This is topic Football Trivia in forum UK / NCAA Football at TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards.


To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://www.thecatsdomain.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=008142

---

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-23-2012, 10:16 AM:
 
Name the last coach with a winning record at Kentucky and the years that he coached.

[ 01-23-2012, 10:17 AM: Message edited by: catmandoo ]
 

---

Posted by boomdaddy (Member # 2644) on 01-23-2012, 01:06 PM:
 
Blanton Collier? Before my time...Or was it my favorite coach Fran Curci of the mid 70s?
 

---

Posted by Trey Ball (Member # 332) on 01-23-2012, 01:40 PM:
 
No clue, but I know who it isn't:

Joker Phillips
Rich Brooks
Guy Morriss
Hal Mumme
Bill Curry
Jerry Claiborne

I'm pretty sure that none of those coaches have had a career winning record while at UK. Those are the coaches that I can remember coaching the Cats.
 

---

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-23-2012, 06:00 PM:
 
Trey you can add Charle Bradshaw to your list too. The last coach with a winning record was Blanton Collier in 1961.

The point is Phillips has coached for a couple of years and many fans on this board want him tarred and feathered already. We haven't had a coach with a winning record for over 50 years, yes 50 long years.
 

---

Posted by Trey Ball (Member # 332) on 01-23-2012, 06:17 PM:
 
cmd,

I never even heard of Bradshaw or Collier. The first UK football coach that I could remember was Claiborne. I remember him taking UK to maybe the Hall of Fame game around 1983 or 1984. I think UK played Wisconsin or Minnesota, but I could be wrong on the Bowl Game and the opponent. I think here in Northern Indiana that Bowl Game was the first time that UK Football had ever been on TV so I could watch.
 

---

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-23-2012, 07:05 PM:
 
Trey, i bet you were not even born 50 years ago when Bradshaw was the head coach. That's what makes this so crazy. It's been that long since we had a coach with a winning record and they want Joker fired for 2 seasons without a winning record!

To give you an idea on what a car looked like in 1961 here is a picture of one. It's a Desoto and i doubt if you can even remember a Desoto. I know Norm and i can.



[ 01-23-2012, 07:11 PM: Message edited by: catmandoo ]
 

---

Posted by Wildcat Bill (Member # 615) on 01-23-2012, 07:07 PM:
 
Trey, just to educate you a little. Blanton Collier was a native of Paris, KY and played at Georgetown College, I think. Somehow, he got to be Paul Brown's chief assistant coach of the Cleveland Browns in the early 50s when they were winning NFL championships right and left. When Bear Bryant abruptly left UK for Texas A&M, UK hired Collier. He did pretty well, but following Bryant would be tough for anyone. He did assemble some awesome coaching staffs. One picture of the UK staff, in the late 1950s I think, had his assistant coaches pictured who included Don Shula, Chuck Knox, Bill Arnsparger, all later NFL head coaches. When Collier was fired (they bought up his contract) in about 1961, he returned to the Browns and succeeded Paul Brown as the head coach in 1963. A year later, his Browns won the 1964 NFL Championship (this was just before they decided to have the Super Bowl) with a Browns team featuring Jim Brown, Gary Collins, and Paul Warfield. They shut out Shula's Baltimore Colts 27-0 in the final game. I believe that is still the last professional sports championship team from Cleveland.

Charlie Bradshaw had played for Bear Bryant at UK and was his top assistant at Alabama. UK hired him. He was brutal, by all accounts, and had about one good season before he got fired as well in 1968.
 

---

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 01-24-2012, 07:50 AM:
 
Whoever was the AD during the 50's and 60's did us no favors. Letting Bryant walk away, and then firing Collier -- and that staff! -- rightfully put a black flag on UKs name from that point onward. 50+ years of 'bad luck' (i.e., the inability to attract top-nothc coaches and players) ensued.
 

---

Posted by Wildcat Bill (Member # 615) on 01-24-2012, 06:16 PM:
 
The UK AD during the 50s and 60s was Bernie Shively. Bear Bryant just suddenly up and left UK. I don't think it was ever definitively known why, many think that it was a rivalry with Coach Rupp and the Bear just didn't want to have to play second fiddle to him. After all, during this period, UK won 3 NCAA championships and this was the golden age of UK basketball (or at least tied with 1996-1998). There may have been other personal reasons as well, not having to do with UK. Whatever the reason for Bryant's departure from UK, I don't think that Shively just "let him walk away". He just left by his own will.

As for Blanton Collier, he started out very well but towards the end, he had several losing seasons. Back then, with Bear Bryant and then with Blanton Collier early (his first year was 7-3 I think), UK was used to winning in football had certainly not become accustomed to losing, like we are now, so firing the coach seemed to be the only way. Plus, I think he thought that he was getting Bear Bryant lite in Charlie Bradshaw, not only a UK alum but also Bryant's top assistant at Alabama. He sure was wrong on that one.

