Stoops Kentucky Teams coming out of bye weeks

[George]

I don't think it's nearly as far fetched as you to imagine what's said on message boards impacting recruits. I can easily see a teenage kid or maybe even more likely his parents checking around to see what's being said.

I know for certain it has happened, not with recruits but players on the team. 10 years or so ago I sat for 3 hours in a hotel cafe in Vegas talking with 2 UK players and their parents. This was during the Gillispie time and they made no secret about reading what was being said on message boards.

But to Will’s point, you’re talking about one of the two worst periods in the history of the program. Those players and parents would’ve soured on the program regardless of the existence of message boards.

What you see on the boards usually reflects what’s happening in the program. Of course there will always be a few turds in the punch bowl, but normally when the team’s performing well, people don’t talk much trash on the boards.

If parents or recruits don’t like something on a forum, they probably don’t like what’s going on with the program in general.

[KevinHall]

If a recruit is affected by something said on a forum like this then they are just looking for an excuse not to come to that school.

BTW I have never seen anyone question Stoops teams coming off a bye week. So I don't know where that is coming from.

[Joneslab]

I don't think it's nearly as far fetched as you to imagine what's said on message boards impacting recruits. I can easily see a teenage kid or maybe even more likely his parents checking around to see what's being said.

The thing though is that all these message boards are virtually the same. Same ideas expressed, same types of fans, same negativity if you want to find it.

The thing about posts affecting recruiting is a long-held idea on UK football boards. I've seen it for as long as I've been on here. I think there's a segment of UK football fans (maybe football-only fans) who think fans are always too harsh about the program, and that plays a part in the way the program runs. It has an affect on everything, from recruits to wins and losses to the budget to tradition. Everything.

Basically it's a reaction to Kentucky being a basketball school. It's a little bit of sourness, or maybe even jealousy...and in some ways I agree with their argument. The "when does basketball season start?" thing is a big deal.

But certain posters take the sensitivity about this to a level where they let their imaginations run wild, essentially vilifying the fanbase to the point where fans start to get blamed for things they had absolutely nothing to do with.

[catfaninin]

But to Will’s point, you’re talking about one of the two worst periods in the history of the program. Those players and parents would’ve soured on the program regardless of the existence of message boards.

What you see on the boards usually reflects what’s happening in the program. Of course there will always be a few turds in the punch bowl, but normally when the team’s performing well, people don’t talk much trash on the boards.

If parents or recruits don’t like something on a forum, they probably don’t like what’s going on with the program in general.

Actually this was Thanksgiving weekend of Gillispie's 2nd year. It hadn't turned into the total dumpster fire yet. At that time most people were still of the mind that he would turn out to be a good hire.

[Joneslab]

Actually this was Thanksgiving weekend of Gillispie's 2nd year. It hadn't turned into the total dumpster fire yet. At that time most people were still of the mind that he would turn out to be a good hire.

They would have been on a two-game losing streak at that point, including a thumping by North Carolina and the infamous VMI loss.

I believe most were getting a sick feeling in their stomach at that point.

Kentucky football is kind of a different deal because the pessimism is much deeper. Sometimes "Kentucky football" is used as a running joke by fans.

But my problem with johnkyblue's point is that he's throwing a lot of things into the same bin. If you can't talk about Stoops' record out of bye weeks for fear of upsetting recruits then good Lord, what can we talk about?

Most rational people know when they're going too far and what might have an impact on the players. Usually, not always, this particular board has been able to restrain that kind of talk. Much harder to do at a place like Rivals where you have hundreds of people posting all the time.

But again: most all big-time programs have that same problem. Most of these families know the deal, though. They know a program shouldn't be brought down by a few idiot fans.

[catfaninin]

The thing though is that all these message boards are virtually the same. Same ideas expressed, same types of fans, same negativity if you want to find it.

The thing about posts affecting recruiting is a long-held idea on UK football boards. I've seen it for as long as I've been on here. I think there's a segment of UK football fans (maybe football-only fans) who think fans are always too harsh about the program, and that plays a part in the way the program runs. It has an affect on everything, from recruits to wins and losses to the budget to tradition. Everything.

Basically it's a reaction to Kentucky being a basketball school. It's a little bit of sourness, or maybe even jealousy...and in some ways I agree with their argument. The "when does basketball season start?" thing is a big deal.

But certain posters take the sensitivity about this to a level where they let their imaginations run wild, essentially vilifying the fanbase to the point where fans start to get blamed for things they had absolutely nothing to do with.

I think there is a world of difference in message boards. This is by far the best one I have found. There are for the most part sensible discussions that take place on this one. Other UK sites you can't say that about. And I sometimes check out other teams boards as well and they are usually pretty nutty also.

