OOC Games

[footballfanatic77]

I generally hate UK's OOC game schedule. This season UK plays UL Lafayette, EKU, Charlotte, and Louisville. Next season there really isn't any OOC games on the schedule worth talking about, except Louisville. The same is true for 2017; though 2 OOC games should be added to the schedule so here's to hoping. I understand trying to get some wins on the schedule, but Florida plays Florida State every year and they still added Michigan for 2017. Georgia plays Georgia Tech every year, but they still added North Carolina and Notre Dame. Tennessee has played Oregon, Oklahoma, and is scheduled for Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech in 2016 & 2017. Even Vanderbilt is planning on starting a regular series with Stanford. So when should UK start playing legitimate OOC opponents and who should they be?

I'd like to see Ohio State-Kentucky, especially given how many players are from Ohio these days; I think home-and-home series against North Carolina and Duke would be pretty cool because the teams hate each other so much due to basketball, plus it would be a good way to get into fertile recruiting territory. Oklahoma-Kentucky would have the Stoops factor that would be exciting. Also, WVU and Kentucky would be good. It's crazy to me that these two schools are relatively close and yet rarely play.

 

[WeepNoMore]

OOC home schedule has sucked for years and IMHO isn't going to change any time soon. Same is true for BB. "Money Bags Barnhart" continues to suck the FB program and its fans dry to fund his Olympic sports programs.

 

[footballfanatic77]

The thing is, there are plenty power 5 schools easier to beat than SEC teams that would still earn Kentucky some respect. Playing schools like UT Martin or EKU doesn't help.

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

I just don't see a benefit to adding any more big name teams at this juncture. I'd be OK with dropping UL and adding a WVU or UNC or someone like that, but we play in a beast of a conference. At least 7 tough conference games every year, no need to add another losable game.

 

[jauk11]

Yeah, UK playing OSU right now makes a lot of sense, would probably assure us of getting a nice bowl game-----IF we won the game, might big if right now-----and probably assure us of not getting one at all in the almost certain case that we lose to them.

Do any of those in state rivalry games you mentioned have a FOUR GAME losing streak to their in state rival? You have to learn to walk before you can run.

 

[CatDaddy4daWin]

So established powers play an extra OOC team that is pretty good. Shocking! UL is generally a top 25 team most years and we've got several other top 25 teams in the SEC we play. Maybe if we weren't building the program we could another team but I'm not sure what adding a Duke, UNC or WV really adds at this time, considering we don't exactly recruit those areas too hard.

And I love the swipe at Barnhart...he's the easy scapegoat I guess. I mean it's not like we're putting anything into the football program or anything. But I'm sure he'll get no credit when this program turns into a top 25 program in the future.

 

[uofkFTW18]

I'll be up for this when we prove we can get to bowl games consistently with the type of OOC scheduling we do now. As it stands, we haven't proven to be capable of that.

Let's also keep in mind that we haven't beaten our one solid OOC opponent since 2010. As jauk said, you have to learn to walk before you can run.

 

[UKSanders]

OOC home schedule has sucked for years and IMHO isn't going to change any time soon. Same is true for BB. "Money Bags Barnhart" continues to suck the FB program and its fans dry to fund his Olympic sports programs.

I don't understand how the OOC schedule "sucks FB program and its fans dry".
If anything, it helps the program as more home games = more revenue compared to a home/home series w/another P5 conference team.

Plus, as the saying goes, you must crawl before you walk. This program needs to continually go to bowl games for extra practice time/player development. Once that happens a few year (as it did during Brooks' tenure), THEN I think you could consider adding the right lower/mid tier P5 team (UVA, Indiana, Maryland, UNC, etc). But, honestly, would fans want to go see UK/Wake Forest any more than UK/UT-Martin?

 

[CatDaddy4daWin]

I don't understand how the OOC schedule "sucks FB program and its fans dry".
If anything, it helps the program as more home games = more revenue compared to a home/home series w/another P5 conference team.

Exactly...but Barnhart is the fool

 

[BlueRaider22]

UL is really the only rivalry game we have. It would be great if Tennessee were one, but they really aren't right now. So, we can't get rid of UL.

Here's the bottomline.
-We all would love to play better opponents, but logically we can't for a while.