[ 01-25-2012, 07:24 PM: Message edited by: Wildcat Bill ]
 

---

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 01-31-2012, 10:10 AM:
 
After the 1951 season UK had won the National Championship in Basketball and Bear Bryant had won the Sugar Bowl in football. UK gave Rupp a new cadillac for winning his third National Championship and gave Bear Bryant nothing for winning what was almost the equivalent of a National Championship during that era. That was when UK made the decision that basketball would be the number one sport at UK and the rest is historyl. I think I have that right but am sure Wildcat Bill will know the full story. I think the quarterback for the UK football team was Babe Parilli. Bill, you and I go a long way back in UK sports.

The following are UK bowl teams from 1947 to current obtained from the UK Athletics site:

Overall Bowl Record: 8-7


Date

Bowl

Result

Dec. 6, 1947
1947 Great Lakes Bowl
Kentucky 24, Villanova 14

Jan. 2, 1950
1950 Orange Bowl
Santa Clara 21, Kentucky 13

Jan. 1, 1951
1951 Sugar Bowl
Kentucky 13, Oklahoma 7

Jan. 1, 1952
1952 Cotton Bowl
Kentucky 20, TCU 7

Dec. 31, 1976
1976 Peach Bowl
Kentucky 21, N. Carolina 0

Dec. 22, 1983
1983 Hall of Fame Bowl
W. Virginia 20, Kentucky 16

Dec. 29, 1984
1984 Hall of Fame Bowl
Kentucky 20, Wisconsin 19

Dec. 31, 1993

1993 Peach Bowl
Clemson 14, Kentucky 13

Jan. 1, 1999
1999 Outback Bowl
Penn State 26, Kentucky 14

Dec. 29, 1999
1999 HomePoint.com Music City Bowl
Syracuse 20, Kentucky 13

Dec. 29, 2006
2006 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
Kentucky 28, Clemson 20

Dec. 31, 2007
2007 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
Kentucky 35, Florida State 28

Jan. 2, 2009
2009 AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Kentucky 25, East Carolina 19

Dec. 29, 2009
2009 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
Clemson 21, Kentucky 13

Jan. 8, 2011
2011 BBVA Compass Bowl
Pitt 27, Kentucky 10

We had pretty good football recognition in the late forties and early fifties as you can see from that bowl record, in an era when only a few teams got bowl appearances.

Coaches from the late forties and fifties and their records:

1946-53 Paul Bryant (Alabama) 8 60 23 5 .710
1954-61 Blanton Collier (Georgetown) 8 41 36 3 .531

From Wakipedia on Bear Bryant at UK:

Under Bryant the Wildcats won the 1947 Great Lakes Bowl, lost the 1950 Orange Bowl, won the 1951 Sugar Bowl and the 1952 Cotton Bowl Classic. In final AP polls, the Wildcats were ranked #11 in 1949, #7 in 1950, #15 in 1951, #20 in 1952 and #16 in 1953. The final 1950 poll was taken prior to the bowl games; Kentucky then defeated undefeated and #1 ranked Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl, ending the Sooners 31 game winning streak. The NCAA does not recognized Kentucky as their 1950 co-national champion in football after commissioning Jeff Sagarin to apply his rankings to seasons before the advent of the Bowl Coalition.

[ 01-31-2012, 04:31 PM: Message edited by: SCWC ]
 

---

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-31-2012, 11:24 AM:
 
Ray, The Cats scored 10 points against Pittsburg in the 2011 Compass bowl.

It should be noted too that Rich Brooks record was horrible utill he made a change and hired Joker Phillips as his offensive cooridinator for the 2005 season and they immediately turned things around with a 8-5 season. They never had a losing season with Joker as the offensive coordinator. How many Kentucky offensive coordinators can say that?

It also should be noted that out of the the 15 bowls that Kentucky has played in over "65" years Joker was the offensive coordinator or played in 7 of those bowl games. That should mean something to all Kentucky fans. He was born in Kentucky and has given Kentucky and their fans a huge part of his life and the ones who think he should be fired should be ashamed. Joker Phillips is a man of honor and principals. If he felt he was hurting the program he would be the first to admit it and leave on his own accord.
 

---

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 01-31-2012, 04:25 PM:
 
All I know about the state of UK football is that is has certainly gone down hill once again since Joker took over as head coach two seasons ago.

I had cut and pasted the bowl scores from the UK Athletics site, did not realize I had apparently left off the Pitt/UK score on the last bowl game.

[ 01-31-2012, 04:33 PM: Message edited by: SCWC ]
 

---

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-31-2012, 05:58 PM:
 
Ray, Joker has been the head coach for 2 years with records of 6-7 and 5-7.

