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Message
re: Joker Phillips Has Been Fired (Letter from AD Mitch Barnhart Enclosed)
Posted on 11/4/12 at 2:50 pm to kywildcatfanone
Posted on 11/4/12 at 2:50 pm to kywildcatfanone
Statement from Joker Phillips:
"We, as coaches, are measured on results. We didn’t get the results we had worked and hoped for, therefore change is needed. In my current 10-year stay at Kentucky, we’ve had some memorable moments as an assistant, coordinator and head coach. We’ve had the opportunity to coach some fine young men and I am grateful to have had the privilege of watching them grow as players, as students and as people.
I am very appreciative of Mitch Barnhart and Rich Brooks for providing the opportunity to have been the head coach here. Mitch is the best athletic director I’ve ever been associated with. He’s fair and honest and he’s “all in” in terms of student-athletes’ well-being. Rich is the best mentor a young coach could ever have. I learned a lot from him in terms of plowing ahead. They are dear friends. Dr. Lee Todd and Dr. Eli Capilouto have both been very supportive. I appreciate the Big Blue Nation and encourage the fans to stay behind their team going forward.
I love our players and am proud to be associated with them. I expect them to continue the behavior we have asked of them academically, socially and with football. I’m thankful for the staff’s hard work, dedication, and what they have done in coaching and mentoring the players. I’d like to thank my wife and family for all their support and for being behind me 100 percent."
"We, as coaches, are measured on results. We didn’t get the results we had worked and hoped for, therefore change is needed. In my current 10-year stay at Kentucky, we’ve had some memorable moments as an assistant, coordinator and head coach. We’ve had the opportunity to coach some fine young men and I am grateful to have had the privilege of watching them grow as players, as students and as people.
I am very appreciative of Mitch Barnhart and Rich Brooks for providing the opportunity to have been the head coach here. Mitch is the best athletic director I’ve ever been associated with. He’s fair and honest and he’s “all in” in terms of student-athletes’ well-being. Rich is the best mentor a young coach could ever have. I learned a lot from him in terms of plowing ahead. They are dear friends. Dr. Lee Todd and Dr. Eli Capilouto have both been very supportive. I appreciate the Big Blue Nation and encourage the fans to stay behind their team going forward.
I love our players and am proud to be associated with them. I expect them to continue the behavior we have asked of them academically, socially and with football. I’m thankful for the staff’s hard work, dedication, and what they have done in coaching and mentoring the players. I’d like to thank my wife and family for all their support and for being behind me 100 percent."
2
Posted on 11/4/12 at 2:52 pm to Heresaucer
quote:
Cutcliff would be a bad move
Cutcliffe as HC would be a bad move. They got blown out at home to Clemson yesterday. He should stay in the ACC as HC.
Posted on 11/4/12 at 2:54 pm to BluegrassBelle
Uh oh. Auburn fricked around with vague letters about 'evaluating the coaching staff at the end of the year' and let UK get the jump on the search. 
Posted on 11/4/12 at 2:55 pm to CatFan81
Yeah I put that in the OP.
I'm glad for the change but I'm sad about it too. I like Joker. I think all of us wanted him to succeed because he's a Kentucky guy to the core. He's going to make someone a great coordinator and maybe at some point down the road he can find a place where he can be a good HC with the experience.
His dream job was UK. I'm a little heartbroken for him about it. Yeah he'll have the money from his contract but I'm sure that only goes so far. I hope he can finish the season at the helm and get a proper send off.
I'm glad for the change but I'm sad about it too. I like Joker. I think all of us wanted him to succeed because he's a Kentucky guy to the core. He's going to make someone a great coordinator and maybe at some point down the road he can find a place where he can be a good HC with the experience.
His dream job was UK. I'm a little heartbroken for him about it. Yeah he'll have the money from his contract but I'm sure that only goes so far. I hope he can finish the season at the helm and get a proper send off.
Posted on 11/4/12 at 2:55 pm to CatFan81
quote:
Statement from Joker Phillips:
Classy. As a UK fan, it's a sad day.
Posted on 11/4/12 at 2:56 pm to cyde
quote:
Auburn fricked around with vague letters about 'evaluating the coaching staff at the end of the year' and let UK get the jump on the search.
The person that should be fired at Auburn is the guy who gave Chizik a multimillion dollar buyout.
Posted on 11/4/12 at 3:02 pm to kywildcatfanone
quote:
The person that should be fired at Auburn is the guy who gave Chizik a multimillion dollar buyout.
But...!
Oh wait, that would be Jacobs. Carry on.
Posted on 11/4/12 at 3:02 pm to BluegrassBelle
quote:
BluegrassBelle
I'm sure a lot would use UK as a stepping stone as soon as they had some success, but I'm sure there are a few that would stay if they had made this into a successful program.
Posted on 11/4/12 at 3:06 pm to BluegrassBelle
quote:
I have to respectfully disagree. You can hire an offensive guy and bring in a serviceable defensive hire.
The issue is two pronged
a) Stop playing in state schools and schedule to raid non SEC footprints
drop UL for IU to get Indy / Chicago exposure
drop WKU for an ACC school
drop FCS school for a non AQ in CUSA / Sun Belt
b) What works for many non SEC schools will not work at UK and Mumme was proof that offense only long term is a bad call. Brooks has some good offense but he also knew to build a respectable defense.
