Would you feel different if...........

[Tbird]

the 13th ranked team that spanked us was someone other than Louisville? I understand that this is our in-state (bitter) rival yet, wonder how people would feel today if we got thumped by a 13th ranked Penn St,Nebraska etc. Would people still be posting about firing the coaching staff after game 1? I know that some folks will say yes, they are just mad because it wasa poor performance, but something tells me that it is simply because it was Louisville and we just don't want to admit that they are that much better than us. The point spread was 3+ touchdowns and agood indication of how much the experts believed they were better than us.

[baldcat]

That performance last night merits a house cleaning even if it was against last years Texas team.

A totallyprepared team, a defense that looked lost, an offensive offense.

[Athens2005]

I would not feel different. We weren't ready to play. This is getting old.

[Caveman Catfan]

I think I might feel differently had the team not been UL. The fact is that we have watched UL build its program while UK's wallows in the muck of mediocrity. Had the #13 team been Vandy; however, I would have felt the same way. Accepting that the rich get richer has been something that I have lived with for years in sports. Watching brother loser programs develop into top 15 teams is just a slap in the face that it can happen, just not here.

[Aike]

We see at least one SEC game like that every year. The difference is that Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee have built in advantages that we have been fighting for years to overcome.

UL started way behind but they have now lapped us. There is no reason that a team just up the road, playing in a smaller stadium, and in a weaker conference should be that much better than us. Plain and simple, UL has done the job in a way that we never have in my 25 years following UK football. It is equal parts a credit to them, and a black cloud hovering above us.

[Tbird]

I agree Caveman, we can't keep making excuses for not being able to turn this program around. Having said that, I'm not sure that this staff has truly been given a chance to this point. Knowing the lack of scholarships and level of talent the last few years, not sure that we could expect much more. This is a very young team. I'm not saying that this should buy the coaching staff a fewmore years as the announcers mentioned in last nights game but, I do feel that they get midseason at minimum to show progress (handle inferior teams and competitive against better SEC teams). At that point if we truly have better talent but haven't shown improvement, clear indication that the coaching isn't getting it done.

[Caveman Catfan]

In four years, I think this staff needed to show improvement by year four. So far, that has not been demonstrated. I realize it was just game one. Therefore, there is an opportunity for this staff to redeem itself. But, after watching game one, I seriously doubt we are going to see a step forward with the program, let alone a significant step.

Its a long season. So, I will wait to see. But, I was not impressed with any of the team aspects of the game last night. Rather, I saw a few players that have great individual talent.

[SBCatMan]

Because I do not live in Kentucky -- although my son does -- and I am not as "close" to the rivalty as y'all are, it does not bother me so much as to WHO we lost to as HOW we lost. That was a very poor performance, but everyone knows that.

UK has certain advantages in trying to build a program -- fans, facilities and an opportunity to play in the SEC. Louisville always had cerrtain advantages, at least in trying to BUILD a program, which they have done very well, I might add. The problems is this: winning begets winning. It is ironic and paradoxical, but you have to be able to win before you can win. I suppose the classic example of this addage is Kansas State. After decades of losing, K State softened the schedule to a ridiculous level, won some games, attracted recruits, won some more, and, a short while ago, was a national power.

Now, this is NOT a knock at UofL or their schedule or any of their present or past conference affiliations. But, the kind of schedule they played at least gave them an opportunity to collect some wins, attract some recruits, and then collect even more and bigger wins. Give UofL some credit, though. This was not all by accident. They were presented with an opportunity and they seized it. First John L Smith, as much as we disliked him, and now Boby Petrino, have done admirable jobs. It also helps that they are able to attract a lot of home town talent and have managed to do so while steering clear of the NCAA.

