Louisville @ Kentucky Game Thread.

[catfaninin]

This is where we'll never agree.

And I get it. Guy's kind of a nut. But that's a big part of the reason why I like him.

Think about it: going back to at least Texas Tech, has there been a time when Mike Leach's name hasn't been a fixture in college football reporting? Sure, there was the ugly story about the WR in the bathroom or locker room or whatever it was (not sure that was ever confirmed - could've just as easily been whining on the part of the player/dad), but for the most part his eccentricities and quirkiness draw positive attention to his programs. He's rarely in the news for acting like a goon on the field or making boneheaded mistakes. The cameras are on him because he says some hilarious stuff, all while coaching exciting teams that win at a more consistent rate than Stoops and are often perceived as threats for the conference title. Much in the same way Oregon benefitted from the extra stuff - the jerseys, the facilities, the innovative offense - Kentucky is a team that needs something unique to garner positive attention around the program.

Leach is definitely unique.

He does garner attention, no doubt. And the type of offense he runs can be fun to watch. But there was the Adam James incident, more alleged player abuse at Washington St, his rant about crooked officials which got him one of the biggest fines ever. All those things I'm not interested in.

He finished 3rd in his division this year. In the PAC12?

[Matt Dillon]

This is where we'll never agree.

And I get it. Guy's kind of a nut. But that's a big part of the reason why I like him.

Think about it: going back to at least Texas Tech, has there been a time when Mike Leach's name hasn't been a fixture in college football reporting? Sure, there was the ugly story about the WR in the bathroom or locker room or whatever it was (not sure that was ever confirmed - could've just as easily been whining on the part of the player/dad), but for the most part his eccentricities and quirkiness draw positive attention to his programs. He's rarely in the news for acting like a goon on the field or making boneheaded mistakes. The cameras are on him because he says some hilarious stuff, all while coaching exciting teams that win at a more consistent rate than Stoops and are often perceived as threats for the conference title. Much in the same way Oregon benefitted from the extra stuff - the jerseys, the facilities, the innovative offense - Kentucky is a team that needs something unique to garner positive attention around the program.

Leach is definitely unique.

I agree about Leach. His antics are one of the reasons I like him. As far as player abuse, if I'm not mistaken, that turned out to be a lot ********************ing and moaning, by Craig James and his crybaby son, over nothing.

[George]

He finished 3rd in his division this year. In the PAC12?

Third, yes, but a nine-win season, and the north includes Stanford and Washington, which have both been really good teams as of late. There's only a difference of one win between the three of them, and the other two schools benefitted from a stronger non-conference schedule.

We're talking about nine-win seasons as the Promised Land at Kentucky, and given the shape of the SEC (especially the east) outside of the top two or three teams, I don't think the difference between it and the Pac-12 is as great as it used to be.

At the end of the day, this is a guy whose teams have won fewer than seven games only three times out of sixteen seasons since 2000. Eleven of those teams won eight or more games. Bring that to Kentucky and tell me we wouldn't be happy.

[Ukatfan]

I'm trying to figure out where some of you thinks this staff will win 8-9 games a year under Stoops. I'ven been listening to or watching UK football since 1966 and they just went through the weakest SEC schedule that I can recall and got 7 wins total. Next years QB couldn't beat out our current one. Other than possibly Vandy and with the other programs we barely beat attempting to upgrade their coaching staffs who do we beat in the SEC? UK has gave Stoops a lot more help with recruiting tools than any UK FB coach and recruiting has improved but the product is still Joker like. You may not like my choice for a HC because he was a UL player, but the best young coach out there is at Purdue.

[George]

I'm trying to figure out where some of you thinks this staff will win 8-9 games a year under Stoops. I'ven been listening to or watching UK football since 1966 and they just went through the weakest SEC schedule that I can recall and got 7 wins total. Next years QB couldn't beat out our current one. Other than possibly Vandy and with the other programs we barely beat attempting to upgrade their coaching staffs who do we beat in the SEC? UK has gave Stoops a lot more help with recruiting tools than any UK FB coach and recruiting has improved but the product is still Joker like. You may not like my choice for a HC because he was a UL player, but the best young coach out there is at Purdue.

