ADVERTISEMENT

Gilmore gone

That for sure doesn't help. My point is, there are schools out there that are raising the bar out of the reach of schools like UK. When schools are budgeting $20 million a year for their roster, UK and many others can't compete with that.

20 million, much closer to 30m. UGA has tried to sign several from portal, was outbid on all, on signing day went 0 for 4 on instate kids, a DL got 3m from Texas. Kirby funnels UGA nil to retaining players he wants to keep. It is never the top bidder on a player. And now, players have wanted the same freedom to move like coaches, UGA is adding a buyout. You want to leave pay the buyout. But as things are going, UGA will be struggling getting bow eligible if it cost 25m to be competitive.

It's not just a UK problem, it's a college athletics problem. There are no rules, teams can contact your good players offer them big raises, kids are sueing and winning to get more eligibility because they aren't likely going to make it in NFL. A kid can go JUCO, sign with BYU, go on his 2 year .mission, RS and get a medical RS and be in college 10 years playing ball. But once the court system gets involved all logic goes out the window and the usage of a word changes everything and voids what both parties want.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: sieken
20 million, much closer to 30m. UGA has tried to sign several from portal, was outbid on all, on signing day went 0 for 4 on instate kids, a DL got 3m from Texas. Kirby funnels UGA nil to retaining players he wants to keep. It is never the top bidder on a player. And now, players have wanted the same freedom to move like coaches, UGA is adding a buyout. You want to leave pay the buyout. But as things are going, UGA will be struggling getting bow eligible if it cost 25m to be competitive.
Did I hear correctly that Beck tools around in a $300,000 Lamborghini?
 
I think Stoops will stay at least another two years, Barnhart may not fire him no matter what. As others have pointed out, what did it gain A&M to pay $75M to Fisher, then spend another butt load of money on a new coach and staff, and another butt load on NIL . . . only to go 8-5?

Honestly, I have said for a long time now that I seriously doubt Kentucky has the financial resources to play the NIL/transfer portal game successfully, so from a business sense, what good does it do to waste $44M or $33M or even $22M to buy out Stoops, if you then have to go out and spend a ton more money on new coaches and players?
It’s only Elko’s first year but even if it’s the same performance again next year, I get it… at least they feel like they’re taking their swings.
 
This tells me that Stoops is sticking with the same VANILLA offense that he has FORCED on every OC he's had here.

Why would ANY WR that wants to play in an exciting offense have a desire to play here????

SAD
If he gets back to the offense that won us 10 games then I’ll take it. Were you all pissed when we were running it down people’s throats and winning Citrus Bowls?
 
If he gets back to the offense that won us 10 games then I’ll take it. Were you all pissed when we were running it down people’s throats and winning Citrus Bowls?
That was with All-American O-Linemen and NFL RB's and an All-American LB and NFL DB's!!! Then with an NFL QB, RB, WR and a defense that was top 10 in the country.

Do you see that being the case next season or the one after that?????

I don't.
 
20 million, much closer to 30m. UGA has tried to sign several from portal, was outbid on all, on signing day went 0 for 4 on instate kids, a DL got 3m from Texas. Kirby funnels UGA nil to retaining players he wants to keep. It is never the top bidder on a player. And now, players have wanted the same freedom to move like coaches, UGA is adding a buyout. You want to leave pay the buyout. But as things are going, UGA will be struggling getting bow eligible if it cost 25m to be competitive.

It's not just a UK problem, it's a college athletics problem. There are no rules, teams can contact your good players offer them big raises, kids are sueing and winning to get more eligibility because they aren't likely going to make it in NFL. A kid can go JUCO, sign with BYU, go on his 2 year .mission, RS and get a medical RS and be in college 10 years playing ball. But once the court system gets involved all logic goes out the window and the usage of a word changes everything and voids what both parties want.

Well, come on now, I read yesterday that on the current roster, UGA has 69 4 and 5 star recruits, the most of any team in the country, so under any reasonable scenario I find it VERY hard to believe Georgia is going to go 5-7 or 4-8 anytime soon.

I do agree with the 2nd paragraph of your post 1000%. The current system just can't be sustainable, otherwise, the teams will be fully professional and only loosely affiliated with their "host" schools. Hell, that may be at least partially true now.
 
