....and now..perspective from the real world.
Stoop's staff has done a better job of recruiting than what passes for normal at UK-HOWEVER, even after ten years, we're still not in the discussion for anything resembling "elite" status.
Stoops has been extraordinarily lucky in his tenure in the SEC, which has seen the collapse and or decimation of many programs. Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU, even Georgia to a lesser extent, have all seen their football fortunes wane over his tenure here, and most of those programs have gotten mired in mediocrity or completely collapsed. Couple that with our guaranteed SEC west opponent, a "meh" Mississippi State, a perpetual bottom feeder in Vanderbilt, and a Louisville program that has also collapsed, and that 7-5 or 8-4 Kentucky record loses a bit it's luster.
The reality is that even after ten years and millions of dollars, we are not-and have not been-in the discussion for any kind of truly elite status. At this point, Georgia is better than ever, Tennessee seems to have turned things around and, and Florida and South Carolina won't be too far behind. If Louisville figures things out, we could once again be fighting for that 6-6 status. Not exactly the outhouse, but a long way from the penthouse.
I know already know the response-"But..but..but we're better than .joker" to which I would simply say, Joker should have never been a head coach and this is a black mark on Mitch's tenure. If you really want to argue, just list all of Stoop's signature wins, and the number of times we've realistically been in the discussion for the SEC east title.