Here is Rich Brooks record at Kentucky for 3 years and few comments were made to fire him. In fact he was given a third and 4th year after going 6-17 for 2 seasons. I can't even imagine the heat and crap Joker would have gone through if he had gone 6-17 and would bet he would be long gone by now. Then to make matters worse Brooks gets a 3rd year and goes 3-8 for a total of 9-25 for 3 years.

2003 Kentucky 4–8 1–7 6th (East)
2004 Kentucky 2–9 1–7 5th (East)
2005 Kentucky 3–8 2–6 6th (East

Joker had 11 wins in his first 2 years compared to 9 wins for Brooks in 3 years. The question is why are so many fans after Joker's hide when Brooks got off so easy and was given more time as head coach?
 

---

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 02-02-2012, 05:31 AM:
 
The big difference between Joker and Brooks is that Brooks inherited little to no talent and he left Joker with several very skilled players to start his tenure as head coach with, Cobb, Locke, Hartline etc.
 

---

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 02-02-2012, 07:52 AM:
 
We will never be a force in the SEC until we get better recruits. This year we did get a pretty good class which was rated from 31s best to around 50. It isn't going to make a lot of differance because every other SEC school is ranked higher. This isn't alot different than any other year from the past. To be honest it probably won't change in the future, i know it won't in my life time and doubt if Vince Lombardi was alive and coaching the Cats it wouldn't be much better.

With that said i know i will still be cheering for the Blue and White and the coachs as that is what the Kentucky faithful do.
 

---

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 02-02-2012, 05:22 PM:
 
I see that Alabama got the number one rated class and Georgia and Florida were both within the top six. You are right, we will never be able to compete consistently in football until we find some way to recruit with the schools that are major football powers.
 

---

Posted by ukcatfannfl (Member # 1425) on 02-02-2012, 10:26 PM:
 
The ONLY way we can recruit is to buy a "big name" coach i.e. Cal et al. The university does NOT care enough about football to do that and as long as that mentaility is out there we will be a bottom dweller in the SEC.

Bring in a Urban Meyer - Lou Saban - Les Miles pay them whatever the going rate is - give them 5 years and we will up up and away. (the right amount of money will buy someone imo)

I like Joker and knew and liked Brooks but Brooks himself moved away from Lex in part to not having the University buy in to what he wanted to do and Joker firing all his staff and basically then going 2 yrs of bad football with a QB that is not SEC caliber in my opinion.

Sorry but that is the way I see it - in fact look at our history of football coaches - a dismal lot to say the least - or in Claiborns case after his prime and that loser from Ala and the loser from Valdosta. Then they let one go that had a 7-5 record cause they wouldnt pay him what Baylor (I think) offered.

Gents that is ky football -
listened to and watched for over 50 years and sameo sameo every year.
 

---

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 02-03-2012, 08:49 AM:
 
Ray Exactly, and why would a big name coach jeoprdise his future by taking a chance on a team with our background in by far the toughest and deepest league in the country. It would take a bundle of money and doubt that would do it unless it was a older coach. To be honest the Kentucky job has to be one of in not toughest coaching jobs in the country. One other thing coach better be Caucasion or or he his no chance in He$$ with a good portion of the fan base. Sad but true.
 

---

Posted by ukcatfannfl (Member # 1425) on 02-03-2012, 11:36 AM:
 
Bruce - I respectfully disagree with you on the "color" remark. Ky fans want a winner - doesn't matter if he is black - blue - etc etc.

If as you say a big name coach wouldn't come to ky then how about an "up and comm-er" like Urban Meyer from Utah to Fl. Our search committees do not even try to come up with a coach that can improve the program. Brooks was an AD friend and Joker an "in state" man.

No, ky football is where it is because of what Wildcat Bill said - it's all basketball not football. Surely you can see that?
 

---

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 02-03-2012, 01:36 PM:
 
Go and 'buy' Mike Leach. He would bring an exciting style of football, which in turn would lure top-drawer recruits. Mike Leach is what Hal Mumme wanted to be -- a great offensive mind that understands that you have to play defense, too...

Such a hire would make an immediate difference, and set us up to contend for the SEC championship within 4-6 years.

But, Joker hasn't 'earned' a rapid termination. I hope he can right the ship and continue to build on what Brooks built.
 

---

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 02-03-2012, 04:13 PM:
 
TT, that would be fair, 4-6 years and that's what Joker should get. Brooks after 3 years was 9-25 and he stayed.
 

---

Posted by boomdaddy (Member # 2644) on 02-04-2012, 02:27 PM:
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by catmandoo:
TT, that would be fair, 4-6 years and that's what Joker should get. Brooks after 3 years was 9-25 and he stayed.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by catmandoo:
Boom, Do you honestly think trying to instill some positive thinking is bad? If your coachs don't support you and build you up who will? It sure won't be a big part of the fan base.

---