I like Stoops, always have. I draw a different conclusion from all of this though. I think it's more likely, at least in my opinion, that whoever the coach is over the next five years, UK is getting closer and closer to not being able to afford a competitive football team.
I do think the lack of success on offense opens door for these conversations but the odds are the kid is getting more money. The odds are in the coaches opinion was the kid wasn’t worth the asking price.

The market is extremely fluid. For example UT looses a couple of WR’s recently the market for WR just went up. Not saying that is who is calling just UT may of been window shopping then their best receiver enters the portal now they are really in buy mode.

What fans don’t know is maybe the staff has guys interested and were willing to let him go.

This is why high school recruiting in this environment is crazy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sieken
Sounds like he may go to OM, FSU or Miami, they appear to be the most likely. OM is tampering with multiple rosters. Been called out on it too, just falls on deaf ears, NCAA has zero authority, whoever will just sue and NCAA has lost more than the Washington generals.
Let’s be honest every team is and has been tempering the only difference is how much money teams are throwing around in SEC and at other places that have big donors.
 
If he gets back to the offense that won us 10 games then I’ll take it. Were you all pissed when we were running it down people’s throats and winning Citrus Bowls?


Lmao.

You are so fricken delusional and if mark stoops asked you to give him a blowie you’d hit your knees with a quickness.

But to answer your question- yes. That season was the EXCEPTION. Not the rule. And we won 9 games and a bowl. Major difference. 10 wins has not been done here and it also means a most likely playoff birth. 9 does not.

But let’s look at it:
Oh wait it’s vacated. But we can still discuss

Started off pummeling a shit team.

Won the Missouri game who finished 3-5/6-7

Needed a lucky break to beat the might moccasins of Chattanooga

Beat 3-5/7-6 South Carolina by 6

Beat 2-6/6-7 Florida by 7

Won good at 3-5/6-7 lsu


Now we think we’re good. We’re super hyped(even though people who can actually comprehend football knew we were closer to Florida/sc than Georgia) Then came the annual Georgia game where we looked like complete dog crap.

Then came the annual pre/post Georgia game complete cluster**** and giving away of a game because stoops is COMPLETELY unable of getting over a big loss and a loss to 4-4/7-6 Mississippi state

Next up: another loss to 4-4/7-6 Tennessee

Get back in the W column with a MASSIVE win over 0-8/2-0 Vanderbilt

Then patsy New Mexico State and Louisville to round it out.


In other words, we will NEVER have a gift schedule like that again and stoops STILL found a way to fuc@ it up. With a semblance of competence we should’ve been in a fricken playoff position.


Stoops boot lickers- really can’t believe any exist anymore but you and bbinsanity must be his lovers or something- use that vacated season as a “but but, what about…”. When in reality it’s THE most telling season of just how bad stoops is as a coach. For example: Indiana just had A very similar schedule to our NINE win season. And a similar team to us- not elite but better than middling teams and they did what they needed to do. We needed a miracle to beat the moccasins.

Suck off stoops all you want but it only makes you look like a moron.
 
Lmao.

You are so fricken delusional and if mark stoops asked you to give him a blowie you’d hit your knees with a quickness.

But to answer your question- yes. That season was the EXCEPTION. Not the rule. And we won 9 games and a bowl. Major difference. 10 wins has not been done here and it also means a most likely playoff birth. 9 does not.

But let’s look at it:
Oh wait it’s vacated. But we can still discuss

Started off pummeling a shit team.

Won the Missouri game who finished 3-5/6-7

Needed a lucky break to beat the might moccasins of Chattanooga

Beat 3-5/7-6 South Carolina by 6

Beat 2-6/6-7 Florida by 7

Won good at 3-5/6-7 lsu


Now we think we’re good. We’re super hyped(even though people who can actually comprehend football knew we were closer to Florida/sc than Georgia) Then came the annual Georgia game where we looked like complete dog crap.

Then came the annual pre/post Georgia game complete cluster**** and giving away of a game because stoops is COMPLETELY unable of getting over a big loss and a loss to 4-4/7-6 Mississippi state

Next up: another loss to 4-4/7-6 Tennessee

Get back in the W column with a MASSIVE win over 0-8/2-0 Vanderbilt

Then patsy New Mexico State and Louisville to round it out.


