I Can't Imagine Stoops Leaving Now

[Finna_Go_HAM]

I don't think I've ever been this disappointed in a UK football season, and I've been a fan since the late '70's. But that also speaks to how high expectations were, too. I expected us to probably go 10-2 this season, with a loss to UGa and one other game (just because it's the SEC). And I'm not advocating Stoops being fired, but being hired away was a BIG possibility if things went well.

The thing is Stoops isn't going to be hired away by Auburn, Nebraska, etc... now after this season's collapse. Imagine if you were an AD and trying to sell your fanbase on Stoops being a good hire right now. That school would be looking for a new AD soon after. The only way Stoops would look attractive as a potential hire this season is if UK were to beat Georgia and Louisville.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

Where would he go? No big time program is going to hire him and no program trying to rebuild will hire him.

His stock dropped as much as any coach in college football. A school will take one look at his putrid offense and line through his name.

 

[zannmann]

He isn’t walking away from the ridiculous contract Barney gave him.

 

[YardCat]

He needs to stay at UK and win 8-9 games a year.

 

[YaketySax]

I don't think losing to Vandy has anything to do with it. You expecting the team to go 10-2 probably paints your outlook very strongly I would guess.

His resume got saved in AD's files in 2018 (maybe earlier!), and then they won 9 games w/ a WR playing QB the very next year. They were fine during a weird COVID season, but then cemented everything with 10 wins again in 2021. Program builder who did more with less than most and stuck around to see it through.

He's a hot name and should be a hot name every year, and I hope he stays at UK forever.

 

[thegasman54]

Lol w that contract w nobody and I mean NOBODY wants him and his 1983 offense. He is milking this contract to no end. Heck he is probably praying to be fired ! Let’s see get paid exact same amount or deal w this mess?? Hmmm

 

[thegasman54]

I don't think losing to Vandy has anything to do with it. You expecting the team to go 10-2 probably paints your outlook very strongly I would guess.

His resume got saved in AD's files in 2018 (maybe earlier!), and then they won 9 games w/ a WR playing QB the very next year. They were fine during a weird COVID season, but then cemented everything with 10 wins again in 2021. Program builder who did more with less than most and stuck around to see it through.

He's a hot name and should be a hot name every year, and I hope he stays at UK forever.

Wow u realllyy think he is a hot name ? He is closer to a hot seat than a hot name.

 

[YaketySax]

Wow u realllyy think he is a hot name ? He is closer to a hot seat than a hot name.

You are really earning your message board name by saying Stoops is on a hot seat lol

 

[thegasman54]

You are really earning your message board name by saying Stoops is on a hot seat lol

Didn’t say he was on the hot seat ( that contract takes care of that ) but do you really think he is hot name ??
As he is closer to a hot seat than a hit name. What program is after him ??

 

[Madcat62]

he is not on the hot seat, but he is a far cry from a hot name

 

[YaketySax]

Didn’t say he was on the hot seat ( that contract takes care of that ) but do you really think he is hot name ??
As he is closer to a hot seat than a hit name. What program is after him ??

He's not on the hot seat by any means. He's accomplished 1,000 times what Joker did and look how long of a leash MB gave Joker.

I think most programs not in the Top 15 gauging coaching decisions would love to have him. I think the Top 15 are messing up by not considering him too. FSU messed up not taking him seriously a few years ago to our benefit.

I would say out of 130 or so FBS programs 100 of them would trade coaches with us.

 

[Ed323232]

That game means nothing to his reputation outside of Kentucky. If a school was interested before they will be now too.

 

[catben]

Fan bases want high powered offenses. What AD is willing to bring in Coach Stoops and his “Rock Fight” approach???? There is NO WAY any AD wants to sell a 10 year rebuild with a defensive minded coach that thinks scoring in the 20’s is all he needs.

We were so STARVED for a decent coach that could win 8 games, our AD took a chance on the brother of one that won a National Championship who was a great defensive mind. The difference in Bob and Mark is Bob hired Mike Leach and his high powered offense and let him run it, Mark has YET to do the same with his OC’s. Everyone knows this, especially AD’s at Bigtime programs.

 

[*CatinIL*]

Fan bases want high powered offenses. What AD is willing to bring in Coach Stoops and his “Rock Fight” approach???? There is NO WAY any AD wants to sell a 10 year rebuild with a defensive minded coach that thinks scoring in the 20’s is all he needs.

