[BigBlueBobcatFan]

Just seen a report on Facebook by the uk2k page and the FireJokerPhillips page that rumors are circulating that Kentucky has, I guess you could say inquired about two possible choices as new head football coach 1. David Cuttcliff and 2. Tommy Tubberville

[LWC]

Cutcliff is more possible than Tuberville. If UK gets a hot up-and-comer or an established good coach, there will have to be promises of better facilities. I just do not know if UK can afford them with the Rupp renovations.

My guess is that Joker is held onto for another year or two until the facilities can be upgraded, or simply for a "let's give an alumnus another year because of all the injuries and the youth of the team." It worked with Brooks, I hope it can work with Joker.

[outdoorsman43]

Cutcliff is more possible than Tuberville. If UK gets a hot up-and-comer or an established good coach, there will have to be promises of better facilities. I just do not know if UK can afford them with the Rupp renovations.

My guess is that Joker is held onto for another year or two until the facilities can be upgraded, or simply for a "let's give an alumnus another year because of all the injuries and the youth of the team." It worked with Brooks, I hope it can work with Joker.

No way can Mitch keep Joker another year. The Mizzou game was the final straw. If Joker was going to have a shot of coming back, there was no scenario that he could have taken another step back this weekend. Well, turns out he took yet another giant step back.

I understand Joker has had a lot of things go wrong and a lot of bad luck cloud over him, but it's not about any of that. It's not about injuries and other unfortunate events. It's about extremely poor substitution choices (what was he thinking with subbing in Towles on that third series of the Missouri game after Whitlow was just getting in rhythm?). It's about not having a real plan going into a game (there have been so many instances of this throughout this long, dreadful season). It's about losing to Western (I understand they are a good team this year, a better team than Kentucky, and I find that highly unacceptable). It's about already having an embarrassing 15-point spread against you last weekend against the new punk in the SEC that hasn't won an SEC game all year without a healthy starting quarterback, and not even being able to cover that spread while getting blown out by 23 points. It's about getting beat by a Vanderbilt team 38-8 last season, and coming in as a 9-point underdog at home against them this year (Vandy is a better team this year and we are worse this year: could be a really ugly scene this Saturday).

Give me one legitimate reason that Joker should be given another season. Injuries and other unfortunate events are all part of it. That is no excuse. I hate to say all of this because I really like Joker as an individual. He is a homegrown kid that played for the Blue and White, coached here for years as a coordinator, and has led us for now, the third year. Phillips seems like a very likeable, honorable, and respectful man. He loves this program more than anyone and I do wish things could have gone better.

I will be in attendance for the game Saturday against Vanderbilt and I will cheer on my team and my coach. I will never boo the man. I wish for nothing but good luck upon him.

Joker Phillips will find a job somewhere else as a coordinator or something to that nature after he is let go. I just feel the time for change for this program is now.

[HawksRule]

I could only dream that they fire Joker

[OffTheHook]

If they keep Joker. They won't need a facility next season. Cause it will be EMPTY !!!!!

[Strikeout King]

Joker announced today that Towles will play 3rd series against Vandy

[honestjchsfan]

If Joker was a head coach for 20 years I still don't think he would ever be successful. He lacks the "feel" for the game that comes natural to good coachs. Last week was a perfect example. What coach with a good "feel" for the game would decide to punt again rather than taking a net punt of 49 yards in a 10 to 10 ballgame?? His play is down right funny at times, for example in Pat Twoles first game he goes 7 for 7 and leads UK in for a TD, when UK gets the ball back they run 3 times then punt, a coach with a good "feel" for play calling isn't always trying to fool the defense. Sometimes you Pass when they know you are going to Pass! Joker has never had that "feel" or whatever you call it. When he was OC for Brooks I don't remember the exact score but UK was playing a highly ranked Bama team and with less than one min. too go before half time Joker is throwing the ball and Bama gets a INT and scores that one play totally changed the game. I could list game after game from the SC game when Cobb took UK down the field to score to make it 28 to 26 and Joker takes the ball out of Cobbs hands and puts it in the Back-Up Qb's for the 2 point play and after the game "The Old Ball" Coach is say's "I don't think we could have stopped #18, or when UK hadn't beat UT in a coons age and Joker decides he going to let a true Freshmen win the game in OT or how about the fake punt in the Bowl game. It's like ground hog day , the samething over and over and over. I really think Rich Brooks would have won more games at UK if not for Joker. I honestly think with a Smart head coach this years UK team would have already won 3 or 4 games. They have talent and 2 QB's that I think could start for any program in the SEC. If Joker is back next year I think I will watch Army football instead.

