Kicking it with Rich Brooks, Part 2

[WildcatRick]

How much better has Kentucky gotten under Rich Brooks? More specifically, how much better has the talent gotten under Brooks? When he took the job in 2003, the Wildcats had one player who could consistently run under a 4.5 40-yard dash. Now, they have somewhere around 20. This year's team is probably going to have to lean on the defense more than it ever has under Brooks, who thinks the Wildcats finally have enough talent and depth on that side of the ball to hold their own against anybody they play in the SEC. The Wildcats open the season on Aug. 31 at Louisville, a game that will be critical in their quest to run their bowl streak to three straight years. After the opener comes three straight games at home against Norfolk State, Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky and then the SEC opener at Alabama. Brooks' message to the Big Blue Nation is that he has no intention of going back to where he found this program. The prognosticators are picking the Wildcats to fall off this season. Brooks ain't buying it. Here's the second part of my Q&A with Brooks, one of the more underrated coaches in the country:

How much has it registered with you that you guys have a chance this season to do something that hasn't been done at Kentucky since Bear Bryant was here?

Rich Brooks: To me, the key is making it happen a third year in the postseason and not missing for eight years or 10 years or 15 years like Kentucky's been missing. I truly believe that we have enough talent on this team that we should be a very good team. Based on what I've seen in the predictions, I think we're much better than that. I understand why those predictions are made, because when you look at our schedule, Kentucky historically against some of the teams we play ... we haven't beaten them very often. But we've pecked away the last couple of years, and I think that's going to continue this year.

Have you pretty well accomplished what you set out to do when decided to take on this challenge

RB: I think this year is going to be a big step in answering that question. If we can have a winning season again this year and get to postseason play, then I'll say, 'Yeah, I think I've accomplished what I came here to do.'

You initially started off as sort of a consultant for Kentucky officials when they were searching for candidates after Guy Morriss bolted, right?

RB: I told them the second or third conversation that, 'Hey, if you get to the bottom of your list and you're not happy with it, if you're interested, then I'd be willing to talk to you about the job.' Lo and behold, on Christmas Eve, they wanted to talk to me, so I guess their last true option went bye-bye. And there were quite a few that went bye-bye.

Chris Low, ESPN (http://myespn.go.com/blogs/sec/0-1-217/Kicking-it-with-Rich-Brooks--Part-2.html)

[ImForKy]

Thanks for the "kicking it" articles, Rick. Great reads.:thumbup:

[poodoo]

RB: I told them the second or third conversation that, 'Hey, if you get to the bottom of your list and you're not happy with it, if you're interested, then I'd be willing to talk to you about the job.' Lo and behold, on Christmas Eve, they wanted to talk to me, so I guess their last true option went bye-bye. And there were quite a few that went bye-bye. QUOTE from Low link
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I love Coach Brooks' lack of ego, among many other qualities. I also love Chris Low's respect for our head coach. Thanks for these links, Rick.

[Will Lavender]

Folks, this is a tremendous read. Highly recommended.

I especially like this quote:

Anybody that watched and knows anything about football could see we were getting better players.

I think some of the unrest Brooks is talking about stemmed from the fact that Kentucky is a basketball school. I'll throw myself in here as an example: I know nothing about football, and I wasn't on the Brooks bandwagon until mid-'06. I repent!

It's clear now that we made the right decision, both to hire and stick with Coach Brooks. He was exactly--exactly--what this program needed, I think, many of us just didn't realize it at the time. I even think a 6-6 type season is more than acceptable because of the tremendous momentum this staff has created with recruiting and such.

There's just a different atmosphere surrounding UK football these days, and you have to thank the two men at the top for that. Ditch Mitch and Rich? Now it makes me cringe just thinking about those bygone days.

[Will Lavender]

This, too, is priceless:

Chris Low: Has this been as fulfilling as anything you've done in your coaching career, to get this program to a point where nobody really thought possible?

Rich Brooks: I don't take a lot of time to reflect on things like that. To me, if I can do it again this year, if we can get this thing and go to postseason play again this year ... I would say that would be a pretty damn good feeling. But what we've done the last two years seems like it's 20 years ago already. It's what we're doing now that counts.