10-24-2012, 07:31 PM
First, I want to say I have rooted for Joker since Day 1. I am realistic and see the writing on the wall that he is done, or should be. He is like Jimmy Carter, who was a good man, but not a good President; Joker is a good man, just not the right coach for UK at this time. He is someone you would want as your dad, in-law, brother: But things just arenât working out. I hope Iâm wrong and UK wins the rest of their games; but even that may be too little too late now. Second, be realistic. Dungy, Parcells, Jon Gruden, Cowher, or Saban isnât coming to UK. As a life-long UK football fan, I see these as the best choices for UK and could realistically come here.
Tier 1 in no particular order.
Chris Hatcher, Murray St. HC. Young (39), probably bring some form of the Air Raid brand of football that UK fans like. Say what you want for the Air Raid, but stands were packed and teams were competitive for the most part. Hatcher wonât be overwhelmed like Mumme, heâs seen it first hand and I think will have control.
Brent Peace, Offensive Coordinator at Florida. Many of the same qualities as Hatcher. Heâs 47. At Florida now, so can obviously coach.
Willie Taggert, WKU HC. Young, 36, has done one heck of a job at Western. Was at Stanford and has NFL connections, especially with the Harbaughs.
Bill OâBrien, Penn St. HC. Heâs 43, the wild card of the group. Did he know what he would be dealing with when he came to Penn St.? I think this is the worst situation in the history of sports and this team is done for a generation no matter who the coach is. How can they recruit? Ohio St. can say yes, players got free tattoos, USC we gave Bush a car and apartment, Miami has partied on all kinds of levels, even SMU, yes, they gave Eric Dickerson a Trans Am and a house. Who are the victims in these cases? None. Penn St. is totally different. Heâs got NFL connections; maybe we can get Tom Brady to a game. Could give us an edge to recruiting Pennsylvania and the North, most people think it is easier to recruit kids to come South than North. Pennsylvania traditionally has lots of football talent, wouldnât have to try and get so many players out of Florida. Obviously the guy can coach and he can handle adversity. He may want out at PSU, I know I would. He can come here and do well and weâll name a street after him.
Jay Gruden, Offensive Coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals. 45. Done a great job with the Bengals, NFL experience a plus, yes he Jonâs brother. Was a Tampa Bay Bucs assistant for 7 years including the 2002 Super Bowl champs. Was a Head Coach and GM in the UFL and a Head Coach in the Arena League; much the same as Steve Spurrier and the USFL. Was a QB at UL. The next Spurrier???
Tier 2.
Mike Leach, HC, Washington St. Would be a good fit probably, I think he got a raw deal at Texas Tech. Probably not leaving WSU after 1 year.
David Cutcliff, HC, Duke. Do we really want someone with Duke and Tennessee ties? Can he win without a Manning at QB? Ole Miss didnât think so.
Bobby Petrino, Unemployed. Yes, he can coach, but has more baggage than Delta. He may wind up at UK and be a good one. Has he learned his lesson? Or will there always be rumors and secret meetings with bigger name programs or the NFL? Winning does cure a lot, and he can, or has done that. Heâs Bill Clinton to Jokerâs Jimmy Carter: good coach, but you donât want him as your dad, in-law, or brother.
Gus Malzahn, HC, Arkansas St. Can he win without Cam? Has a few issues, nothing major in past. Credited with creating the Wildcat with Darren McFadden. I think he is probably the next coach at Arkansas, so probably doesnât matter.
Sonny Dykes, HC, Louisiana Tech. Some people think this is the guy, but I think the ones in Tier 1 are better than him. Worked with Mike Leach and was a UK assistant. No NFL ties Iâm aware of, which is a liability in the SEC.
Tier No way.
Jim Tressel, Unemployed Look at his track record of problems, plus have to have a show cause to hire? Not a good idea.
Skip Holtz, HC, South Florida. Other than having a good name, what has he done? Be entertaining to hear Lou talk about it, but that would be the best thing to come from it.