[RunItUpTheGut]

Petrino!

Only possible choice out there that could get us on track...

[PaintsvilleTigerfan]

Petrino!

Only possible choice out there that could get us on track...

Until he leaves after a year for more money and greener pastures

[NothingTrivial]

Hell greener pastures and more money is gonna be there this year...I dont see any situation where he ends up at UK....besides the dreams of UK fans.

[judgementday]

I would prefer Tubberville over Cuttcliffe but neither one would come here.........Tubberville is at a school known for football and Cuttcliffe has been rumored to be a candidate for Tennessee.

[outdoorsman43]

Petrino!

Only possible choice out there that could get us on track...

I do not trust Petrino. Also, I doubt Barnhart would want to get into something that risky and I wouldn't blame him.

Who Mitch and Kentucky will look at: David Cutcliffe, Phillip Fulmer, Sonny Dykes, and a few more.

Wishful Thinking: Rex Ryan, Jon Gruden, and Chris Peterson.

Who I really, really hope Kentucky doesn't get:

- Houston Nutt: Please Mitch, please. Please. Do not even think about this one. Keeping Joker would be a better decision.

- Phillip Fulmer/Tommy Tubberville: These guys are too old school and would not excite the fan base. I think these guys also would have a hard time being liked around these parts. I could be wrong, but I just don't think either would be a good fit.

Tubberville probably won't come, but I just hope they don't call him. Fulmer will come in a heart beat. He will call us first. But I just hope it doesn't happen, although it is just as likely as anything.

- Bobby Petrino: There a lot of Petrino supporters out there and this hire would please a lot of people. I just don't like the idea. I don't know how committed he would be, or how trustworthy he would be, or how respectful he would be. The man can win football games and recruit great talent, but just don't like it.



Rex Ryan is highly unlikely, but there a teeny bit of hope. His dad lives in Shelby County and he coached in Kentucky for years with EKU and Morehead State. His firing from the Jets head coaching position at the end of the season is becoming more probable by the week.

I would love to see Ryan at UK. He would excite the fan base immediately and put a little attitude on the sidelines, which I think we have never had. It is a longshot but hey, crazier things have happened.

I like the idea of Sonny Dykes in Lexington. He's younger, fiery, and offensive minded. Dykes is a realistic option and I would be satisfied if that were to become a reality.

[LWC]

No way can Mitch keep Joker another year. The Mizzou game was the final straw. If Joker was going to have a shot of coming back, there was no scenario that he could have taken another step back this weekend. Well, turns out he took yet another giant step back.

I understand Joker has had a lot of things go wrong and a lot of bad luck cloud over him, but it's not about any of that. It's not about injuries and other unfortunate events. It's about extremely poor substitution choices (what was he thinking with subbing in Towles on that third series of the Missouri game after Whitlow was just getting in rhythm?). It's about not having a real plan going into a game (there have been so many instances of this throughout this long, dreadful season). It's about losing to Western (I understand they are a good team this year, a better team than Kentucky, and I find that highly unacceptable). It's about already having an embarrassing 15-point spread against you last weekend against the new punk in the SEC that hasn't won an SEC game all year without a healthy starting quarterback, and not even being able to cover that spread while getting blown out by 23 points. It's about getting beat by a Vanderbilt team 38-8 last season, and coming in as a 9-point underdog at home against them this year (Vandy is a better team this year and we are worse this year: could be a really ugly scene this Saturday).

Give me one legitimate reason that Joker should be given another season. Injuries and other unfortunate events are all part of it. That is no excuse. I hate to say all of this because I really like Joker as an individual. He is a homegrown kid that played for the Blue and White, coached here for years as a coordinator, and has led us for now, the third year. Phillips seems like a very likeable, honorable, and respectful man. He loves this program more than anyone and I do wish things could have gone better.

