[Wildcatk23]

I know that The Joke is in line to be the head coach but whats your opinion?

Go Out and try and hire a coach with kentucky athletics getting all this attention or stick with joker?

[Brooks4Prez]

You stick with the plan. Seems it worked out pretty good the last time Kentucky football fans wanted to run someone out of town.......

[Aslan]

You keep your word and give Joker the job. I think he will do well but imo we could have gotton a better coach, but we need to show future recruits our loyalty to Joker and show we have faith in him to keep this program on the right track.

[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

I hate him as an O cord however, when this takes place their will be someone new more than likely Saunders up in the booth making the calls, keep Joker on for recruiting purposes and motivation.

[Brooks4Prez]

I am telling you nobody that would be a realistic possibility to come to Lexington will be better than Joker.

[LWC]

I will say this. I believe in giving Joker Phillips a chance. He has brought in some great recruits. I doubt that Newton and Massaqui (spellling?) and many of the other recruits signed on for 4 years without believing that Joker would be coach before they graduated.

One thing that Joker MUST do, is find a GOOD defensive mind to run that unit. UK has some great defensive playmakers, all they need is a couple good defensive recruits and someone that can set up a good system, and they could be REALLY good.

Bottom line: Give Joker 3 years to finish with at least 22 wins and at LEAST one bowl victory. Give him a total of 7 years to be IN an SEC title game, (No, I don't think it is too much to ask. They were one win away from being 2nd in the East, THIS YEAR.)

[Aslan]

I will say this. I believe in giving Joker Phillips a chance. He has brought in some great recruits. I doubt that Newton and Massaqui (spellling?) and many of the other recruits signed on for 4 years without believing that Joker would be coach before they graduated.

One thing that Joker MUST do, is find a GOOD defensive mind to run that unit. UK has some great defensive playmakers, all they need is a couple good defensive recruits and someone that can set up a good system, and they could be REALLY good.

Bottom line: Give Joker 3 years to finish with at least 22 wins and at LEAST one bowl victory. Give him a total of 7 years to be IN an SEC title game, (No, I don't think it is too much to ask. They were one win away from being 2nd in the East, THIS YEAR.)

UK won't be in the SEC title game in 7years. We just simply can't recruit with the likes of Florida, Georgia, and Tenn. Georgia and Tenn was both down this year and what did we finish, 5th? Cmon, unrealistic expectations man.

[LWC]

UK won't be in the SEC title game in 7years. We just simply can't recruit with the likes of Florida, Georgia, and Tenn. Georgia and Tenn was both down this year and what did we finish, 5th? Cmon, unrealistic expectations man.

I appreciate the fact that UGA, UF, and UT are 5-star schools. I just can't see why the head coach of an SEC program is supposed to be content with the same product year in and year out. I am not even saying to win the game, just get IN the game Once in 7 years.

What I am really trying to say if just to be competitive in the SEC, with contractual hard stats. You can't write "be competitive in the SEC" in a contract because that isn't a measurable goal.

I am going to rephrase that statement I originally made:

"Have 22 wins (or more) and win a LEAST one bowl game in the first 3 years. Also, have an overall winning record and at least one season of 10 wins and a 2nd place finish in the SEC East in 7 years. (The 10+ win and 2nd place finish CAN be the same season). Must have at least 2 bowl wins in that 7 year span."

I think that is more realistic and more contractual-like (if that is a word :biggrin: )

[Brooks4Prez]

I appreciate the fact that UGA, UF, and UT are 5-star schools. I just can't see why the head coach of an SEC program is supposed to be content with the same product year in and year out. I am not even saying to win the game, just get IN the game Once in 7 years.

What I am really trying to say if just to be competitive in the SEC, with contractual hard stats. You can't write "be competitive in the SEC" in a contract because that isn't a measurable goal.

I am going to rephrase that statement I originally made:

"Have 22 wins (or more) and win a LEAST one bowl game in the first 3 years. Also, have an overall winning record and at least one season of 10 wins and a 2nd place finish in the SEC East in 7 years. (The 10+ win and 2nd place finish CAN be the same season). Must have at least 2 bowl wins in that 7 year span."

I think that is more realistic and more contractual-like (if that is a word :biggrin: )

There is a difference between being content with it and just facing the facts that you do not have the talent or capability of recruiting the talent of those other schools. But I do agree that there should be goals within the contract.

