Question for Kentucky Fans

[Michi-Gator]

When you were hiring your coach I was reading here and many wanted Petrino badly. When Stoops was hired some jumped on board, some still were upset it wasn't Petrino. I always thought Stoops would bring in toughness and a great mentality, which I really think he has. Anyway, how do you guys feel about U K football under Stoops?

And congrats on what looks like a nice win tonight

 

[UK till Death]

Really glad the scumbag is amongst fellow scumbags on Floyd street.

Glad Stoops went after the UK job as hard as he did.

Doubt our AD would've made the right hire left to his own devices.

PS Beat the Suckeyes. PLEASE.

 

[TNTUK]

I personally love what he's doing and the recruiting is much better under Stoops than what Petrino would have been able to bring in.

Stoops brings that blue collar mentality we needed.

Couldn't be happier as a UK football fan.

 

[KYtotheCore]

I like Stoops, but after years of watching tepid seasons, they all stand an equal chance (in my mind) of mediocrity, regardless of past success elsewhere, or this being a coach's first head coach gig. I've always wondered if the system is result of the coach, or visa versa? No one really knows.

 

[TNTUK]

I like Stoops, but after years of watching tepid seasons, they all stand an equal chance (in my mind) of mediocrity, regardless of past success elsewhere, or this being a coach's first head coach gig. I've always wondered if the system is result of the coach, or visa versa? No one really knows.

What?

 

[UKwannabe]

I think most were hesitant when Stoops was hired. But almost everyone got on board with the hire when Stoops brought Neal Brown with him.

Loving the direction of our program if we can get consistent QB play we would be contending for the East.

 

[BlueRaider22]

Just to recap what really happened.

-names of coaches were flying around this board. The majority of the fan base actually wanted guys like Mike Leach. Other names were Hudspeth, Smart, the former Oregon coach, and my favorite at the time Butch Jones. The number of fans that wanted Petrino wasn't all that numerous, but they were loud.....and given his controversial nature and history with UL his name sparked many debates and threads. It made it seem like many wanted him but most didn't. Stoops wasn't really on anyone's radar. When his name started to fly around fans were really intrigued and excited.

-Thus far the vast majority are uber excited/happy with Stoops. Most of the fans are knowledgeable and realize that the build will take time.

 

[TheKentuckyKid]

Don't feed the Louisville troll, I'd say one of our mods will squash this one soon.

 

[JohnBlue_]

When you were hiring your coach I was reading here and many wanted Petrino badly. When Stoops was hired some jumped on board, some still were upset it wasn't Petrino. I always thought Stoops would bring in toughness and a great mentality, which I really think he has. Anyway, how do you guys feel about U K football under Stoops?

And congrats on what looks like a nice win tonight

Wasn't part of the petrino fan club and felt confident he wasn't going to be an option. To be totally honest I felt Stoops was a risky hire as an assistant that had never coached a game. It's hard to succeed in the SEC, even harder when you've never done it. That said it's hard to not to be excited with his recruiting and the way he appears to be building the program.

 

[TNTUK]

Don't feed the Louisville troll, I'd say one of our mods will squash this one soon.

Who is the UL troll? The OP is a Gator fan.

 

[Michi-Gator]

Don't feed the Louisville troll, I'd say one of our mods will squash this one soon.

Why would I be a Louisville troll?

Thank you to those who responded. I was even surprised how well Stoops has recruited since arriving. It is obvious UK football has a different feel about it. As a Florida fan I was much more nervous with UK than UT because Stoops comes to play every week and Butch is the ultimate choke artist.

Best of luck the rest of the way!

 

[domino79]

Blue Raider summarizes it really well above.

No one actually wanted Petrino, lol.

 

[Blue_White_KY]

UK ia certainly on the right path. Haven't been this excited about football ever. I feel like he's doing things the right way and has a staff of good recruiters who can also develop players.

IMO. If stoops can't get it done, then uk should drop football as I doubt anyone could come in and get it done.

 

[Michi-Gator]

Wasn't part of the petrino fan club and felt confident he wasn't going to be an option. To be totally honest I felt Stoops was a risky hire as an assistant that had never coached a game. It's hard to succeed in the SEC, even harder when you've never done it. That said it's hard to not to be excited with his recruiting and the way he appears to be building the program.

Florida demonstrated first time head coach gone wrong with Chump.

The one thing I thought when he got hired was he would build a strong DL and a defense to keep UK in all there games. Seems to be working well right now!

 

[JPFisher]

My pick for the new HC was Kirby Smart.

Glad we got the DC from farther south, though.

 

[jhammons]

What?

LOL. That's exactly what I said.

 

[BlueRaider22]

Domino brings up a good point. I don't anyone actually "wanted" Petrino, however the guy wins. He's done it at UL and UArk. When you have such a poor history of football like UK has, the notion of a proven winner (Petrino) can make some desperate.

