Biggest UK Football historical mistakes

[Basil Cat]

I know the list could be long, but here are mine
1. Not hiring Schnellenberger
2. Naming Joker “coach in waiting”
3. Hiring basketball centric AD’s

Is next big one upon us??? Not capitalizing on NIL to maintain our momentum with Stoops?

 

[Tskware]

Running off Dusty Bonner and naming Lorenzon the starter after spring practice, destroyed the 2000 season and ended up contributing to getting Mumme fired, while putting us on probation. Was the single dumbest move that I ever saw a UK coach make, even worse than Couch in the option, this was totally self inflicted and a completely unnecessary dumbass move.

 

[cat_in_the_hat]

I know the list could be long, but here are mine
1. Not hiring Schnellenberger
2. Naming Joker “coach in waiting”
3. Hiring basketball centric AD’s

Is next big one upon us??? Not capitalizing on NIL to maintain our momentum with Stoops?

I guess I don't buy into a lot of what is written here. If there is a NIL problem, I don't think it's UK related. I think it's much more likely that being a small market team is the source of any NIL problems we may have.

 

[Crystalglass]

Number one has to be not getting the deal finalized for Bill Parcel's horse farm in time.

 

[BlueRaider22]

I'd say that it starts very early.

-We had some good teams from around 1903-1913......but then dropped off.
-Then we got lucky and had Bear Bryant......which not keeping him is what I think is our biggest mistake.
-Not hiring Schnelly



I don't think don't think naming Joker CIW was a big deal. Unfortunately, it's just another block in a huge foundation of very poor program performance in total.

I also think it's too early to tell what kind of impact the NIL has had on UK's football team. It could be a good thing or a turrible thing. Time will tell.

 

[THE_OAK]

Hiring Bill Curry and giving him too long of a leash.

 

[Deli owl]

Paul Bear Bryant

next thread...

 

[m080470]

1.) The state legislature passing a law in the 1950's that a majority of all scholarship players had to be KY residents. It was.crippling to our football program that was taking off under Bryant and drove Hall of Fame coach Blanton Collier out of Lexington.
2.) Not hiring Schnellenberger. But I think he should have gotten the job over Claiborne in 1981, I'm not talking about 1988 with Curry. Claiborne was an outstanding coach but was coming to the end of his career. Howard was starting to take off and according to the Bear Bryant biography "The Last Coach", Schnellenberger was who Bryant considered his most brilliant protege.
3.) Joker HCIW. Brooks had achieved a level of respectability and consistency with the program and had us at a point where we were an attractive job for a good name if not a great one. I understand the logic at the time but it was apparent before the first season was over that a mistake was made.

Honorable mention: Opting to delay the bowl sanction in 1976. UK was given the option staying home in 1976 or taking the penalty in 1977. UK decided to take the Peach Bowl in 1976 with 8-3 record as a sure thing. 1977 was one of the greatest seasons ever in UK history and probably a lock for the Sugar Bowl but we had to stay home.

Bonner should have been starter over Lorenzen in 2000. The first game against Louisville should have been a win. We let them come back after the lightning delay and then being first and goal inside the 3 and going three straight pass plays and the a FG attempt by a freshman who had tried a college field goal and missing to end the game, we went into a death spiral that ended in probation.

 

[1977 Cat]

1.) The state legislature passing a law in the 1950's that a majority of all scholarship players had to be KY residents. It was.crippling to our football program that was taking off under Bryant and drove Hall of Fame coach Blanton Collier out of Lexington.
2.) Not hiring Schnellenberger. But I think he should have gotten the job over Claiborne in 1981, I'm not talking about 1988 with Curry. Claiborne was an outstanding coach but was coming to the end of his career. Howard was starting to take off and according to the Bear Bryant biography "The Last Coach", Schnellenberger was who Bryant considered his most brilliant protege.
3.) Joker HCIW. Brooks had achieved a level of respectability and consistency with the program and had us at a point where we were an attractive job for a good name if not a great one. I understand the logic at the time but it was apparent before the first season was over that a mistake was made.

