(07-15-2013 05:08 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(07-10-2013 03:26 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(07-10-2013 03:15 PM)LSUtah Wrote:  

(07-08-2013 09:09 PM)WPDAWG08 Wrote:  Hey guys I am new and a refugee from espn. Look forward to posting here. We really need a secondary worth a **** but this a tall order considering the league uk is in though there OOC is pretty promising. Drew Barker was a good sign but is not all that exciting to me. thoughts

I think so. Kentucky is actually positioned geographically (not the state itself, but sandwiched between south and midwest) to recruit very well. For some reason a lot of prior coaches have never heavily recruited Ohio though. Perhaps the cache of the SEC is now so much stronger than it was previously, that it is easier pickings. A few winning years and that program could be off to the races...

Plus Stoops is a native of Ohio.

I have been going on about Tennessee lately and Kentucky is in similar position. They do have one edge and that is their closer proximity to other conference's traditional recruiting grounds. With ESPN pushing the SEC so much and with the new SEC Network being available, Kentucky is going to get presented on tv a lot more especially with a regionally tuned conference network. Those areas bordering Kentucky are not that far away so the drive is doable and they will have a chance to see the rest of the games during regional coverage on the SECN.

The SECN could possibly be huge for Kentucky football.

Probably the same goes for Missouri as well.

(07-15-2013 11:15 PM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  

(07-15-2013 05:08 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(07-10-2013 03:26 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(07-10-2013 03:15 PM)LSUtah Wrote:  

(07-08-2013 09:09 PM)WPDAWG08 Wrote:  Hey guys I am new and a refugee from espn. Look forward to posting here. We really need a secondary worth a **** but this a tall order considering the league uk is in though there OOC is pretty promising. Drew Barker was a good sign but is not all that exciting to me. thoughts

I think so. Kentucky is actually positioned geographically (not the state itself, but sandwiched between south and midwest) to recruit very well. For some reason a lot of prior coaches have never heavily recruited Ohio though. Perhaps the cache of the SEC is now so much stronger than it was previously, that it is easier pickings. A few winning years and that program could be off to the races...

Plus Stoops is a native of Ohio.

I have been going on about Tennessee lately and Kentucky is in similar position. They do have one edge and that is their closer proximity to other conference's traditional recruiting grounds. With ESPN pushing the SEC so much and with the new SEC Network being available, Kentucky is going to get presented on tv a lot more especially with a regionally tuned conference network. Those areas bordering Kentucky are not that far away so the drive is doable and they will have a chance to see the rest of the games during regional coverage on the SECN.

The SECN could possibly be huge for Kentucky football.

Probably the same goes for Missouri as well.

Absolutely. Kentucky does have recruit rich Ohio right next door and Missouri's best neighbor is Illinois in that regard so it is not quite even but Missouri itself is a better state for recruits than Kentucky so I suppose one could argue that Missouri could see even better benefit than Kentucky will.

(07-16-2013 08:56 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(07-15-2013 11:15 PM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  

(07-15-2013 05:08 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(07-10-2013 03:26 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(07-10-2013 03:15 PM)LSUtah Wrote:  I think so. Kentucky is actually positioned geographically (not the state itself, but sandwiched between south and midwest) to recruit very well. For some reason a lot of prior coaches have never heavily recruited Ohio though. Perhaps the cache of the SEC is now so much stronger than it was previously, that it is easier pickings. A few winning years and that program could be off to the races...

Plus Stoops is a native of Ohio.

I have been going on about Tennessee lately and Kentucky is in similar position. They do have one edge and that is their closer proximity to other conference's traditional recruiting grounds. With ESPN pushing the SEC so much and with the new SEC Network being available, Kentucky is going to get presented on tv a lot more especially with a regionally tuned conference network. Those areas bordering Kentucky are not that far away so the drive is doable and they will have a chance to see the rest of the games during regional coverage on the SECN.

The SECN could possibly be huge for Kentucky football.

Probably the same goes for Missouri as well.

Absolutely. Kentucky does have recruit rich Ohio right next door and Missouri's best neighbor is Illinois in that regard so it is not quite even but Missouri itself is a better state for recruits than Kentucky so I suppose one could argue that Missouri could see even better benefit than Kentucky will.

True. Missouri is losing far less in-state recruits now than in the past...

(07-20-2013 02:16 AM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  

(07-16-2013 08:56 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(07-15-2013 11:15 PM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  

(07-15-2013 05:08 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(07-10-2013 03:26 PM)JRsec Wrote:  Plus Stoops is a native of Ohio.

