Kentucky fans hope to take the next step in elevating the football program this season after going to four consective bowl games. First year head coach Joker Phillips became the lead man to guide the program in to new realms in January. Joker has been noted throughout football as being a top notch recrutier. Yet will Joker be able to guide the football program to new heights after four successful seasons?
One individual who thinks that Coach Phillips will improve the football program is Max Howell. Howell is a host of a sports radio show in Jackson, MS, and spent 30 years coaching at Florida State, Ole Miss, and Troy. Max talked about Joker in the Advocate Messenger's latest article by Larry Vaught, and had some positive things to say about Coach.
Howell stated that he got to talk to Joker at the SEC media days. He came away impressed with the UK head coach. “He has been a great recruiter all along, but now that he has control of the program he can do even more and I think Kentucky will continue to improve. I really do.”
UK measured success in the past as going to a bowl game. Larry asked Howell how will Kentucky measure success under Joker. “Seven wins is very impressive. They are fighting an uphill battle because of the long-standing perception people have about Kentucky basketball and football. I don’t buy that. I think Kentucky football can be good, too. With the limit of 25 scholarships per year and the academic matches, I think Kentucky can find 15 to 20 good football players each year. Maybe not in the state of Kentucky, but they don’t have to because the name of Kentucky is all across the country. He just has to capitalize on that.”
Kentucky has two first team all SEC performers in Locke and Cobb. With a heathly Mike Hartline and a year under the belt of Morgan Newton, Kentucky's offense may be improved from last seasons. Even with those things, Howell had some concerns that the Cats may face. “What will distinguish them is how the people around them are. What will the offensive line be like? Can the defense stop anybody? That is where field position with two players like that really means a lot. Their stats, and wins, will come based on what the rest of the team does.”
