Why does Kentucky struggle in football? Former Wildcats coach has two reasons.

[UKvisitor]

Here is a 3 year old article with the only UK football coach to go undefeated in the SEC:

http://wildcatbluenation.com/2013/11/13/fran-curci-talks-kentucky-football-hurdles/

 

[southindycat]

I think the University is "All In" now, so Coach Curci's comments are a bit dated.

 

[UKvisitor]

I think the University is "All In" now, so Coach Curci's comments are a bit dated.

But was he right in what he said? And when he said it?

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

Curci had some valid points at the time, however the University has invested a ton of money into the Football program now.
The stadium renovation, the new practice facility, are 2 major improvements. The money received from the SEC is more than adequate for the Football program. The results are telling as we are apparently headed for the Taxslayer (Gator) bowl.
I wish Coach Curci would visit the new digs, if he hasn't already, I am sure he would be proud of the progress made.

 

[southindycat]

But was he right in what he said? And when he said it?

Yes. His comments were spot on to that moment in time.

 

[sobecat]

I have 3 without reading it...

1) Basketball school;
2) Poor in-state talent;
3) SEC.

 

[vhcat70]

I wish Coach Curci would visit the new digs, if he hasn't already, I am sure he would be proud of the progress made.

He was on the field at halftime honoring the 1976 Peach Bowl Team. Net, I feel sure he saw the facilities then.

 

[gojvc]

Odd timing OP. Huge investments have been made and we're about to go bowling in Florida. What's the point of this now?

 

[sluggercatfan]

I have 3 without reading it...

1) Basketball school;
2) Poor in-state talent;
3) SEC.

All 3 are wrong and just excuses..

 

[UKvisitor]

Odd timing OP. Huge investments have been made and we're about to go bowling in Florida. What's the point of this now?

Just like talking about where we were and were we are. Curci wasn't the only one to sing this tune.
He just had cred to his voice.

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

He was on the field at halftime honoring the 1976 Peach Bowl Team. Net, I feel sure he saw the facilities then.

Yes, I forgot about the 40 year celebration, I am sure he had to like what he saw !

 

[sobecat]

All 3 are wrong and just excuses..

You're right, the SEC is weak and Kentucky is the best state in the country for football recruiting.

 

[UKvisitor]

Odd timing OP. Huge investments have been made and we're about to go bowling in Florida. What's the point of this now?

You gonna lose money because I started a thread?

 

[sobecat]

You gonna lose money because I started a thread?

I bet my friend $1,000 that you would not start a thread. Thanks a lot.

 

[UKvisitor]

I bet my friend $1,000 that you would not start a thread. Thanks a lot.

We are _ucking crazy and not talking basketball.

 

[southindycat]

Coach Curci is the first UK coach in my living memory. It was a good time to be a kid in the Bluegrass, even if the last couple of years were a hard education in how bad things could be.

 

[fuzz77]

I think many of you read the story with a rather myopic POV. You see "Kentucky" and you read "the UK administration". When he says "Kentucky" he is talking about the fans/boosters too.

"Curci called Kentucky’s affinity for basketball “ridiculous” and noted it as a hindrance to football success.

Curci named basketball’s popularity and a lack of a recruiting base as the main obstacles facing Wildcat football. "

"What is happening is great, but it’s not enough. Not yet. The upgrades to Commonwealth will be good for UK football but the truth is that Kentucky is still behind most SEC schools in terms of football facilities and funding. Talent is behind but that appears to be improving. But Kentucky hasn’t bought in as a whole yet. One needs look no further than the student section at football games. A university where football is important fills more than 60% of it’s student tickets. Fans at such schools don’t roar louder for the basketball team being introduced between quarters than for their team taking an early lead over a Top Ten opponent. The list goes on."

To be fair, student attendance is down at most places. Hell, students aren't filling out their allotment for UK basketball either. There were nearly 1000 unclaimed student tickets put on sale for tomorrow's UCLA game earlier this week.

As the old saying goes... follow the money. Before the era of big TV contracts UK as well as most places were largely dependent upon booster money to fund the athletics programs. That meant that schools almost had to cater to whims of the people with the money. That set the culture. A culture that went much deeper than just UK. The KHSAA Sweet 16 has always been a bigger draw than HS football in the state. Historically, UK, UL, WKU, Murray St were all "basketball schools". EKU was a rare exception. Cultures change slowly and the deeper the culture, the slower the change.

Winning is required to garner support, support is required to win. One is the chicken, the other the egg.

 

[willievic]

UK football has changed a lot since Curci was here. No need to go into that, since it has already been mentioned. Coach Bryant did not leave UK because of the BS about the watch. There is a lot more to the reason why Coach Bryant left for TA&M. I, and a lot of "Old Farts" know the real reason.
The students will start coming if we continue to win. In the past, I can understand why a lot of the students didn't come. One thing that is important is, Coach Stoops must be able to win, without getting us in trouble. Coach Curci could not accomplish that. That has been a problem with a couple of our coaches in the past.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[SanAntonioCat]

But was he right in what he said? And when he said it?

Yes, he was right when he said it. Today, after the worst recession in our lifetime stymied the plans for football renovation in 2007, the university and donors got it done this time. In fact, our new football facilities are among the best in the SEC and nation.

 

[mtn cat1]

Curci had some valid points at the time, however the University has invested a ton of money into the Football program now.
The stadium renovation, the new practice facility, are 2 major improvements. The money received from the SEC is more than adequate for the Football program. The results are telling as we are apparently headed for the Taxslayer (Gator) bowl.
I wish Coach Curci would visit the new digs, if he hasn't already, I am sure he would be proud of the progress made.

