[Amun-Ra]

I see this alot and I was just wandering why everyone wants Joker out? Did anyone expect UK to be competitive in the SEC this year after all we lost last year? While I am sure UK should be playing better, what more do you think another coach could do? Could another coach get Newton to make better decisions and throw the ball better? Could another coach get anyone to catch a ball? Could another coach get the line to block just one person?
Just wandering.

BTW I wanted Leach before they ever made Joker Head Coach in Waiting.

[Stardust]

Joker is the reason that the cupbard is bare right now! He was lucky to be handed the talent that he was. I'd venture to say that a better caliber coach could have gotten more out of the players that we lost last year, but needless to say, the recruiting is so bad NOT because players won't play for UK, but ONLY because they are NOT going to play for a coach called JOKER and whose coaching ability fits his NAME!

[Amun-Ra]

I thought Joker was the reason we was getting the players that we do get. Maybe he just ins't a good fit for the head job. Could a new coach pull in better players?

[Stardust]

^ You are 100% right, he's the reason we have the players that we have! So he got lucky with Cobb because no one else wanted him, not because he wanted to play for Joker!

[honestjchsfan]

I see this alot and I was just wandering why everyone wants Joker out? Did anyone expect UK to be competitive in the SEC this year after all we lost last year? While I am sure UK should be playing better, what more do you think another coach could do? Could another coach get Newton to make better decisions and throw the ball better? Could another coach get anyone to catch a ball? Could another coach get the line to block just one person?
Just wandering.

BTW I wanted Leach before they ever made Joker Head Coach in Waiting.

It all starts up front and it was Joker that fired Jim Heggins the O-line coach who's last team at UK led the SEC in fewest sacks allowed. That last unit that Heggins had at UK could block anybody in the SEC because he was a great coach with a great system who learned under Bobby Bowden! Joker arrogantly fired Heggins and replaced him with Joe B Halls son-in-law. This all points to a under the table deal. Guys like Cobb, Lock, Woodson, and Johnson were able to make big plays and emerge as Stars at UK because of the O-lines that Heggins put on the feild. Only a pure Nut-job would fire the coach of the Unit that had been the programs foundation! Heck, yes many UK fans expected the Wildcats to be competitive this year! They have the whole O-line unit back and 10 starters on D back. When Rich Brooks kicked his projected starting QB off the team and had lost a boat load of play makers on offense he used a solid 0-line and true Freshmen Star to scarp together a winning season that included beating Arkansas and Miss St they also beat a good East Carolina team in the Liberty Bowl. What do I expect another coach to do??? Try putting a 0-line out there that can block and give a young QB time enough to set up and throw. Try putting a WR out there who can catch the ball reguardless of the number of stars he had beside his name in high school! The only good thing about Joker being head coach is we don't have to suffer through his play calling! :Cheerlead

[Redpup]

Joker is entirely responsible for this team's performance. The buck stops with Joker. This team has been an embarassment to the entire fan base. They play with zero emotion and about half speed. It's the coach's job to have his players ready to play and to play hard every time they step onto the field. This team doesn't even play hard. Fire Joker now!!

[goBIGblue82]

I see this alot and I was just wandering why everyone wants Joker out? Did anyone expect UK to be competitive in the SEC this year after all we lost last year? While I am sure UK should be playing better, what more do you think another coach could do? Could another coach get Newton to make better decisions and throw the ball better? Could another coach get anyone to catch a ball? Could another coach get the line to block just one person?
Just wandering.

BTW I wanted Leach before they ever made Joker Head Coach in Waiting.

Leach would not be the answer for this program.

[BCF4L]

A better coach would have a better QB to turn to instead of having to suffer through 4-20 passing and 17 yards. When your backup QB can't produce better stats than that above, then you blame the recruiting efforts of said coach.