We were so STARVED for a decent coach that could win 8 games, our AD took a chance on the brother of one that won a National Championship who was a great defensive mind. The difference in Bob and Mark is Bob hired Mike Leach and his high powered offense and let him run it, Mark has YET to do the same with his OC’s. Everyone knows this, especially AD’s at Bigtime programs.

Nail meet Hammer...

 

[shyster51]

I think we are positioned well to keep Stoops!

 

[FtWorthCat]

Guy Morriss is the only UK coach in the last 70 years that left for another job. All the others have been fired, except for Brooks and Claiborne, who retired. UK is still a coaches graveyard.

 

[Cefiro]

I love how some fans are so concerned about him leaving when he’s not had 1 solid offer to leave since he’s been here. He has the best job in college football, win 7 games get another year added onto your contract while also making $7million a year.

He’s made almost $50million at UK, Would any other AD be dumb enough to pay him that much? Probably not.

 

[bigbluedon]

I think we are positioned well to keep Stoops!

That’s a shame.

 

[BGCATFAN2012]

We step way back next year so most fans are bitter right now. I thought this schedule and Rodriguez return meant 10 wins. Earned not given in the SEC.

 

[WildcatofNati]

We step way back next year so most fans are bitter right now. I thought this schedule and Rodriguez return meant 10 wins. Earned not given in the SEC.

Hard to say for sure next year looks bad, thanks to the portal. We do return a lot on defense and hopefully get Tisdale and Geiger back at full strength.

 

[LordEggForgotHisPassword]

Hope he is donating big time to NIL.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Fan bases want high powered offenses. What AD is willing to bring in Coach Stoops and his “Rock Fight” approach???? There is NO WAY any AD wants to sell a 10 year rebuild with a defensive minded coach that thinks scoring in the 20’s is all he needs.

We were so STARVED for a decent coach that could win 8 games, our AD took a chance on the brother of one that won a National Championship who was a great defensive mind. The difference in Bob and Mark is Bob hired Mike Leach and his high powered offense and let him run it, Mark has YET to do the same with his OC’s. Everyone knows this, especially AD’s at Bigtime programs.

Barnhardt got played big time by butch Jones and was left high and dry. That's when stoops approached Barnhardt with a plan and bailed him out. Funny because last hire was the same after he sunk his time into parcells just to have Brooks offer to bail him out.

Mark Stoops hired prolific OCS. Some of the best. His weakness is he can't stay out of their business. That's why they all start looking eerily similar over time.

 

[LexitonianCat]

Hard to say for sure next year looks bad, thanks to the portal. We do return a lot on defense and hopefully get Tisdale and Geiger back at full strength.

Not at all. We are losing our starting RB and someone who is obviously a huge difference maker. Our run game was trash before he got cleared in game 5. We lose Levis, who has been a disappointment this year but is still one of the best QB's we've had. And just as the portal can help us, it can equally hurt us. I expect several players to transfer out, particularly players on the offense. If we don't get a home run hire at OC, why would any players want to transfer here?

 

[sefus12]

I love how some fans are so concerned about him leaving when he’s not had 1 solid offer to leave since he’s been here. He has the best job in college football, win 7 games get another year added onto your contract while also making $7million a year.

He’s made almost $50million at UK, Would any other AD be dumb enough to pay him that much? Probably not.

Was it worth the nearly $50 million we’ve paid Stoops to get the program where it is and have the upgrades to facilities since he was hired? Id argue that it was. We were at a pretty miserable spot when he came in.

 

[LexitonianCat]

Was it worth the nearly $50 million we’ve paid Stoops to get the program where it is and have the upgrades to facilities since he was hired? Id argue that it was. We were at a pretty miserable spot when he came in.

IMO, it's only going to be worth it if we use that to propel us to the next level. If we just stay plateaued or regress, will it be worth it then? I appreciate Stoops, but I think he has peaked and we are likely going to struggle to maintain 10-2 or 9-3 type seasons going forward. The conference is only getting deeper and better.

 

[_ukcat]

We step way back next year so most fans are bitter right now. I thought this schedule and Rodriguez return meant 10 wins. Earned not given in the SEC.

This is why I am so pissed and disappointed about this Season. This year was what was going make what going to happen next season bearable. I had looked at how next year schedule was setup before Season got going. Knowing who was leaving and recruiting not as good as I thought it would be it was going to be tough to get over 7 wins even if we had had a Great year this season and showed great player development. After the total failure of the Offense and especially the Offensive line this season next year could be a struggle to get 5 wins.