I will be in attendance for the game Saturday against Vanderbilt and I will cheer on my team and my coach. I will never boo the man. I wish for nothing but good luck upon him.

Joker Phillips will find a job somewhere else as a coordinator or something to that nature after he is let go. I just feel the time for change for this program is now.

What reasons were there for giving Rich Brooks more time? Again, I am not saying that Joker is good, all I am saying is that if he stayed I would not be surprised. There was absolutely no reason to give Rich Brooks more time. Remember that Guy Morris had a 7 win season and one of those games was the famous LSU comeback, so he should have had ANOTHER win. Rich Brooks takes that team and wins 4, 2, and 3 games in his first three years. Who honestly said they wanted him to stay?

In fairness, Rich Brooks had a history to support him of good coaching, Joker doesn't have that luxury, however he is an alumnus.

I say keep him, UNLESS, you can strike gold with a knockout hire.

[NothingTrivial]

What reasons were there for giving Rich Brooks more time? Again, I am not saying that Joker is good, all I am saying is that if he stayed I would not be surprised. There was absolutely no reason to give Rich Brooks more time.

In January 2002 kentucky was hit with their penalties for the violations of Hal Mumme. for the 02, 03, 04 recruiting classes which correlates to the 03, 04, 05 freshman classes UK had 16, 18, 22 scholarships instead of the 25...so he was in the midst or trying to dig the team out of recruiting violations and had his scholarships reduced. He took over a team that was headed down hill and brought them out of it. Joker took over a team on the upswing and with his lack of gameplans and poor personnel decisions has changed the overall direction and mindset of the program Brooks turned around.

[cougarpride08]

Brooks turned the program around with diamonds in the rough players. Let us forget that Randall Cobb was a 2star recruit. Turned out alright for Brooks and UK!

[outdoorsman43]

What reasons were there for giving Rich Brooks more time? Again, I am not saying that Joker is good, all I am saying is that if he stayed I would not be surprised. There was absolutely no reason to give Rich Brooks more time. Remember that Guy Morris had a 7 win season and one of those games was the famous LSU comeback, so he should have had ANOTHER win. Rich Brooks takes that team and wins 4, 2, and 3 games in his first three years. Who honestly said they wanted him to stay?

In fairness, Rich Brooks had a history to support him of good coaching, Joker doesn't have that luxury, however he is an alumnus.

I say keep him, UNLESS, you can strike gold with a knockout hire.

Well, I didn't say I was in favor of keeping Rich Brooks after his third season. It just turned out that Kentucky did decide to keep him. I didn't say I wanted that. They did keep him probably based upon his successful coaching history, just as you said. It turned out for the better, obviously. And you're right. Joker doesn't have that successful coaching history to fall back on unfortunately.

Let me just ask this question: Is there really a scenario where there will be anything better than a mere slight improvement next season? Before you even think about saying yes, think about our even tougher schedule next year (Alabama, at South Carolina, Florida, at Georgia, Louisville, etc.). It would be an even more miserable year next season if Joker were to be on the sidelines. People throughout the Bluegrass will have turned on Joker even more. Commonwealth would be even emptier than it has been this year. The people that did show up would be booing the players, coaches, and a man that loves this University and this state. Why would we want Joker, a Kentucky man, to have to go through that? This year, despite all the negatives, fans for the most part have been more sad than mad. Why? They want Joker to succeed. That will change if no change is made.

Also, how will we know if we can get a "knockout hire" if Joker hasn't been dismissed? I doubt Mitch will talk to anyone unless he is certain Phillips will be let go and announcement has been made.

[honestjchsfan]

What reasons were there for giving Rich Brooks more time? Again, I am not saying that Joker is good, all I am saying is that if he stayed I would not be surprised. There was absolutely no reason to give Rich Brooks more time. Remember that Guy Morris had a 7 win season and one of those games was the famous LSU comeback, so he should have had ANOTHER win. Rich Brooks takes that team and wins 4, 2, and 3 games in his first three years. Who honestly said they wanted him to stay?

In fairness, Rich Brooks had a history to support him of good coaching, Joker doesn't have that luxury, however he is an alumnus.

I say keep him, UNLESS, you can strike gold with a knockout hire.

