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Editor’s note: Today we begin a series of occasional articles by NOB staff members about potential paths forward for Coach Joker Phillips and the Kentucky football team.
[/I]by Katie Hensley
When John Calipari became the head basketball coach at the University of Kentucky in 2009, he was faced with the task of turning around a program that had recently suffered several uncharacteristically disappointing seasons. To say that he succeeded in this mission would be a massive understatement.
The success he and his players have experienced since that fateful appointment has been
astounding. Calipari has managed to create at Kentucky a streamlined, highly effective
basketball program that runs like a well-oiled machine both on and off the court.
The continuing triumphs of UK’s basketball team have long overshadowed the school’s other sports, particularly the football program.
It is the long-held wish of loyal Wildcats fans everywhere that the success of the football team will one day rival that of the basketball team. When Joker Phillips, a former wide
receiver at UK, took the reigns in 2010, many hoped he would be the one to turn the program around; unfortunately, that hasn’t exactly been the case. This begs the question,
What can Joker Phillips learn from John Calipari?
The simple answer to this question could be summed up in one word: recruitment.
Whether you love Calipari or hate him, it is undeniable that he is a top-notch recruiter
who continuously attracts the nation’s top prospects. His tried-and-true system has made
Kentucky the place to be for up-and-coming basketball players.
However, it is impractical to expect Coach Phillips to recruit on par with the nation’s most
elite basketball program—he simply doesn’t have access to the same level of resources or
popular attention that Calipari and the basketball team do.
But a major component of Coach Calipari’s success that Joker would do well to emulate
is his excellent relationship with the fans, who have affectionately gifted him with the
nickname “Coach Cal”.
Perhaps if Joker interacted with the fan base a bit more, he could garner some of the immense support and positive media attention that the always-talkative and enthusiastic Coach Cal has drawn for the basketball team. Because if there’s one thing that’s especially true at Kentucky, it’s that the fans help lead their teams to victory. Joker needs to focus on making sure Commonwealth is bursting at the seams on game days just as Rupp Arena always is.
Ultimately, John Calipari inherited a storied program whose reputation he simply has to
uphold.
Joker Phillips, on the other hand, has the chance to create a storied program. And Kentucky fans everywhere are crossing their fingers that it will happen sooner than later.
What do you think?
