One of the big questions heading into the Music City Bowl is the status of Rich Brook’s tenure at Kentucky. Brooks has been mum on the issue lately and there has not been a lot of talk from UK AD Mitch Barnhart about whether or not Brooks will remain coach after the Music City Bowl. Usually silence from both sides indicate something is afoot, but face it, Urban Meyer has captured the market on dramatic announcements recently.
It’s important to take a step back and take a look at how far Brooks has brought this program. Brooks inherited a probation plague program and suffered the scourge of probation his first few years with the Wildcats. Just when it looked like he was turning the corner in 2006, his Wildcats suffered a 49-0 lashing at LSU which dropped the Cats 3-4 on the season. Undaunted, Brook’s Wildcats went on a four game winning streak and defeated Clemson in the Music City Bowl 28-20 make it a 5 of 6 finish to the season.
The biggest impact that Brooks has made at UK has been in the recruiting. Although much maligned by the fans because of the absence of 4 and 5 star recruits, Brooks teams has gradually become competitive in the nation’s toughest conference and have beaten the likes of LSU, Georgia, Auburn, and Ole Miss during his tenure. The close losses to Tennessee, Alabama, and South Carolina may seem like blemishes but serve notice that UK is no longer an early win. And despite the handwringing, Kentucky’s recruiting has picked up. A look at the 2011 recruiting class shows UK with two recruits already and both are ESPN Top 150 watch quality. Surely, if Rich Brooks does leave tonight, he is leaving the program in much better shape than he found it.
Tonight, Brooks is back in Nashville against the same Clemson Tigers in a “perfect circle” game to finish what he started. The stage is set for Brooks to ride off into the sunset with a fourth straight bowl win, if he so desires. It’s just something that if it happens, I hope that it happens on Brook’s terms.
Memories of Brooks by Ken Howlett – www.aseaofblue.com
For those who read my work regularly, you know I am very fond of Rich Brooks. I might not always agree with his in-game decisions, but the good he has accomplished at UK far outweighs any questions I have about play-calling, or the minutiae of running a major college football program.
If pushed to describe my favorite Rich Brooks memory … well, that’s easy — Brooks staying at UK after the 3-8 2005 season, when everyone, writers and UK fans alike, were calling for his termination. The din was loud and prevailing among all interested in Kentucky football, but Brooks, instead of calling it a career and returning to his favorite fishin’ hole in Oregon, decided to persevere with his game-plan, eventually bringing unparalleled success to the UK football program.
Considering the previous three years prior to Brooks’ hiring, the ‘Cats sported a 11-23 record, and were faced with the consequences of probation, his timely turnaround of a historically losing program is to be commended. The fact that Brooks runs his program within the parameters of NCAA rules and regulations, and with the class not often associated with big time college football coaches, are even more reasons to respect the yeoman’s job he and his staff have done.
So, Rich Brooks, take a bow. The job you have done, and continue to do, is appreciated by UK fans from Pikeville to Paducah.
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