Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
There isn’t any other team in the country whose first game will define their season more than the Wildcats. With a September 2nd collision course with Louisville rapidly approaching, a loss for Coach Phillips’ team to its most hated rival could do even more damage to his already shaky reputation around the Commonwealth. The big question fans want to know, “Is the team competitive enough to win games in the SEC?” With a lot of new, young faces in a host of different positions, it’s hard to tell. There were some good things that we saw at April’s spring game but, honestly, we won’t know how good they can be until they take the field at Papa John’s Stadium and beyond. I ran across an article today outlining exactly how hot each college football’s seat is going into the 2012 season and I was a little surprised with Joker’s number. CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd ranks each major coaches’ hot seat zero to five, depending on the vibe he gets from the fan base and the administration. Here’s his Hot Seat Rating Key and ranking for Phillips:
Knowing that there is huge part of Big Blue Nation wanting a coaching change, a two point jump for Phillips from last year is not a surprise. I am a little surprised that his rating is as low as 3.5. I don’t think it should be a five, but I do think that his seat is warm enough to be a four. What say you? Does Dodd have it right? Should the number be lower or higher?
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June 25th, 2012 at 8:07 pm
He’s a 6…should have been fired already…
June 25th, 2012 at 8:17 pm
Joker butt is so hot, he is butt hurt !!
June 25th, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Joker better win 7 + a Bowl game and show big improvement or he is DONE
June 25th, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Joker is going to stink up the place so bad this year he’s going to get Barnhart fired.
June 25th, 2012 at 8:24 pm
is this news this has been on here multiple time about joker and his job it getting old maybe yall should write about players on the team or some real info
June 25th, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Jokers should absolutely be hotter, but this Dodd guy is an idiot anyway. He has Dabo Sweeney at a 3 just a year after he won the ACC and a week after he pulled the number 1 recruit for next year.
June 25th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
Number 5 you should really consider using punctuation in comment. It makes your point hard to follow.
June 25th, 2012 at 8:37 pm
Now I went to school at the same time as joker, and was very happy to hear things like, “14 yard completion to joker Phillips”. I kinda believe that if he was worth a shit coaching….. some of the pros would have snatched him up…. years ago.
Joker should not even have a set now as UK HC.
June 25th, 2012 at 8:47 pm
I would say he is clearly a 4.
I have heard the players don’t like him and that is a MAJOR problem. It can easily be cured by winning. Not playing good teams close, he needs to have a good record.
June 25th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
(11-15)= a much hotter seat then on the bubble!
June 25th, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Based strictly on football performance Joker needs four years to install his system/culture. Retain or fire him at that point. Anything less hamstrings his recruiting and runs off potential future coaches. Having said that, his seat’s pretty hot.
June 25th, 2012 at 8:53 pm
So hot da devil be jealous…
June 25th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Joker just pulled the best QB in the state since Tim Couch.
The only thing that’s completely out of line are the ticket increases. UK will suffer dearly by this decision.
June 25th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Our schedule this coming season is quite a bit more difficult than last years! Last year we had a very easy SEC schedule. We also lost our top 2 tacklers, and were blown out (not competitive in most of our games. To me, foreseeing an improvement this season, with our personnel losses and our tougher schedule, is hard to believe.
June 25th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
11. Joker s not some new coach to UK! He was the offensive coordinator , and one of UK’s main recruiters. He has had his hands all over UK football for some time. Future coaches will notice that as well! On top of that. Jokers continued downward departure from the the building years of Coach Brooks, will only make it harder for a future coach.
13. Your “best QB in the state since Tim Couch” is a little ridiculous, since Zeke Pike in this class was rated higher, and since we have not even seen how he will react to “Joker’s” coaching.
I agree our ticket prices are a little bit out of line, but so is our win total, and Joker’s ability to coach and DEVELOPE players! Look at all of Joker’s comments last season, especially in later part of the season (he had no clue what he was doing, and his press-conferences showed it) He does not know how to evaluate players (Morgan Newton).
June 25th, 2012 at 9:05 pm
bachelorette just doesnt have the same drama as bachelor.. am i right??
June 25th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
16. you are so right. the girls on the bachelor create so much more drama. so over this season.
June 25th, 2012 at 9:14 pm
Joker seat is so hot, he better be standing all year long.
Dude should have been fired before he was hired.
June 25th, 2012 at 9:32 pm
While I hate to see a bad outcome for Joker, anything that might get Barnhart the Bureaucrat, or any of the other brain dead controlling the athletic dept run, that would be worth it.
June 25th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
There isn’t any other team in the country whose first game will define their season more than the Wildcats.
What About Michigan vs Bama, and Auburn vs Clemson. Both week 1 matchups. I love UK football and basketball, but the 1st game does not define the whole season except for the fans ready to blow their minds.
June 25th, 2012 at 10:29 pm
first, 15..thank you for pointing out what most of us, except 11 and 13, who have even casually followed uk fball already know. also 19, why all the hate for barnhart? he has all the uk sports programs on the rise except for fball, and maybe after this year he’ll make a change there too for the better, although the past 60 years history might indicate it won’t change much
June 25th, 2012 at 10:40 pm
Rashawn you are a loser!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 25th, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Joker’s seat is insulated pretty good by Barnhart.
Put Coach Cal in charge of the revenue sports and let Barnhart run the other stuff. Problem solved.
Anyone think it would take Cal ten years to figure out how to be 5-6 in football with one of the weakest non conference schedules in the country? Barnhart knows nothing about SEC football, excuses, excuses, excuses, and more excuses.