In other words, we will NEVER have a gift schedule like that again and stoops STILL found a way to fuc@ it up. With a semblance of competence we should’ve been in a fricken playoff position.


Stoops boot lickers- really can’t believe any exist anymore but you and bbinsanity must be his lovers or something- use that vacated season as a “but but, what about…”. When in reality it’s THE most telling season of just how bad stoops is as a coach. For example: Indiana just had A very similar schedule to our NINE win season. And a similar team to us- not elite but better than middling teams and they did what they needed to do. We needed a miracle to beat the moccasins.

Suck off stoops all you want but it only makes you look like a moron.

That was about as 2024 Indiana Like schedule a team will ever get n sec play.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PhattyJ4UK
Maclin was "gone" until he wasn't. And the vast majority of portal transfers are players who were shown the door by their former schools. None of those guys are coming back. Gilmore will make the deal that is best for him and what those other players (the ones who actually had a choice; most don't) did is irrelevant to that.
Except he didn’t even enter the portal. He waited till Dane and barion made their decisions. Gilmore waited till the last minute to enter. 99% chance he had his destination b4 enterIng
 
  • Like
Reactions: THE_OAK
If he gets back to the offense that won us 10 games then I’ll take it. Were you all pissed when we were running it down people’s throats and winning Citrus Bowls?
2021 we won because we had our only functional passing offense. In 2018 we weren’t running it down throats we were just playing ‘don’t turn it over’ football because that was an elite defense with our only top level pass rush during stoops time thanks to Josh Allen.
 
I think Stoops will stay at least another two years, Barnhart may not fire him no matter what. As others have pointed out, what did it gain A&M to pay $75M to Fisher, then spend another butt load of money on a new coach and staff, and another butt load on NIL . . . only to go 8-5?

Honestly, I have said for a long time now that I seriously doubt Kentucky has the financial resources to play the NIL/transfer portal game successfully, so from a business sense, what good does it do to waste $44M or $33M or even $22M to buy out Stoops, if you then have to go out and spend a ton more money on new coaches and players?
There won’t be any fans left if he is here for two more years.
 
Texas had it this year. Actually prob easier than UKs

Nope.

Georgia cancels out but AM is better than anyone else that was on our schedule. Then they had Arkansas and Vandy who had top ten wins. Don’t think any of our opponents had any good wins. Tennessees best win was us. Lost every other ranked opponent. South Carolina lost to every ranked opponent.
LSU had Florida and Aand M wins but neither were top ten.

And they also destroyed their cupcakes unlike us. We really should’ve lost that UTC game. Miss st best win was vs us followed by AM.


But regardless, Texas did what they had to do against the schedule. Stoops did not.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JHannibalSmith
That was with All-American O-Linemen and NFL RB's and an All-American LB and NFL DB's!!! Then with an NFL QB, RB, WR and a defense that was top 10 in the country.

Do you see that being the case next season or the one after that?????

I don't.

Do you not think that offense that controlled the clock, dominated time of possession had anything to do with those defensive numbers? And yes multiple posters complained about winng games 17-10, they wanted to score points. CMS biggest mistake was getting away from what he did best, losing his OL coach really hurt the program, more than people thought it would. And then trying to open the offense up have proved to be mistakes. But fans are ready for a change, and maybe it's time,
 
There won’t be any fans left if he is here for two more years.
I will most likely always watch and be a hardcore UK fan but between us sucking ass, the offense being the worst to watch in D1 and the idiotic no-rules transfer portal has made me really question why I still follow. A couple more seasons of this may get me to break.
 
Last edited:
I will most likely awlays watch and be a hardcore UK fan but between us sucking ass, the offense being the worst to watch in D1 and the idiotic no-rules transfer portal has made me really question why I still follow. A couple more seasons of this may get me to break.
I wonder if the big schools will figure out there won't be the money left if half of colleges basically have to "nope" out of D1 due to nil? The nba is about to learn this lesson hard.
 
