Joker Phillips and Mike Hartline both hoped that they were able to silence a few of their doubters in UK's victory over UL on Saturday. Phillips, who has been around the UK program for a while now, got his first win as a head coach. Hartline showed much improvement and poise against the Cardinals. John Clay writes about the two in this article for Kentuckysports.com
Here are a few excerpts.
Phillips is the head coach. He's the one without a honeymoon, thanks to the braying contingent of Kentucky fans who can't forget or forgive the offensive coordinator's reluctance to use Randall Cobb down on the goal line last year, or the unit's performance over the last two years.
Hartline is his quarterback. He's the senior who in the view of the armchair analysts hasn't lived up to the line of Couch, Bonner, Lorenzen and Woodson. He's the one who is just good enough to get you beat.
In the first half of Saturday's 23-16 win over Louisville, the doubting duo could not have been much better. Phillips played go-for-the-throat. He took the ball after winning the opening toss. He threw a long pass on the game's first play. When the defense first took the field, starters DeQuin Evans and Winston Guy were on the sideline. Discipline ruled. Miss a meeting, miss a start. Set a tone.
Ten years ago this week finds Kentucky and Louisville going at it on the football field. I certainly hope today is better than it was ten years ago as UK lost to Louisville 40 - 34. Louisville was coached by John L. Smith while Dave Ragone played quarterback for the Cards and Jared Lorenzen led the Cat attack. Kentucky committed five turnovers as it rained throughout the contest.
The Cats and the Cards will battle it out in Louisville tomorrow as the college football season begins in the Bluegrass state. A victory in tomorrow's Governors Cup will give either team a good shot for a great season. Here is a quick preview of tomorrows game.
It has been mentioned several times that UK will debut their brand new head coach when Joker Phillips takes on UL Saturday. Several new players will also make their debut when the Cats take the field. Two players in particular, Jerrell Priester and Raymond Sanders, are ready to take down the Cards. Larry Vaught updates UK's freshmen duo in this 
Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips has been waiting for Saturday for a while now. It was just a few years ago that UK named Phillips head coach in waiting during the Rich Brooks era. Now that Brooks has retired, Joker inherits a program that is steady and looking to reach new heights. 
