My goodness

[40bill]

We knew the defense was going to be bad, but that was on another level entirely.

If Southern Miss can line up and run it straight up the gut whenever they want, then God help us when we hit the SEC.

That was one of the poorer defensive efforts I've seen from UK. That's probably a 3-win team we saw, and if it turns out like that both Stoops and Barnhart are in trouble.

Four years is enough time with the money these guys make.

This. Great post Will.
CMS showed improvement his second year. A third year plateau??? Perhaps........but unless things switch rapidly this looks like a program that started into regression last year.

With possibly more raw talent than any team since the 70s.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Losing Hatcher didn't help any either.

you said it Matt.....him not being on defensive hurts bad

[J.Jennings]

I stand by my gut feeling 4 years ago, should have went after Petrino, he was there for the taking. People make mistakes and Cal was considered shady prior to Kentucky. We need a football coach, no more excuses.

Part of the problem with UK is us fans, we celebrate and tolerate this year in and year out,why change? I love UK but until we can find a way to actually compete, i wont be watching college football at all.... 4 years was plenty of time to turn it around.

[Matt Dillon]

I stand by my gut feeling 4 years ago, should have went after Petrino, he was there for the taking. People make mistakes and Cal was considered shady prior to Kentucky. We need a football coach, no more excuses.

Part of the problem with UK is us fans, we celebrate and tolerate this year in and year out,why change? I love UK but until we can find a way to actually compete, i wont be watching college football at all.... 4 years was plenty of time to turn it around.

This is his fourth year, and there's lots of fb left. A lot of people feel that by the time a coach's first recruited class are Seniors, he should be producing. I'll wait until the end of the season to make a decision.

[Lighthouse]

This is his fourth year, and there's lots of fb left. A lot of people feel that by the time a coach's first recruited class are Seniors, he should be producing. I'll wait until the end of the season to make a decision.

That's the way I see it. Still excited about our offense, and concerned about the D. But,I'll be watching.

[teamchemistry15]

This is his fourth year, and there's lots of fb left. A lot of people feel that by the time a coach's first recruited class are Seniors, he should be producing. I'll wait until the end of the season to make a decision.

I don't understand why that's so hard for people to understand. Provided the situation he walked in here to he should get four years. Not three years and one game.

[UK39]

What is the definition of producing? He improved them from a horrible SEC team to slightly below average. His recruiting classes are typically slightly below average for the SEC.

What win total constitutes producing?

My thing is that I want to see progression and while it's too early to judge this year, I haven't seen much since the start of Stoops second year.

Like you, I will give him the remainder of the year but I'm skeptical at this point about him taking them from a slightly below average team to better than average (7-8 wins consistently) and eventually to b very good to elite.

[Spiritof96]

I don't understand why that's so hard for people to understand. Provided the situation he walked in here to he should get four years. Not three years and one game.

I really do not understand what the alternative is for these people who want him gone last year or this year or think that acceptable progress is not being made.

It's fine to say we have to stop accepting mediocrity; but seriously. The SEC is the most elite football conference in the country. No one is going to try less. We have a TERRIBLE reputation. (in part because our fans call for a coaches head 3 years and one game into the process) Do we think we are going to get Belichick? Can he recruit? Petrino is gone... AND NEVER COMING HERE.

I don't think Stoops is without blame; but holy god our fans can be ridiculous. Barring exceptional circumstances, this process should be a five year commitment every time.

This was a bad loss and it won't be our last. Wake me when we are less than .500 in year five and we can talk coaching changes.

[teamchemistry15]

I really do not understand what the alternative is for these people who want him gone last year or this year or think that acceptable progress is not being made.

It's fine to say we have to stop accepting mediocrity; but seriously. The SEC is the most elite football conference in the country. No one is going to try less. We have a TERRIBLE reputation. (in part because our fans call for a coaches head 3 years and one game into the process) Do we think we are going to get Belichick? Can he recruit? Petrino is gone... AND NEVER COMING HERE.

I don't think Stoops is without blame; but holy god our fans can be ridiculous. Barring exceptional circumstances, this process should be a five year commitment every time.

This was a bad loss and it won't be our last. Wake me when we are less than .500 in year five and we can talk coaching changes.

I think something these fans we speak of fail to understand is this isn't like rebuilding a basketball team. I think some saw how quickly Cal turned around the basketball team and expected that from Stoops. It's easy to get caught up in the hype and assume the top 40 recruiting classes should translate to a top 40 team. They'll get there. I'm fine with a five year commitment as long as there is progress, and there clearly is. You can see the potential on the field. We can score quickly, have the deepest WR group UK has probably ever had, same with RB, have a legit secondary that can potentially be one of the best in the country, and are consistently bringing in the talent. I think we will hit six wins this year, but even if we only hit five I still think he deserves another year. We definitely need a new DC, but Stoops has done wonders for this program.

[justford]

Might be time to consider another conference just for football if that is even an option.

[teamchemistry15]

The alternative some people have is Brohm or Strong. Neither are happening. The style of offense WKU runs just doesn't work in the SEC. Never has and never will. Strong wouldn't even bat his eyes at Kentucky even if he got fired from Texas. If we fire Stoops we will get another guy with either zero or limited head coaching experience. Stoops is our best option.

[Spiritof96]

The alternative some people have is Brohm or Strong. Neither are happening. The style of offense WKU runs just doesn't work in the SEC. Never has and never will. Strong wouldn't even bat his eyes at Kentucky even if he got fired from Texas. If we fire Stoops we will get another guy with either zero or limited head coaching experience. Stoops is our best option.

I'm not convinced strong is that good. With all of the assets he has at Texas in that league and he can't win?

[Matt Dillon]

What win total constitutes producing?

Like you, I will give him the remainder of the year but I'm skeptical at this point about him taking them from a slightly below average team to better than average (7-8 wins consistently) and eventually to b very good to elite.

As for myself, if we could win six games every year, and occasionally seven or eight, and go to a bowl every year, even a minor bowl most years, I'd be happy. I know I'll get strafed for this comment, and accused of setting my standards too low, but I doubt if we'll ever be in the top two or three teams in the SEC East and competing for the SEC Championship. Certainly not in my lifetime.

[Matt Dillon]

Might be time to consider another conference just for football if that is even an option.

The only way to leave the SEC, only in fb, would be to play fb as an independent. I've advocated leaving the SEC for years, but it's not happening. There's too much at stake financially. Personally, I'd like to see us move to the ACC. I know it's still a tough fb conference, but it's not the SEC. Also, can you imagine the ACC with Duke, UNC and UK in bb?

[KCKUKFan]

Obviously, you don't fire a coach one game into the season. All I've been trying to say is that this team hasn't improved an iota since Stoops' second year. It's still the same maddening mistakes on offense and defense. And the playmakers are there now (at least on offense), so that's not a good enough excuse.

Losing at home to a Sun Belt team was acceptable his first year. Maybe even his second year.

This is his fourth year, equipped with competitive talent, and it's the same garbage.

I'll give him til the end of the year and hope for the best, but this is not going to get any better. Anybody who thinks it is is pumping the sunshine.

Hopefully I eat a big plate of crow.