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I think Joker will be back....
Posted on 10/21/12 at 7:03 am
Posted on 10/21/12 at 7:03 am
Close game with Georgia last night begins to build momentum to the end of the season. I think they will lose a competitive game with Missouri next week, have a similar effort against Vanderbilt. Decent win over Samford, and a competitive loss to Tennessee.
Couple that with the injuries and youth and I think ultimately Joker will be back for one more season at least. 2-10 is awful, but with the injuries, it's not all that surprising, coupled with a difficult schedule. Thoughts?
Couple that with the injuries and youth and I think ultimately Joker will be back for one more season at least. 2-10 is awful, but with the injuries, it's not all that surprising, coupled with a difficult schedule. Thoughts?
This post was edited on 10/21/12 at 7:05 am
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Posted on 10/21/12 at 7:55 am to kywildcatfanone
I will say this...Mitch has been a tad touchy around UKAA...he is feeling the heat and he knows that the base is not happy. They are feeling it in the pocketbook (loss of revenue due to poor attendance) and the donors are with holding any funds for the football program until change is made.
Hell, even Mitch was on KSR with Matt Jones prior to the season and said Joker had to show major signs of improvement.
What will happen is, a major booster/boosters will round up the cash to buy out the contract....Joker will be asked to resigned quietly with a nice parting gift...and Mitch goes after a new coach.
Look for a current NFL coordinator or Sonny Dykes to be candidates. What worries me, is Mitch relationship with Cuttcliff and he would be considered for the job.
Hell, even Mitch was on KSR with Matt Jones prior to the season and said Joker had to show major signs of improvement.
What will happen is, a major booster/boosters will round up the cash to buy out the contract....Joker will be asked to resigned quietly with a nice parting gift...and Mitch goes after a new coach.
Look for a current NFL coordinator or Sonny Dykes to be candidates. What worries me, is Mitch relationship with Cuttcliff and he would be considered for the job.
Posted on 10/21/12 at 8:20 am to WildcatMike
Good post. I don't want Dykes though, I think he's another Hal Mumme and that type of play doesn't win in the SEC. I want a defensive minded coach with a strong offensive coordinator to bring Towles along. Defense first wins in the SEC, look at Bama and LSU.
Posted on 10/21/12 at 8:37 am to kywildcatfanone
Then Kirby Smart is your man. Unfortunately, I think he stays at Bama and wait out for the gig in Athens, GA.
Posted on 10/21/12 at 11:29 am to kywildcatfanone
You can't keep a 2 win coach who hasn't won a bowl game in his entire tenure as HC. If you think attendance is bad now, just wait and see what it's like if you keep Joker. Our fans will put up with a lot but they won't put up with that. And at the end of the day, football pays the bills for all those Olympic sports Barnhart loves so much.
As far as where we go, I think you go with Dykes. You're not going to get Kirby IMO and you have to find a niche that sets you apart from other SEC teams. If you can hitch on a serviceable defensive coordinator to Dykes you'll be alright. Unfortunately I don't know if Barnhart would be willing to let him bring Tony Franklin along.
As far as where we go, I think you go with Dykes. You're not going to get Kirby IMO and you have to find a niche that sets you apart from other SEC teams. If you can hitch on a serviceable defensive coordinator to Dykes you'll be alright. Unfortunately I don't know if Barnhart would be willing to let him bring Tony Franklin along.
This post was edited on 10/21/12 at 11:30 am
Posted on 10/21/12 at 12:35 pm to BluegrassBelle
Hell NO, Franklin burned his bridges with the book and the lawsuit against UKAA. Dykes will have to come with a new OC, I think the current OC at Texas Tech has some connection with Dyke's and UK...could be a nice package.
Posted on 10/21/12 at 12:44 pm to WildcatMike
I still say our first need is for a DEFENSIVE minded coach. That is our biggest issue for next year. With Towles/Smith/Whitlow at QB, Robinson/Sweat/Collins back a WR, George/Sander at RB, the offense is in good shape, even the offensive line with underclassmen playing.