I have been going on about Tennessee lately and Kentucky is in similar position. They do have one edge and that is their closer proximity to other conference's traditional recruiting grounds. With ESPN pushing the SEC so much and with the new SEC Network being available, Kentucky is going to get presented on tv a lot more especially with a regionally tuned conference network. Those areas bordering Kentucky are not that far away so the drive is doable and they will have a chance to see the rest of the games during regional coverage on the SECN.

The SECN could possibly be huge for Kentucky football.

Probably the same goes for Missouri as well.

Absolutely. Kentucky does have recruit rich Ohio right next door and Missouri's best neighbor is Illinois in that regard so it is not quite even but Missouri itself is a better state for recruits than Kentucky so I suppose one could argue that Missouri could see even better benefit than Kentucky will.

True. Missouri is losing far less in-state recruits now than in the past...

Just wait till those in-state recruits will be able to watch Missouri football every single week thanks to the SEC Network.

(07-08-2013 09:09 PM)WPDAWG08 Wrote:  Hey guys I am new and a refugee from espn. Look forward to posting here. We really need a secondary worth a **** but this a tall order considering the league uk is in though there OOC is pretty promising. Drew Barker was a good sign but is not all that exciting to me. thoughts

You guys have had the best recruiting class for 2014 that I can remember. Things are looking up.

Its Mark Stoops. Bob is the Coach at OU. I can see Kentucky doing pretty well under Stoops now that means 7-8 wins a year. Even with UK at their best I don't see them ever competing for the Eastern division crown. In Kentucky's best year under Brooks in 2007 they won big games including an upset win against eventual National Champion LSU, but they finished 4th in the East behind Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee.

(07-25-2013 06:47 AM)GreenHornet33 Wrote:  Its Mark Stoops. Bob is the Coach at OU. I can see Kentucky doing pretty well under Stoops now that means 7-8 wins a year. Even with UK at their best I don't see them ever competing for the Eastern division crown. In Kentucky's best year under Brooks in 2007 they won big games including an upset win against eventual National Champion LSU, but they finished 4th in the East behind Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee.

I think most UK fans would be content with a legitimate run (not necessarily win) at the east division title once every 4-5 years and the filler years to at least be entertaining and competitive. Winning an SEC championship is not even on our radar.

(07-10-2013 09:49 AM)bigblueblindness Wrote:  

(07-09-2013 08:51 PM)Gamecock Wrote:  Hard to say.

5-7 wins a year? Absolutely.

8-10 a year? I wouldn't bet on it.

He has a great class now, but how will he be able to recruit next season, especially if this season is underwhelming.

Yeah, we'll just have to see how it goes. 10 years ago, there was not a snowball's chance that anyone would say that South Carolina would compete for the SEC East year in, year out. It took the right coach and a commitment to gathering talent, especially keeping the top guys in state.

I actually think Missouri, against my hopes, will become a much better recruiting ground for Kentucky. Lots of good high school football players in the St Louis metro area, and eastern side of the state.

(07-10-2013 03:15 PM)LSUtah Wrote:  

(07-08-2013 09:09 PM)WPDAWG08 Wrote:  Hey guys I am new and a refugee from espn. Look forward to posting here. We really need a secondary worth a **** but this a tall order considering the league uk is in though there OOC is pretty promising. Drew Barker was a good sign but is not all that exciting to me. thoughts

I think so. Kentucky is actually positioned geographically (not the state itself, but sandwiched between south and midwest) to recruit very well. For some reason a lot of prior coaches have never heavily recruited Ohio though. Perhaps the cache of the SEC is now so much stronger than it was previously, that it is easier pickings. A few winning years and that program could be off to the races...

Until recently, I don't think there was really any extra allure about playing in the SEC for many Ohio kids. This is Big Ten country and most the state is was locked into that race. As football interests turn more national (less emphasis on just Big Ten and Rose Bowl and more on national championship) and given recent SEC success, it's a great strategy now though. Kentucky is probably never going to beat out Ohio State or Michigan for a recruit, but they can compete for some of the better ones after that against Purdue, Illinois, etc.