We have little football history ---> We must win consistently to gain history ---> We must recruit at a high level in order to win consistently ---> We must schedule some cupcakes in order to win a little in order to recruit a little


A team like Bama can play Wisconsin........have a great chance of winning and even if they lose they still have a great shot at a BCS bowl and stellar recruiting. Same for FSU playing Florida.

Unfortunately if UK chooses to play North Carolina, loses, then ends up 5-7 and misses a bowl game......the results could really affect us.

 

[wildcatbd21]

We will play another Power 5 team in the bowl game. Like previously stated, we play UofL and a murderous SEC schedule. No reason to add to that at this time. If we start getting to consistently winning 10, 11 games a year, we can add another major opponent to the schedule. Even if we lose that game some years, we are still looking at 9 or 10 wins. That would still get us a major bowl bid. The name of the game right now is for UK to get to bowl games. Once there, add wins to get to bigger bowl games. Then, add to the schedule if it is needed.

 

[K_TIME]

Play harder OOC games = more likelihood UK loses. UK is struggling right now to get bowl eligible...so the fight to 6 (or more) wins is more valuable than playing a better schedule for paying fans.

The fact is 90% of all BCS schools play 1 competitive game and 3 cupcakes in their 4 OOC games. UK is doing exactly the same thing as the rest of the country. But I agree...it does basically take money from season tix holders to have to pay for the extra 12th game that was added 10 years ago and everybody basically put that 12th game as a cupcake placed into October-ish date for what is essentially a bye week in middle of conference slate.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

OOC home schedule has sucked for years and IMHO isn't going to change any time soon. Same is true for BB. "Money Bags Barnhart" continues to suck the FB program and its fans dry to fund his Olympic sports programs.

The b-ball home schedule has been fine. They played UNC, Texas and Providence at home last year...that is a lot of big name schools. The fact that you actually think teams are going to roll into Rupp without a guaranteed home and home is hilarious. This year you have UL and Arizona State...nothing exceptional, but still 2 bigger conference teams. Neutral games are where it is at, and that is what prepares the team for March. Fans that think it should be all about them with the scheduling crack me up. If you do not like it, give your tickets to me or anyone else who is fine watching UK play UNC, Providence, and Texas, or UL and ASU. I'm also fine with the cupcakes, nice to get easy games here and there OOC.

As for football...what do you want them to do? UK has not made a bowl game since 2010. They need wins OOC. Playing UL is already one toss up game at best (as of late), so of course the other three games are going to be weaker opponents. EKU is an in state team that a lot of our fans/players want to play and beat down this year...while ULL is a better team than you give them credit for that has pulled upsets over the years of big conference teams. I hope UK takes them more serious than you do (they will). Charlotte is the really only blah game...and do I need to remind you that UK lost to Western Freakin Kentucky two years in a row recently? Yeah, we are upgrading our talent and expectations, but I think I'd hold off on scheduling Ohio State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, etc, for now until we can get some established and consistent success on the football field. Let's make a bowl game a few years in a row before we really consider upgrading the OOC schedule. Maybe you can upgrade with another big conference team like an Indiana, or a Cincy, or some team that is not a big threat to beat UK (or shouldn't be if recruiting keeps up like it has), but gives us more clout schedule wise. I am honestly not sure why it matters though. I do not get anymore enjoyment out of UK beating Cincy 31-24 than I do UK beating Charlotte 56-7. Actually the 2nd is much more enjoyable and less stressful, and both count as a win on the schedule...but UK is NOT losing the latter most likely ever while the other could upset UK.

 

[gobigblue812]

Those teams,mentioned have had great success either now or in the past and,have great tradition except Vandy, who will get crushed by Stanford. When UK starts beating good teams and is winning 9 or 10 games then a better ooc game will be scheduled. By the way,OSU will never play us in a regular season game. Too much to lose for them.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

I generally hate UK's OOC game schedule. This season UK plays UL Lafayette, EKU, Charlotte, and Louisville. Next season there really isn't any OOC games on the schedule worth talking about, except Louisville. The same is true for 2017; though 2 OOC games should be added to the schedule so here's to hoping. I understand trying to get some wins on the schedule, but Florida plays Florida State every year and they still added Michigan for 2017. Georgia plays Georgia Tech every year, but they still added North Carolina and Notre Dame. Tennessee has played Oregon, Oklahoma, and is scheduled for Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech in 2016 & 2017. Even Vanderbilt is planning on starting a regular series with Stanford. So when should UK start playing legitimate OOC opponents and who should they be?

