Comments on: Five Things Kentucky’s Next Coach Needs To Bring To The Table To Succeed

By: anthonyrbrock

anthonyrbrock — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:23:10 +0000

Fan support for football at Kentucky is much bigger than the nation realizes. Anytime the program squeezes out 6 wins, the stadium is packed. This is happening at a program that has an all-time record under .500. If anyone took the time to calculate attendance per wins, Kentucky would no doubt rank top 5. Kentucky fans are crazy about basketball because of the pride that comes with a winning tradition. Start winning football at Kentucky, and the sleeping giant will wake up.

By: cobbycobb

cobbycobb — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 07:39:28 +0000

Bobby Petrino would be the best hire UK could make. Who cares if he isn’t a lifelong coach at UK. Fact is he would bring excitement to the program, sell out season tickets, make UK fun to watch, and bring in better athletes. Even if he was only here for 3 years that would be HUGE for the culture shift and change that is absolutely needed. If UK goes the up and comer route or retread route then odds are we are looking for another coach again in 3-5 years so Give me Petrino! Could you imagine the outrage UL fans would be in also? That would be worth it by itself. LOL

By: Eric B

Eric B — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:11:02 +0000

Petrino would be a horrible hire for Kentucky. Kentucky needs all of the things you mentioned above, but the thing they’ve always lacked is not SEC talent, but SEC depth. In Rich Brooks’ best year, their starting lineup was as good as anyone in the country, indicated by their midseason top 10 ranking and win over eventual national champion LSU. They started 6-1, but finished 7-5, because they didn’t have the depth to handle the full SEC season. And that’s why they never sustain success year to year–one group graduates, but there is no next group to take their place. So it’s always rebuilding, never reloading.

Bobby Petrino’s problem isn’t that he is dirty . . . it’s that he leaves badly. Louisville, Atlanta, Arkansas, and if he leaves Kentucky, history says he will leave that badly. And at a place like Kentucky, leaving badly will undo any good he does in the 3 or 4 years he would be there. People compare it to hiring Calipari, and there are a lot of reasons that comparison breaks down, but even if they are the same, here’s the difference: Kentucky basketball, at it’s lowest point, is always only a few seasons from being back on top. Banned in ’50, National Champs in ’51. NCAA sanctions in ’89, final 4 in ’93. NIT in 2009, National Champs in ’12. Kentucky football, at it’s highest point, is always a few seasons away from collapse. It’s going to take a coach who fits all of the criteria you listed, but also someone who can sustain that in the long term. That’s not Bobby Petrino. And whoever it is, I’m not sure he wants to come to Kentucky.