[Aslan]

I appreciate the fact that UGA, UF, and UT are 5-star schools. I just can't see why the head coach of an SEC program is supposed to be content with the same product year in and year out. I am not even saying to win the game, just get IN the game Once in 7 years.

What I am really trying to say if just to be competitive in the SEC, with contractual hard stats. You can't write "be competitive in the SEC" in a contract because that isn't a measurable goal.

I am going to rephrase that statement I originally made:

"Have 22 wins (or more) and win a LEAST one bowl game in the first 3 years. Also, have an overall winning record and at least one season of 10 wins and a 2nd place finish in the SEC East in 7 years. (The 10+ win and 2nd place finish CAN be the same season). Must have at least 2 bowl wins in that 7 year span."

I think that is more realistic and more contractual-like (if that is a word :biggrin: )

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be competing for an SEC title every year but with those three teams normally ranked at least in the top 15 and often in the national title hunt, its very difficult, to win the east. Not to mention Bama, LSU, and Auburn, we often have to play too. We do need to gradually improve though, bc we can't stay the same and never improve. We have to strife to get a little better every year and eventually be in the SEC east hunt. That could be a while from now and its unrealistic to even imagine right now.

[Strikeout King]

Keep Him. he can recruit, sure we don't get the talent like Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, etc. etc. but the players we do get isn't bad. i do think that we need to recruit from other places besides GA and Tennessee all the time

[Statmaster]

Let him be head coach. Don't let him call offensive plays. I'm tired of the 1 and 2 yard passes. Open it up.

[BigBlueBobcatFan]

honestly i would look at a few other options but if they stick with joker it would be fine with me

[EKUAlum05]

With UK returning every single starter at the skill positions (WR/QB/RB) I think you just let everything play out.

The anti-Joker fans seem to not realize that he IS Kentucky recruiting. Joker is the only SEC level recruiter on the staff. Ideally I say make him the head coach but delegate more of the offensive play calling to Sanders.

[Stardust]

You keep your word and give Joker the job. I think he will do well but imo we could have gotton a better coach, but we need to show future recruits our loyalty to Joker and show we have faith in him to keep this program on the right track.

Good post

[TidesHoss32]

The offensive playcalling duties will go to Randy Sanders, which will make a huge difference. Joker will be off the hook then..While I am a huge OPPONENT of the whole coach in waiting deal, I dont think UK fans will have gotten a much better coach than Joker. There are several positives that will come out of this. The players will be familiar with the system, and there wont be any dropoff in recruiting. But let me go ahead and warn those UK fans with flat out unrealistic expectations, you will sorely miss Rich Brooks. I have said for six years, that Rich Brooks is THE best UK coach since Bear Bryant, and what he has done with the program, bringing it from an SEC bottom feeder to a perrenial bowl team, is nothing short of a miracle. UK fans seem to forget the 3-8 and 2-9, thank you Texas State and Vanderbilt for the only win seasons, just a few years ago. Now they are a 7 and 8 win team every season. So for you 18 and 20 year old Cat fans wanting "more", your not going to get it. This is the best it will be, and it SHOULD be good enough. I think Brooks has done a 5 star job at UK. Flat out outstanding. Joker will be okay, but he wont be a Rich Brooks.

[Playboy5]

the offensive playcalling duties will go to randy sanders, which will make a huge difference. Joker will be off the hook then..while i am a huge opponent of the whole coach in waiting deal, i dont think uk fans will have gotten a much better coach than joker. There are several positives that will come out of this. The players will be familiar with the system, and there wont be any dropoff in recruiting. But let me go ahead and warn those uk fans with flat out unrealistic expectations, you will sorely miss rich brooks. I have said for six years, that rich brooks is the best uk coach since bear bryant, and what he has done with the program, bringing it from an sec bottom feeder to a perrenial bowl team, is nothing short of a miracle. Uk fans seem to forget the 3-8 and 2-9, thank you texas state and vanderbilt for the only win seasons, just a few years ago. Now they are a 7 and 8 win team every season. So for you 18 and 20 year old cat fans wanting "more", your not going to get it. This is the best it will be, and it should be good enough. I think brooks has done a 5 star job at uk. Flat out outstanding. Joker will be okay, but he wont be a rich brooks.

100% agree!

