A question for everyone about next year's team/season..

[BigBlue75]

(DISCLAIMER: It's been well documented ad nauseum that many of you would much rather Rich Brooks was not hired to begin with, and along with that, it has been equally well documented that there is virtually nothing short of firing the entire staff (beginning with the Defensive coordinator) that will satisfy some of you, and "improvement", in any form,is aword that will not exist for some of you as long as our current head coach is retained. Fine. You are as entitled to your opinion as I am mine. I make this disclaimer in the hopes that we can have a serious discussion and not keep beating the same dead horse over and over again.)

Now, my question for discussion purposes:

Let's say, we are this same time next season. By some MIRACLE, the team has finished the season with a 7-5 record and has been awarded a bowl berth. What will your thoughts be then?

(Note: This is NOT about whether or not you actually believe this will come about, okay?)

[sojourner]

Well actually I don't think it will take a miracle to finish 7-5. Yes, I have said that 5-7 could be considered improvement, but I do agree with Athens that at some point the team should take off and have a better than expected year. It could be next year.

If we go 7-5 Brooks stays. Especailly if recruiting continues to go well next year. Why would we get rid of him then? He has done what we asked.

[I. Melvin]

To me, 7-5 is vindication. 6-6 is acceptable. 5-7 would be disappointing, but ...

4-8 (and one of those losses is to UofL) - adios.

[johnkyblue]

And it would be the best thing ever if we won a MNC.

[wildcatdon]

7-5 is what i have targeted..i think it is doable..if that happens it would be a boon for recruiting and confidence for the players and coaches and especially our "doubting thomas" fans...the offense must be more consistent and the defense must get more 3 and outs....i would like to know if joker has looked at ul's playbook and southern cal,and taken some plays from each....and by playbook,i dont mean that literally....i will go into next season in a very positive mode..GO CATS..

[CatsSaintsFan]

BigBlue75 wrote: (DISCLAIMER: It's been well documented ad nauseum that many of you would much rather Rich Brooks was not hired to begin with, and along with that, it has been equally well documented that there is virtually nothing short of firing the entire staff (beginning with the Defensive coordinator) that will satisfy some of you, and "improvement", in any form,is aword that will not exist for some of you as long as our current head coach is retained. Fine. You are as entitled to your opinion as I am mine. I make this disclaimer in the hopes that we can have a serious discussion and not keep beating the same dead horse over and over again.)

Now, my question for discussion purposes:

Let's say, we are this same time next season. By some MIRACLE, the team has finished the season with a 7-5 record and has been awarded a bowl berth. What will your thoughts be then?

(Note: This is NOT about whether or not you actually believe this will come about, okay?)



I think they will be favored in 5 or 6 games so for them to win 7 would be a GIANT step forward for me personally. That said, the fact that this recruiting class is shaping up the way it did may be enough to shut me up for awhile. While I believe that some recruits are here for toher coaches than Brooks, I don't know that as fact. I do know that apparently these kids see something I don't but they are getting the benefit of an inside look.

Most of you know I don't care much for Brooks at all but I hope that this team wins 6 or 7 games and makes a bowl bid, improves the recruiting, and begins to build greater momentum. Brooks wants to be here 7 more years and I hope he is because that means he more than likely got us to where I wanted us to be. I don't think he'll have 7 years of Bill Curry football. He won't be allowed to slip under 5 wins again.

I'm encouraged by the recruiting and hope the coaching rises to the level of bringing the talent along or as the ball coach says "coach em up"

[BigBlue75]

sojourner wrote: Well actually I don't think it will take a miracle to finish 7-5. Yes, I have said that 5-7 could be considered improvement, but I do agree with Athens that at some point the team should take off and have a better than expected year. It could be next year.

If we go 7-5 Brooks stays. Especailly if recruiting continues to go well next year. Why would we get rid of him then? He has done what we asked.

I'm pretty much in agreement with all the comments to this point, but I picked this one to use for response because it more or less mirrors my thoughts on the issue.

I used the word "miracle" in my original post in a tongue-in-cheek way. I don't think a 7-5 record next season is out of the realm of possibility at all. Like you, sojourner, If we're at 7-5 and we get a bowl berth, I don't see any reason to bring in a new staff. I know this is purely speculative at this point (and yes, with a healthy dose of wishful thinking), but if next season, it ain't broke, let's not try to fix it.

[Spanish Moss]

I like what has been going on the past week or so with our recuiting. Now if we can improve our play on the field, then 6 or 7 wins can become reality. If we win that many games, without question, I would be in favor of extending the coach's contract but not long term (for example 5 years) Due to his age, I would not extend it for more than a couple of years. I am about the same age as coach Brooks and I have to be honest. I think more about fishing now than i do getting up at 5:00 and going to work. I still do it but that could change at anytime. I don't care how much money you make, when you get my age there are more important things in life.

[Will Lavender]

I. Melvin wrote: To me, 7-5 is vindication. 6-6 is acceptable. 5-7 would be disappointing, but ...

4-8 (and one of those losses is to UofL) - adios.


This is EXACTLY where I am.

