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The Kentucky Wildcats will have a new offensive coordinator next season with the departure of Shannon Dawson after just one season in Lexington.
When news came out of Dawson leaving Thursday morning, the Internet was abuzz with reactions from both former and current Wildcats, the most notable of which being Patrick Towles. Now pursuing on a graduate transfer to another school, Towles endured an and-and-down junior campaign with the Cats in 2015, but he made it clear on Twitter he isn't blaming Dawson for his struggles.
Coach Dawson is one of the greatest offensive minds I've ever been around. Would love to sit in the same meeting room with him again!
— Patrick Towles (@patty_ice14) December 17, 2015
Towles took it a step further with a tweet that suggested Dawson is being used as a scapegoat and/or sacrificial lamb for the Cats' 2015 struggles.
❌
— Patrick Towles (@patty_ice14) December 17, 2015
@KyleTucker_CJ ding ding ding
— Patrick Towles (@patty_ice14) December 17, 2015
Some current and future Cats seemed to be disappointed with the move as well,
Lol pic.twitter.com/uNS14nwgTP
— I Am T.V. Williams (@Trey1Williams) December 17, 2015
Wishing @CoachDawsonUK the best of luck! #BBN #AllIn
— I Am T.V. Williams (@Trey1Williams) December 17, 2015
Good luck coach! pic.twitter.com/OzzTEPCOYr
— -Drew Barker- (@D_Barker7) December 17, 2015
Thanks for everything @CoachDawsonUK pic.twitter.com/TcCTbEop34
— Jeff Badet (@uk_jb4) December 17, 2015
— Mac Jones (@macjones2017) December 17, 2015
And then there's current UK receiver Blake Bone...
— Blake Bone (@_KingOVO) December 17, 2015
Fellow UK receiver Alexander Montgomery also tweeted out "Yahtzee," but has since deleted the tweet. Former UK quarterback Jale Whitlow voiced his thoughts:
Kentucky must be searching for God at the OC position?
— Jalen Whitlow (@JWhitlow_2) December 17, 2015
Whitlow went on to clarify that, while he doesn't actually know what it was like with Dawson, UK needs to find some consistency and continuity with its staff:
I just know that them boys want some form of consistency when it comes to BUILDING with an offensive staff. Again, in house is different.
— Jalen Whitlow (@JWhitlow_2) December 17, 2015
Hard to argue.