[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

The offensive playcalling duties will go to Randy Sanders, which will make a huge difference. Joker will be off the hook then..While I am a huge OPPONENT of the whole coach in waiting deal, I dont think UK fans will have gotten a much better coach than Joker. There are several positives that will come out of this. The players will be familiar with the system, and there wont be any dropoff in recruiting. But let me go ahead and warn those UK fans with flat out unrealistic expectations, you will sorely miss Rich Brooks. I have said for six years, that Rich Brooks is THE best UK coach since Bear Bryant, and what he has done with the program, bringing it from an SEC bottom feeder to a perrenial bowl team, is nothing short of a miracle. UK fans seem to forget the 3-8 and 2-9, thank you Texas State and Vanderbilt for the only win seasons, just a few years ago. Now they are a 7 and 8 win team every season. So for you 18 and 20 year old Cat fans wanting "more", your not going to get it. This is the best it will be, and it SHOULD be good enough. I think Brooks has done a 5 star job at UK. Flat out outstanding. Joker will be okay, but he wont be a Rich Brooks.

great post Hoss and I agree 100%

[EKUAlum05]

The offensive playcalling duties will go to Randy Sanders, which will make a huge difference. Joker will be off the hook then..While I am a huge OPPONENT of the whole coach in waiting deal, I dont think UK fans will have gotten a much better coach than Joker. There are several positives that will come out of this. The players will be familiar with the system, and there wont be any dropoff in recruiting. But let me go ahead and warn those UK fans with flat out unrealistic expectations, you will sorely miss Rich Brooks. I have said for six years, that Rich Brooks is THE best UK coach since Bear Bryant, and what he has done with the program, bringing it from an SEC bottom feeder to a perrenial bowl team, is nothing short of a miracle. UK fans seem to forget the 3-8 and 2-9, thank you Texas State and Vanderbilt for the only win seasons, just a few years ago. Now they are a 7 and 8 win team every season. So for you 18 and 20 year old Cat fans wanting "more", your not going to get it. This is the best it will be, and it SHOULD be good enough. I think Brooks has done a 5 star job at UK. Flat out outstanding. Joker will be okay, but he wont be a Rich Brooks.

You just earned a reputation boost from me!

[Stardust]

The offensive playcalling duties will go to Randy Sanders, which will make a huge difference. Joker will be off the hook then..While I am a huge OPPONENT of the whole coach in waiting deal, I dont think UK fans will have gotten a much better coach than Joker. There are several positives that will come out of this. The players will be familiar with the system, and there wont be any dropoff in recruiting. But let me go ahead and warn those UK fans with flat out unrealistic expectations, you will sorely miss Rich Brooks. I have said for six years, that Rich Brooks is THE best UK coach since Bear Bryant, and what he has done with the program, bringing it from an SEC bottom feeder to a perrenial bowl team, is nothing short of a miracle. UK fans seem to forget the 3-8 and 2-9, thank you Texas State and Vanderbilt for the only win seasons, just a few years ago. Now they are a 7 and 8 win team every season. So for you 18 and 20 year old Cat fans wanting "more", your not going to get it. This is the best it will be, and it SHOULD be good enough. I think Brooks has done a 5 star job at UK. Flat out outstanding. Joker will be okay, but he wont be a Rich Brooks.

Great post:1:

[TomSportsHack]

The offensive playcalling duties will go to Randy Sanders, which will make a huge difference. Joker will be off the hook then..While I am a huge OPPONENT of the whole coach in waiting deal, I dont think UK fans will have gotten a much better coach than Joker. There are several positives that will come out of this. The players will be familiar with the system, and there wont be any dropoff in recruiting. But let me go ahead and warn those UK fans with flat out unrealistic expectations, you will sorely miss Rich Brooks. I have said for six years, that Rich Brooks is THE best UK coach since Bear Bryant, and what he has done with the program, bringing it from an SEC bottom feeder to a perrenial bowl team, is nothing short of a miracle. UK fans seem to forget the 3-8 and 2-9, thank you Texas State and Vanderbilt for the only win seasons, just a few years ago. Now they are a 7 and 8 win team every season. So for you 18 and 20 year old Cat fans wanting "more", your not going to get it. This is the best it will be, and it SHOULD be good enough. I think Brooks has done a 5 star job at UK. Flat out outstanding. Joker will be okay, but he wont be a Rich Brooks.

Well done.

