Why are so many convinced that Jon Sumrall can be the savior of Kentucky Football?

[blueheretic]

No, i'm not saying that Sumrall is a bad coach.

I've no opinion either way. Haven't seen enough of him.

What I have seen is 40 years of Kentucky football.

One of two things happen with Sumrall:

1. Kentucky will derail Sumralls career and he'll have to take time to jump start again somewhere else lower down the totem pole or as a Coordinator.
2. He gets to a decent amount of success and gets bought away from Kentucky.

Without significant changes at Kentucky, football simply isn't going to become what it is at Bama or Georgia.

It will take lots of money which will, in the end, price out the average Kentuckian.

Well...unless Kentucky Football gets a SUPER SIZED sugardaddy.

[Sjslhill]

No, i'm not saying that Sumrall is a bad coach.

I've no opinion either way. Haven't seen enough of him.

What I have seen is 40 years of Kentucky football.

One of two things happen with Sumrall:

1. Kentucky will derail Sumralls career and he'll have to take time to jump start again somewhere else lower down the totem pole or as a Coordinator.
2. He gets to a decent amount of success and gets bought away from Kentucky.

Without significant changes at Kentucky, football simply isn't going to become what it is at Bama or Georgia.

It will take lots of money which will, in the end, price out the average Kentuckian.

Well...unless Kentucky Football gets a SUPER SIZED sugardaddy.

100% agree. I would hire a young offensive guru and put some excitement in the stadium. Kentucky will never compete for titles in SEC football

[Chadrock]

No, i'm not saying that Sumrall is a bad coach.

I've no opinion either way. Haven't seen enough of him.

What I have seen is 40 years of Kentucky football.

One of two things happen with Sumrall:

1. Kentucky will derail Sumralls career and he'll have to take time to jump start again somewhere else lower down the totem pole or as a Coordinator.
2. He gets to a decent amount of success and gets bought away from Kentucky.

Without significant changes at Kentucky, football simply isn't going to become what it is at Bama or Georgia.

It will take lots of money which will, in the end, price out the average Kentuckian.

Well...unless Kentucky Football gets a SUPER SIZED sugardaddy.

Yep…until the admin puts equal stock and effort into football as it does bball, it doesn’t matter who is the coach.

Now, on the flip side, here is a case study I’d pay to see.

It would be so cool to hire Nick Saban to see if the coach would change the admin mindset. You know, kind of like his vrbo commercials.

UK Admin:

”Sorry Nick, your recruiting and NIL percentage is 25%.”

Saban:

”Okay, 55% sounds great, now make sure you give bball at least 20%.

[Matt Dillon]

Here are my feelings for what they're worth. I would like to see Sumrall get the job for the following reasons. Much like coach Pope I think this is his dream job which would mean less chance of his being hired away if he's successful. By successful I mean if he could win enough to keep the fan base satisfied. I certainly don't expect UK fb to ever been as successful as Bama, Georgia, OSU etc. I'd be happy with a coach that could deliver six or seven wins a season and play exciting, well-coached ball. If I'm right about this being his dream job, I think he'd bust his tail to make sure UK was the best they could be.

[dencat]

I hate seeing any former player/coach taking on the head coaching job. Can it work out? Absolutely. But as seen with Joker, he was beloved by most of the fan base, but he was not cut out to be a head coach. Not a knock on him, but some guys are better as assistant or position coach. Sumrall has head coaching experience and has done well at the schools he has been with. Could he be successful at UK? Yes, but it is a tall order

[blueheretic]

Depends on one's definition of success.

If Success = Winning Big Time College Football - you'll never have "success" at Kentucky

If Success = Going to a rando Bowl Game - you can have that success at Kentucky

I just don't see "going to a rando bowl game" as the career success of any young coach who has anything near ambition in his heart and mind.

[teamchemistry15]

He took Troy and Tulane to the top 25. Why shouldn't I think he can do the same with more resources?

[blueheretic]

It's got something to do with an S, an E and a C and playing therein.

[blueheretic]

I mean. I get it. It's nice to dream. It's nice to think "Why not at Kentucky?" It's a nice summer daydream.

[teamchemistry15]

I mean. I get it. It's nice to dream. It's nice to think "Why not at Kentucky?" It's a nice summer daydream.

So you think it's easier to get into the top 25 at Troy than UK?

[40bill]

I think at Troy and Tu;lane he was ale to exceed expectation in a lower level conference. Not one that usually contains half of the top ten in the nation. Just harder.