[PaintsvilleTigerfan]

The problem with all of what you guys are saying is that every good player in the Rich Brooks era, Was recruited by Joker Phillips. The prolific offenses under rich brooks, Were ran by Joker Phillips. He never got any credit for this. If you actually sit back and be patient, and fair you would realise that Joker was the man doing most of the work behind the scenes for brooks. He has got a bunch of new talent coming up, and is slowly getting us the depth on defense we need to win. He hired a defensive coordinator who actually knows what he is doing and gave us a scheme that works with our limited depth on the D-Line, and turned Winston Guy into a great player. He is getting us where we need to be.

Now the unfortunate part is that we have a basketball fanbase that is used to The pitino's and calipari's coming in a making teams competitive in a few years. It is very easy to tell that for the most part they do not understand the unbelieveable amount of work it would take Kentucky to win in this conference. They think all you need is to throw money at a coach and we could get a football John Calipari who would be able to get us competitive in a year or two but that won't happen. It has taken Steve Spurrier 5 or so years to get South Carolina competitive in the conference and he just might be one of the best coaches in the history of the conference. South Carolina is in a similar situation to kentucky but they also have alot of advantages over us. Namely a good football fanbase, and state. To think that Kentucky should be winning the SEC or beating Florida's, and LSU's every year is asinine at best, and crazy at worst. Give Joker Phillips a damn chance to win in this program. If after four years it isn't better fire him, but give him the Loyalty he deserves and give him a chance to win. Negativity will get us nowhere. Trust me those kids playing at UK read this stuff, and trust me they hear enough negativity from the Lexington Herald, they don't need any more reason to play bad. This situation is the exact same as 06 maybe just maybe this team can escape the negativity and start to win. Hopefully Joker will do what Brooks did and get the boys to win for themselves and prove themselves to everyone out there. That was the biggest thing brooks did at kentucky he created a culture of beating teams without running a bullcrap offense. His teams would physically punish other teams, Hopefully in the second half of this year we can do that. Come out and punish every other team physically and mature In these two weeks of practice enough to win and maybe get a bowl. Because even the Toilet Bowl Means you are in the top 50% of the college football world.

[Stardust]

^ So, in other words, Joke is a recruiter and not a coach? Then let him go back to recruiting only! Because he sure can't recruit now, and his offense is far from prolific!

[PaintsvilleTigerfan]

^ So, in other words, Joke is a recruiter and not a coach? Then let him go back to recruiting only! Because he sure can't recruit now, and his offense is far from prolific!

This years freshman are a fantastic recruiting class. And the one for next year is looking better. ANd his offense isn't prolific because he lost every decent player from last year.

[Stardust]

This years freshman are a fantastic recruiting class. And the one for next year is looking better. ANd his offense isn't prolific because he lost every decent player from last year.

Teams lose players every single year. So, my point was, he found lighting in a bottle! He knows not how to judge talent to "replace" talent! You build 2-3 deep at every position. So, in other words, thank god that our two offensive weapons over the past two years did not get hurt, because if they did, we had ZERO talent to replace them!!! And so, we waited until they left before we started bringing talent in again????

[comeback_kidxXx]

I thought Joker was the reason we was getting the players that we do get. Maybe he just ins't a good fit for the head job. Could a new coach pull in better players?

yeah, if UK gets a well known coach that good players want to play for, then better talent will come. Lets take Urban Meyer for example, top talented players wanted to play for him. why? well there are many reasons.. one because they understood him and trusted and connected with him. he had balls and wasnt afraid to take risk. Les miles, another example, LSU wasn't even a top contender before he got there now look at them kicking everybody's ass.

Im not saying that joker is a bad all around coach but he is a horrible play caller and has no guts in him at all. If he does get a chance to stick around for a few years then IMO before he will get any top recruits in, he will have to sell and promote his way of doing things and the program its self. But nobody really likes him so it might not even do any good. so i say save us all the trouble and get rid of him now.

[comeback_kidxXx]

I will say this, joker did get a good freshman tailback Clemons who is now out for the rest of the season. He reminds me more of a CJ Spiller type player. Look out for this guy in the future.

