I want to float my feelings out there and see if you folks think they make sense, or if I’m imagining, whatever. The reason I think so many lost faith with Rich early, and that so many failed to see his goal was that we really didn’t understand his mission. We might have thought we did, but we really didn’t. Rich was working on a “program” scale. All of it. Top to bottom. And not just the actual program, but the entire entity of UK Football. From fans to facilities.

Joker is doing what we THOUGHT (or at least I wrongly did) Rich should have been doing, he’s working on the “team.” The program is established, if not an SEC contender, it’s the TEAM that needs to take it to the next level, and that’s what he’s doing, IMO. He’s getting guys to believe in themselves and each other. He’s getting them to believe in the coaching staff. He knows, again IMO, that getting this team to love to play the game with each other, and for the coaches, to love the promise of what practice means, and to embrace the confidence that their training is as elite as any and they will be “gameday ready” for any opponent, even florida. I mean, is there anyone here who think those wonderful guys aren’t training harder than ever? Not just on command, but putting in EXTRA time? Pushing themselves? Doing more on their own? You know it has a lot to do with Rock, but if I asked you if you felt that, with no inside knowledge, would you have the same feeling that I do that it’s happening?

That’s my feeling. You know, when Rich was coaching, you could always tell that he never really had confidence that we would beat the Florida’s and Bama’s of the league, you know. He spoke conservatively, and coached the same, and GOD did it fix our program. But you could just predict some losses, because we knew, and he knew, that he didn’t expect or need to win those games, he needed to set trends. He needed to impress a standard, and losses would do that as much as wins, so long as the losses were to top tier teams and coaches and were respectable. It was just getting us out of the basement so that there would be other SEC teams getting used to being the dogs that was important. He got media and fans to respect us.

Joker does not give me that vibe. I believe that Joker is coaching today with a firm belief he can beat Florida, and that the only way he’s going to lose to them is if they get lucky. I’m not suggesting he lacks respect. I’m saying he’s not gonna think they should lose to Florida until after they HAVE lost to Florida. It’s a subtle but significant difference.

It’s just a feeling I’m getting. This TEAM may lose games, but it will not be because they played second best, or were coached second best, or had second best abilities or talent. At least, that what I think THEY will believe for the first time.

That’s it. That’s my thoughts. Did I make any sense? Look forward to hearing from you. GO CATS and GO JOKER!!!

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This is pretty much a repeat of the last four years except that Florida who has been in contention for years seems to have recruited smarter players or at least players who don’t stay out so late.

Here is the latest point standings thru July 10th. I probably shouldn’t say that because there is still 5 hours left till tomorrow back east.

Georgia: 9
Tennessee: 6
Arkansas: 4
Florida: 3
Mississippi: 2
LSU: 1

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This year is the opening salvo of Joker Phillips operation win so here is a thought on taking it to the next level. Drop a patsy every year. Getting to the next level is going to require more exposure at the national level to get the recruits needed to win the SEC east than just picking four easy non conference patsy’s and winning two conference games. Joker has done a good job of recruiting but we need to expand our recruiting nationally so here is a list of teams to play during the next ten years.

1. SMU. I know, I know SMU? My love of Hawaii is showing isn’t it. Seriously though June Jones is creating a strong team down in Texas. Coaching at SMU has given him something he lacked at Hawaii a good place to recruit and he has taken advantage of it. A 1000 yd rusher with his offense looks like its going to be normal there. Texas is a fertile recruiting area and Kentucky should be able to grab more kids with good exposure there.

2. Notre Dame. A strong national fan base will have recruits watching. Nuff said.

3. Utah. They pull in a lot of Polynesian players every year and there is a lot of talent in Utah and the western states that the SEC ignores and Joker is a master at judging players talent.

4. South Florida. The talent in the south Florida area is unbeatable and S Florida is beatable and more exposure to the Big East audiences besides our annual beating of Louisville is a plus.

5. San Diego St. A beatable team from southern California and the Mountain West. Exposure in southern California is always a good thing and pulling in one or two good players from the area is a possibility since we are a SEC team and the SEC only recruits the top players in the area.

6. Oregon St. Another beatable team and a good game to get more west coast exposure to the large Polynesian population in the northwest. If not Oregon St. how about Washington St.

7. Boise St. This is one of those games that would draw a big audience and exposure is what possibly giving up a sure win is all about.

8. Houston. The second biggest TV market in Texas makes sense and they play exciting football and Kentucky plays SEC defense.

9. Central Florida. Beatable and exposure to the west coast of Florida where Joker has had some good recruiting.

10. Texas Tech is another possibility and winning over them and Tommy Tubberville would stir the recruiting pot in Texas for us. I could have picked Texas but we are a few years away from being able to beat them.