[blueheretic]

So you think it's easier to get into the top 25 at Troy than UK?

Definitely easier.

Way, way, way easier.

Kentucky could have a team that would absolutely dominate Troy and Tulane and still lose 6 or 7 games in the SEC + Louisville.

Troy and Tulane can smash cupcakes all season long like FSU did a few years ago and be all up in the Top 25 ranked ahead of a 3 loss SEC Team. Troy would get absolutely demolished in the SEC. Tulane could probably defeat Kentucky, Vandy and Mississippi State in the SEC.

The Top 25 regularly puts undefeated cupcakes in the Top 25. Look at Indiana recently. They beat no one and then got exposed in the playoffs like the cupcake that they are. They're in there again...in the Top 25 and will probably be there all year as long as they don't have to play Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State.

The Top 25 is often a popularity contest.

[blueheretic]

You don't think Kentucky could be, at least, 11-1 with this schedule.




Tulane will be ranked in the Top 25 this year. That is their schedule. They play one team that's good - Ole Miss.

Then they run the table of Cup Cake City.

If Kentucky had that schedule, good lord! lol

I'm not even going to look at Troy. I can only imagine the little sisters of the poor schedule that they play at Troy.

[The-Hack]

“1. Kentucky will derail Sumralls career and he'll have to take time to jump start again somewhere else lower down the totem pole or as a Coordinator.
2. He gets to a decent amount of success and gets bought away from Kentucky.“

And that can be said of EVERY potential future Coach at Kentucky.

One potential hook that might bind Sumrall to Kentucky long-term if he achieves success and others call: he is an Alum.

Yep, that ain’t no guarantee he would stay, but it’s more than can be said for most quality potential applicants for the job.

And my conviction Sumrall is THE MAN??

Simply an unscientific gut feeling from meeting him and conversing with him: I wanted to run thru a wall for him after hearing him speak, at he age of (then) 57.

But Jon once led UK in tackles: he tackled me before my head-on collision with a concrete wall.

And he’s had an 80 percent (+) winning record elsewhere!!

Also his recruiting chops in the Deep South. He found and recruited and helped develop Jamin Davis, UK’s second highest draftee since 2003.

Jon is from Bama, has coached successfully in Bama, and Louisiana. It cannot hurt that he is from the Deep South, has coached and recruited for years in the Deep South, and has the natural affinity to come and remain here, as an alum.

We had a shot at UK alum “Charlie Mac” before his storied coaching career at LSU, and passed. We had a shot at UK Alum and College Hall of Fame Coach Jerry Claiborne, in 1973, but passed in favor of Five Down Fran, only hiring Claiborne at the tail-end of his career, in 1981, when we passed on UK Alum Howard Schnellenberger . . . .

It is a persistent theme since the 1960’s for us to pass on Alum who were successful elsewhere, and were willing to return, only to go on to win big at LSU, Maryland and Miami/Louisville.

Lastly, in reference to Sumrall’s charisma that I previously alluded to: he won’t sneer at fans to “pony up” after losses; he’ll openly and successfully campaign for increased NIL support, as he is a very good speaker, young and energetic. He’ll get some $$ from me, and Stoops has not.

In short, nothing about any potential candidate is guaranteed, but Sumrall checks a LOT of boxes.

[Jeffky62]

No, i'm not saying that Sumrall is a bad coach.

I've no opinion either way. Haven't seen enough of him.

What I have seen is 40 years of Kentucky football.

One of two things happen with Sumrall:

1. Kentucky will derail Sumralls career and he'll have to take time to jump start again somewhere else lower down the totem pole or as a Coordinator.
2. He gets to a decent amount of success and gets bought away from Kentucky.

Without significant changes at Kentucky, football simply isn't going to become what it is at Bama or Georgia.

It will take lots of money which will, in the end, price out the average Kentuckian.

Well...unless Kentucky Football gets a SUPER SIZED sugardaddy.

He crushed a big ten team in his opener and runs a pro style offense that can put alot of points on the board . Teams like Kentucky in a tradition rich deep south conference has to be able to score and put alot of points on the board to win consistently in this conference . Grind it out and hang on to win will not cut it in the sec ."stoops has got to go " my guess ? nothing will change your mind about stoops and his boring style of ball that has been a disaster the last few years pathetic at best ? 36 - 62 against the sec that's god awful