By the same token, UK cannot be excused from building a stronger program simply because they play in the murderous SEC. But, that hurts as much as it helps. And, we have not been alone. As someone pointed out somewhere within the last week, half the conference is in the same boat as us. USC has GREAT fans, GREAT facilities and are in a state over-flowing with great talent. They have hired two marquis coaches in Holtz and Spurrier. And, while they succeeded beyond what UK has been able to do, they have still not managed to break into the top half of the conference.

Other schools in other conferences face the same gauntlet. My brother works and teaches at IU and is as big an IU fan as I am a UK fan. He hopes that their new coach and new commitment to football can turn them around. But, IU faces the same issue that we do -- no matter how much they improve, who are they going to beat in-conference. Maybe Northwestern, maybe Illinois, every now and then Minnesota, but who else?

Its a tough row to hoe.

However, NONE of this excuses our performance against UofL. It was abysmal.

[RedandBlackATTACK]

Having said that, I'm not sure that this staff has truly been given a chance to this point.
I have defended Brooks and Staff on this board, until last night. Last night, it was just not about getting beat by a better team.

Fundamentally, UK is not a well coached team. On at least four occasions, Brohm had taken the snap and was in motion before the UK D-line was set. The UK secondary at times again, just previous to the snap was "lost" as well and running around in confusion.

UK failed to counter UL's D-line front four push. You just have to makeadjustments when your are getting whipped in the trenches. You have to do something.

The flat was open all night as evidenced by Douglas's receiving yards.

Little's numbers are not reflective of his ability. Find a way to get him the ball and he will make things happen.You don't give up on the guy in the first quarter.

Just some random thoughts.

[KapitalCat]

630 yards of total offense is the issue, it would not matter if it were UF, UT, LSU, Georgia, or Auburn...I would not feel any better....

[Russ24ky]

I have my KENTUCKY FOOTBALL shirt on today and getting ready to go out.

I SUPPORT UK FOOTBALL IN 2006WIN OR LOSE WITH OR WITHOUT BROOKS

[Spanish Moss]

Tbird wrote: the 13th ranked team that spanked us was someone other than Louisville? I understand that this is our in-state (bitter) rival yet, wonder how people would feel today if we got thumped by a 13th ranked Penn St,Nebraska etc. Would people still be posting about firing the coaching staff after game 1? I know that some folks will say yes, they are just mad because it wasa poor performance, but something tells me that it is simply because it was Louisville and we just don't want to admit that they are that much better than us. The point spread was 3+ touchdowns and agood indication of how much the experts believed they were better than us.


I will admit they are light years better than us. I will also admit the Dawg, Gators and Vols are light years better than us. You can probably throw in the Cocks and Rebels as being better than us. We shall see.

So yes, I would be upset. I am upset because nothing changes. We show up unprepared and mentally not ready to play. Game after game. As fans we back this program to the point we are being played for a bunch of fools. All we ask is for a program that has some pride and a team that has players giving 100% and coaches who are earning their salary.

Right now we don't have any of that. We have a train wreck. I like college football more than any sport on earth and I would really enjoy taking my family to a bowl game. Any bowl game. The SEC has more than half of their league in bowl games every year so if we are middle of the pack of our own conference we can go. Is that too much to ask?

[Caveman Catfan]

RedandBlackATTACK wrote: Having said that, I'm not sure that this staff has truly been given a chance to this point.
I have defended Brooks and Staff on this board, until last night. Last night, it was just not about getting beat by a better team.

Fundamentally, UK is not a well coached team. On at least four occasions, Brohm had taken the snap and was in motion before the UK D-line was set. The UK secondary at times again, just previous to the snap was "lost" as well and running around in confusion.

UK failed to counter UL's D-line front four push. You just have to makeadjustments when your are getting whipped in the trenches. You have to do something.

The flat was open all night as evidenced by Douglas's receiving yards.

Little's numbers are not reflective of his ability. Find a way to get him the ball and he will make things happen.You don't give up on the guy in the first quarter.

Just some random thoughts.





On one pass play, Micah was so confused he ran into Wesley. Neither was guarding anyone and neither was anywhere near making a play.

