Who would coach at UK?

PGY Tiercel · Post by **PGY Tiercel** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:59 pm

So after checking out wildcatfaithful.com today, one could sum up that there is a lot of hatred for Rich Brooks floating through the bluegrass region. And rightfull so, the cats were embarrased by IU, and almost lost to a D-1AA.

At least 3 threads that I have read have at multiple people suggest Gregg Brandon. I don't want to be pushing Coach Brandon out but, if you were him would you take a UK coaching job, assuming that there hopefully will be a vacancy here by December at the latest. Other names tossed out; Hawkins and Amstutz, even John Cooper. If you were any of these guys would you take the job. For some of them, it would be at least a pay increase and a chance at more national exposure (weak but an argument), and maybe a chance to get some "better" recruits who want to play in the SEC.

tekekini · Post by **tekekini** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 2:07 am

if i was john cooper yes, Amstutz and brandon NO.

Also, I dont think they would get "better" recruits to play at UK in the SEC. If that were the case UK wouldnt be getting pounded by IU or barely winning D1-AA teams. half the MAC could beat UK 80% of the MAC could keep it close atleast. I think the top teams of the MAC are getting better players than UK

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 2:22 am

I think the meteoric rise of Louisville has killed UK in terms of recruiting. Now that Louisville is in a "BCS" league, UK can't even use that advantage to recruit.

There's a general rule coaches follow that tells them not to make lateral moves. Even though UK is in the SEC, I think that would be considered at best a lateral move for Hawkins, Brandon, and Amstutz. I don't think John Cooper's a very good football coach so I don't know or care what he would do.

If I were Brandon, I wouldn't touch Kentucky with a ten foot pole. How many times have we been on nat'l TV in the last 3 years as opposed to Kentucky? We've settled in at 4-6 nat'l games a year and I doubt UK gets that kind of national exposure.

I wouldn't be surprised if UK offered Brandon this offseason. I'll decide then whether or not I would be disppointed if he leaves. I want to see the 3rd quarter of the Miami and Toledo games before I make that decision.

goofyeuph · Post by **goofyeuph** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:09 am

I saw Cooper as an analyst for one of the networks over the weekend. Don't really remember which one...so I doubt that he'd be interested in going to UK.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:34 am

goofyeuph wrote:I saw Cooper as an analyst for one of the networks over the weekend. Don't really remember which one...so I doubt that he'd be interested in going to UK.

He's a studio analyst for ESPN Plus, and occasional color commentator here and there. I don't know why that would have anything to do with him not being interested in a job at UK...

Once these old coaches get the itch, it's tough to get rid of it. If Cooper still has the itch to coach and UK wanted him, it might not be a bad fit. The only way to go is up, and if you go up far enough and start making some noise in the SEC, you get credit heaped on you with a bulldozer. If you don't go up, the fans will only be pissed at ya until October 15 when basketball starts practicing.

It would be a real gamble for one of the other three mentioned, but for an old coach, it might not be all that bad.

PGY Tiercel · Post by **PGY Tiercel** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 12:34 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:I think the meteoric rise of Louisville has killed UK in terms of recruiting. Now that Louisville is in a "BCS" league, UK can't even use that advantage to recruit.

There's a general rule coaches follow that tells them not to make lateral moves. Even though UK is in the SEC, I think that would be considered at best a lateral move for Hawkins, Brandon, and Amstutz. I don't think John Cooper's a very good football coach so I don't know or care what he would do.

If I were Brandon, I wouldn't touch Kentucky with a ten foot pole. How many times have we been on nat'l TV in the last 3 years as opposed to Kentucky? We've settled in at 4-6 nat'l games a year and I doubt UK gets that kind of national exposure.

I wouldn't be surprised if UK offered Brandon this offseason. I'll decide then whether or not I would be disppointed if he leaves. I want to see the 3rd quarter of the Miami and Toledo games before I make that decision.

Due to KY playing in the SEC there coverage isn't bad. It is probably right around BGs as of late. Jefferson Pilot sports, through CBS shows alot of SEC games. They have had two games so far (one on ESPN classic), and I wouldn't doubt they pick up the Florida game next week as well. UT game is often on TV as well. So really most of UKs coverage comes from who they play.

Also on the recruiting front, I think UK could provide some advantages, even over UL if a coach was able to bring them a winning record. Long process, definitely yes, but if they start pulling out some winning records, I think the chance to play in the SEC might be more attractive to recruits than playing for UL.

Like most of you, I do think it is too much of a gamble for guys like Brandon and Amstutz, especially since UK has a tradition of bad football and not just a couple of rough years. However a good coach could bring a winning record to UK. Guy Morris had UK 7-5 before they decided not to up his contract and bring in Brooks. So I think a good coach could get this team to win again.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 12:42 pm

yup -- anytime you have a school with the resources and fan support of a UK, the potential is there to be a good program. I just wouldn't be willing to take that risk unless the money was way up there.

Does the fan support for football dry up once basketball practice starts?

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 1:34 pm

Amstutz will end his career has head coach at Toledo. It's his dream job and he loves it.

UK has potential, that's for sure, but the SEC is a tough hill to climb. Would it be attractive for Brandon or Hawkins? Maybe. But it's awful early to speculate about coaching moves.

PGY Tiercel · Post by **PGY Tiercel** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 7:49 pm

Jacobs4Heisman wrote:yup -- anytime you have a school with the resources and fan support of a UK, the potential is there to be a good program. I just wouldn't be willing to take that risk unless the money was way up there.

Does the fan support for football dry up once basketball practice starts?

Yes, Commonwealth has had a really good showing over the last 4 years, averaging 50K+. Obviously once basketball starts, football games just make it easier for everyone to meet in one place and talk about the basketball team. Though, the I don't thinks the folks that support the football team are the same guys that wait 4-5days outside the arena to be the first one in at the first Midnight practice.

t

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 8:07 pm

John Cooper is only 7 wins away from 200....I think he will "coach" again.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 2:14 am

John Cooper was a hell of a recruiter...He always had the teams to win championships...he just couldnt coach them through the big games (Michigan) hell i think he only won 3 bowl games?

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:49 pm

Anonymous wrote:John Cooper was a hell of a recruiter...He always had the teams to win championships...he just couldnt coach them through the big games (Michigan) hell i think he only won 3 bowl games?

No doubt...the names that came thru OSU under his tenure (although there were plenty of problems with his players) were incredible.

I often wonder why the guy never tried to get a job in the NFL evaluating talent??

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:57 pm

Falconfreak90 wrote: I often wonder why the guy never tried to get a job in the NFL evaluating talent??

He actually did something like that with the Bengals the year after he got canned at OSU.

BGDrew · Post by **BGDrew** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 5:09 pm

John Cooper won a national championship....

Well, at least his players did in 2002.

Germainfitch1 · Post by **Germainfitch1** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 6:04 pm

Falconfreak90 wrote:
Anonymous wrote:John Cooper was a hell of a recruiter...He always had the teams to win championships...he just couldnt coach them through the big games (Michigan) hell i think he only won 3 bowl games?
No doubt...the names that came thru OSU under his tenure (although there were plenty of problems with his players) were incredible.

I often wonder why the guy never tried to get a job in the NFL evaluating talent??

He was and may still be employed as a consultant with the Bengals.