I'd like to see Ohio State-Kentucky, especially given how many players are from Ohio these days; I think home-and-home series against North Carolina and Duke would be pretty cool because the teams hate each other so much due to basketball, plus it would be a good way to get into fertile recruiting territory. Oklahoma-Kentucky would have the Stoops factor that would be exciting. Also, WVU and Kentucky would be good. It's crazy to me that these two schools are relatively close and yet rarely play.

I think upgrading UK's OOC schedule and adding a P5 team to UofL is a good idea, I just think the teams you mentioned other than North Carolina are a bad idea right now. You don't have to jump on the top team in the conference like tOSU or even OU, but there are probably 20-25 P5 teams that would be good matchups for UK to play. Washington from the Pac10, Iowa State from the Big12 are 2. I doubt Boston College, Syracuse would even want to play UK from the ACC, or maybe even Virginia. Just deciding to play those teams that are in the top 10 every year as OOC games isn't a good move today, in January it might look like a great move to make but playing tOSU right now would make no sense, not likely a win against the home state school in the school UK does much of its recruiting.

 

[Deeeefense]

I think we first should be able to consistently beat Louisville before we start broadening our horizons. Before we start adding another P5 team to the OOC schedule we should have a team that is capable of beating that team. Otherwise we are just letting ourselves get rolled down into a lower bowl position. Do we have a team right now that would be competitive with Ohio State or Oklahoma? if not it's stupid to schedule them. I think there are some ACC teams that might be good matchups - VaTech and Miami are a couple also Texas Tech & West Virginia from the B12

 

[STUCKNBIG10]

So established powers play an extra OOC team that is pretty good. Shocking! UL is generally a top 25 team most years and we've got several other top 25 teams in the SEC we play. Maybe if we weren't building the program we could another team but I'm not sure what adding a Duke, UNC or WV really adds at this time, considering we don't exactly recruit those areas too hard.

And I love the swipe at Barnhart...he's the easy scapegoat I guess. I mean it's not like we're putting anything into the football program or anything. But I'm sure he'll get no credit when this program turns into a top 25 program in the future.

UL is not a top 25 program most years, that's false.

I'm tough on Mitch Barnhart, but I agree with you that he is scheduling appropriately for now.

 

[Poetax]

The thing is, there are plenty power 5 schools easier to beat than SEC teams that would still earn Kentucky some respect. Playing schools like UT Martin or EKU doesn't help.

UL played no one for years and they even went to major bowls by doing it so as much as I don't like UL, they have a plan that we should follow. After that lets play anyone but we need some solid ground before wanting to play anymore Top 20 schools.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

Is UK looking for help? The schedule is annually one of the toughest in the nation.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Is UK looking for help? The schedule is annually one of the toughest in the nation.

I don't think it has as much to do with upgrading your schedule as it is getting your brand out to a larger crowd for the purpose of recruiting. But like I said earlier it doesn't have to be a current powerhouse. I think UK could hold their own after you got past the top 3 or 4 teams in all the P5 conferences. Wouldn't you have loved to have had the Wolverines last season.

 

[Mayoman]

For recruiting purposes.....IMO, UK should consider scheduling South Florida or UCinn of the non P5 conference of the AAC.....teams that UK should handle.

That way the athletes considering UK that are from Ohio and Florida would be able to see them play in person.....and the long term benefit would be for players from those states that do go to UK......it would make it easier for their families and friends to attend the games. (assuming Home and Home games were agreed upon.)

If not them, then either FAU or FIU.....and Ohio or Miami of Ohio, or Akron, etc. Just a suggestion.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

That is good if you regularly beat Cincy and South Florida. If Cincy starts to beat UK, what does that do for Ohio recruiting? Stoops has a message that recruits Ohio. Play close to home in the SEC. If UL and UK get into the top 25, that rivalry becomes nationally relevant. I know some UK fans want UL to suck. I disagree. I want both programs to develop into powers and be nationally relevant.

 

[jnewc2]

For recruiting purposes.....IMO, UK should consider scheduling South Florida or UCinn of the non P5 conference of the AAC.....teams that UK should handle.

That way the athletes considering UK that are from Ohio and Florida would be able to see them play in person.....and the long term benefit would be for players from those states that do go to UK......it would make it easier for their families and friends to attend the games. (assuming Home and Home games were agreed upon.)

