I've been a UK football fan since 1971. Mark Stoops has had more success than any UK coach during these 52 years. Fran Curci had a great 2 year run in 76 & 77 but he got us on probation. I mean if Stoops leaves. Who are we going to get that's better. We're not talking about the UK basketball head coaching position where as if Calipari left UK could pick & choose any coach that they would want. But with our football coach we've had a bunch here like John Ray, Bill Curry, Joker Phillips that were a disaster. I'm very happy with Stoops.
This. You've been a fan a helluva lot longer than me, but I agree completely. I have really only been following UK football since mid-90's.
History proves we have had very little to NO sustained success (winning records) outside of Mark Stoops in the past 70 years. None. 7/8 years with a winning record. Hasn't been done since Bear Bryant. Going back my entire 43 years on this planet...
Stoops 11 seasons...
UK: 73-64, 8 Bowl Games, 4-3 record + TBD
In the 11 years previous to CMS, '02-'12...
UK: 59-76, 5 Bowl Games, 3-2 record
Between '91-'01...
UK: 44-80, 3 Bowl Games, 0-3 record
Between '80-'90...
UK: 51-69, 2 Bowl Games, 1-1 record
So you see the guy has vastly outperformed our history and it isn't particularly close.
In the 33 years prior to Stoops:
154-225, 41%, 10 Bowl Games, 4-6 record
As a UK grad it is good to see us winning more than losing.
Is it worth $9 million a year? Isn't my money.
Is Stoops worth $9 million a year in terms of his performance? Probably not, but it isn't my money.
Does UK have to pay this kind of money for a consistent winning record? According to our history, that answer appears to be a "yes".
Would someone else not only win like Stoops, but take us to the next level? Our history says "no".