And I'm glad there's none of the "my wife heard from her hairdresser (who heard it from her husband) that some guy called a Lexington radio show and said his real estate agent pal heard that Steve Spurrier was looking for horse property there so he's gonna be UK's next coach" brain-damaged nonsense that filled up the other Kentucky message boards back in late 2002/early 2003 when UK hired Brooks. :HitWall:

[BloodyHarlanVOL]

Gotta stick to your word and give Joker a chance. Knowing a little about Randy Sanders, he's a great QB coach who in time could be a good coordinator. He took a lot of heat that should've been on Fulmer, in my opinion, while he was at UT and was eventually ran out of town. It all starts with recruiting and it seems that there is a good nucleus for Joker to have equal success. I'm not so sure he's the person to take UK to the next level, but time will tell.

[BlackcatAlum]

The offensive playcalling duties will go to Randy Sanders, which will make a huge difference. Joker will be off the hook then..While I am a huge OPPONENT of the whole coach in waiting deal, I dont think UK fans will have gotten a much better coach than Joker. There are several positives that will come out of this. The players will be familiar with the system, and there wont be any dropoff in recruiting. But let me go ahead and warn those UK fans with flat out unrealistic expectations, you will sorely miss Rich Brooks. I have said for six years, that Rich Brooks is THE best UK coach since Bear Bryant, and what he has done with the program, bringing it from an SEC bottom feeder to a perrenial bowl team, is nothing short of a miracle. UK fans seem to forget the 3-8 and 2-9, thank you Texas State and Vanderbilt for the only win seasons, just a few years ago. Now they are a 7 and 8 win team every season. So for you 18 and 20 year old Cat fans wanting "more", your not going to get it. This is the best it will be, and it SHOULD be good enough. I think Brooks has done a 5 star job at UK. Flat out outstanding. Joker will be okay, but he wont be a Rich Brooks.

Couldn't agree more.

I trust Joker, because Rich does. Hopefully Randy Sanders stays on because he and Joker will continue to carry on UK's football success. I'm fine with whatever decision Brooks has, although I don't always agree with the decisions the coaching staff makes, I do respect the staff for everything they've done for the Kentucky football program.

We bring back a solid foundation next season with the likes of Cobb, Locke (maybe), Newton, Mossakowski, Matthews, etc. So next season has some promise and I have trust in our coaching staff on whatever decisions are made during the off-season.

[cougarpride08]

Do you think someone might try to lure Sanders away? If he got a offer, he might not turn it down. If Joker is going to stay, then they need to give both of them a good deal which might cause him to stay.

[Benchwarmer]

The offensive playcalling duties will go to Randy Sanders, which will make a huge difference. Joker will be off the hook then..While I am a huge OPPONENT of the whole coach in waiting deal, I dont think UK fans will have gotten a much better coach than Joker. There are several positives that will come out of this. The players will be familiar with the system, and there wont be any dropoff in recruiting. But let me go ahead and warn those UK fans with flat out unrealistic expectations, you will sorely miss Rich Brooks. I have said for six years, that Rich Brooks is THE best UK coach since Bear Bryant, and what he has done with the program, bringing it from an SEC bottom feeder to a perrenial bowl team, is nothing short of a miracle. UK fans seem to forget the 3-8 and 2-9, thank you Texas State and Vanderbilt for the only win seasons, just a few years ago. Now they are a 7 and 8 win team every season. So for you 18 and 20 year old Cat fans wanting "more", your not going to get it. This is the best it will be, and it SHOULD be good enough. I think Brooks has done a 5 star job at UK. Flat out outstanding. Joker will be okay, but he wont be a Rich Brooks.

I agree 100%

[pickthewinner]

Try to get Butch Davis he is a proven head coach.

[Brooks4Prez]

Try to get Butch Davis he is a proven head coach.

Who would not consider in a million years leaving North Carolina to come to Kentucky. And couldn't recruit as well with kids interested in playing in the SEC.

[betsylaynealum]

wow, joker will do great. He is a talker, he is a great image for the program. I think we just need to work on an offense, because we set back waiting for something to happen instead of attacking the defense. I felt like in the bowl game they attacked the defense then in the 2nd quarter on their were playing conservative.

[Stardust]

wow, joker will do great. He is a talker, he is a great image for the program. I think we just need to work on an offense, because we set back waiting for something to happen instead of attacking the defense. I felt like in the bowl game they attacked the defense then in the 2nd quarter on their were playing conservative.

It's not definite that Joker is going to get it

[BelfryPride]

Think about UK's offense and questionable playcalling against Tennessee & Clemson....now do you really want Joker????