[Stretch]

You can't build a winning football program at a place like UK if you go on NCAA probation every 10 years.

[Realist]

Probation should not be an excuse at this point in time. This is the 4th year for this staff. They've got a lot of young players but those players have experience. They've got some key players back at the skill positions. Look at who they have back, their quarterback, tight end, top running back, wide receiver. They've got their best backup running back coming back from injury, several linemen. Sure, it's not quite Florida but the cupboard isn't bare.

Take into account what most of the people on this board are griping about, not that we LOST to L'ville but that we looked so inept. Most realistic people would have admitted that L'ville probably deserved their top 25 pre-season ranking and if we had have hung with them and been beaten by a couple of touchdowns at their place we would have been disappointed but not up in arms. What I saw last night was just ridiculous, that wasn't a team that was ready to play.

[poodoo]

Tbird wrote: I agree Caveman, we can't keep making excuses for not being able to turn this program around. Having said that, I'm not sure that this staff has truly been given a chance to this point. Knowing the lack of scholarships and level of talent the last few years, not sure that we could expect much more. This is a very young team. I'm not saying that this should buy the coaching staff a fewmore years as the announcers mentioned in last nights game but, I do feel that they get midseason at minimum to show progress (handle inferior teams and competitive against better SEC teams). At that point if we truly have better talent but haven't shown improvement, clear indication that the coaching isn't getting it done.

I agree, Tbird. If IWERE FORCEDto make a decision on this coaching staff last night, I would say they must go. Yet, I would certainly not make such a decision based on one rivalry game, the first game of the season, regardless how poorly we performed. As you say, no, this staff doesn't need a few more years to show improvement, but it obviously needs a few more games into the season. Yes, let's fans wait and see how the team performs against inferior teams AND against SEC teams before we totally give up on this staff.

Also, ironically, I had just posted on another thread that I felt that the degreeof fans' frustration is escalated because it was our rival, Louisville, who so embarrassed us. By the way, as disappointing as our performance was, Louisville looked GOOD to me, really good. While I had expected their offense to shine, I was really surprised to see their defense and special teams play as well as they did (and that new special teams coachisdeserving his pay, as I see it, even though Keenan made somealmost unbelievable moves and ran onekickoff back). Louisville had A LOTto do withour performance. Regardless,I cannot remotely begn to defend our performance, especially on defense. :(

R&B,in regard to your comment about our defenders' not being ready, Coach Brooks soundedquite lowon his postgame radioshow, specifically saying that he had been repeatedlyTELLING our playersthat they must play at a much FASTER TEMPO (besides being more PHYSICAL). He said some of them had just looked at him as if he were cross-eyed. Now, he said, they know. I suspect to what you referred is to what he was referring. KUDOS to your team, by the way, and my heart honestly breaks for Michael Bush, my favorite Louisville player (because of everything I had read about him AND his returning for his senior year).

[Trueblujr]

This is the 4th straight year we have come out of the gate an unprepared and uninspiring team. THere is no excuse for that. This is now by and large Rich Brooks team, I'm not sure if any of the players out there were here before Brooks. So this is HIS team. no more excuses for performances like that. We are close enough to the scholarship limit that its almost negligible. Probation is no longer an excuse. Injuries can't be an excuse any more either, this is the healthiest we have been in some time.

If you stack our players up position by position against Louisvilles, there is not 31 points difference between them. The difference is one team is a well oiled machine, engrained in a system that they can go out and execute to near precision. UK on the other hand doesn't really have a system to speak of. I'm not sure exactly what kind of offense Joker is running. Do we script the first 12 -15 plays like Louisville? We have some very talented defensive players, but are lost out on the field, we have guys with incridible ability but can't show it because they aren't schooled on where to line up. There is a difference between a player or two failing to execute properly and a whole defense just not being prepared to compete.