Honorable mention: Opting to delay the bowl sanction in 1976. UK was given the option staying home in 1976 or taking the penalty in 1977. UK decided to take the Peach Bowl in 1976 with 8-3 record as a sure thing. 1977 was one of the greatest seasons ever in UK history and probably a lock for the Sugar Bowl but we had to stay home.

Bonner should have been starter over Lorenzen in 2000. The first game against Louisville should have been a win. We let them come back after the lightning delay and then being first and goal inside the 3 and going three straight pass plays and the a FG attempt by a freshman who had tried a college field goal and missing to end the game, we went into a death spiral that ended in probation.

That covers alot. Most people don't the football team was sacrificed and put on probation to keep the basketball team eligible. That was the decision of the former basketball player who was AD.

 

[mrschwump]

Hiring Bill Curry and giving him too long of a leash.

Not going to argue that hiring Curry wasn't a mistake but there's a little more to it. While at Alabama, Curry had Don Lindsey as DC and Homer Smith as OC. At the time they were recognized as two of, if not the best, coordinators in the business. When hired Curry wanted to bring them to UK but Newton balked at paying them what they deserved.

Rumor at the time was they flew into Lexington, Newton picked them up, drove them around town/campus, met briefly in Newton's office and then Newton drove them back to the airport, put them on a plane and they were gone forever. Lindsey eventually went to Arkansas where he built top notch defenses on New Years Day type bowl teams. Smith went to UCLA where he developed top offenses, top players on top teams. Curry, dealing with Newton's leftovers, could only hire first time OC/DC with disasterous results.

Yes, Curry was a bad hire but Newton hamstrung him from the get-go.

 

[ptril]

The Booster's Club giving Bear Bryant a cigarette lighter while givng Adolph Rupp a Cadillac!

 

[point1zerorock]

m080470’s post above pretty much nailed it. At least the top 2

1) scholarship limitations in the 50’s-60’s.
How stupid!!
2) hiring Claiborne 10-15 years too late
3) not hiring Howard right after Claiborne

In a perfect world Claiborne would’ve been hired in his prime in the late 60’s-early 70’s and then retired mid 80’s instead of late 80’s opening the door for Howard in the mid 80’s.

Timing on #3 was just off so not sure it was a “mistake” as much as unfortunate timing.

 

[SaltyCat22]

Wearing the chrome domes for the CBS game in Athens last season. Really hurt our 2023 recruiting class. The white interlocking UK is a horrible choice for a day game on the chrome helmet. You wouldn’t know who Georgia was playing looking at GameDay helmet set-up.

 

[Bluuu]

Wearing the chrome domes for the CBS game in Athens last season. Really hurt our 2023 recruiting class. The white interlocking UK is a horrible choice for a day game on the chrome helmet. You wouldn’t know who Georgia was playing looking at GameDay helmet set-up.

I know the list could be long, but here are mine
1. Not hiring Schnellenberger
2. Naming Joker “coach in waiting”
3. Hiring basketball centric AD’s

Is next big one upon us??? Not capitalizing on NIL to maintain our momentum with Stoops?

Rich Brooks was fine, but we have the opportunity to hire Mike Leach but Mike didn’t want any associates of Hal Mummie. Leach would have been here forever and we would have avoided the Joker mistake and UK would have build a brand Nation wide that would have been so fun.

 

[ukalum1988]

That covers alot. Most people don't the football team was sacrificed and put on probation to keep the basketball team eligible. That was the decision of the former basketball player who was AD.

Assume you’re referring to the Honorable Mention of 1976 probation(?). What was the deal with the BB team almost getting nailed instead? That’s something I’m curious to know more about…. Thanks.

 

[jlkirk]

Rich Brooks was fine, but we have the opportunity to hire Mike Leach but Mike didn’t want any associates of Hal Mummie. Leach would have been here forever and we would have avoided the Joker mistake and UK would have build a brand Nation wide that would have been so fun.

Bluuu,
I think your reference to "Mike" not wanting any associates of Mumme, is actually "Mitch", as in "Mitch Barnhart", IIRC.
Thanks.