(07-25-2013 10:53 PM)ohio1317 Wrote:  

(07-10-2013 03:15 PM)LSUtah Wrote:  

(07-08-2013 09:09 PM)WPDAWG08 Wrote:  Hey guys I am new and a refugee from espn. Look forward to posting here. We really need a secondary worth a **** but this a tall order considering the league uk is in though there OOC is pretty promising. Drew Barker was a good sign but is not all that exciting to me. thoughts

I think so. Kentucky is actually positioned geographically (not the state itself, but sandwiched between south and midwest) to recruit very well. For some reason a lot of prior coaches have never heavily recruited Ohio though. Perhaps the cache of the SEC is now so much stronger than it was previously, that it is easier pickings. A few winning years and that program could be off to the races...

Until recently, I don't think there was really any extra allure about playing in the SEC for many Ohio kids. This is Big Ten country and most the state is was locked into that race. As football interests turn more national (less emphasis on just Big Ten and Rose Bowl and more on national championship) and given recent SEC success, it's a great strategy now though. Kentucky is probably never going to beat out Ohio State or Michigan for a recruit, but they can compete for some of the better ones after that against Purdue, Illinois, etc.

Good points, and with Delany's proposal for special consideration for academically challenged athletes the real casualties of SEC and Big 10 recruiting in the Midwest and Southeast as both conferences expand their bases will be among those students who were academically challenged enough to have to have entered a Sun Belt or MAC, or JUCO school to start their playing years. That one proposal of the four he made could have the greatest impact in separating the FBS upper tier from the rest of college football. If UK picked up just three or four top talents with marginal academic ability from Ohio or Pennsylvania every year it would improve them dramatically. Of course now the situation will be such that IU and Purdue will be doing the same in Kentucky and West Virginia. If this proposal passes I think states like West Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana will get harder than most by increased out of state/and out of conference recruiters.

(07-25-2013 01:09 PM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  

(07-10-2013 09:49 AM)bigblueblindness Wrote:  

(07-09-2013 08:51 PM)Gamecock Wrote:  Hard to say.

5-7 wins a year? Absolutely.

8-10 a year? I wouldn't bet on it.

He has a great class now, but how will he be able to recruit next season, especially if this season is underwhelming.

Yeah, we'll just have to see how it goes. 10 years ago, there was not a snowball's chance that anyone would say that South Carolina would compete for the SEC East year in, year out. It took the right coach and a commitment to gathering talent, especially keeping the top guys in state.

I actually think Missouri, against my hopes, will become a much better recruiting ground for Kentucky. Lots of good high school football players in the St Louis metro area, and eastern side of the state.

Missouri will become a better recruiting ground for Arkansas more than anyone else not named Mizzou. The best thing that ever happened for Missouri was Nebraska going to the Big10 and Mizzou seperating itself from other old Big 8 programs.

There is zero chance Bob Stoops gets Kentucky to a competitive level because he is currently the coach at Oklahoma.

(07-29-2013 08:59 PM)Gamecock Wrote:  There is zero chance Bob Stoops gets Kentucky to a competitive level because he is currently the coach at Oklahoma.

Lol. Nice catch....

I think Mark Stoops will be a consistent coach there. If he wins the games he is supposed to win, he will be in good shape. Beating WKU, Louisville, and Tennessee this year would prove dividends in his future recruiting. If he can win those games, which is possible, they can probably get to a bowl game this year at 6-6. Maybe if they can pull off an upset or 2 they will be in really good shape. I think Mark can get them to a consistent 7-8 win team every year, but he needs time.

(08-05-2013 09:15 PM)theSabanator20 Wrote:  I think Mark Stoops will be a consistent coach there. If he wins the games he is supposed to win, he will be in good shape. Beating WKU, Louisville, and Tennessee this year would prove dividends in his future recruiting. If he can win those games, which is possible, they can probably get to a bowl game this year at 6-6. Maybe if they can pull off an upset or 2 they will be in really good shape. I think Mark can get them to a consistent 7-8 win team every year, but he needs time.

If it is possible to turn Vandy around, Kentucky should have no problems.

(08-05-2013 09:15 PM)theSabanator20 Wrote:  I think Mark Stoops will be a consistent coach there. If he wins the games he is supposed to win, he will be in good shape. Beating WKU, Louisville, and Tennessee this year would prove dividends in his future recruiting. If he can win those games, which is possible, they can probably get to a bowl game this year at 6-6. Maybe if they can pull off an upset or 2 they will be in really good shape. I think Mark can get them to a consistent 7-8 win team every year, but he needs time.