Brooks had 17 years as a head coach under his belt and was even a head coach in the NFL, plus he was dealing with NCAA probation. Joker on the other was handed the keys to a program that had won 4 bowl games in a row and had beat every team in the SEC west with the exception of Bama plus one of the nations longest non conference winning streaks with wins over Clemson and FSU. IMO everybody connected to the hiring the Joker should be fired. SEC in not a place for on the job training. As I stated in the post before, JOKER has no feel for being a college football coach. Rich Brooks lost starting QB's and played young teams but he never used that as a excuse! I remember when he used Freshmen QB and went down to Auburn and beat a Tiger team at there place for the first time over 40 years. JOKER can't coach plain and simple! Anyone that think Joker is a better coach than Houston Nutt momma had to on CRACK when theyy were in the womb! I would take NUTT over JOKER any day of the week and twice on SUNDAY! Nutt won the SEC west 2 times and his first 2 years at OLE Miss they were 9-4!! Joker has the same chance to go 9-4 as I do to hit the lottery everyday for a week! Jim Matney is a better football coach than JOKER!

[BlackcatAlum]

Future renovations to Rupp arena will not cost the university of Kentucky a dime. The city if Lexington & private donors are funding that.

Mitch already said that money isn't an issue with coaching football at UK. He says that renovations toward the football program will have to be approved by Frankfort. He doesn't think that the program will be able get the necessary funding from Frankfort to build a new recruiting center, etc. to compete with most other SEC football programs.

I think that Cutcliffe or Tuberville would be great hires. They wouldn't have too much pressure on them to be a top team in the conference, but the fans do expect to be competitive and at least win 7 or 8 games to make a bowl.

Expectations for the football program are reasonable and not unrealistic. If you think UK will ever compete for a SEC championship then you're kidding yourself.

[outdoorsman43]

Future renovations to Rupp arena will not cost the university of Kentucky a dime. The city if Lexington & private donors are funding that.

Mitch already said that money isn't an issue with coaching football at UK. He says that renovations toward the football program will have to be approved by Frankfort. He doesn't think that the program will be able get the necessary funding from Frankfort to build a new recruiting center, etc. to compete with most other SEC football programs.

I think that Cutcliffe or Tuberville would be great hires. They wouldn't have too much pressure on them to be a top team in the conference, but the fans do expect to be competitive and at least win 7 or 8 games to make a bowl.

Expectations for the football program are reasonable and not unrealistic. If you think UK will ever compete for a SEC championship then you're kidding yourself.

What do you think about Sonny Dykes?

[T-CATS]

Call Peterson 1st let him turn you down. Give Notre Dames D.C. a look and Oregons O.C. a call too.

[Blue fan]

Call Rex

[RunItUpTheGut]

Petrino!

[WALL2WALL]

Whoever they hire will be better than Joker, he has to go.

[Tica]

I find Joker's public comments - even making fun of his record and UK's situation - to be oddly out of place. UK will save > $2 million by keeping him for another year. And they will still make in excess of $20 million profit off football w/SEC TV revenue. In a program notorious for punching pennies (buying the players fast food sack lunches on the road) the dollars may win out. He says he and Mitch have not even talked about his future. That should tell you something.

[outdoorsman43]

He says he and Mitch have not even talked about his future. That should tell you something.

I find that having nothing to do with the possibility of him being let go. There are four weeks (three games left to play) before Kentucky's season is over. Mitch probably hasn't mentioned it, but in his mind, I really believe he knows this is Joker's end. Even if he and Joker had talked about it, do you think Joker would have volunteered that information? I don't think so.

[Aslan]

Let's give the sweater vest all our money and just be done with it.

[outdoorsman43]

Let's give the sweater vest all our money and just be done with it.

I'm down with that.

[vundy33]

Absolutely ZERO chance Petrino gets even a look from UK. He's already burned those bridges.

[upikefanfaithful]

I don't care who we get! I just want new coaches!!!

[E's Army]

I don't care if Joker graduated from Gotham Tech he can not handle the job. Patience was warranted with Brooks. He was brought in during a bleak time period. Joker was brought in after Brooks had made UK competitive. Three years later the Cats are not close to being competitive. 6-4-2. That will be the progression of wins at UK if they are able to bear Samford. I don't care if we hire the Penguin to replace Joker but he must go.