mike MacIntyre // John Clay's Sidelines
  There will be a bunch of these to go along with Sonny Dykes.

• Text of Joker Phillips' statement // Kentucky.com

• Kentucky Sports Radio // 10 Questions About the End of One Era and Beginning of Another
  My answers: 1-Who cares? 2-Probably 3-Making a list 4-Yes, probably 5-Depends on how you define "home run" in this context. 6-No 7-None will consider Kentucky for any price 8-No "Big names" other than Petrino are available. Some good coordinators like Smart and Pease will be considered. Mike Leach will not be a candidate. 9-A good young coach, most likely 10-I'm guessing right after the season ends.

  For what it's worth.

• Calipari told Phillips people still love him, just wanted him to win more // vaughtsviews
  Calipari's exactly right. Coaches are hired to win. When they don't win, they get replaced.

• Kentucky Sports Radio // Tim Couch would love to help
  Hopefully, Barnhart will solicit Couch's advice. Don't pass up any from former UK and NFL players who are willing to offer.

• Joker Phillips fired: Sonny Dykes, Dirk Koetter among reported candidates // SBNation.com
  SB Nation adds some names to the list.

• Rex Ryan to Kentucky: Some things are too wonderful to ever happen // SBNation.com
  Heh.

• Three years of Joker come to a close // The Kentucky Kernel
  Sometimes, it's just not meant to be.

Kentucky basketball

• UK player Brian Long knows telethon for Hurricane Sandy victims will have special message // vaughtsviews
• Kentucky vs. Transylvania History // Ky Cat Stats

• Calipari takes tough-love approach into Transy game // Kentucky.com

  "To really improve, you have to make yourself uncomfortable," he said. " ... If you're not willing to do it, I will."

  That's what you do as a successful coach. Comfort is failure.
• UK Completes Exhibition Slate with Transy // UKAthletics.com

• Lane Goodwin’s father overwhelmed by chance to sit on Kentucky bench for exhibition game tonight // vaughtsviews
  Awesome.

Other UK sports

• Volleyball on a roll // UKAthletics.com

  For the eighth consecutive season under the direction of Craig Skinnerthe Kentucky volleyball team secured 17 or more victories following a 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-18) sweep of visiting South Carolina on Sunday in Memorial Coliseum. The win was good enough for the team's 17th of the season, as well as continuing a season-long five-match winning streak.

  Don't forget to vote for Ashley Frazier for the Senior CLASS Award! Vote early, vote often.

Links posts

• BBL: With Joker Phillips out, where does UK turn next? // John Clay's Sidelines
  What do you think?

• Tom Leach // Monday links

College football

• Mississippi State isn’t who we thought they were // Saturday Down South
  Yes, they are. Well, they are who I thought they were, anyway.

College basketball

• SEC M5: 11.05.12 EditionRush The Court // Rush The Court