It sure as hell has been a long time coming! Mitch Barnhart has made a good start, I'll patiently wait before I go "all in"!!!

 

[mtn cat1]

I have rendered more than a few commentaries dating back to 1948, through the MB reign as AD! As a fan of of both BB & FB, I have consistently tried to give an historical & cronological review of the Athletic Department with regard to the "heavy handed"/"behind the scenes" influence and dominion of BB & BB Interests!

It is my judgement that Fran Curci was "spot on" in his judgement(s)!!!

 

[southindycat]

It is true that the fans/alums still have some work to do, but a strong finish to this season will see a lot of this start next Fall. It won't take forever to start rebuilding the resilience that was once the hallmark of UK football fans. It really is tragic what happened on the previous staff's watch, particularly since Coach Phillips is an alum and well-liked person, away from football. Having that stadium 1/4 full was depressing.

 

[law1127]

Mtncat 1 is correct,been watching since1953, and am a bb and fb fan ,many reasons on lack of success after Bryant left. Suffice it to say that fb diminished greatly after Bryant left,where before he left , fb enjoyed as much administration support as bb ! Now the administration has come to realize that they can't sustain a viable sports program without a successful football program that funds a large part of its budget. Happy to think Maybe we've turned the page on past negligence and embrace the current,more positive approach !

 

[shutzhund]

I think the University is "All In" now, so Coach Curci's comments are a bit dated.

We HOPE they are "all in".

 

[southindycat]

We HOPE they are "all in".

OK.

 

[PowerofPelphrey]

All 3 are wrong and just excuses..

Not so much poor state talent as small state population.

 

[Blue Decade]

I think the University is "All In" now, so Coach Curci's comments are a bit dated.

Exactly. And more than a bit dated. There has been a recent $200 million upgrade on our stadium, with a state of the art recruiting room and sound system. There is a new office/practice complex with workout and development facilities as fine as any in the country. Our coaches have had a series of pay raises and bonuses. Makes you wonder whether the OP knows these things have happened.

 

[sobecat]

Not so much poor state talent as small state population.

It's pretty low per capita as well.

 

[Blue Decade]

We HOPE they are "all in".

Get Captain Kirk to beam you into the present. Money talks.

 

[NavyCat88]

We HOPE they are "all in".

Exactly......big questions: Will UK continue to make the financial commitment year by year to keep the FB facilities at SEC level and retain the quality coordinators and position coaches? OR will they (we) be satisfied with our marginal Improvement (thus far), put FB back on life-support, and go back to syphoning off the lion's share of FB proceeds to other sports? "Good facilities"/well compensated assistants, etc require more than a one time payment.

 

[Blue Decade]

Some of you will never be satisfied, and there is nothing the University can ever do to satisfy you. Not even a $200 million stadium remodel, a brand new office/practice facility, a victory over UL, and a bowl game stops this nonsense.

 

[NavyCat88]

Some of you will never be satisfied, and there is nothing the University can ever do to satisfy you. Not even a $200 million stadium remodel, a brand new office/practice facility, a victory over UL, and a bowl game stops this nonsense.

Hide & watch. We do not have a history of long-term SEC-level support of our FB program. I hope we have made the change to continuous investment as is the practice of our conference competition. GBB FOOTBALL!!!!

 

[sobecat]

Some of you will never be satisfied, and there is nothing the University can ever do to satisfy you. Not even a $200 million stadium remodel, a brand new office/practice facility, a victory over UL, and a bowl game stops this nonsense.

I think people are satisfied. I think it's more of a question of whether they will stay satisfied.

 

[DCFseattle]

Tying to blame the basketball program is the dumbest argument you can make. I didn't read beyond that.

 

[sobecat]

Tying to blame the basketball program is the dumbest argument you can make. I didn't read beyond that.

Nah, if I said it's because the color blue is unlucky, that would be way dumber.

 

[CatGotMyTongue]

Tying to blame the basketball program is the dumbest argument you can make. I didn't read beyond that.

I wouldn't say it's blaming basketball, per se--but more so deference to it by the BOT and administration over those years over football

 

[vhcat70]

I think people are satisfied. I think it's more of a question of whether they will stay satisfied.

When Commonwealth is consistently filled & stays full well into the 2H, then I'll agree they're satisfied.

 

[DCFseattle]

Nah, if I said it's because the color blue is unlucky, that would be way dumber.

Fair enough. But i think you could argue that the basketball team has as much to do with football as a color does.

 

[VikingsCat]

UK football has changed a lot since Curci was here. No need to go into that, since it has already been mentioned. Coach Bryant did not leave UK because of the BS about the watch. There is a lot more to the reason why Coach Bryant left for TA&M. I, and a lot of "Old Farts" know the real reason.
The students will start coming if we continue to win. In the past, I can understand why a lot of the students didn't come. One thing that is important is, Coach Stoops must be able to win, without getting us in trouble. Coach Curci could not accomplish that. That has been a problem with a couple of our coaches in the past.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

Question;
Wouldn't you say that Bryant leaving was indirectly caused by the administration's focus on basketball, which makes Cursi's comments correct?

Background for the question
It's my understanding that the following factors caused Bryant to leave.
1. The administration failed to punish/ fire Rupp after the 1951/52 point shaving scandal
2. The aftermath of the point shaving scandal caused the administration to pose;
2.b) an out of state recruiting ban in 1952.
2.c) a control regime on Bryant's recruiting funds
3. Not being able to recruit out of state and losing the recruiting battle of Hornung to Notre Dame was the "final drop" since Bryant didn't have any other viable in state QB options.