If not them, then either FAU or FIU.....and Ohio or Miami of Ohio, or Akron, etc. Just a suggestion.

We have nothing to gain by playing a so-so OOC team..if we beat them it's no big deal since we were supposed to win, and if we lose it makes us look horrible

If you're going to schedule a cupcake, then schedule a cupcake..not a team that's capable of knocking you off..if you're going to schedule a decent team then schedule a decent team..not a team that's looked down upon where you will gain hardly anything from the game..I'm not saying we need Ohio State just yet, but I wouldn't mind a West Virginia or maybe a Pac-12 team like Arizona or Stanford.. that would really expand our brand..it's not like we're going to be playing for a national title and one loss would keep us from being in the playoff or something (and if one win is keeping us from getting to a bowl, then I'd really have to question the state of our program, because if one game is going to keep us from getting to .500, then we need to start questioning the direction the program is heading)

As for the idea that (I think it was OP) that wanted to schedule North Carolina & Duke as an OOC opponent, I don't even really know where to start, but I can assure you Mark Stoops wouldn't want to have to deal with anything else basketball-related and have it overshadowing his program that he's trying to build

I'm pretty sure the North Carolina and Duke football coaches wouldn't want a "basketball rivalry" as their football opponent either

Scheduling a game like that would only hurt the perception of the football program..not help

 

[KingsportKat]

This subject gets beaten to death every few months.

 

[footballfanatic77]

It gets beaten to death because the schedule generally sucks. Honestly, even if they were just better mid-major programs like Cincinnati it would be an improvement. I completely agree with the statements that OSU and other top tier teams might be a little big for UK right now, but hopefully by 2017 or 2018 and beyond when new opponents are being added UK will be able to hold their own against anybody in the country. The schedule is pretty much sewn up for 2015 and 2016 anyway. The only way to build the brand is to play better teams in bigger markets, that's why I'm glad the CFP committee takes strength of schedule into account when they are choosing teams. Hopefully if playing cupcakes is dis-incentivized, schools will start playing tougher schedules. Alabama has already moved in that direction some. For a few years their schedule was notoriously filled with cupcakes.

 

[ram1955]

Here we go again.... It's absolutely crazy to even suggest UK do anything that would make its Football schedule anymore difficult! Granted, I understand wanting to see some different teams come to CWS, but by virtue of playing 8 SEC teams, we already play one of the most difficult schedules in the nation.

Playing osu????? Fine if we can replace UGA with them but to play a team like that and jeopardize bowl eligibility is stupid. Let's make sure we can win 6 games every year before even thinking about making the schedule more difficult.

Wow! I don't have a problem nailing barnhart but if the Football schedule is his making, IMO he's doing an A++++ job.

 

[catben]

Let's get a winning SEC record before we even think about upgrading the OOC schedule!!!

It makes ZERO sense to schedule another Power 5 conference game when it's been close to 40 years since we finished with an SEC record above .500. When we start winning SEC games at a better clip, then we'll be ready for another big game OOC.

Since when did playing South Carolina, Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Missouri, Miss. St. and Louisville become something that needed an "Upgrade"???


WOW!!

 

[Caveman Catfan]

Schedule sucks? Wow. If you dissolved conferences and put together this schedule with UGA, Auburn, UT, Mizzou and a top 4-5 team in the ACC, people would call it a great schedule. This has gotten silly and reads like bait to me.

 

[Poetax]

It gets beaten to death because the schedule generally sucks. Honestly, even if they were just better mid-major programs like Cincinnati it would be an improvement. I completely agree with the statements that OSU and other top tier teams might be a little big for UK right now, but hopefully by 2017 or 2018 and beyond when new opponents are being added UK will be able to hold their own against anybody in the country. The schedule is pretty much sewn up for 2015 and 2016 anyway. The only way to build the brand is to play better teams in bigger markets, that's why I'm glad the CFP committee takes strength of schedule into account when they are choosing teams. Hopefully if playing cupcakes is dis-incentivized, schools will start playing tougher schedules. Alabama has already moved in that direction some. For a few years their schedule was notoriously filled with cupcakes.

Is Bama a good program to compare with? When I look at where they are coming from, I can see that they are not taking the chances that we would be taking considering our past production. Stoops will get it done and then the schedule will change.