 

[WildCard]

The Booster's Club giving Bear Bryant a cigarette lighter while givng Adolph Rupp a Cadillac!

Dammit! That is what I was going to post! Well, you know that saying about great minds.

Peace

 

[Deeeefense]

Running off Dusty Bonner and naming Lorenzon the starter after spring practice, destroyed the 2000 season and ended up contributing to getting Mumme fired, while putting us on probation. Was the single dumbest move that I ever saw a UK coach make, even worse than Couch in the option, this was totally self inflicted and a completely unnecessary dumbass move.

Not saying you are wrong, frankly I have no idea. But I remember that spring game and Bonner's throws looked like rainbows and Lorenzen's looked like lazar darts. After that game all people talked about was J-Lo and his NFL arm, fans said they would be crazy to let a guy with that kind of talent sit on the bench.

The Hefty Lefty went on to chalk up 10,354 career yards and is now ranked 7th all time in the SEC for passing yards. Maybe Mumme wasn't so dumb?

 

[College#19]

1. Not hiring Schnellenberger. This program could be another 5 or 10 years ahead of schedule if Kentucky would of hired him.
2. Hiring Joker. This program cannot afford those types of misses.
3. Not providing better compliance oversight during the Mumme years. I truly believe Mumme was so ahead of his time if he would of gotten the proper support UK could of been a beast in the SEC East.
4. Letting Bear Bryant get out of town. WTH was UK thinking?

 

[Deeeefense]

1. Not hiring Schnellenberger. This program could be another 5 or 10 years ahead of schedule if Kentucky would of hired him.
2. Hiring Joker. This program cannot afford those types of misses.
3. Not providing better compliance oversight during the Mumme years. I truly believe Mumme was so ahead of his time if he would of gotten the proper support UK could of been a beast in the SEC East.
4. Letting Bear Bryant get out of town. WTH was UK thinking?

Totally agree on 1 and 4
On 2, everyone blames Mitch for Joker but it was Brooks that sold Mitch on the CIW thing, and to be honest, if you looked at Joker's body of work as an OC and how well liked he was by everyone it wasn't a bad choice - as always hind sight is 2020.
On 3, totally disagree there. Mumme has had several other coaching stops since then and has failed at all of them. He had a unique and successful offensive scheme that worked well for a couple of years and then teams started to learn how to defend it and it was much less effective, but the bigger point is Mumme was not a program manager. He was bullheaded regarding keeping the worst DC in the history of Kentucky football - Mike Major, wouldn't speak to his OC on game day, in his last year and failed to properly oversee the activities of his renegade recruiting coordinator Claud Bassett that got us the worst sanctions in the history of the program which took several years to recover from.

 

[Kybluedude]

1.) The state legislature passing a law in the 1950's that a majority of all scholarship players had to be KY residents. It was.crippling to our football program that was taking off under Bryant and drove Hall of Fame coach Blanton Collier out of Lexington.
2.) Not hiring Schnellenberger. But I think he should have gotten the job over Claiborne in 1981, I'm not talking about 1988 with Curry. Claiborne was an outstanding coach but was coming to the end of his career. Howard was starting to take off and according to the Bear Bryant biography "The Last Coach", Schnellenberger was who Bryant considered his most brilliant protege.
3.) Joker HCIW. Brooks had achieved a level of respectability and consistency with the program and had us at a point where we were an attractive job for a good name if not a great one. I understand the logic at the time but it was apparent before the first season was over that a mistake was made.

Honorable mention: Opting to delay the bowl sanction in 1976. UK was given the option staying home in 1976 or taking the penalty in 1977. UK decided to take the Peach Bowl in 1976 with 8-3 record as a sure thing. 1977 was one of the greatest seasons ever in UK history and probably a lock for the Sugar Bowl but we had to stay home.

Bonner should have been starter over Lorenzen in 2000. The first game against Louisville should have been a win. We let them come back after the lightning delay and then being first and goal inside the 3 and going three straight pass plays and the a FG attempt by a freshman who had tried a college field goal and missing to end the game, we went into a death spiral that ended in probation.