 

[Jont0805]

IMO, it's only going to be worth it if we use that to propel us to the next level. If we just stay plateaued or regress, will it be worth it then? I appreciate Stoops, but I think he has peaked and we are likely going to struggle to maintain 10-2 or 9-3 type seasons going forward. The conference is only getting deeper and better.

I understand frustration with stoops and the program at this point. Completely wasted season and overall lack of effort or improvement for the first time in stoops tenure here, however those seem like high standards to say the money was worth it.


You want to maintain 10-2/9-3 seasons. Kentucky has had I think 2 ten win regular seasons in over 100 years,

Heck name me the last Kentucky coach to maintain a 5-7 season for their career, which is half of your goal and I will agree.

 

[catben]

I understand frustration with stoops and the program at this point. Completely wasted season and overall lack of effort or improvement for the first time in stoops tenure here, however those seem like high standards to say the money was worth it.


You want to maintain 10-2/9-3 seasons. Kentucky has had I think 2 ten win regular seasons in over 100 years,

Heck name me the last Kentucky coach to maintain a 5-7 season for their career, which is half of your goal and I will agree.

Why use our ridiculously horrible past as an excuse for where the program is now????

This program has more support in EVERY WAY than it ever had during the previous 100 years. So asking a coach with NFL talent to beat Vandy and USC or OleMiss by not giving those games away has NOTHING to do with our putrid past.

At this point the failures of this season are squarely on Coach Stoops and his staff. Heck, Coach Stoops and Marrow have RAISED expectations themselves. So after 10 years. The time is NOW!!

When UT and Ole Miss can be in the mix with high powered offenses in a MUCH SHORTER time span, the excuses ring HOLLOW!!!

 

[Jont0805]

Why use our ridiculously horrible past as an excuse for where the program is now????

This program has more support in EVERY WAY than it ever had during the previous 100 years. So asking a coach with NFL talent to beat Vandy and USC or OleMiss by not giving those games away has NOTHING to do with our putrid past.

At this point the failures of this season are squarely on Coach Stoops and his staff. Heck, Coach Stoops and Marrow have RAISED expectations themselves. So after 10 years. The time is NOW!!

When UT and Ole Miss can be in the mix with high powered offenses in a MUCH SHORTER time span, the excuses ring HOLLOW!!!

I agree that this season has been a failure. those schools have built in advantages that Kentucky will never enjoy in football.

I would venture to say a few guys on the basketball team probably make more than our entire football team will, flip that script for football at every sec school not named Kentucky or Vanderbilt.

The point of my post is Stoops has taken Kentucky to a level never before seen and that is worth every investment made in him and the program.

Just because we are in a good spot now means absolutely nothing for next year, or two years from now.

How quickly did joker Phillips ruin the foundation Brooks built. It took 2 years for Kentucky to have a MAC Level team.

Kentucky messes around they are more likely to find a Joker than they are a Stoops, especially with MB making the decision.

 

[catben]

I agree that this season has been a failure. those schools have built in advantages that Kentucky will never enjoy in football.

I would venture to say a few guys on the basketball team probably make more than our entire football team will, flip that script for football at every sec school not named Kentucky or Vanderbilt.

The point of my post is Stoops has taken Kentucky to a level never before seen and that is worth every investment made in him and the program.

Just because we are in a good spot now means absolutely nothing for next year, or two years from now.

How quickly did joker Phillips ruin the foundation Brooks built. It took 2 years for Kentucky to have a MAC Level team.

Kentucky messes around they are more likely to find a Joker than they are a Stoops, especially with MB making the decision.

All I want is for Coach Stoops to come into the 21st century with his offensive philosophy. If Saban and Smart realize it, there is NO excuse for Stoops to keep playing to win scoring the fewest points possible in doing so.

He had that in Coen, but crapped the bed with Scang. I hope he figures it out or he will end up taking the Bill Curry route as a college coach.

 

[Jont0805]

All I want is for Coach Stoops to come into the 21st century with his offensive philosophy. If Saban and Smart realize it, there is NO excuse for Stoops to keep playing to win scoring the fewest points possible in doing so.

He had that in Coen, but crapped the bed with Scang. I hope he figures it out or he will end up taking the Bill Curry route as a college coach.

Well hiring cohen, was set to hire Lincoln Riley, think he has shown the desire to do what you are asking.