I said ten teams but what the heck eleven is good friends with ten and I admit I’m being selfish.

11. Hawaii. We would get a extra game at the end of the season that would be seen because its the last game of the year and the players would get a tropical vacation. Kentucky fans travel well and Joker would get to make contact with HS coaches here and maybe get some of those good defensive players that are going to USC, Utah and other Pac whatever teams.

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1998: – Tennessee
1999: – Florida St.
2000: – Oklahoma
2001: – Miami
2002: – Ohio St. (won on a blown call)
2003: – LSU
2004: – USC (Auburn was undefeated and didn’t play)
2005: – Texas
2006: – Florida
2007: – LSU
2008: – Florida
2009: – Alabama

To get drafted? The SEC leads in that also department also as the draft results this year show.

1. SEC – 49
2. Big Ten – 34
3. ACC – 31
4. Big 12 – 30
5. Pac-10 – 28
6. Big East – 18
7: MWC – 13

The SEC has now led or tied for the most selections in the NFL Draft for 11 of the last 13 seasons and the last four drafts and every team in the SEC had someone drafted. Alabama (7), Arkansas (1), Auburn (2), Florida (9), Georgia (5), Kentucky (3), LSU (6), Ole Miss (4), Mississippi State (2), South Carolina (2), Tennessee (6), Vanderbilt (2).

Because you love your state school? Ok this one I can understand I mean who wouldn’t want to play for Montana St. rather than Tennessee.

So if your a young man wanting to play great football and are being offered by a school like USC, Florida St. or Penn St. come on down and play for Kentucky in the SEC there isn’t anything like it.

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Allow me to entertain you with a bit deeper analysis of my predictions, and I’ll use some examples to show you what I mean. BTW I’m going to use layman’s terms, but some of you may know exactly what I’m talking about and may know what ideology I’m referring to. If so, no problem. But, I think it’s time I did a little bit of explaining as to WHY I’m so adamant in my evaluations. Plus, it might convince you that I’m not just pulling my opinions directly from my behind without a slight bit of filtering…

If there’s one thing that my considerable training on human traits and leadership has taught me, it’s that everyone has strengths. And, when those strengths are matched to the job right, it can be dynamic. and when they aren’t, it can be disastrous. To use one particular idea, there are four basic personality types. Some are thinkers, some are doers, some are collaborators, etc. you get the idea. Well, I’ve been thoroughly tested, and I am a doer. I’m a guy who specializes in crisis management, and immediate decision-making. *I* am better at evaluating plays and playcalling than Joker. That’s right. I said it. I DO know football, maybe not as much as some, but I know the game like it was my wife. I can look at a defense, and tell you what a good play might be in seconds. I can also tell you what a bad play might be at the same time. I say might, because sometimes, even the wrong play can be made good with good playmakers.
Now, I can do that and do it well. What I do NOT do well, is interpersonal management. I’m not someone who has the inspirational personality. I come off as direct, and abrasive, even when I don’t mean to. IT’s the way I’m wired. But, in a crisis, people are glad I’m around because I can make immediate decisions to manage the problem. But, this isn’t about me, it’s about Joker…

Joker IS NOT like me. Joker is not a crisis manager, and that’s what makes him a generally poor playcaller. He is however, a good leader. He can get the most out of people because he can manage them and their feelings. He comes across as a family member, not a boss. And that’s why I think he’ll make a good head coach.

Now, let me give you an example that should clarify why I believe you need doers as coordinators, and leaders as HCs. Florida State. Think about Florida State. Imagine Bobby on the sideline, or after the game. Remember the way he was? A salesman. The guy could sit down with anybody and make them comfortable. Make them believe him. You agree?

Now, think behind Bobby. Think Mickey Andrews. What did he look like during a game? Chewing the gum rapidly. Barking out orders. Never still always moving. He’s a kinesthetic doer. Are you starting to see what I’m getting at? They were perfect for each other and the team. It was the perfect fit.
Now, this is not to say that a doer can’t make a good coach (Urban Meyer) or that they WILL make a good coach (Charlie Weiss), but the best programs tend to have AT LEAST doers as head men or coordinators (Saban), or they have a leadership guy (Brooks) in charge that gets everyone to work well together.

BUT when teams inevitably go wrong is when they DON’T have a doer as a coordinator/playcaller. This has been the Achilles heel of UK for years now. Both Phillips and Brown are not critical thinkers. They are not crisis managers. They have milder personalities and are more interpersonal oriented. This leads to conservative decisions and playcalling. It just does.
UK needs to have DOERS as it’s coordinators. On both offense and defense, you have to have guys who think quickly, can adjust on the fly, and will gamble as often as they can, as opposed to as little as they can. Not that you need to onside kick it at the Swamp after you just scored, but things like CORNER BLITZES. 1st down hitch and go’s for the TD. Those type of things.