 

[JDHoss]

The fans who wanted Petrino weren't "many". ......just loud and stupid.

 

[domino79]

One thing Seminole fans warned me about was Stoops' intensity. I freakin love it. It's clear the team is taking on his mentality. Never seen our defensive guys swarm on the ball like we have, specifically this year.

 

[JohnBlue_]

Florida demonstrated first time head coach gone wrong with Chump.

The one thing I thought when he got hired was he would build a strong DL and a defense to keep UK in all there games. Seems to be working well right now!

Kentucky did too with Joker, and then they followed it by hiring another first time coach. Took some balls by the admin.

 

[lil2coupe]

glad we have Stoops and not petrino.

 

[Michi-Gator]

The fans who wanted Petrino weren't "many". ......just loud and stupid.

I just remember it seemed like they treated anyone who wasn't "Petrino or bust" like they knew nothing and didn't want UK to succeed.

 

[gossie21]

LOL. That's exactly what I said.

Me too.

I'll admit to wanting Petrino somewhat. I wasn't necessarily pushing for him. But I thought he could get us winning quickly just by his offensive scheme.

As soon as Stoops popped on our radar he was the coach I wanted. I've always liked his brother. He quickly showed he had the recruiting chops to build us back up. And needless to say I have not regretted passing on Petrino. He fits perfectly at UofL.

 

[Hjack]

I like Stoops, but after years of watching tepid seasons, they all stand an equal chance (in my mind) of mediocrity, regardless of past success elsewhere, or this being a coach's first head coach gig. I've always wondered if the system is result of the coach, or visa versa? No one really knows.

Give us a hint as to what you are talking about.

 

[Robcatt24]

I'll admit to wanting Mark Hudspeth.

I just didn't know anything about Stoops.

 

[Gary4UK]

When you were hiring your coach I was reading here and many wanted Petrino badly. When Stoops was hired some jumped on board, some still were upset it wasn't Petrino. I always thought Stoops would bring in toughness and a great mentality, which I really think he has. Anyway, how do you guys feel about U K football under Stoops?

And congrats on what looks like a nice win tonight

You are wrong! We wanted Stoops, and we got on the Stoops band wagon from the beginning, not off.... BUT..... How do I feel about Stoops? It feels soooo gooood!

We wanted Stoops, not Petrino.....

 

[Gary4UK]

BTW, how does it feel playing against an inferior defense than you played last week..... We got our offensive issues straightened out this week, but we kept our defense in toll...

 

[BlueRaider22]

I just remember it seemed like they treated anyone who wasn't "Petrino or bust" like they knew nothing and didn't want UK to succeed.

My theory why that was:
-Most guys who have a winning history like Petrino are not looking to coach at UK. If they want to stay in college, they are looking at the marquee programs. Kentucky would be considered a step down at that point. But "Petr-enus'" history of controversial acts keep him from landing those marquee jobs.

-Kentucky often feels like they only have chances at aging "fair" coaches or some mid-to-upper level coordinators.....like Brooks, Joker, etc.

-To some the thought of getting a proven big-time coach (however a schamltz as a human being) trumped getting another "Joker" type.

 

[BBBLazing]

Really glad the scumbag is amongst fellow scumbags on Floyd street.

Glad Stoops went after the UK job as hard as he did.

Doubt our AD would've made the right hire left to his own devices.

PS Beat the Suckeyes. PLEASE.

Not really sure what you are saying, but to criticize our AD is crazy. Who would you rather have? Throw out a name. As far as all of you liars saying that there were not "many" people calling for Petrino, that is not true. At least 1/2 of the people were calling for him. The other half was divided among several people, and obviously most people did not hear about Mark Stoops being an option until he interviewed for the job. At that point, most people went all in with Stoops, but it was not a small minority that was crying for Petrino.

 

[BigBlueCatNation]

Why would I be a Louisville troll?

Thank you to those who responded. I was even surprised how well Stoops has recruited since arriving. It is obvious UK football has a different feel about it. As a Florida fan I was much more nervous with UK than UT because Stoops comes to play every week and Butch is the ultimate choke artist.

Best of luck the rest of the way!

Honest question for you. Do you see Stoops beating UF while at UK anytime soon?

 

[MirageSmack]

On board from the day they hired Stoops. Would have shot myself in the head if we hired Petrino, then shot Petrino. Oh wait, maybe that's backwards.

 

[Clive Gollings]

At least 1/2 of the people were calling for him. The other half was divided among several people,

Completely false.

 

[TotesMcGotes]

i wanted petrino, because up until this year at Louisville the dude wins in college.

but i was all in with stoops when he got hired and am still all in. how could we not be happy with a defensive coordinator from a top 5 team? the top notch recruiting in year 1 was icing on the cake.