[Spanish Moss]

Joneslab wrote: I. Melvin wrote: To me, 7-5 is vindication. 6-6 is acceptable. 5-7 would be disappointing, but ...

4-8 (and one of those losses is to UofL) - adios.


This is EXACTLY where I am.


I think I am there also. Not so much a loss to UL because I don't worry much about them. They are not my favorite team to beat. But only four wins after four years would not be improvement in my opinion. I would clean house if we come in 4-8. But I don't think we will.

[CarolinaCat]

Seems to be alot of people on here who have witnessed "unacceptable" seasons over the years by virtue of the post that indicate 6-6 would be acceptable next year.

What I am wondering about is with Brooks still on the sidelines, where is all the new talent coming from that is going to produce a team that finishes better than 6-6 or as I am and will predict a 3-9 record.

Just courious , not intended to be a flame or anything , but I just dont see the players in the wings that are going to be able to go from this seasons record to a winning record next year.

[Matt Dillon]

It also has to do with the schedule which, in my opinon, is much softer next season as well as this year's players being a year older. Actually, in my opinoin, what we do next season, will have little to do with this recruiting class. Hopefully, we'll be able to rs some and others will be backups.

[CarolinaCat]

As long as UK settles for second rate head coaches , UK football will be mediocre at best.

Time and time again UK makes a hire that no other school in the SEC would even consider, oh maybe as part of the staff , but not as the head man.

If and when the administration decides it wants to elevate the level of UK football from being on a par with Vandy, then things will change , until then get used to finishing behind South Carolina, Florida , Georgia and Tennessee year in and year out , as well as battling Vandy for dead last in the East.

[gerntz]

The two of you have great minds.

Joneslab wrote: I. Melvin wrote: To me, 7-5 is vindication. 6-6 is acceptable. 5-7 would be disappointing, but ...

4-8 (and one of those losses is to UofL) - adios.


This is EXACTLY where I am.

[gerntz]

Your mind is near-great. :lol:

Florida Cracker wrote: Joneslab wrote: I. Melvin wrote: To me, 7-5 is vindication. 6-6 is acceptable. 5-7 would be disappointing, but ...

4-8 (and one of those losses is to UofL) - adios.


This is EXACTLY where I am.


I think I am there also. Not so much a loss to UL because I don't worry much about them. They are not my favorite team to beat. But only four wins after four years would not be improvement in my opinion. I would clean house if we come in 4-8. But I don't think we will.

[CarolinaCat]

One other thing, too much attention is paid to the game with Louisville at this time.

Louisville spent the money to do what was and is necessary to build a football program.

Say what you want that they are in the Big East vs the SEC or that Papa John stadium is nowhere near what Commonwealth is , but the fact is year in and year out Louisville consistantly has a better record than UK, goes to bowl games and is able to at least be in the Top 25.

UK , wont spend the money , doesnt go to bowl games , is in the bottom of the SEC and isnt even close to being in the Top 75 much less Top 25.

You get what you pay for in college sports, all you have to do is take a look at the basketball program to see where Tubby is in his sport vs where Brooks is in his.
We go from one extreme to the other on that one.

Want a football program , then Mitch needs to start acting like it or forget about it all together.

[poodoo]

I. Melvin wrote: To me, 7-5 is vindication. 6-6 is acceptable. 5-7 would be disappointing, but ...

4-8 (and one of those losses is to UofL) - adios.




That seems pretty fair to me, I. Melvin. The only thing I would add is that a 6-6 record would be VERY acceptable to me. It would mean going to a bowl game, and that would be not only be HUGE forthis program, but would also make me QUITE HAPPY.

[biglabcatdaddy]

"Let's say, we are this same time next season. By some MIRACLE, the team has finished the season with a 7-5 record and has been awarded a bowl berth. What will your thoughts be then?"

My thoughts would be something along the line of this...

How wonderfully wrong everyoneI know that has an unbiased view about anything to do with collegefootball has been.

But lets be honest, it aint gonna happen.

[CarolinaCat]

Back to the original question: By some miracle this team finishes 7-5 and goes to a bowl what will the reaction be.

Personally I am going to sit down and just wait on seeing Jesus Christ as if this happens it will surely be a miracle and I will be ready for the second coming of our Lord, just sitting there waiting to see him appear to lead some of us to heaven.


Now back to reality , its not gonna happen by a long shot, so I dont expect to see Jesus next December or January at an bowl games.

[MSU Cat]

7-5 and a bowl birth would qualify as significant progress. Anything less than 6 wins with this schedule is unacceptable. I have a question also. If, by some chance, we string together another 4-8 year will Mitch actually pull the trigger or will we experience a Curry saga?

[Matt Dillon]

MSU Cat wrote: 7-5 and a bowl birth would qualify as significant progress. Anything less than 6 wins with this schedule is unacceptable. I have a question also. If, by some chance, we string together another 4-8 year will Mitch actually pull the trigger or will we experience a Curry saga?


Just my opinion, but I'd say if we only win four next year, coach Brooks is history.