Joker is a collaborating type guy. He’s a guy who can bring people together and make them like him. Which is a great thing for leadership, but not for playcalling. In playcalling, you need guys who flourish under pressure. Like pit bulls and pain, they just wag their tail faster when the pressure increases. That’s what UK needs.
Sanders will be that guy, I think. (hope) His personality is more suited to the bang bang, and when he’s in the box making the calls, he’ll be better at making adjustments. I almost guarantee it.

Now, after that long walk in some minor psychology, back to the point. I’m behind Joker, and think he will do well. But, I can almost guarantee you that, unless he goes and gets a doer for his defense, he’s never going to get over the big hump. I still think he’ll be successful, maybe get an 8 win season here or there, but he’s never gonna challenge for the SEC, U-N-L-E-S-S…. Brown makes a dramatic change in his personality/philosophy and starts being a doer. To be frank, that’s just not likely.

Joker should be fine, and may be great. But, he’s gonna have to look past his feelings when it comes to Brown, IMNSHO, and realize that Brown is not a compliment for him. He needs a guy like Chuck Smith as Def Coordinator. Chuck is a doer. He’s a run the sidelines, screaming out stuff coach.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed it, even if you disagree.

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I hope the school renames our field Rich Brooks field so you become the first coach to have fields at two schools named after you. Give the school a call or email and ask them to name the field in his honor.

Enjoy your fishing and tomatoes coach.

Thanks for the memories
Of games I can’t forget
The bowl wins you beget
Our wond’rous win against LSU
And Georgia and Auburn too
How lucky we were to have you

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This whole season was really Clemson’s season to be at their best. They had the experience and depth, particularly at the skill positions on both sides of the ball, and they had their speed. They were supposed to be a 10 win team. They weren’t. And, they weren’t because they just aren’t.

UK, on the other hand, came into this season with many of us debating whether this team was even a six win team. Most of us fell between 6 and 8. Yea, lo verily, we got 7. But, we never anticipated a true freshman QB winning three conference games. Not for a minute. And our receivers are still a group of young guys who, even though we’ve played a season, still haven’t gathered that much experience. We’ve had to run the ball so much (and it was good) that none of these guys, even Cobb, posted number like they could have if we had a more experienced and confident QB.

Well, now we will. I think this pause and practce will be take alot of pressure off Morgan. I think with the time to ONLY have to watch film on one team, and having the luxury to take 5 days a week to throw all the reps he can to all his recievers, learn their timing, get to know their speed, I think UK may well emerge a different team for this bowl game.

I think Clemson will be good, but they have ONLY the lowest level of performance of our team to look back on and reflect. They really, truthful, CAN’T possibly know how to scheme for this team because there has been so little game footage of this team getting to play well as a unit. The only thing they will definitely know is that our O-line is really good, top ten good, but that really only tells you you may have send extra people, to get pressure. They are only gonna know Locke is fast, and Cobb is dynamic. Beyond that, they have no idea as to the capabilities and potential of the rest of our offense.

–I’m starting to like the idea.

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There are plenty of reasons UK fell down in the UT game.  The D could not stop the run once again, but they’ve had trouble with big strong backs all year so this wasn’t a big surprise.  UK did find a way to put enough points on the board, but I had that, “doomed” feeling when I felt UK needed to produce on demand in OT.  The reason was at quarterback.  Newton hasn’t performed all year, never seemed to grow at all, and especially not to a level that you would expect from a future savior.  The bottom line with me comes down to what I consider to be the huge mistake at passing over Fidler.  First, UK simply GAVE the kid a job he did not earn, and the players never seemed to play as hard for him.  He never seemed to have their respect and was lost in most games and was totally lost in the entire UT game.  All the while, Fidler read defenses much better, and let’s face it, reading anything at all was light years better than Newton.  Fidler’s passes were more on time and on target, his decisions were that of a fourth year guy, the team played for him and he ran just as well as Newton.  Of course if your end goal was to run Fidler off, I say mission accomplished as he was honored on senior day following his announcement that he wasn’t coming back next year. 

Most people think UK error by not going to the Wildcat more in the UT game, which is completely an error in judgment if you ask me.  The Wildcat is a wrinkle set designed to give the other team something else to prepare for.  What those calling for more Wildcat fail to understand is all UT had to prepare for was the Wildcat and they bottled up every single option once they had a chance to see their guys defending it one time.  There is a reason Cobb had twice as many fumbles in the UT game as all the others combined (and his other fumble was actually a backward pass he dropped).  UT almost forced two other Cobb fumbles but he was able to pull it back in long enough to go down.

