Joker Starts The Carousel, Petrino On The Clock...???

And for those of you not regular readers...
Here's what the HQ means...


Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart sent out an open letter to the Wildcats football supporters and sayeth today, in part, quote:

After much conversation, evaluation and prayer, I have determined that it is in the best interest of our athletics program to make a change in our football coaching staff at the conclusion of the season. I do so with a heavy heart for a man who has served his alma mater for almost 22 years as a player and a coach. Joker Phillips has carried the banner for the Blue and White with honor and pride. I have enjoyed working alongside him and am thankful for his friendship for the last decade. His concern for the entire program, his work and teaching of young people, his humanitarian work, and the friendship we all enjoy with him will long surpass the scoreboard. I want to thank him for all of those things on behalf of Kentucky.

The search for a new head coach will begin immediately and will be managed internally. I understand the challenge and significance of finding a new leader for our football program. It will be done with great concern for our student-athletes, students of the University of Kentucky, the Big Blue Nation and the citizens of the Commonwealth. Kentucky Football needs to be and will be a championship contender in the SEC.

Joker sayeth in return...thanks WLEX-TV...

We, as coaches, are measured on results. We didn't get the results we had worked and hoped for, therefore change is needed. In my current 10-year stay at Kentucky, we've had some memorable moments as an assistant, coordinator and head coach. We've had the opportunity to coach some fine young men and I am grateful to have had the privilege of watching them grow as players, as students and as people.

I am very appreciative of Mitch Barnhart and Rich Brooks for providing the opportunity to have been the head coach here. Mitch is the best athletic director I've ever been associated with. He's fair and honest and he's "all in" in terms of student-athletes' well-being. Rich is the best mentor a young coach could ever have. I learned a lot from him in terms of plowing ahead. They are dear friends. Dr. Lee Todd and Dr. Eli Capilouto have both been very supportive. I appreciate the Big Blue Nation and encourage the fans to stay behind their team going forward.

I love our players and am proud to be associated with them. I expect them to continue the behavior we have asked of them academically, socially and with football. I'm thankful for the staff's hard work, dedication, and what they have done in coaching and mentoring the players. I'd like to thank my wife and family for all their support and for being behind me 100 percent.

After the 40-0 loss to Vandy, yesterday, these pages had that Joker's time was waning- even by his own admission... so, he kinda knew...
((HT: Scott Anderson))


So, now the perfect hire would be Robert Petrino, Esq...
That's our .02 on all of this...

He'll win if you give him the reins, he won't get you in trouble, he won't like the media, and it'll be the perfect thumb-to-the-nose to Louisville...

Hey, you do the same for basketball...
Why not be a serious player in you own state...???

Joker Phillips Would Like to Stay... But...

((HT: Scott Anderson))

This is what the head coach of the University of Kentucky said when he was asked about his job security and/or future after the 40-0 loss to Vanderbilt...


It was the worst loss to Vanderbilt since 1916- which can't go over well in Lexington...

The players are standing by Joker Phillips regardless of the end result on the field...

From WKYT-TV and their post-game:

"Joker means a lot. He's our head coach," linebacker Avery Williamson said. "I like him personally, as a guy, outside of coaching. He's going to stay strong for us, so we're going to stay strong for him."

"It's just not a good feeling," quarterback Jalen Whitlow said. "You've got to love your coaches. We've got good coaches."

The loss sent UK to 1-9 and 0-7...

Samford is next on their schedule on the 17th- the HQ guesses it's the homecoming game when Pat Sullivan comes to town...

So, it looks like the Wildcats may go 2-10 and Phillips will, probably, join Gene Chizik, and Derek Dooley with buyouts and/or unemployment come the end of the season.

Ess-E-Cee Media Day Two: Another Five Schools Parade

((HT: WVTM-TV Birmingham))

Another five coaches decided to parade themselves in front of the more-than-1,100 media folks in suburban Birmingham...

Auburn head coach Gene Chizik was found wearing an orange-striped, pinstriped suit in front of all the lights there...

The HQ will give Chiz props for thanking everyone for doing their part on the incident in Auburn on June 9th. Here's some of his highlights...


Joker Phillips stood in front of the throng trying to make a poiont about drafting his future successes for the football team by using the obvious example- the UK basketball team...

MJ Perino has Joker's wild...
((HT: WLEX-TV Lexington))
LSU head coach Les Miles got to trot out new starting QB Zach Mettenberger- who the HQ knows all the way from his days at Oconee County High School. Miles had his pound of fun with the media, but he did not eat any grass or air clap in his suit... ((HT: WBRZ-TV Baton Rouge)) John L. Smith took the podium and wanted to reinforce his idea of taking an opportunity from Utah State to wander back and take over for Robert Petrino, Esq. He wants us all to know that he wants his players to make sure their piss is hot going into this season... ((HT: KTHV-TV/TodaysTHV.com Little Rock)) And, fifth and not necessarily last was Dan Mullen- the head coach at Mississippi State. He wants to make sure that his defense is the same- if not better and his offense behaves better than it did last year. ((HT: WJTV/Jackson, MS))