Brooks and this staff do have some time to redeem themselves this year, but we as fans cannot tolerate the product on the field, we know darn good and well that many ofthe players we have are talented enough tocompete that level. Did I expect a win over Louisville? no, but I at least thought we would make them break a sweat.

We need to start seeing a team out there laying it on the line for their coach, playing as a unit, executing as a team, we need to start seeing guys overachieving. There is no excuse for a team in its fourth year under a coach to come out and be embarassed like that, especially a team that was supposed to be steadily improving over those 4 seasons.

[Wildcat Larry]

Back to the original question, while I don't think I should feel different, speaking honestly, I probably would feel a little different if it hadn't be UL.

Losing to Florida, Tennessee or Georgia like this would be pretty embarrassing, but losing to your instate rival like that is totally embarrassing. Just being truthful. :?:(

[graham51]

I would not feel any different, because I have been following UK football since about 1948. Howany games like this this do you think I have watched or listened to. It is the same old story for over 50 years.

Several years ago I stopped getting upset at losses, i have even come to expect them.

If we have a lead late in the game I always wonder" how will they manage to lose this one" if you have followed fb for a long time you know they have found some awful ways to lose.

I'm still not convinced that Bear didn't put the hex on when he left many years ago.

As Yogi would say this year is probably just deja vu all over again for the 50 something year.

[I. Melvin]

Bingo! Exactly how I feel.

Caveman Catfan wrote: I think I might feel differently had the team not been UL. The fact is that we have watched UL build its program while UK's wallows in the muck of mediocrity. Had the #13 team been Vandy; however, I would have felt the same way. Accepting that the rich get richer has been something that I have lived with for years in sports. Watching brother loser programs develop into top 15 teams is just a slap in the face that it can happen, just not here.

[Tbird]

Realist wrote: Probation should not be an excuse at this point in time. This is the 4th year for this staff. They've got a lot of young players but those players have experience. They've got some key players back at the skill positions. Look at who they have back, their quarterback, tight end, top running back, wide receiver. They've got their best backup running back coming back from injury, several linemen. Sure, it's not quite Florida but the cupboard isn't bare.

Take into account what most of the people on this board are griping about, not that we LOST to L'ville but that we looked so inept. Most realistic people would have admitted that L'ville probably deserved their top 25 pre-season ranking and if we had have hung with them and been beaten by a couple of touchdowns at their place we would have been disappointed but not up in arms. What I saw last night was just ridiculous, that wasn't a team that was ready to play2 i


I don't agree that probation isn't an excuse for any coaching staff. 2 of 4 years the program was on probation with reduced scholarships andgoodrecruits weren't exactly knocking the door down to come. It's a rebuilding process that takes several years (even when it is one of the top basketball programs in the country with strong tradition).

As far as experience, a fair evaluation includes all positions, not just the skill positions on offense. The offensive line lost arguably one of it's best "talent" players in Miller (not that he was apparently playing up to that talent when he was booted). I felt that theyplayedbetter in the 2nd half. The defensive line was the big letdown to me. Pryor is just a soph but I expected more last night since he is a louisville boy.Where were Mills and White? We didlose our 2 best cornerbacks in Huffman (graduated) andSmith.Overall, defense lost 5 starters and Pryor, Jenkins, McGrath, Kelley Jones, Johnson, etc. are just frosh or soph's. Running back.... hard to evaluate Little on 7 carries and I'm not sure that he had 1 pass thrown to him. We got behind quickly and he was basically out of the game plan. Wide receiver should not have even been mentioned in your message considering none have any real experienceand Burton, whom I'm assuming that you arereferring to as our returningveteran,was injured last year and the rest are either freshman or have virtually zero experience.

I'm not sure that this was a case of not being prepared as much as it was getting smacked by a much better, ranked team at their home. We are 3 and out once and fall behind by 14 pts to one of the best offenses in the country. If we get the first down when going for it on 4th or puntand get the ball back and score half way through the 3rd qt., we close the gap to 10 and something tells me the score would have been closer andeveryone wouldn't be calling it "unprepared". "Coach speak" as mentioned in the previous thread to deflect blame from players.