That’s really a solid list

 

[catben]

On 2, everyone blames Mitch for Joker but it was Brooks that sold Mitch on the CIW thing, and to be honest, if you looked at Joker's body of work as an OC and how well liked he was by everyone it wasn't a bad choice - as always hind sight is 2020.

Actually I knew some people close to the program when Coach Brooks retired and they told a MUCH different story behind the Joker hire.

Coach Brooks did NOT want to retire as UK HC, but Mitch wouldn't commit to the upgrades he wanted at the time. Mitch wanted a new baseball and softball facility plus the Memorial Coliseum renovations before he would commit to football upgrades. Coach Brooks was PISSED over it. Joker and Mitch were REAL TIGHT and Joker was a former Wildcat that had success as Coach Brooks OC. Joker also agreed to WAIT on the upgrades and not complain like Coach Brooks had been doing his last season here. So, Coach Brooks didn't endorse Joker to be the successor, he just went along with it because he was an EXTREMELY honorable man.

 

[Father Torque]

Actually I knew some people close to the program when Coach Brooks retired and they told a MUCH different story behind the Joker hire.

Coach Brooks did NOT want to retire as UK HC, but Mitch wouldn't commit to the upgrades he wanted at the time. Mitch wanted a new baseball and softball facility plus the Memorial Coliseum renovations before he would commit to football upgrades. Coach Brooks was PISSED over it. Joker and Mitch were REAL TIGHT and Joker was a former Wildcat that had success as Coach Brooks OC. Joker also agreed to WAIT on the upgrades and not complain like Coach Brooks had been doing his last season here. So, Coach Brooks didn't endorse Joker to be the successor, he just went along with it because he was an EXTREMELY honorable man.

I also heard from somebody close to the program that there was a gentlemen's agreement between Rich and Joker that Joker would retain a certain couple of coaches because they just needed a few more years for a pension or something. Then Joker immediately cut them loose when he got the job.

 

[TopCatCal]

1. Hiring Bill Curry when they should have hired Howard Schnellenberger
2. Hiring Joker Phillips when they should have hired Mike Leach

 

[ukalum1988]

I also heard from somebody close to the program that there was a gentlemen's agreement between Rich and Joker that Joker would retain a certain couple of coaches because they just needed a few more years for a pension or something. Then Joker immediately cut them loose when he got the job.

Yeah.... I remember Joker firing the ST coach Ortmayer (?) (sp?) shortly before fall camp, That was a real dick move.

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

The Booster's Club giving Bear Bryant a cigarette lighter while givng Adolph Rupp a Cadillac!

Good story but never happened.

Myths And Legends About Paul "Bear" Bryant And Adolph Rupp At the University Of Kentucky

Myths And Legends About Paul "Bear" Bryant And Adolph Rupp At the University Of Kentucky. Are the legends true?

www.aseaofblue.com

 

[Blueaz]

I’ve got a long list of grievances, and you people are going to read about it!!
Letting Bear walk…
Not firing Curci sooner
Hiring Mummie
Hiring Curry at all…
Marty “effin” Moore. “Just Go Down!”… still smh
Bill Curry saying bettors gave him death threats… (for not covering and alluding that may have been involved in the shooting)
LSU…. Still smh
Anytime MB speaks…
Joker
“They spose to be SEC”
The guy that got kicked off for being falsely accused
Taking seats out of COMMONWEALTH stadium. Fvck Krogerery and CM Newton Field
Giving Fl the game on 2x not having enough players on the field
Gettin pumped by Woolford, and no reach arround.
CRod suspension
This year’s offense, record, effort and then rewarding that, with top ten coaching pay
Vince’s agent
No beer
Lack of NIL concern
Sharing of practice facilities

Happy Festivus !!! Put the pole away!

 

[TucsonCat]

Actually I knew some people close to the program when Coach Brooks retired and they told a MUCH different story behind the Joker hire.