This may be the worst hire since Billy G in Kentucky sports at offensive coordinator. If stoops sticks with him I am fine with everyone that thinks we can do better, because his offense with the talent next year is a 2 win team.

Also I agree on Saban, he changed up and decided to win big he needs points, I disagree on Smart and I think the Georgia fan that posts on here a lot would say the same thing.

The only difference between smart and stoops is about 40-50 five and four star players. They are the same coach game wise.

If stoops had that level talent he would look more like smart than he would Calipari.

 

[frydaze]

Where would he go? No big time program is going to hire him and no program trying to rebuild will hire him.

His stock dropped as much as any coach in college football. A school will take one look at his putrid offense and line through his name.

The University of Iowa, his alma mater, would give him a call if they had a job opening-- and Iowa has been a pretty good program for many years now.

It's laughable how many people diss Stoops after what he's done all these years to build a winning program-- a program that was nothing when he took over. Some of you sound more and more like Nebraska fans each time you talk in thinking you believe you should be consistently be in the same discussion as Alabama and Georgia, etc.

 

[LexitonianCat]

I understand frustration with stoops and the program at this point. Completely wasted season and overall lack of effort or improvement for the first time in stoops tenure here, however those seem like high standards to say the money was worth it.


You want to maintain 10-2/9-3 seasons. Kentucky has had I think 2 ten win regular seasons in over 100 years,

Heck name me the last Kentucky coach to maintain a 5-7 season for their career, which is half of your goal and I will agree.

That's not true at all. I am not frustrated any longer as I have seen this coming for a while now. This also isn't the first regression or failure for Stoops. His teams have routinely had issues with a lack of discipline, particularly in big moments. They get penalties galore, and we have horrible clock management to end halves or in close games.

How are those high standards? How does that make him worth it?

With what we have invested in him and the program, we should be expecting a lot more than what we expected from other coaches. That comes with the territory.

Under Stoops, we have beaten a lot of non-conference opponents and the SEC East bottom-feeders. USC, VANDY, MIZZOU, and then we get UF and UT when they are having down years. That's not anything special or worth 50 million to me. And before you utilize the excuse of, "well what about the bowl games and Iowa and Penn St." Those are meaningless bowls were most teams have their more talented players sitting out preparing for the draft. Those aren't the bragging points many think that they are.

I would think as a fan of a program that has invested so much, you would expect more.

I agree that this season has been a failure. those schools have built in advantages that Kentucky will never enjoy in football.

I would venture to say a few guys on the basketball team probably make more than our entire football team will, flip that script for football at every sec school not named Kentucky or Vanderbilt.

The point of my post is Stoops has taken Kentucky to a level never before seen and that is worth every investment made in him and the program.

Just because we are in a good spot now means absolutely nothing for next year, or two years from now.

How quickly did joker Phillips ruin the foundation Brooks built. It took 2 years for Kentucky to have a MAC Level team.

Kentucky messes around they are more likely to find a Joker than they are a Stoops, especially with MB making the decision.

Well hiring cohen, was set to hire Lincoln Riley, think he has shown the desire to do what you are asking.

This may be the worst hire since Billy G in Kentucky sports at offensive coordinator. If stoops sticks with him I am fine with everyone that thinks we can do better, because his offense with the talent next year is a 2 win team.

Also I agree on Saban, he changed up and decided to win big he needs points, I disagree on Smart and I think the Georgia fan that posts on here a lot would say the same thing.

The only difference between smart and stoops is about 40-50 five and four star players. They are the same coach game wise.

If stoops had that level talent he would look more like smart than he would Calipari.

Lol, this is exactly the mentality that is going to keep UK football irrelevant for years to come. Until the fans start desiring for more and making that the expectation for the AD and coach, we are going to continue to be irrelevant in football.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

The University of Iowa, his alma mater, would give him a call if they had a job opening-- and Iowa has been a pretty good program for many years now.

It's laughable how many people diss Stoops after what he's done all these years to build a winning program-- a program that was nothing when he took over. Some of you sound more and more like Nebraska fans each time you talk in thinking you believe you should be consistently be in the same discussion as Alabama and Georgia, etc.

Let's see if that happens.

 

[Jont0805]

That's not true at all. I am not frustrated any longer as I have seen this coming for a while now. This also isn't the first regression or failure for Stoops. His teams have routinely had issues with a lack of discipline, particularly in big moments. They get penalties galore, and we have horrible clock management to end halves or in close games.