I love all the UK players, but when it comes to Newton, I just don’t know if he’s going to be a fit.  He’s the reactional type QB in a pro style offense that requires a thinker as much as a drop back passer.  Trading a number two position in the SEC for getting him some reps was a horrid mistake in my mind, especially considering he’s of the same mold as Pulley.  People might point to this year, where Pulley did finally have passing numbers in a lower division, but let’s also consider it took him five years to finally get numbers in one.  UK simply can’t waste two more years of dismal QB play to get one OK year and blowing this year on Newton was the worst coaching move of the year.

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The battle for 2nd is coming on Saturday. Layla is bringing Lane, a reinstated (and “cleared”) freshman starting safety and the rest of the Tennessee Chain Gang to Commonwealth.

Are they visiting to see how a clean program should be built? Is Lane going to learn how to make sure his players weren’t arrested right before he proudly proclaims they have had no arrests that month? Is he going to learn from PawPaw what respect is?

His trash talking is what Vol fans want. The recent comment about there being no reason why the streak should not extend to 25 in a row was a clear indicator he is a warden the fans will love. As long as he wins. He may have a hidden talent too. How to convince the victim that the player should be able to play. After all…shop lifting is only a crime when there is enough evidence to convict. And possession of a $120.00 shirt you didn’t pay for is obviously not a crime in Volville.

So here they come to Commonwealth. A stadium with more ghosts than traditions. They are coming on senior day to extend the streak, and claim 2nd place in the East.

This is not David and Goliath as it was in years past. UK has proven they can end streaks, and make the plays when they matter. They have also proven they can brain fart at the wrong time. But this is not the same UK that played SC and MSU. Not the same teams that was embarrassed by FL, and happy to hang in there against Bama.

This team is led by Randall Cobb. A kid who was overlooked by the Pumpkins when he was playing in the shadows of Knoxville Prison. Rumor is that he didn’t have enough felonies to qualify for an athletic scholarship.

Like Cobb, this team no longer quits. They no longer make THE turnover to cost them the game. They get THE first down so they can line up in V formation. They have ended two streaks, and are going for #3.

Dinged and bruised they have played 10 straight weeks. This will be #11. A fans dream, a coaches nightmare. Either way, they are 7-4. Those of us on the bus believed they would be here, just not the way we arrived. Who would have thought we would win at Auburn and at GA?

The Felons are 0 fer in the SEC on the road. Hard to travel with that little bracelet on your leg, isn’t it? The Cats are 0 fer against the SEC at home. Yet another streak will have to end.

Commonwealth is ready. Extra locks and police. New safes for wallets and jewelry. Accommodations for the parole officers, and plenty of photographers for the arrival of Layla. Rumor has it that the shops at Fayette Mall and Lex Green are trying to prevent shoplifting by not allowing anyone wearing orange in their store.

Commonwealth will accept cash only from Vol fans. The Secret Service is looking for “funny money”, and will keep an eye on the players in and out of the tunnel. Al Gore’s “carbon credits” are not real currency either.

They Cats are ready. They will be bruised and playing hurt. But aren’t they all this time of year? I feel we will see a conservative offense early in the game, with Brooks trusting the D to keep them in check while Joker figures out Monte. Then we open it up.

Will Under Armor protect against a shank? THAT is the question I need answered.

After we end the 3rd streak of the season and secure 2nd place in the east, I will have 1 question for Lane.

Who’s your Daddy?

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I complained about the offensive play calling but frankly they brought the offense along slowly but surely. Joker even called a pass on first down twice in the second half at Georgia and I can look forward to seeing a more diversified offense against Tennessee.

I complained about the defensive play calling and Im gonna imagine that if I was named Cox I’d be complaining about his offensive protection after the defense harassed him in the second half into committing several turnovers.

I complained about special teams play but they held a good kick return game in check and created turnovers that we were able to capitalize on. Thats something we haven’t done especially well in the past.

I still have several complaints that I’m gonna express because I’m afraid if I don’t I might Jinx the cats.
1. We need to use a few more blitzes.
2. We need to pass to the TE a little more.
3. The middle of the field needs to be used more in the passing game.

Some place along the road I seemed to have gotten my expectations confused with the facts.

1. We are starting a freshman quarterback and the coaches have brought him along nicely.
2. Our defensive line had one returning lineman and we have been forced to depend on our linebackers more than we would have if Jarmon had been here.
3. We had no experienced receivers. Now we do and next year the rest of the SEC is going to disrespect them to their undoing.

If we were as bad as my complaints we couldn’t have come back come back against Georgia turnovers or not. I promise to try not to complain again this year

It was suggested in the forums that Uga VII died because he didn’t want to face the embarrassment of losing to Kentucky at home. And whats with the arrest of 1 more Georgia football players thats 31 in the past four years. Florida only has 24 arrests and Tennessee 25.

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