Coach Brooks did NOT want to retire as UK HC, but Mitch wouldn't commit to the upgrades he wanted at the time. Mitch wanted a new baseball and softball facility plus the Memorial Coliseum renovations before he would commit to football upgrades. Coach Brooks was PISSED over it. Joker and Mitch were REAL TIGHT and Joker was a former Wildcat that had success as Coach Brooks OC. Joker also agreed to WAIT on the upgrades and not complain like Coach Brooks had been doing his last season here. So, Coach Brooks didn't endorse Joker to be the successor, he just went along with it because he was an EXTREMELY honorable man.

And also, Joker promised not to ever campaign for alcohol to be sold at Commonwealth. And that if NIL ever became a thing, he wouldn't advocate for a collective. And he would button the top button on polos when he wore them.

These bullshyt rumors always have that extra detail that make no sense, but seem to fit into extraneous facts. Yes, Joker agreed not to complain about the facilities, and also shared that with someone who could tell the story one day.

 

[Beach_Cat]

Running off Dusty Bonner and naming Lorenzon the starter after spring practice, destroyed the 2000 season and ended up contributing to getting Mumme fired, while putting us on probation. Was the single dumbest move that I ever saw a UK coach make, even worse than Couch in the option, this was totally self inflicted and a completely unnecessary dumbass move.

Couch in the option has to be the dumbest decision of all time. I mean nothing is dumber not even close…😉

 

[catben]

And also, Joker promised not to ever campaign for alcohol to be sold at Commonwealth. And that if NIL ever became a thing, he wouldn't advocate for a collective. And he would button the top button on polos when he wore them.

These bullshyt rumors always have that extra detail that make no sense, but seem to fit into extraneous facts. Yes, Joker agreed not to complain about the facilities, and also shared that with someone who could tell the story one day.

I don't care if you believe it or not, it IS what happened.

Joker was an EXTREMELY ambitious dude that burnt a lot of bridges along the way. Coach Brooks was and STILL is PURE class.

 

[WildcatStu1]

1.) The state legislature passing a law in the 1950's that a majority of all scholarship players had to be KY residents. It was.crippling to our football program that was taking off under Bryant and drove Hall of Fame coach Blanton Collier out of Lexington.
2.) Not hiring Schnellenberger. But I think he should have gotten the job over Claiborne in 1981, I'm not talking about 1988 with Curry. Claiborne was an outstanding coach but was coming to the end of his career. Howard was starting to take off and according to the Bear Bryant biography "The Last Coach", Schnellenberger was who Bryant considered his most brilliant protege.
3.) Joker HCIW. Brooks had achieved a level of respectability and consistency with the program and had us at a point where we were an attractive job for a good name if not a great one. I understand the logic at the time but it was apparent before the first season was over that a mistake was made.

Honorable mention: Opting to delay the bowl sanction in 1976. UK was given the option staying home in 1976 or taking the penalty in 1977. UK decided to take the Peach Bowl in 1976 with 8-3 record as a sure thing. 1977 was one of the greatest seasons ever in UK history and probably a lock for the Sugar Bowl but we had to stay home.

Bonner should have been starter over Lorenzen in 2000. The first game against Louisville should have been a win. We let them come back after the lightning delay and then being first and goal inside the 3 and going three straight pass plays and the a FG attempt by a freshman who had tried a college field goal and missing to end the game, we went into a death spiral that ended in probation.

Probably best list so far. Disagree with last paragraph though. Not on who should have started, my thoughts 50/50 on starter. The first game of season though, we had ball 1st and goal inside the 3. We were on right hash mark. Lorenzen had hurt his hand earlier so couldn’t take a snap under center, but instead of handing the ball off to RB, Mumme called three straight runs by Lorenzen. The worst part we’re all three runs were to the right. We got to the one but we’re still on right hash mark. Makes the kick from that angle So Much Harder. Kicker has to kick it hard which keeps the ball lower and it got blocked. If Mumme just sets the ball to the middle of the field, we kick an extra point FG and it doesn’t get blocked. Worst game decision I’ve seen. We win that game and we are tied with UL on modern day series.

 

[Tskware]

Couch in the option has to be the dumbest decision of all time. I mean nothing is dumber not even close…😉

Well, lets say reasonable people could disagree, but it certainly is in the discussion.