When I started this, I thought Taggert, Hatcher or Peace would be the best answer. Now, I really think that Jay Gruden would be the best. Could recruit the North well, and heâs had every job there is in football. OâBrien would also be great if he would leave, and he should. Any of Tier 1 I think would be great.
Thoughts?
Tier 1 in no particular order.
Chris Hatcher, Murray St. HC. Young (39), probably bring some form of the Air Raid brand of football that UK fans like. Say what you want for the Air Raid, but stands were packed and teams were competitive for the most part. Hatcher wonât be overwhelmed like Mumme, heâs seen it first hand and I think will have control.
Brent Peace, Offensive Coordinator at Florida. Many of the same qualities as Hatcher. Heâs 47. At Florida now, so can obviously coach.
Willie Taggert, WKU HC. Young, 36, has done one heck of a job at Western. Was at Stanford and has NFL connections, especially with the Harbaughs.
Bill OâBrien, Penn St. HC. Heâs 43, the wild card of the group. Did he know what he would be dealing with when he came to Penn St.? I think this is the worst situation in the history of sports and this team is done for a generation no matter who the coach is. How can they recruit? Ohio St. can say yes, players got free tattoos, USC we gave Bush a car and apartment, Miami has partied on all kinds of levels, even SMU, yes, they gave Eric Dickerson a Trans Am and a house. Who are the victims in these cases? None. Penn St. is totally different. Heâs got NFL connections; maybe we can get Tom Brady to a game. Could give us an edge to recruiting Pennsylvania and the North, most people think it is easier to recruit kids to come South than North. Pennsylvania traditionally has lots of football talent, wouldnât have to try and get so many players out of Florida. Obviously the guy can coach and he can handle adversity. He may want out at PSU, I know I would. He can come here and do well and weâll name a street after him.
Jay Gruden, Offensive Coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals. 45. Done a great job with the Bengals, NFL experience a plus, yes he Jonâs brother. Was a Tampa Bay Bucs assistant for 7 years including the 2002 Super Bowl champs. Was a Head Coach and GM in the UFL and a Head Coach in the Arena League; much the same as Steve Spurrier and the USFL. Was a QB at UL. The next Spurrier???
Tier 2.
Mike Leach, HC, Washington St. Would be a good fit probably, I think he got a raw deal at Texas Tech. Probably not leaving WSU after 1 year.
David Cutcliff, HC, Duke. Do we really want someone with Duke and Tennessee ties? Can he win without a Manning at QB? Ole Miss didnât think so.
Bobby Petrino, Unemployed. Yes, he can coach, but has more baggage than Delta. He may wind up at UK and be a good one. Has he learned his lesson? Or will there always be rumors and secret meetings with bigger name programs or the NFL? Winning does cure a lot, and he can, or has done that. Heâs Bill Clinton to Jokerâs Jimmy Carter: good coach, but you donât want him as your dad, in-law, or brother.
Gus Malzahn, HC, Arkansas St. Can he win without Cam? Has a few issues, nothing major in past. Credited with creating the Wildcat with Darren McFadden. I think he is probably the next coach at Arkansas, so probably doesnât matter.
Sonny Dykes, HC, Louisiana Tech. Some people think this is the guy, but I think the ones in Tier 1 are better than him. Worked with Mike Leach and was a UK assistant. No NFL ties Iâm aware of, which is a liability in the SEC.
Tier No way.
Jim Tressel, Unemployed Look at his track record of problems, plus have to have a show cause to hire? Not a good idea.
Skip Holtz, HC, South Florida. Other than having a good name, what has he done? Be entertaining to hear Lou talk about it, but that would be the best thing to come from it.
When I started this, I thought Taggert, Hatcher or Peace would be the best answer. Now, I really think that Jay Gruden would be the best. Could recruit the North well, and heâs had every job there is in football. OâBrien would also be great if he would leave, and he should. Any of Tier 1 I think would be great.
Thoughts?