June 25th, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Any coach deserves 4 years and that includes Joker. All of these critical attitudes towards Joker doesn’t help his chances. A true UK fan would be more supportive until that time which it is determined he needs to be let go or keep his job. Also, 19 you don’t have a clue. Barnhart has done an incredible job.
June 25th, 2012 at 10:48 pm
24 you couldn’t say it any better.
Joker needs 4 years, idc if he is poking MJP during it. Every coach needs 4 years unless they are a total scum bag like Billy G. And yes, Barnhart is a damn good AD and person as well.
June 25th, 2012 at 10:48 pm
I say when will UK ever get serious about having a football program. Why will UK not hire a coach in comparison to the rest of the SEC?
June 25th, 2012 at 10:51 pm
24, I think we can be true UK fans and not have blinders on. Several true UK fans have come to the conclusion that he needs to be let go.
June 25th, 2012 at 11:08 pm
15 – Yes, Joker has been on the staff for years but there is a huge difference between coordinator and HC. Ask most of the head coaches that have come up that way. If you fire Joker before he gets four years based on football performance many potential head coaches, ones we might want, will look the other way.
June 25th, 2012 at 11:10 pm
26 – was Brooks not an SEC caliber coach?
June 25th, 2012 at 11:34 pm
#29 Brooks couldn’t make it to .500 in the conference so, no he wasn’t an SEC caliber coach. He was a “Kentucky caliber coach.”
June 25th, 2012 at 11:50 pm
It doesn’t matter who they hire. UK Football will always suck. Just stop watching and let program fade away.
I enjoy college football. UK is the only thing I truly hate about the College Football experience. It sucks and no one is ever going to do anything about it.
Keep the Joke for the next decade. Save the money from firing the joke and hiring the next joke.
Who cares?
June 25th, 2012 at 11:57 pm
“#29 Brooks couldn’t make it to .500 in the conference so, no he wasn’t an SEC caliber coach. He was a ‘Kentucky caliber coach.’”
***BINGO!!!
June 26th, 2012 at 12:04 am
#4 – Boy, I sure hope you’re right!!!!!!
#18 – Right on!
FREE Mike Leach.
June 26th, 2012 at 12:38 am
Gawd get Joker outa here! He is a nice guy and its a nice storyline with him playing here and everything but this is the SEC biggest confrence of them all. We probably have no chance against any SEC squad this year or Louisville. Must make a change. Need a big name coach. I believe we should have picked up mike Leach. Something needs to change or maybe we should quit football and put all thier funding towards basketball lol
June 26th, 2012 at 1:18 am
Isn’t joker’s record 11-14? 6-7+5-7=11-14
June 26th, 2012 at 1:39 am
27 no some of us look at facts, fact is we had injuries we had collins injured most of the season who was suppost to start. we a clemons and sander injured most of the season. we also had 3 olineman hurt right before the season start and they were injured on and off during the season and playing a freshman qb most of the season. who seen that thought were going to be good. but some of you all dont know that cause you dont even know the name of the player on the team. were going to be better then alot think then you will be jumping back on the bandwagon
June 26th, 2012 at 4:18 am
Joker is a good coach! Our teams are improving. He has done very well with what he has had to deal with.
June 26th, 2012 at 7:00 am
Most of Joker’s detractors are people who don’t understand the real obstacles of UK football. Even if we had Bill Parcells or Urban Meyer as UK’s coach, we still would not be in the upper half of the SEC in football recruiting as there is still no way we would have a Top 15 class. Also, you are not going to get someone like this anyways. Im not a “joker-apologist” but he is going to be the coach this season. Instead of lobbying for him to be fired anytime football is mentioned, I’m anxious to see how we at least fare against UL as this should be a winnable game.
June 26th, 2012 at 8:01 am
4.5 (Better start winning)
In all likelihood Coach Phillips is a 5.0 on this scale but since Barnhart has only stated the need for “improvement” (not the need for a “winning record”) to ensure him an extension, it’s 4.5.
So Sayeth I, Man.
June 26th, 2012 at 8:16 am
37 what have you been smoking. Our recruitment potential was supposed to have been at it’s peak during the latter part of Brook’s reign. Therefore Joker should have been in a position to improve on Brooks’s record. He hasn’t. Joker is in over his head and should have never been promoted to head coach. Period!
June 26th, 2012 at 8:48 am
#24–so I guess under your theory, BCG should have got four years at the helm, correct?
June 26th, 2012 at 8:57 am
I was at a golf scramble at the Univ Club of KY over the weekend, ran by the Greater Lou UK Alumni Club and there was a football signed by Joker Phillips for $40 in the silent auction. If my bro in law hadnt bought it for his brother, it would have went WITHOUT A BID! THAT tells you exactly how unliked he is by the fan base. Every other item had bids but his!
June 26th, 2012 at 9:02 am
#38, I’ve been a season ticket holder since Commonwealth opened and have seen it all. You have no idea what Parcells or Myer could do at UK. All I know is, I sure would have liked to have seen someone of that caliber have the chance before I’m gone. We’ll most likely never know.
June 26th, 2012 at 10:05 am
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June 26th, 2012 at 10:51 am
I’m actually starting to get excited for this football season. All this talk, even though it’s mostly negative, is making this year more interesting. Lower expectations are sometimes a good thing, like last years basketball team. Having said that I think it’s a 4.5 for Joker.
June 26th, 2012 at 11:10 am
Im glad we got the first “black coach” thing out of the way. Now we can focus on getting a good SEC coach that can recruit and knows how to tie his shoes.