Well, Rich the “Old Man” as he calls himself, has announced retirement finally. Joker Phillips, the loyal Kentuckian is taking over. Joker could be a great coach to take us to the next level.
One thing about Joker…You don’t have to worry about where is heart is…If he’s a great coach, chances are that he will stay at UK for a long time, which could build stability and get us to the next level.
Flickr: by Chris Breeze
Charlie Strong?
Wow, are there going to be some recruiting battles between Coach Charlie Strong and Joker Phillips? These two guys have great personalities and recruits seem to love them. There will be some in-state battles for recruits. I give the edge to Joker because he is a Kentuckian. Players out of Louisville will be tough to get with Charlie Strong at the helm in Louisville.
One good sign is that every recruit I’ve ever heard comment on Joker says they love the guy. With that kind of affection, you can bet the players will play hard for their coach. This is very important especially with today’s players and their short attention span. We need a coach that will inspire players to play hard.
This could give UK an edge many teams lack. A personal connection with their coach is very important. That’s why I want to give Joker a fair shake for a couple of years. UK should continue going to bowl games without missing a beat. If they don’t, it could spell trouble. There shouldn’t be much of a warming up period for Joker Phillips since he’s been around the block and this isn’t his first time being in the spotlight.
I think he’s ready. I trust Coach Brooks when he says Joker Phillips is ready for the limelight.
What now for Rich Brooks?
I hope Rich Brooks can help UK in some capacity as he heads into the twilight of his life. UK fans love him and he loves UK. There has to be a way to keep him on hand and let him continue to assist building the program into a mid-upper level SEC football program.
Yes, I believe it’s possible for UK football to reach great heights. Do you agree? Feel free to leave comments.
Go Big Blue!
Tyler