[vundy33]

I was expecting ALOT more out of this team...Newton had game experience coming into this year, we had a few decent backs, a "vet" O-line, and WR's that had alot of experience. Plus a great D.

I put the blame on the offense, almost 100%. They play like they're scared of something. I am more than confident that if our offense would be able to do anything with the ball, our defense would have their backs in every game. The showing from Newton and company thus far though has been one of the most pathetic things I've ever seen in UK sports.

I don't know how I still watch them, but I do...

[Amun-Ra]

LSU wasn't even a top contender before he got there now look at them kicking everybody's ass.

.

Man LSU went 13-1 and won the National Championship under Nick Saban in 2003.

[Tailback44]

Simple lack of coaching. Joker cant coach at lick.UK would have the same chance of winning if they just went to a classroom at UK and picked out a male student and gave him the job because that is the only reason why joker is the coach because he is a ALUM. The only differnce would be Joker's experience. I think Joker has to go or we are going take 5 or 6 steps back before Brooks came to Lexington. I swear if UK loses to Jacksonville St and I was Barnhart I would make Joker clean out the office sunday morning.

[The Blue Blur]

It's a noon kickoff. Why wait til Sunday?? We lose to Jacksonville State & Barnhardt should be waiting outside Joker's office with boxes directly after the game.

[Tailback44]

Anyone think there might be a chance Joker resigns?

[Aslan]

The only problem I have with Joker is that his play calling is way to conservative and has been the last few years.
He can be the best coach in the history of football, but he can't make the receivers make simple catches, Newton to make simple throws, and the O-Line to simply give Newton SOME time. The players are just not performing. I know they're better than this. The D is solid(considering how long they're on the field), and Tydlacka might be the best player on the team, and the best punter in the NCAA! La Li Lu Le Lo!

[vundy33]

Saying a damn punter is better than Danny or Winston is retarded...I'm tired of seeing that shit.

[honestjchsfan]

This years freshman are a fantastic recruiting class. And the one for next year is looking better. ANd his offense isn't prolific because he lost every decent player from last year.

How do you know if this freshmen class is fantastic? Because Joker said so?? Because there is a bunch of 3 star guys? Florida has had a truck load of 5 Star players and Bama and LSU raped them. Randel Cobb and Chris Johnson(Titians) were both 2 star guys. Tom Brady and Bret Farve were no STAR guys, Walter Payton and Jerry Rice played 1AA ball. I think you are the President of the Joker fan club. Could you please sir tell me what makes you think Joker is a good Coach and why was he was hired at a SEC school? I am all for a Kentucky boy getting the job but Roy Kid, Howard Schnellenbuger and Bill Arnsparger were all KY boys that didn't get the job! Why in the hell did JOKER? Blanton Collier had Don Shula and Chuck Knox on his staff and that still wasn't good enough, UK fired his ass. Does Randy Sanders and Tee Martin = Shula and Knox? Rich Brooks set this up man , he knew Joker couldn't do the job at UK and he knew that Barnhart was too stupid to see it! Joker is going to flop and is flopping and UK football is going to suffer BIG and guess who looks like a Great coach that took UK to 4 stright bowls and winning seasons???? In few years when the right program or NFL job comes open watch if Brooks don't apply. Resume = He won at UK plus Built Oregon. The Average salary of NFL Coachs is $3.25 million per year thats 3.25 millions reason for a coach to make himself look better than he really is! Just check the coaching histroy of every coach in the SEC and compare it to JOKER:hilarious:

[Stardust]

Saying a damn punter is better than Danny or Winston is retarded...I'm tired of seeing that shit.

I'll say it, only because you have already called me retarded many other times:biggrin: But I agree with you

[vundy33]

I'll say it, only because you have already called me retarded many other times:biggrin: But I agree with you

lol brother, I got a good laugh out of that. I'm glad I can call you retarded without you taking it personal and all that jazz..most people don't know this on here, but my insults really mean I like you, besides a few on here, like all of the Louisville fans.