This is far from true. Joker never had a seven-win season, and his win trajectory at UK was the exact opposite of Stoops.

[teamchemistry15]

I'm trying to figure out where some of you thinks this staff will win 8-9 games a year under Stoops. I'ven been listening to or watching UK football since 1966 and they just went through the weakest SEC schedule that I can recall and got 7 wins total. Next years QB couldn't beat out our current one. Other than possibly Vandy and with the other programs we barely beat attempting to upgrade their coaching staffs who do we beat in the SEC? UK has gave Stoops a lot more help with recruiting tools than any UK FB coach and recruiting has improved but the product is still Joker like. You may not like my choice for a HC because he was a UL player, but the best young coach out there is at Purdue.

We were literally three plays, probably two, from winning nine this year. The two wide open receivers against Florida, one of which would've changed the outcome of the game, and the last second possibly play of the year for Ole Miss. That's why I think we could win eight or nine under Stoops, with a better DC. And, every team that doesn't start a freshman QB can use that argument of the QB next year didn't beat out the one this year. By that theory the only way to improve is to play all true freshmen every year because that would mean the recruits are better. Players mature, develop, and learn. While I don't expect to have a gamer and leader like Johnson was (but we won't know until the time comes) Hoak, Barker, and probably Clark all have the potential to be more accurate than Johnson. I think Hoak or an unnamed JUCO will be the QB next year and Hoak definitely brings more to the table as a passer.

[johnkyblue]

If you hadn't of broke wind so much he may have been better. It's all your fault!!!

Farting a lot in my red boxers worked last year. LOL

[Ukatfan]

Joker never coached in as weak of a division as the East was the past few years. You're comparing a division of the SEC that was just in the start of their decline to one that had 1 good team this year. I'm saying UK got embarrassed in big games under Joker, Stoops has been no different.

[johnkyblue]

Every player we have would leave if we got a new coach?

I didn't say EVERY...

This happened. JLo got promoted above Bonner and 5 really large dudes drank friday nights at Kitty's instead of playing. With those dudes we do better than 2 wins. Couldn't block.

Kentucky needs 85 SEC capable players with upperclassmen starting. Doing things that damage that depth, like chasing 20% of the team away, is moronic.

[johnkyblue]

We'd had fired Riley too.

[johnkyblue]

There must have been a big gust on that missed screen pass that would've been a walk in touchdown. That wind can be brutal on those seven yard passes.

MacGuinness missed. That's all you need to know about how crazy that wind was. It was gusty and inconsistent in direction. If you weren't there....

[johnkyblue]

Joker never coached in as weak of a division as the East was the past few years. You're comparing a division of the SEC that was just in the start of their decline to one that had 1 good team this year. I'm saying UK got embarrassed in big games under Joker, Stoops has been no different.

All the haters point to how weak the East was this year. As if a weak east isn't better than a Pac-12 North still. As if a weak east isn't better than most divisions in college football, and by a LOT.

[teamchemistry15]

MacGuinness missed. That's all you need to know about how crazy that wind was. It was gusty and inconsistent in direction. If you weren't there....

Austin made 100% for his career? Never missed?

[SCBlu]

Now you're talking.

For those of you wondering why I continue to mention Leach, it's simple: no, he isn't a savior, but he'd have been (and could still be) a realistic option for us, and he's proven himself capable of performing at a higher level than Stoops. That's really all there is to it. I know there are better coaches out there, but I think he's better than Stoops and would have taken the job.

But back to Fleck. I love that guy. If there was any chance he'd have taken the job five years ago and we didn't bother to try, then I don't want to know about it.

Practically speaking, Fleck was an unknown assistant for the Buccaneers when UK was searching for Joker's successor. Fleck was hired as HC at Western Michigan the same year Stoops was hired at UK.

[teamchemistry15]

MacGuinness missed. That's all you need to know about how crazy that wind was. It was gusty and inconsistent in direction. If you weren't there....

Or, I guess UofL's kicker is better?