A Break in the Clouds
It’s been a full day after Kentucky shocked the….states of Kentucky and Tennessee, and many fans of Big Blue have already turned their gaze to the future. For many the future might have a little more sunlight after yesterday’s exciting victory. For many other’s no outcome against Tennessee would dissipate the clouds. Certain folks want Joker Phillips fired no matter what. Others seem to think Mike Leach is at the Microtel in Georgetown waiting for Mitch to call. But neither was a realistic expectation. But that is a topic for another day. I’d like to discuss the encouraging signs Kentucky has shown and why next season may not be what many expect.
While Joker Phillips’ tenure as Head Coach has been mediocre to underwhelming, things haven’t changed much from the Brooks era. UK went to a bowl last season and missed by one game this year. Yes, it was very disappointing and it was against softer SEC East than they will face most years. Yes, the season should have been 7-5 not 5-7. Yes, Kentucky continued it’s tradition of starting games very slowly. And yes, they still call the draw on 3rd down. Essentially, beat Louisville and this season is par with 4 out of the last 5 seasons. Meanwhile, the defense has greatly improved and so has recruiting. Kentucky blue is getting into a lot of recruits living rooms that used to not give the Cats the time of day.
This team has a ton of young talent. I think Joker gambled a bit this year by playing a LOT of his young guys and it burned him at times. Demarco Robinson was brutal in the UL game and his late fumble killed a shot to win/tie that game. Frosh defenders have missed assignments. Ashley Lowery had a costly fumble against UGA that led to points. Folks need to realize that CWS isn’t Rupp, freshman can’t come in be the best players on the team in football. But these guys have accumulated some serious experience. Max Smith, Darrian Miller, and Josh Clemons all started SEC football games this year and all project as starters in the spring. On defense several young Cats impressed this year with playmaking ability. Bud Dupree is gonna be a star. Lowery, Eric Dixon, and Glenn Faulkner may all start in the 2012 secondary. And Christian Coleman was disruptive on the line against top competition.
Most importantly I saw a team fighting for it’s coach against UGA and UT. People have published rampant rumors about this team being divided and Joker losing the team, but the past 2 weeks have shown how this team feels about Joker Phillips. They came out and gave it every ounce of effort they had. It is a shame such an effort wasn’t on display throughout the season. Sometimes that happens when you play so many youngsters. Sometimes the offense or defense begins to resent one another when one side struggles. And sometimes it happens when the team lacks fan support, especially when it happens throughout the season. Any number of factors are possible, but we aren’t in that locker-room and we don’t know.
A lot of people will say that 2012 will be another losing season for UK and they may be right or wrong. I can’t foresee the future. Obviously none of us thought we would beat UT in 2011, let alone will Leadfeet McDrops as our WildRoark qb. The only thing I can say for sure is that focusing on the negatives and “boycotting” the football team can only hurt Kentucky until it stops. Because even if there were a coaching change….who would want to deal with this stuff?