[PaintsvilleTigerfan]

How do you know if this freshmen class is fantastic? Because Joker said so?? Because there is a bunch of 3 star guys? Florida has had a truck load of 5 Star players and Bama and LSU raped them. Randel Cobb and Chris Johnson(Titians) were both 2 star guys. Tom Brady and Bret Farve were no STAR guys, Walter Payton and Jerry Rice played 1AA ball. I think you are the President of the Joker fan club. Could you please sir tell me what makes you think Joker is a good Coach and why was he was hired at a SEC school? I am all for a Kentucky boy getting the job but Roy Kid, Howard Schnellenbuger and Bill Arnsparger were all KY boys that didn't get the job! Why in the hell did JOKER? Blanton Collier had Don Shula and Chuck Knox on his staff and that still wasn't good enough, UK fired his ass. Does Randy Sanders and Tee Martin = Shula and Knox? Rich Brooks set this up man , he knew Joker couldn't do the job at UK and he knew that Barnhart was too stupid to see it! Joker is going to flop and is flopping and UK football is going to suffer BIG and guess who looks like a Great coach that took UK to 4 stright bowls and winning seasons???? In few years when the right program or NFL job comes open watch if Brooks don't apply. Resume = He won at UK plus Built Oregon. The Average salary of NFL Coachs is $3.25 million per year thats 3.25 millions reason for a coach to make himself look better than he really is! Just check the coaching histroy of every coach in the SEC and compare it to JOKER:hilarious:

Check The coaching history of any coach in the sec and compare it to any coach Kentucky has ever had, Minus Bear bryant we have sucked since the 50's. At least not anything comparable to the rest of this conference.

And to say Rich Brooks set Joker up to fail is idiotic. They are good friends, and brooks give Joker advice on a regular basis. I guess everyone forgot about what Rich Brooks went through his first couple of years. We should have fired him too shouldn't we?

[Black Bear Cuz]

Check The coaching history of any coach in the sec and compare it to any coach Kentucky has ever had, Minus Bear bryant we have sucked since the 50's. At least not anything comparable to the rest of this conference.

And to say Rich Brooks set Joker up to fail is idiotic. They are good friends, and brooks give Joker advice on a regular basis. I guess everyone forgot about what Rich Brooks went through his first couple of years. We should have fired him too shouldn't we?

This team is by far the worst team we have had in Lexington in a long time, very well may be the worst ever at Ky IMO. I would like to know what we have in house to make us believe Joker has anything more than a snow ball's chance in hell of turning this program around? Josh Clemons is a decent back, probably a 3rd stringer for Ala, LSU, AUBURN, SC, TENNESSEE, FLA, GEORGIA and the list goes on, what else do we have to make anyone want to give Joker another year or 2?? Our only quality defender (Trevathan) will be gone next year and then we wont even have one legitimate player! Morgan Newton while Towles is growing up for another year behind Joe B Hall's son in law's O-line with 0 decent wr's, one decent back and a defense without one quality player will make for a team that might be worse than this year! There is no way will will be able to fill Commonwealth Stadium with this formula! Lets agree to let Joker resign with a decent buyout that he doesnt deserve, get a new coach with a real plan and system (Mike Leach) and see if we can at least get back to being competitive in the SEC

[geauxtigers75]

Check The coaching history of any coach in the sec and compare it to any coach Kentucky has ever had, Minus Bear bryant we have sucked since the 50's. At least not anything comparable to the rest of this conference.

And to say Rich Brooks set Joker up to fail is idiotic. They are good friends, and brooks give Joker advice on a regular basis. I guess everyone forgot about what Rich Brooks went through his first couple of years. We should have fired him too shouldn't we?

Brooks inherited a team decimated by probation and scholarship losses. Joker inherited a team that had went to 4 straight bowls and was beginning to become a legitimate contender in the SEC East, not to mention most of the players on that team were brought in by Joker. Joker made a huge mistake in firing Heggins, Brinson and Petri and Ortmayer. Those coaches made up for our lack in recruiting by developing young recruits into SEC caliber football players, you can see the difference on the field right now.