Stoops defenders if there are any left sure will be real quiet on this one
I’m a stoops defender. Sad to see it but I haven’t lost sleep, waiting to see how the portal haul turns out. Have a lot of mid major guys who could be big contributors or not coming in but no matter what stoops earned my trust a long time ago. Still believe egos have taken a toll on us recently and maybe having lower expectations might be good. Our identity used to be grit, working harder than you, being more physical than you but that seems to have gone away lately.
 
I’m a stoops defender. Sad to see it but I haven’t lost sleep, waiting to see how the portal haul turns out. Have a lot of mid major guys who could be big contributors or not coming in but no matter what stoops earned my trust a long time ago. Still believe egos have taken a toll on us recently and maybe having lower expectations might be good. Our identity used to be grit, working harder than you, being more physical than you but that seems to have gone away lately.
My personal opinion is that we’ve been mostly treading water in the portal. I like a few of the guys we’ve added, but I see nothing (yet) that leads me to believe we’ll improve over last year’s 4-8 record.
 
My personal opinion is that we’ve been mostly treading water in the portal. I like a few of the guys we’ve added, but I see nothing (yet) that leads me to believe we’ll improve over last year’s 4-8 record.
Oh I don’t think that’s far off record wise. Schedule is beyond brutal. That’s kind of been my point for a while though. Us regularly getting to even six wins will be insanely hard going forward. I don’t think it is as simple as: “it’s just coaching”.
 
Nope.

Georgia cancels out but AM is better than anyone else that was on our schedule. Then they had Arkansas and Vandy who had top ten wins. Don’t think any of our opponents had any good wins. Tennessees best win was us. Lost every other ranked opponent. South Carolina lost to every ranked opponent.
LSU had Florida and Aand M wins but neither were top ten.

And they also destroyed their cupcakes unlike us. We really should’ve lost that UTC game. Miss st best win was vs us followed by AM.


But regardless, Texas did what they had to do against the schedule. Stoops did not.
😂 who trying to compare what UK did vs what Texas did or comparing coaches. That was good though
 
If he gets back to the offense that won us 10 games then I’ll take it. Were you all pissed when we were running it down people’s throats and winning Citrus Bowls?
Even that offense wasn't exactly good...but had really good players leading the charge (on both sides of the team) though. But there ain't no Benny Snells running through that door.

Also id argue that the defenses on those teams had more to do with us winning 10 games than the offense did. The defense was rated what...top 10 or 15 those years? The offense besides a good run game still would struggle to score points and was pretty putrid more often than not.
 
Last edited:
Do you not think that offense that controlled the clock, dominated time of possession had anything to do with those defensive numbers? And yes multiple posters complained about winng games 17-10, they wanted to score points. CMS biggest mistake was getting away from what he did best, losing his OL coach really hurt the program, more than people thought it would. And then trying to open the offense up have proved to be mistakes. But fans are ready for a change, and maybe it's time,
You just answered your own question AND mine. Stoops team next season doesn't have Schlarman to Coach the O-Line or future NFL players at numerous offensive and defensive positions.

I hope I'm wrong, but this program is no where near what is was just 5 years ago.
 
I wonder if the big schools will figure out there won't be the money left if half of colleges basically have to "nope" out of D1 due to nil? The nba is about to learn this lesson hard.
It is headed toward what major league baseball has become, the haves and have not's. The haves NEED the have not's to keep a schedule that is well rounded with opportunities to win enough games to keep their fans interested. The have not's will be thrown a few bones and paid enough to be able to build a winner ever so often, but not consistently.

The Bama's, Texas', OSU's, UGA's, LSU's, Penn St's, Mich's, Oregon's and a few others will be perennial powers because they will have the most money.

But when you think about it, not much has changed because those same teams have ALWAYS been on top.
 
Last edited:
Stoops built our program on recruit and develop. Portal and nil killed that momentum on at least offense. Defense somehow mostly keeps it rolling.

The only chance we have at consistently competing us to find a gran type oc. Stable, flexible, excellent at succeeding with a talent deficiency, and have us play physical and slow.
 
You just answered your own question AND mine. Stoops team next season doesn't have Schlarman to Coach the O-Line or future NFL players at numerous offensive and defensive positions.