Beating all three of WKU, Louisville, and UT this year would be a minor miracle. Stoops is fine for at least three years because he is killing it on the recruiting trail and has brought a pulse back to the program. This year, any decent wins will be icing on the cake. We will be more of the team that gets other coaches in trouble if they lose to us. If Gary Pinkel loses to UK this year... uh oh. I hope UK's best effort this year is decisive win over WKU. As the season opener, that will inspire a lot of confidence in the guys. Losses to any SEC team or Louisville this year will be understood. A WKU loss would really hurt.

(08-06-2013 01:39 PM)bigblueblindness Wrote:  

(08-05-2013 09:15 PM)theSabanator20 Wrote:  I think Mark Stoops will be a consistent coach there. If he wins the games he is supposed to win, he will be in good shape. Beating WKU, Louisville, and Tennessee this year would prove dividends in his future recruiting. If he can win those games, which is possible, they can probably get to a bowl game this year at 6-6. Maybe if they can pull off an upset or 2 they will be in really good shape. I think Mark can get them to a consistent 7-8 win team every year, but he needs time.

Beating all three of WKU, Louisville, and UT this year would be a minor miracle. Stoops is fine for at least three years because he is killing it on the recruiting trail and has brought a pulse back to the program. This year, any decent wins will be icing on the cake. We will be more of the team that gets other coaches in trouble if they lose to us. If Gary Pinkel loses to UK this year... uh oh. I hope UK's best effort this year is decisive win over WKU. As the season opener, that will inspire a lot of confidence in the guys. Losses to any SEC team or Louisville this year will be understood. A WKU loss would really hurt.

You are correct about Pinkel...

I still think that with the current two division system, there will continue to be a hard canopy that UK will not be able to improve above. They will never be able to recruit to a point where they can challenge for the division title unless the other major programs all fall apart at the same time. Can they beat out Vandy? Sure. Can they beat out Tennessee? Sure. Can they beat out Florida, Georgia and South Carolina all in the same year? Highly unlikely.

Kentucky needs new divisions as much if not more than Tennessee.

(08-07-2013 11:17 AM)He1nousOne Wrote:  I still think that with the current two division system, there will continue to be a hard canopy that UK will not be able to improve above. They will never be able to recruit to a point where they can challenge for the division title unless the other major programs all fall apart at the same time. Can they beat out Vandy? Sure. Can they beat out Tennessee? Sure. Can they beat out Florida, Georgia and South Carolina all in the same year? Highly unlikely.

Kentucky needs new divisions as much if not more than Tennessee.

Kentucky fans know exactly where we stand in football, and that is fine. We want to be competitive, entertaining, and develop elite players. We can do all of those things without winning a division or SEC championship in football. Being in the best football conference is better than being the top dog in a lesser conference. Ask Cincinnati which position they would rather be in right now. Kentucky football is like Ole Miss basketball. Could we catch lightning in a bottle once a generation in football? Sure, and we'd be happy with that. Every school in the SEC has to know what they bring to the table and keep improving upon it. Kentucky brings men's basketball, is doing really well in women's basketball, and have come along well in the Olympic sports. Football must keep improving, and it will. In the meantime, we know our place.

(08-07-2013 01:15 PM)bigblueblindness Wrote:  

(08-07-2013 11:17 AM)He1nousOne Wrote:  I still think that with the current two division system, there will continue to be a hard canopy that UK will not be able to improve above. They will never be able to recruit to a point where they can challenge for the division title unless the other major programs all fall apart at the same time. Can they beat out Vandy? Sure. Can they beat out Tennessee? Sure. Can they beat out Florida, Georgia and South Carolina all in the same year? Highly unlikely.

Kentucky needs new divisions as much if not more than Tennessee.

Kentucky fans know exactly where we stand in football, and that is fine. We want to be competitive, entertaining, and develop elite players. We can do all of those things without winning a division or SEC championship in football. Being in the best football conference is better than being the top dog in a lesser conference. Ask Cincinnati which position they would rather be in right now. Kentucky football is like Ole Miss basketball. Could we catch lightning in a bottle once a generation in football? Sure, and we'd be happy with that. Every school in the SEC has to know what they bring to the table and keep improving upon it. Kentucky brings men's basketball, is doing really well in women's basketball, and have come along well in the Olympic sports. Football must keep improving, and it will. In the meantime, we know our place.

I wasn't comparing you guys to schools that would wish to be you. That is great that you accept your place in the current hierarchy. As an Iowa fan I do the same with Iowa.

I am talking about how your situation would be even better with four divisions instead of just two. Do you see what I am getting at?