I think a defensive head coach and a solid offensive coordinator make the kind sudden improvement as you have seen at Vandy with Franklin. Our defense is young too, but I don't really trust Minter to be the guy.
With that said, I still think Joker will be back unless we get blow out of our remaining SEC games.
I think a defensive head coach and a solid offensive coordinator make the kind sudden improvement as you have seen at Vandy with Franklin. Our defense is young too, but I don't really trust Minter to be the guy.
With that said, I still think Joker will be back unless we get blow out of our remaining SEC games.
This post was edited on 10/21/12 at 12:45 pm
Posted on 10/21/12 at 12:49 pm to kywildcatfanone
I nominate Mike Zimmer. 
Posted on 10/21/12 at 1:03 pm to Bho
DC for the Bengals? You know when he took over DC for Cincinnati I would have agreed with you, that defense got better immediately. They competed well in the hardest division in the NFL. However, they seem to have slid back to average the last couple of years and haven't really maintained the intensity as well, in my opinion. Having not been a Head coach in college or the pros would be an issue. We have that now and look where we are. 
Posted on 10/21/12 at 2:37 pm to WildcatMike
quote:
Hell NO, Franklin burned his bridges with the book and the lawsuit against UKAA. Dykes will have to come with a new OC, I think the current OC at Texas Tech has some connection with Dyke's and UK...could be a nice package.
Then we're not getting Dykes IMO. From what I've heard he wants to keep his offensive staff intact.
Posted on 10/21/12 at 6:03 pm to kywildcatfanone
quote:
However, they seem to have slid back to average the last couple of years and haven't really maintained the intensity as well, in my opinion.
Last year they were actually good. Their pass rush this year has been VERY good. They have had some secondary injuries that have hurt them.
quote:
Having not been a Head coach in college or the pros would be an issue. We have that now and look where we are.
You have to get a start somewhere. His name has been mentioned with HC positions in the NFL for a couple of years. I don't know that he would be a good fit or even consider a college job. I just threw out a name that no one has mentioned.
Posted on 10/21/12 at 6:31 pm to Bho
quote:
You have to get a start somewhere. His name has been mentioned with HC positions in the NFL for a couple of years. I don't know that he would be a good fit or even consider a college job. I just threw out a name that no one has mentioned.
No question I would think it's an upgrade over what we have today. Bring Jay Gruden with him as OC, and I'm in!
Posted on 10/21/12 at 6:46 pm to kywildcatfanone
quote:
Bring Jay Gruden with him as OC, and I'm in!
I wish, but if Jay leaves it will be for a HC job or to be his bro's OC.
Posted on 10/21/12 at 6:56 pm to Bho
quote:
I wish, but if Jay leaves it will be for a HC job or to be his bro's OC.
So, Tennessee then...
Posted on 10/31/12 at 8:57 am to kywildcatfanone
From a monetary standpoint, with attendance down I'm sure Barnhart is feeling the pressures to get rid of Joker. I think it would be difficult to get rid of him though. Barnhart said changes need to be made, and they made changes to the offense and lost Maxwell Smith, who their entire "new" offense was built around. Not to mention all the injuries that has completely decimated this team, especially on defense; but I believe that all these freshman getting playing time is going to greatly benefit this team in the next couple of years. My fiancee's mother was showing a house to the parents of a player coming to UK next year, and said that these parents were very enthused and excited about how this team was going to be prepared for the years to come. I feel like if Joker at least wins 2 of 3 to end the year they need to keep him, especially if they win all 3 (because who would be the last coach to beat Tennessee two years in a row?) Even though like you said, 2-10 is awful, but with the potential of these young guys shown against South Carolina and Georgia this year I think this team really is going to be on the upswing, and I don't feel like they should let Joker go on the preface of just the record because this team has just had a really big run of bad luck. Give him at least another year.