I hope I'm wrong, but this program is no where near what is was just 5 years ago.
What makes you think it will ever be again? A small market team will more than likely be what most small market teams are. I hope they change the laws surrounding NIl because if they don’t I doubt Stoops or any coach will make of a difference aside from an occasional lucky year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bigblueinsanity
Stoops built our program on recruit and develop. Portal and nil killed that momentum on at least offense. Defense somehow mostly keeps it rolling.

The only chance we have at consistently competing us to find a gran type oc. Stable, flexible, excellent at succeeding with a talent deficiency, and have us play physical and slow.
Nil and the portal didn’t kill what UK was doing. In spite of recruiting higher rated players, their product has gotten worse. The guys they have brought in haven’t developed and before this year and had to transfer down a notch to play.

They are not doing a good job developing guys. Part of that is the constant revolving door of coaches on the offensive side. Also losing good coaches like clink and sumrall hasn’t helped. Like it or not it all falls back on stoops.

The last few years there has been a major shift in the culture of the program. Part of that is most likely bringing. In the portal guys to start over the young four star type guys they brought in and haven’t developed.

According to Rivals UK brought in 8 four star guys again this year. Last year they brought in the highest ranked Def class they ever had. Why should they have a huge talent deficiency? They do have a deficiency on offense but most of that is the guys leaving because the scheme etc sucks
 
What makes you think it will ever be again? A small market team will more than likely be what most small market teams are. I hope they change the laws surrounding NIl because if they don’t I doubt Stoops or any coach will make of a difference aside from an occasional lucky year.
How is USC-lite, Mizzou, Indiana or even Duke doing it then?????

Because they have kids that have bought into a system and have found a way to win 8/9/10 games. Mitch dropped the ball on NIL from the start which put UK behind. But, NIL was NOT the only reason Coach Stoops has allowed HIS program to slide all the way to where UK was his first few seasons.

EVALUATION of players he has brought in is what has KILLED UK over the past few seasons. The ONLY way "small market teams" can compete is to go above and beyond on evaluation, development, DISCIPLINE and attention to detail. All of which Coach Stoops has lost along the way. Hope he can figure it out, because we are STUCK with him for at least another 3 seasons because of that HORRIBLE buyout in the contract Mitch gave him.
 
Oh I don’t think that’s far off record wise. Schedule is beyond brutal. That’s kind of been my point for a while though. Us regularly getting to even six wins will be insanely hard going forward. I don’t think it is as simple as: “it’s just coaching”.
But it is coaching. Stoops’ best performing stretch at UK coincided with going 17-3 against the specific coaches of satterfield, mason, Muschamp and Odom. He has been 6-8 against their replacements. Huge swing in win % against our class of teams just by them getting rid of their own versions of inept coaches.
 
Did I hear correctly that Beck tools around in a $300,000 Lamborghini?

He does, not sure if he bought it or if his GF bought it for him, but I suspect he did. She is an internet model, don't ask me how, but one of the Cavender twins that plays BB at Miami.

Now Gunner rides around in a 2 tone yellow 84 ford F150 with no air.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kybluedude
How is USC-lite, Mizzou, Indiana or even Duke doing it then?????

Because they have kids that have bought into a system and have found a way to win 8/9/10 games. Mitch dropped the ball on NIL from the start which put UK behind. But, NIL was NOT the only reason Coach Stoops has allowed HIS program to slide all the way to where UK was his first few seasons.

EVALUATION of players he has brought in is what has KILLED UK over the past few seasons. The ONLY way "small market teams" can compete is to go above and beyond on evaluation, development, DISCIPLINE and attention to detail. All of which Coach Stoops has lost along the way. Hope he can figure it out, because we are STUCK with him for at least another 3 seasons because of that HORRIBLE buyout in the contract Mitch gave him.

I hate to say this, but I think the single worst thing that happened to UK was the loss of the OL coach who passed away. He got his guys, not CMS's, not Vince's and he developed them. He was by far the best coach on the staff and his loss has been crippling. I am sorry to have to say that, but when his kids were gone, so was the BB Wall.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gamecockcat
I hate to say this, but I think the single worst thing that happened to UK was the loss of the OL coach who passed away. He got his guys, not CMS's, not Vince's and he developed them. He was by far the best coach on the staff and his loss has been crippling. I am sorry to have to say that, but when his kids were gone, so was the BB Wall.
Unfortunately 100% accurate.
 