[honestjchsfan]

(Nick Saban Bama - head coach at Toledo, Michigan St and LSU), (Steve Spurrier SC- Tampa Bay Bandits, Duke , Florida), (Houston Nut Ole Miss- Murray ST, Boise St, Arkansas) (Les Miles LSU -Oklahoma ST) (Bobby Petrino ARK-UL) (Gene Chizik Auburn- Iowa State) (Derek Dooley UT- Louisiana Tech) Mark Richt, Dan Mullen and Will Mushchamp were all three a Coordinator of a national Championship team. Richt was OC at FSU , Muller was OC at Florida and Mushchamp was DC of the 2003 natonal Champ LSU. Richt and Mulllen coached 3 Heisaman Tropy winners Charlie Ward, Chris Weinke and Tim Tebow. SO only two programs (UK and Vandy) have Head Coachs that had no prior head Coaching experience or were not a Coordinator for a National Championship team. How can UK or Vandy ever expect to move up in the SEC football standings when they hire 2nd rate coachs? Football is something to fill time until the LIGHTS COME ON IN THE GYM! Neither have any intention of doing what it takes to become a solid football program. Let me ask you,, if you are having open heart surgry do you want the DR that never done it before??? If your building a SKY SCRAPER do you want that engineer that has never designed a building before doing it for you? OKAY OKAY, say you're having car trouble,,, do you want a Mechanic that has never really got his hands dirty and done anything important working on you CAR? Myself I wouldn't want somebody that didn't have the experience.

[BlackcatAlum]

I just don't think Joker is cut out to be a head football coach in the SEC.

Outside of 2007, everyone was critisizing his play-calling under Brooks and since then he's handed the play-calling duties to Randy Shannon and he's just as bad.

We all know that UK has found some diamonds in the rough with players in the past and the coaching staff underacheived with the 2007 team that had 13 future NFL players on the roster. That team was good enough to beat anyone in the country and they proved that when they knocked off #1 LSU. Yet UK still went 7-5 and settled with another Music City Bowl apperence.

Since then UK has put two players in the NFL and only one of them actually are on a roster any longer, being Cobb.

Joker does a fine job at recruiting, still getting the SEC powers leftovers, but we're still getting players that in due time turn out to be decent. But UK isn't going to keep getting those players when they're going 2-10 or 3-9. Those players will look elsewhere and goto places like UCF, Louisville, Illinois, etc, etc. Point is when you win, you can get better recruits. If you aren't winning then no one wants to play for you. It's that simple and I'm afraid if Joker stays at UK another season then we're going to lose recruits, especially in-state ones to rival schools.

[geauxtigers75]

I just don't think Joker is cut out to be a head football coach in the SEC.

Outside of 2007, everyone was critisizing his play-calling under Brooks and since then he's handed the play-calling duties to Randy Shannon and he's just as bad.

We all know that UK has found some diamonds in the rough with players in the past and the coaching staff underacheived with the 2007 team that had 13 future NFL players on the roster. That team was good enough to beat anyone in the country and they proved that when they knocked off #1 LSU. Yet UK still went 7-5 and settled with another Music City Bowl apperence.

Since then UK has put two players in the NFL and only one of them actually are on a roster any longer, being Cobb.

Joker does a fine job at recruiting, still getting the SEC powers leftovers, but we're still getting players that in due time turn out to be decent. But UK isn't going to keep getting those players when they're going 2-10 or 3-9. Those players will look elsewhere and goto places like UCF, Louisville, Illinois, etc, etc. Point is when you win, you can get better recruits. If you aren't winning then no one wants to play for you. It's that simple and I'm afraid if Joker stays at UK another season then we're going to lose recruits, especially in-state ones to rival schools.

There's a big list of in-state kids we have already lost, it's just going to get worse.

Lamar Dawson, Rolandan Finch, Jon Davis, Zeke Pike, Jeremy Clark, Channing Fugate, Tate Nichols, Austin Collinsworth, Justin Green, Jordan Whiting, the list goes on and on....