[trublue4life]

I. Melvin gets my vote. That is as clear as I can be about expectations next year. Now, having said that, another crazy year with injuries at key positions or other unforseen obstacles too formidable to overcome and I might revisit my opinion. But it has to be a season with unmistakable improvement on the field or change is in order. I, for one, believe we will see vast improvement as our young kittens get stronger and older over the offseason and the new recruits provide the kind of quality depth we have been missing for so long.

On a side note: This is my first post at WildcatNation. I used to post a lot over at another fan site - same user name - but had all but given up after it was taken hostage by certain folks who have a failry clear agenda if you know what I mean. I didn't know this site existed until a poster over there made reference to itin a discussionabout soem poster at another site named"poodoo." I couldn't believe my eyes! Well, low and behold I come over here and discover a lot of the folks I used to enjoy having civil discussions with about Wildcat athletics! So, greetings poodoo, Florida Cracker, jonesslab and others. I'm glad I re-found you! I will now be a regular at WildcatNation! Yeehah!

[Matt Dillon]

There may be some on here that you know even though you don't realize it. Not all people use the same moniker on every site.;)

[CarolinaCat]

If Mitch hesitates I say the pres needs to pull the trigger on Mitch then dump Brooks himself, hire another AD who can then hire a football coach that for one someone has heard of and two is not a loser coming in.

[poodoo]

trublue4life wrote: I. Melvin gets my vote. That is as clear as I can be about expectations next year. Now, having said that, another crazy year with injuries at key positions or other unforseen obstacles too formidable to overcome and I might revisit my opinion. But it has to be a season with unmistakable improvement on the field or change is in order. I, for one, believe we will see vast improvement as our young kittens get stronger and older over the offseason and the new recruits provide the kind of quality depth we have been missing for so long.

On a side note: This is my first post at WildcatNation. I used to post a lot over at another fan site - same user name - but had all but given up after it was taken hostage by certain folks who have a failry clear agenda if you know what I mean. I didn't know this site existed until a poster over there made reference to itin a discussionabout soem poster at another site named"poodoo." I couldn't believe my eyes! Well, low and behold I come over here and discover a lot of the folks I used to enjoy having civil discussions with about Wildcat athletics! So, greetings poodoo, Florida Cracker, jonesslab and others. I'm glad I re-found you! I will now be a regular at WildcatNation! Yeehah!



Nice first post, trublue4life. Too, I remember you and are so glad you have joined us here. Yes, we have civil discussions here, and that is wonderful. Folks mostly disagree only respectfully.

Months ago I used to lurk on the old site every couple of weeks, searching for any additional information I could get about the UK football program I so love.Because of the level of disrespect and hatred for UK athletic officials and their family members that I saw there, I decided never to visit the site again. I will surely not go there to see what was said about "poodoo," whoma fewextremely negativefans theredo not care for, regardless how civilandintentionally respectful mycomments were.:)I can only imagine what was said.:(Anyway, great to have you here, and you will love this site!:)

[trublue4life]

Actually, poodoo, you should be flattered by their brief comments (it wasn't a major topic). A few of the forum terroists were criticizing you for not being like them! That's a good thing, not a bad thing. The only reason I took note is because I wondered where everyone had gone, and when I saw your name and the reference to this site I got really excited. I missed the good ole days of actually discussing UK sports, including disagreements, in a civil and respectful way. I just got really tired of the hatred and the absolute unwillingness to consider another persons opinion by several regulars over there. I had come to thepoint where I wouldonly visit about every 2-3 weeks just to see if anything had changed. Itnever did, but luckily I visited it on the right day and found WlidcatNation.

[jpay]

trublue4life wrote: Actually, poodoo, you should be flattered by their brief comments (it wasn't a major topic). A few of the forum terroists were criticizing you for not being like them! That's a good thing, not a bad thing. The only reason I took note is because I wondered where everyone had gone, and when I saw your name and the reference to this site I got really excited. I missed the good ole days of actually discussing UK sports, including disagreements, in a civil and respectful way. I just got really tired of the hatred and the absolute unwillingness to consider another persons opinion by several regulars over there. I had come to thepoint where I wouldonly visit about every 2-3 weeks just to see if anything had changed. Itnever did, but luckily I visited it on the right day and found WlidcatNation.My first post also. Trublue, I sawthe same post at the other sight, I was not aware of this sight either.Forum terrorists is a very appropriate name for them. Everythread hijacked.... Justdidn't enjoy all of the venom any more. As for the original topic. Anything less than a Bowl gamewill be unacceptable. With the talent onthe offensive side of theball returning,and a full compliment of players. Thereshould be no room for excuses.

[wildcatdon]

CarolinaCat,welcome,,how are things over at WCF? We dont need any Mitch or Rich bashing here...Things are better and will continue to get better..If you wanna Bitch go back to WCF with those yaps..

[RV]

What a difference a year makes. Looks like many of our guys here were dead on.

[poodoo]

I missed the good ole days of actually discussing UK sports, including disagreements, in a civil and respectful way. QUOTE by trublue4life

___________

How I understand, trublue4life.Too, thankfully, for the most part that is what we do indeed have here at WCN.


Too, isn't it SO NEAT that the "next season" ended up with EIGHT victories, including a bowl win! :)I LOVE it! :)