Posted on 10/31/12 at 9:18 am to BornBlue22088
I agree with what you are saying. There is still a part of me that thinks Joker will be retained. I really don't know if the attendance is a deciding factor or not, there is so much revenue from TV that is not affected by attendance numbers.
If Joker is fired, to me it will be because of revenue affected by attendance numbers, not the play on the field.
The injuries have been bad, but those are no excuse. And I agree they youth seem on the uptick and hopefully will pay dividend in the years to come.
However, I think Joker has completely lost the fan base. Having a good game against Georgia followed by another crushing uncompetitive performance against a weak Missouri team only hurts his cause. Losing to Vandy and Tennessee won't help.
Barhhart has been ultra quiet, so I think that means he is looking for a reason for retention. I'm not sure what is the right thing to do quite honestly. I can see the young players have ability and think Joker should be afforded the opportunity to lead them. Then I see the obviously poor game decision making in the Mizzou game and go, "Ugh, we need a change".
I think it's a toss up right now.
If Joker is fired, to me it will be because of revenue affected by attendance numbers, not the play on the field.
The injuries have been bad, but those are no excuse. And I agree they youth seem on the uptick and hopefully will pay dividend in the years to come.
However, I think Joker has completely lost the fan base. Having a good game against Georgia followed by another crushing uncompetitive performance against a weak Missouri team only hurts his cause. Losing to Vandy and Tennessee won't help.
Barhhart has been ultra quiet, so I think that means he is looking for a reason for retention. I'm not sure what is the right thing to do quite honestly. I can see the young players have ability and think Joker should be afforded the opportunity to lead them. Then I see the obviously poor game decision making in the Mizzou game and go, "Ugh, we need a change".
I think it's a toss up right now.
Posted on 10/31/12 at 3:06 pm to kywildcatfanone
no way...the lack of season ticket sales escalating even furter = loss of revenue for school. Mitch has to tell Joker bye-bye. No hard feelings, but he was just not a good "head coach".
Posted on 10/31/12 at 4:19 pm to Blaquebuete
Three straight losing seasons
2010 6-7
2011 5-7
2012 1-8 so far
Every season he has been here has been worse than the one before and this wasn't a rebuilding job he walked into. He recruited these players. He has to go.
2010 6-7
2011 5-7
2012 1-8 so far
Every season he has been here has been worse than the one before and this wasn't a rebuilding job he walked into. He recruited these players. He has to go.
Posted on 11/1/12 at 8:48 am to kywildcatfanone
I agree. I think that the fan base as a majority is tired of this, and that if he happens to lose any of the remaining games that he will probably be gone. I just hope that if he is let go that they do it peacefully and not have a nasty firing. If they had been more competitive against Mizzou it definitely would have helped his case, but losing to them the way they did (and how Mizzou has struggled this year beforehand) if he does come back there will be a lot of people that just won't go to games until there's a different man at the helm. I think also that finding a good coach to replace him is going to be hard work. We are a state that isn't a traditional football power for high school, and one of the big keystones to recruiting in football is keeping the in state talent (that we don't have a great resource of) and be able to make a few splashes out of state. The problem with that at UK is that since we are a traditional basketball power, it's difficult to recruit out of state without the right money to do so. I think they are too concerned with maintaining the prestige of the basketball team to field an overly competitive football team in by far the toughest football conference in the country; because of this, I think it will be difficult to find a good coach that can swallow his pride well enough to coach a football team that will always play second fiddle to the basketball team. I'm not sure if this is true or not, but I've heard from several people that UK spends more money on Midnight Madness than the recruiting budget per year for the football team. If that is the case, whoever else they might find to replace Joker is going to have a really tough job.
Posted on 11/1/12 at 7:10 pm to BornBlue22088
It will all be over in a few short weeks.. December will bring a coaching search and we can all be excited for the future.
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