I'm not saying a recruit decides to or not to attend a school based on something he reads on a message board. But I also think to say they don't see some of the things written and that is has some kind of effect is being blind. I don't think what happens on a message board plays much of a part in anything. But I can see where it could make a person wonder.

[Joneslab]

I think there is a world of difference in message boards.

Me too.

But what I meant was that all programs have message boards. So for a family to say "We didn't choose your school because of posters" would seem to be disingenuous unless there are very specific things happening. Because all these schools have places like this one and they have places like the corporate behemoths of 247 and Rivals.

[catfaninin]

They would have been on a two-game losing streak at that point, including a thumping by North Carolina and the infamous VMI loss.

I believe most were getting a sick feeling in their stomach at that point.

Kentucky football is kind of a different deal because the pessimism is much deeper. Sometimes "Kentucky football" is used as a running joke by fans.

But my problem with johnkyblue's point is that he's throwing a lot of things into the same bin. If you can't talk about Stoops' record out of bye weeks for fear of upsetting recruits then good Lord, what can we talk about?

Most rational people know when they're going too far and what might have an impact on the players. Usually, not always, this particular board has been able to restrain that kind of talk. Much harder to do at a place like Rivals where you have hundreds of people posting all the time.

But again: most all big-time programs have that same problem. Most of these families know the deal, though. They know a program shouldn't be brought down by a few idiot fans.

Think they won a couple of games against directional schools after UNC as part of the Vegas tournament. Then won 2 games in Vegas. West Virginia and someone, maybe Kansas State.

And I don't so much mean this particular board. I see very little said here that would be of any concern. And record after a bye week would certainly not be one of those.

[johnkyblue]

First, the assertion wasn't just this board, it was said on facebook three times, and here once, for sure, maybe twice. What was said was something to the effect of "we always come out sluggish after a bye week".

Second, I didn't say anything about recruiting or anything else like that. I just felt that the assertion was able to be proved false pretty easily. Teams should do better out of bye weeks. It is rather clear that it helps NFL teams.

in games where only one team is coming off the bye, the team coming off the bye has a record of 65-54-1 straight up, and 61-44-5 against the spread.

some article on betting from quite a while ago, this doesn't not constitute any betting advice as the ATS information I'm sure is digested by Vegas and accounted for at this point.

So I posted. This thread was NOT meant to do any of the things I was accused of in post #3.

[Joneslab]

So I posted. This thread was NOT meant to do any of the things I was accused of in post #3.

Then I'm not sure why the post wasn't put inside one of those threads about Stoops' record. The "Where da heck y'all getting this unfact?" looked like a general statement aimed at anyone.

And I have seen the "Kentucky football fans are morons" theme before. A lot. That's where it felt like this was going.

[teamchemistry15]

First, the assertion wasn't just this board, it was said on facebook three times, and here once, for sure, maybe twice. What was said was something to the effect of "we always come out sluggish after a bye week".

Second, I didn't say anything about recruiting or anything else like that. I just felt that the assertion was able to be proved false pretty easily. Teams should do better out of bye weeks. It is rather clear that it helps NFL teams. some article on betting from quite a while ago, this doesn't not constitute any betting advice as the ATS information I'm sure is digested by Vegas and accounted for at this point.

So I posted. This thread was NOT meant to do any of the things I was accused of in post #3.

If people are saying it on Facebook why are you giving us all of this information and getting on us instead of them? And, that record of the NFL teams after a bye week is a lot closer than I expected. Yes, the bye week should help a team. But to only be an 11 game difference isn't that big, IMO.

Also, I haven't read but about half of the posts in this thread. I don't think the message board stuff bothers players or their families THAT much because I'm willing to bet the same stuff happens on boards of all schools. But, anyone who thinks they don't read the stuff clearly wasn't around when Mr. Meeks was a pretty active member of this board.

[johnkyblue]

I posted the exact same thing in both places.

[teamchemistry15]

How fans talk about their team affects recruiting and teams psyche, imo. Some people argue it doesn't. No way to prove it one way or another, which is the cart. So I was trying to give you that to be nicer, since I'm such a smartass or whatever.

So, we just got beat by 38 after a bye week. How exactly should we talk about the team?

[40bill]

Perhaps we should ask why the team seemed to not have the fire in the play....they most seemed listless...and bad or good play, bad or good play calling....the players just didn't have it tonight.....

And I.just can't figure that out.

[johnkyblue]

So, we just got beat by 38 after a bye week. How exactly should we talk about the team?

I've seen a lot of great stuff since. One post on facebook said, "Let's be first level fans and fill Commonwealth for every game, staying until the end while they crush Tennessee (like Bama fans did)."