Kentucky Wildcats Football: Stay Classy BBN

September 22, 2012; Gainesville FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Joker Phillips in the second half against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 38-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Everyone has read or heard it. That snide comment that comes flying in from the peanut gallery every time Kentucky football is mentioned. It seems like Big Blue fans just can’t help themselves from taking a jab every chance they get.  It seems like the only thing that Kentucky fans like to do more than watch winning football is to make fun of a bad team and get ready for basketball season. It gets old, it has gotten old.

Yes, Kentucky has a bad football team right now. Yes, Kentucky traditionally has had a bad football team. Yes, Kentucky has a good basketball team right now. Yes, Kentucky has traditionally had a good basketball team. Everyone knows that. There is no need to rub it in.

If someone wants to discuss the youth on this team, or the remaining schedule, or the need for facilities upgrades, the proper response is to discuss the actual topic. Instead Kentucky fans so often respond with “ Blah blah blah Joker sucks  Der der der bubble screens and draws blah blah blah Calipari is great.” Is it any surprise that they look ignorant?

If you are just a basketball fan with extra time available until hoops start and don’t know anything about football, that’s ok, just admit it. I do every year during basketball season. If I don’t know why something happens on the court, I ask. I don’t act like 2 years of middle school basketball give me the expertise to question what John  Calipari does on the bench. The same goes for the armchair quarterbacks who have never played or coached a game of football in their life. A good rule of thumb is that if you don’t know the players’ names, don’t talk about how unskilled they all are.

The truth of the matter is that everything Joker Phillips does is meant to help UK win games. No, he hasn’t been particularly successful, but he isn’t intentionally losing. This is likely his last season on the UK sidelines and he may only win the Samford game, although the Wildcats should be competitive in every game they have left. He has given years of his life to this program as a player, assistant coach, coordinator, recruiter, and was good at everything except head coach. So think about that the next time you get that warm feeling from piling on.