Again, I'm not voting in favor of this coaching staff, just holding my vote. I personally was more pissed about the loss because it was Louisville, which is what I was attempting to get at in this thread (thanks for your honesty Wildcat Larry). I hope to see a dramatically different result next week. If not, we may be in for the overhaul that many are asking for by midseason.

[wanderingcat]

Would I feel different if it were not Louisville that routed UK last night? Of course not. If not Louisville then simply someone else like Bowling Green or Northeast Louisiana State. I have watched UK football for over fifty years. It was totally anticipated since it is normal for UK to strive endless for mediocrity. We never beat a ranked team, heck we rarely beat a favored team of any description. Actually, I can barely remember when we pulled a real upset, perhapsin the late 70s under Fran Curci. So far back to be as irrelevant as Bear Bryant. We were exciting then and again under Hal Mumme, unfortunately we also got caught cheating both times. Our hopes now exist only in the world of the Expansion Bowls, so many that if you beat enough Texas States, you will get one more game. And that is all this is about--a six six record--one more game?With roster after roster of players too slow, too small and too lacking in talent we soldier on, decade after decade, generation after generation, not inhaving "a program", only the hope of "the program." Through Collier, Bradshaw, Ray, Curci, Clairborne, Curry, Mumme, Brooks, the cry to get rid of them has gone up and, soon enough or not soon enough, Brooks will be gone. And Hope will again be our coach, for it is only Hope that resurfaces year after year, then Hope, too, will be dashed, only to be rehired again as an associate to a newHead Coach who will never outlast Hope. But the real enjoyment of UK football is that it is always about tomorrow, when all is right with the world, when we can win ever game, win whatever bowl we choose, when we crush Louisville, not to mention, Florida, Georgia, and, yes, Tennessee. How sweetHope is! So all you young guys, taketoday, find a new coach, get new recruits and follow that virtually winless path and all its frustrations. I'll takecoaches like Ray and Curry and Brooks who keeptheland of tomorrow andHope alive and someday you, too, will join us in this land that does not know the world of UK football present.

[Dwight Schrute]

As a UK fan, I despise U of L and wish them nothing but the worst as a program outside of injuries, personal tragedies, etc., I'd never wish that on anybody. As a football fan, I absolutely loved their team before they lost Bush. They're fun to watch and they're well coached (by a *****, but well coached). Right now, they're everything that I wish we were.

Granted, they've had some luck on their side. They built their program while in CUSA against lesser competition, and were able to get national exposure and win some games on national tv. They've also had two of the best players the state has seen maybe in the last fifty years grow up in their own back yard. One of whom was basically verbally committed since the day he was born (Brohm). Even after those guys are gone, they will probably bring in someone new, and will probably continue to dominate us.

If we're going to start getting the types of in state players that they're getting on a consistent basis, we're going to have to start winning that game more. Sadly, I remember beating them senseless 68-34 during the Tim Couch era. That was fun to watch. Even if it was built on gimmick football. I'd feel embarassed, but losing to U of L made last night even worse. Seeing how they've lapped us and are now legit BCS bowl contenders (and, before losing Mike Bush, were legit national championship contenders). I'm going to watch them more, and will probably enjoy watching them. Then I will watch a UK game where we will undoubtedly get decimated by Florida, or LSU, or Georgia, and will wish we were where U of L is.

[Mountain Cat]

I would have been much happier if we played like Vandy did against 14th ranked Michigan.

Vandy went into halftime trailing 13-7, and gave up a modest 7 points in each of the final 2 quarters for a final of 27-7. Yes they got somewhat spanked, but hung in there and tried to make a game out of it as long as they could. Vandy did not look like and embarrassment to the SEC.