 

[michaeluk26]

Not really sure what you are saying, but to criticize our AD is crazy. Who would you rather have? Throw out a name. As far as all of you liars saying that there were not "many" people calling for Petrino, that is not true. At least 1/2 of the people were calling for him. The other half was divided among several people, and obviously most people did not hear about Mark Stoops being an option until he interviewed for the job. At that point, most people went all in with Stoops, but it was not a small minority that was crying for Petrino.

I remember it seemed like half the people wanted Petrino. I was wholeheartedly against him and would have turned in my fan card if he was hired. That kinda low class jackass is not someone you want leading young men. Its funny how Louisville fans were calling him a scumbag when he left them. Even their AD said he wrecked the program and ruined the culture. They were still doing this when it looked like he was wanting to come to UK. So glad the administration did not trade integrity for wins with Petrino like the two faced Louisville fans and administration. We got a damn good coach who is starting to get a long dormant football program going.

I honestly never thought we would ever recruit this good or really be a factor in the sec.

 

[CCSteamRoller]

I think at least a third of the posters would have supported him, but everyone pretty much expected Petrino to stay for a few years, win some games, then bolt for the first opportunity that came his way. Joker had this program in such pitiful shape, our desperation led some of us to consider making a deal with the devil. My biggest issue was that Petrino supposedly wanted to interview for the job and Mitch refused to even interview him. Given Mitch's track record of hiring coaches for the major revenue-producing sports, I think it's accurate to say most on the board were expecting another screw up.

Once Stoops was announced, most on here quickly forgot about Petrino. Stoops had a plan, he made some great hires (although I think he made a mistake not keeping Mike Summers) and the fans had made it clear to Mitch that they weren't going to keep buying tickets if he didn't show football some love. To his credit, Mitch came through on the stadium improvements and Stoops got some of the big basketball boosters on board. That led to the new $45 million practice facility that will be open during the 2016 season.

We all got lucky that Stoops felt he was ready to be a head coach and reached out to Mitch.

 

[kitkoodle]

if Michi Gator is who I think he is..he isnt a Michigan fan..lmao He is a UF fan..lmao anyways, i for one never wanted UofLol's left overs..and he seems to of lost his touch anyways...some flame out, in which seems he has..I love stoops, he has the passion for the sport that matches the fans who show up to games

 

[FusterCluck]

Domino brings up a good point. I don't anyone actually "wanted" Petrino, however the guy wins. He's done it at UL and UArk. When you have such a poor history of football like UK has, the notion of a proven winner (Petrino) can make some desperate.

This is spot-on. Desperation had many willing to compromise integrity, me included.

 

[gamalielkid]

When you were hiring your coach I was reading here and many wanted Petrino badly. When Stoops was hired some jumped on board, some still were upset it wasn't Petrino. I always thought Stoops would bring in toughness and a great mentality, which I really think he has. Anyway, how do you guys feel about U K football under Stoops?

And congrats on what looks like a nice win tonight

Petrino was NEVER a serious candidate for the job - he wanted the job badly - but less than 10% of the fans wanted him and NO one in the Athletic Department and Administration wanted him. I wanted Sonny Dykes or Mark Hudspeth, but like most UK fans as soon as we heard about Mark Stoops I was very happy. His family background and his resume were perfect. Most everyone realized what Mark Stoops had done with the defenses he had built. He worked to be a head coach and UK was very lucky he wanted the UK job, if he hadn't I don't know who we would have had - but his blue collar work attitude, his personality and most importantly his choice of assistant coaches sold me immediately. Bringing in Neal Brown was a great move - i'm not sure if that was Barnhart or Stoops who actually made that call - but it was the right one. The hire of Dawson and Buh are further indications of how Mark Stoops has a plan for UK.

I think he will be at UK a long time and I believe you are seeing the birth of a perennial top 20 program. UK may not be the flashy program, but Stoops is building it with local talent and doing what many, many people have been pushing for years - developing a plan to get solid to great players out of the iron belt of Ohio, Pennsylvania and even the Atlantic Coast while still working to keep Florida in the mix. I think you will see a roster that will be 65% Kentucky and Ohio kids as long as Stoops is here. Bottomline is Barnhart got this one right!

Go Big Blue!

 

[Chuckinden]

Some wanted Petrino because he is a good coach, has a good offensive mentality, and wins. I was like John Blue. There was no real possibility Petrino was in the mix due to his off field problems and his personality. Hell, we even passed on Cal once and he hasn't had any violations or off field antics.

Stoops sold Barnhart on being able to win at UK and his enthusiasm to get it done. Any hire is a gamble to some extent and the jury is still out on Stoops, but he is recruiting very well and IMO, on schedule to be a consistent player in the SEC.