How are those high standards? How does that make him worth it?

With what we have invested in him and the program, we should be expecting a lot more than what we expected from other coaches. That comes with the territory.

Under Stoops, we have beaten a lot of non-conference opponents and the SEC East bottom-feeders. USC, VANDY, MIZZOU, and then we get UF and UT when they are having down years. That's not anything special or worth 50 million to me. And before you utilize the excuse of, "well what about the bowl games and Iowa and Penn St." Those are meaningless bowls were most teams have their more talented players sitting out preparing for the draft. Those aren't the bragging points many think that they are.

I would think as a fan of a program that has invested so much, you would expect more.


Lol, this is exactly the mentality that is going to keep UK football irrelevant for years to come. Until the fans start desiring for more and making that the expectation for the AD and coach, we are going to continue to be irrelevant in football.

Again, when in the history of Kentucky football have they been relevant?

You can not give an example of a coach that has even had a winning record since bear Bryant!

Most reasonable people believe a bowl game every year and a possible 10 win season every 3-4 years is phenomenal at Kentucky.

You think we should be what? Sec east champions? Playoff coNtenders every year?

I think we should be consistently ranked beginning to end of one season before getting upset that our fans don’t demand we win 9-10 every season.

Maybe I’m reading your vision for Kentucky football wrong. i don’t see Kentucky ever being a top 5 program in football, if that is your floor for a coach that we spend $50 million on than good luck.

I don’t see Kentucky getting any coach for much less than $4-5 million a year regardless of results so Kentucky is going to spend the money regardless, would you like it be on Joker Phillips? I think he is available.

 

[LexitonianCat]

Again, when in the history of Kentucky football have they been relevant?

You can not give an example of a coach that has even had a winning record since bear Bryant!

Most reasonable people believe a bowl game every year and a possible 10 win season every 3-4 years is phenomenal at Kentucky.

You think we should be what? Sec east champions? Playoff coNtenders every year?

I think we should be consistently ranked beginning to end of one season before getting upset that our fans don’t demand we win 9-10 every season.

Maybe I’m reading your vision for Kentucky football wrong. i don’t see Kentucky ever being a top 5 program in football, if that is your floor for a coach that we spend $50 million on than good luck.

I don’t see Kentucky getting any coach for much less than $4-5 million a year regardless of results so Kentucky is going to spend the money regardless, would you like it be on Joker Phillips? I think he is available.

Again, can you name a point when UK invested this much?

Can you name a coach who had this much at his disposal?

Then they are why we will never reach our potential as a program. Hopefully they find a new program to hinder.

Who claimed we needed to annually contend? Wouldn't it be nice to occasionally though? Even once?

Considering he has been here a decade and we haven't made it a full season ranked, why would that suddenly change under Stoops?

Then what is the point in having a program or investing in it? Seems pretty pointless and wasteful to spend 50 million in a hc salary to be a music city bowl or belk bowl contender.

I would rather just invest into other sports if those are the only options.

I hope none of you all are athletic directors.

 

[LexitonianCat]

Arguing that we should keep Stoops because he is the least shittiest we have had is the equivalent of Arguing your child is the smartest in the developmentally disabled class. At the end of the day, the kid is still developmentally disabled. Whether or not Stoops is better than the rest, he still sucks.

 

[frydaze]

Let's see if that happens.

I've said repeatedly Stoops won't leave UK for Iowa or anywhere at this point. He will retire in Lexington.

This is why anyone not happy with Mark better learn to love him because he's there for quite a while yet and deservedly so.

 

[catben]

I've said repeatedly Stoops won't leave UK for Iowa or anywhere at this point. He will retire in Lexington.

This is why anyone not happy with Mark better learn to love him because he's there for quite a while yet and deservedly so.

Of course you wouldn’t mind having Stoops at Iowa because in the Big 10 you can win with a crappy offense. You guys have proven that the last 2 seasons. Heck, you won a game last Saturday with 150 total yards of offense. That will NEVER happen in the SEC.

 

[frydaze]

Of course you wouldn’t mind having Stoops at Iowa because in the Big 10 you can win with a crappy offense. You guys have proven that the last 2 seasons. Heck, you won a game last Saturday with 150 total yards of offense. That will NEVER happen in the SEC.

We aren't in the SEC so I don't lose any sleep over that. In the end, we have a chance for a second straight division title this year; despite the offense.

And despite this offense we are 69-29 since 2015. Does that make you angry?