I can agree to disagree but doing what may work in the Big East, Big 12, and PAC is sure suicide in a conference where defense is a vital part of winning. Look at Notre Dame this year as how radical their fortunes have changed switching from offense to defense. I understand and appreciate your view and if this were any other conference I would be in agreement with you. The trick for UK is how to carve out a niche while remaining in the SEC.
To me this is scheduling as much as coaching hires and continuing to give the other state schools exposure will never help UK if they (UL, WKU, et al) let schools in weaker conferences have no win games with UK.
If UK can get to 6 wins in a season with teams that will draw more national exposure it will be a powerful first step in recruiting teenage kids in the age of media influence.
6 win and better exposure strategy
+1 B1G win OOC (via IU / PU / IL)
+1 ACC win OOC (via UVA / Duke / MD / Wake Forest)
+1 non AQ win via Sun Belt, MAC, CUSA
+1 non AQ win via Army, Navy, Air Force
+1 SEC win vs SEC east bottom (Vandy, Vols, Mizzou)
+1 SEC win vs SEC east bottom (Vandy, Vols, Mizzou)
or
+1 SEC win vs SEC west bottom when on schedule
after that it is gravy and you upgrade slowly (10 - 20 years) from that starting point.
Posted on 11/4/12 at 3:08 pm to Heresaucer
quote:
I'm sure a lot would use UK as a stepping stone as soon as they had some success, but I'm sure there are a few that would stay if they had made this into a successful program.
It would have to be wildly successful (SEC Championship successful) and I don't know how capable we are of doing that.
I still say Leach would be perfect. I think he'd stay at UK given this point in his career. He's a name, the offense would be fun to watch, and UK if they're willing to do it could bring in somebody decent as a DC.
What Barnhart is going to have to accept is that whomever he hires may have some baggage. It's inevitable.
Posted on 11/4/12 at 3:09 pm to Cheese Grits
quote:
Cheese Grits
You could've saved yourself all of that if you had read the second part of pretty much every Leach post I've had. The bit about hiring a serviceable defensive coordinator.
Posted on 11/4/12 at 3:12 pm to BluegrassBelle
Happy for you Belle. I know you've been wanting this for a while. 
Posted on 11/4/12 at 3:17 pm to Henry Jones Jr
Posted on 11/4/12 at 3:19 pm to BluegrassBelle
quote:
You could've saved yourself all of that if you had read the second part of pretty much every Leach post I've had. The bit about hiring a serviceable defensive coordinator.
I have read what you have posted but Leach has shown he will not do what you desire so the point is moot! Look I liked Leach and hung out with him when he was at UK. On a personal level I love the guy and think he at least has an aura that makes others want to tune in. I am willing to bet UK and TT folks tune in and watch WSU games because he is there. The problem is when you care so little about defense it is exposed in a defensive conference like the SEC. leach can work in the Big 12 and PAC where few if any opponents play defense.
I would love Chavis or Smart at UK but that will not happen. The question is who is out there who plays defense well enough in CFB or the NFL and can become the Lou Holtz of Kentucky (the old guy that gets you to the next level) and achieve a long term goal.
Posted on 11/4/12 at 3:22 pm to Cheese Grits
quote:
I have read what you have posted but Leach has shown he will not do what you desire so the point is moot!
Force his hand. It's that simple.
quote:
The question is who is out there who plays defense well enough in CFB or the NFL and can become the Lou Holtz of Kentucky (the old guy that gets you to the next level) and achieve a long term goal.
And it would have to be as good or better then anyone else in the SEC in order to bring in recruits. Not happening.
Posted on 11/4/12 at 3:25 pm to BluegrassBelle
Either way, I'm glad to see the hiring is being handled internally and not buy some shitty head hunting deal like we had under Gillispie. I would like to see him get some former UK guys involved like Brooks, Dawson, etc.
Posted on 11/4/12 at 3:35 pm to BluegrassBelle
I just don't want to have to google the new coach's name to find out who the frick he is. No west coast guys. Somebody who can recruit in the South.
This post was edited on 11/4/12 at 3:36 pm
Posted on 11/4/12 at 3:36 pm to RollTide1987
[quote]Who didn't see this coming? You don't lose 40-0 to Vanderbilt and survive.
[/quote]
The NAACP, probably
[/quote]
The NAACP, probably
Posted on 11/4/12 at 3:38 pm to BluegrassBelle
Alright. So names I've seen across various boards/Twitter/etc (these are in NO particular order and a couple were just thrown out as outside options like McDaniels):
David Cutcliffe - Duke
Sonny Dykes - La Tech
Bud Foster - DC at Virginia Tech
Bobby Petrino - Former Arky HC
Tommy Tuberville - Texas Tech
Butch Jones - Cincy
Phil Fulmer - Former Tennessee HC
Dirk Koetter - Former Arizona State, Current Falcons OC
Josh McDaniels - OC with Patriots
Ron Zook - Former Illinois and Florida HC
David Cutcliffe - Duke
Sonny Dykes - La Tech
Bud Foster - DC at Virginia Tech
Bobby Petrino - Former Arky HC
Tommy Tuberville - Texas Tech
Butch Jones - Cincy
Phil Fulmer - Former Tennessee HC
Dirk Koetter - Former Arizona State, Current Falcons OC
Josh McDaniels - OC with Patriots
Ron Zook - Former Illinois and Florida HC
This post was edited on 11/4/12 at 3:42 pm
Posted on 11/4/12 at 3:41 pm to BluegrassBelle
It would be more than awesome to get Fulmer and beat the Vols with him.
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