Oh I don’t think that’s far off record wise. Schedule is beyond brutal. That’s kind of been my point for a while though. Us regularly getting to even six wins will be insanely hard going forward. I don’t think it is as simple as: “it’s just coaching”.
Agree! Those of us that talked about UK being in a weak SEC East for both 10-3 seasons as well as the bowl streak feel a little vindicated. The conference getting bigger and teams reclaiming their status, like UT, Mizzou, USC jr (UF will eventually as well) was always going to push UK back down the ladder.
 
  • Like
Reactions: B.B.H.
What makes you think it will ever be again? A small market team will more than likely be what most small market teams are. I hope they change the laws surrounding NIl because if they don’t I doubt Stoops or any coach will make of a difference aside from an occasional lucky year.

This really sucks but its reality. We are essentially a small market MLB team until something gets done, if it ever does. We will have to be very strategic about who we pay and we will never be able to match an offer if someone else REALLY wants one of our guys.

Just how it is. Next up will be staff because guys will want to coach somewhere they dont have constant churn and actually have a chance to stop fighting uphill. So any good coaches or coordinators you get will be poached.

As flawed as stoops is, he inspires loyalty from guys. Both white and marrow could've left for greener pastures. Gran too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: B.B.H.
How is USC-lite, Mizzou, Indiana or even Duke doing it then?????

Because they have kids that have bought into a system and have found a way to win 8/9/10 games. Mitch dropped the ball on NIL from the start which put UK behind. But, NIL was NOT the only reason Coach Stoops has allowed HIS program to slide all the way to where UK was his first few seasons.

EVALUATION of players he has brought in is what has KILLED UK over the past few seasons. The ONLY way "small market teams" can compete is to go above and beyond on evaluation, development, DISCIPLINE and attention to detail. All of which Coach Stoops has lost along the way. Hope he can figure it out, because we are STUCK with him for at least another 3 seasons because of that HORRIBLE buyout in the contract Mitch gave him.
To begin with your first sentence is wrong. Indiana didn't play anyone this, so that accounts for this year. Plus it's one year. UK has been better over the last 10 years than Indiana. Plus I would speculate that Indianapolis has much more NIL opportunities than any place in Kentucky. That may help them in the Big10. Mizzou also didn't play near the schedule we did, and they won't again next year. Again, what have they done that we haven't. Over the last 10 years we have been as good or better. I would also think Missouri has more NIL money than Kentucky because the St. Louis, but I would be surprised if they set the would on fire outside of the occasional decent year. USC-lite hasn't done anything we haven't done. Without looking, I would guess our bowl streak was longer than any team on your list until it ended this year.

I'm not to judge a team or a coach based the most recent year or two, especially since college sports are going through significant changes because of NIL. Just because a school has a good year or two doesn't mean that is going to be sustainable or that teams that hit bad year two won't recover. We'll see what happens but unless there are revisions to NIL laws, UK will probably not be as good as they were the last 10 years. I hope I'm wrong because I've been season ticket holder for around 35 years.
 
  • Love
Reactions: B.B.H.
Speaking from the heart, I watched a whole lot of bandwagon fans join the fray when Stoops started winning and I’m glad the football fanbase is larger than it was. However, I find a lot of those fans do not have context or historical basis on what expectations or challenges at Kentucky actually are. They think winning ten games or even eight games are something that should happen or it is not a good season. Stoops has created those expectations with his own bear hands —- that’s the part that gets lost when people have these discussions. Stoops alone is the reason why you think Kentucky can win ten games or sniff a football playoff or deserves better. Man got fans to believe he could win and then lost support over it.

Analogy I heard holds true: Eric Bischoff talking about paying big money contracts to his staff in WCW went on to say that he would notice how happy his roster would be when he would give them life-changing money. After awhile, they continued to get those checks and then receiving the big money would no longer satisfy them —- getting overpaid their prior value became normal and desensitizing —- a lot of them just moved onto other things to be incredibly upset over, such as a lack of top programs or trajectory of their push. That’s what Kentucky football fans have become —- ungrateful, at least a loud segment of the fanbase is.
 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT