Despite the infamous "Rich Brooks Farewell Tour" t-shirt (it had the 2005 Kentucky schedule on the back) and the continuation of FireRichBrooks.com, and ignoring the fact the Kentucky is only one of two SEC teams with a recruiting class outside the Rivals.com top 40 (the other is Vanderbilt, of course), it turns out that the Kentucky football coach actually has some fans in the Bluegrass State. In fact, he seems to be the antithesis of basketball coach Tubby Smith, whose star is falling rapidly.
Not only were the football Wildcats recently honored with a resolution in the state House and Senate for 2006's 8-5 season (the most wins for UK since 1984), but fans are actually taking the time to make YouTube videos supporting their coach. From the guy who brought us "The Dot Com Toilet Bowl," here's "WeLoveRichBrooks.com" (be forewarned, I'm not vouching for the song's quality, just its' existence):
Who knew that a Music City Bowl win could be so energizing for a fan base?
Rich Brooks: More Popular With Kentucky Fans Than Tubby Smith
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2/25/2007 8:40 PM ET By Andy Katzer
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Hitler, bin Laden, and Satan are probably more popular with Kentucky fans than Tubby Smith.
Has it ever occurred to anyone that, fan-wise, Kentucky is to basketball as Alabama is to football?
I think Rich Brooks is a perfect fit for the situation he inherited at Kentucky. When he took over at Oregon, the school, athletic department, and the state of higher education funding in the state were at low tide due to prolonged recession conditions. Facilities, budgets, and fan interest were at historical lows. Brooks used a "fundamentals first" approach, which even though is not flashy, improved Oregon's performance in competitiveness immediately by upgrading performance defensively and in the line play on both sides of ball. This was the right approach, for fundamental performance will yield some surprise victories along the way, and then potential recruits in the marquee positions start taking note. They want to play for winners. In any case, it took several years to get the Ducks to a consistent level of competitiveness in an ultra-competitive PAC-10 conference in an era in which USC was on one of their national title/Heisman steaks runs and both UCLA and Washington were consistent national powerhouses.
Brooks has the commitment and patience to see this job through to completion. Oregon has remained in the top tier of PAC-10 teams since he got them there, and I think Kentucky can reach that level of competitiveness in the SEC as well...the SEC East is the toughest division in college football. One cannot expect one team to dominate year-in and year-out. But I think Coach Brooks took on this challenge because it would be a fitting crown to his career to take a program nobody thought could compete in that environment and prove the naysayers wrong...again...
In the 1970's, there were suggestions by some that Oregon didn't belong in the PAC-10, but perhaps in the WAC or even the Big Sky conference...He didn't listen to the nonsense, he persevered, and the Ducks made it to the pinnacle of the conference. Now the field at Autzen Stadium is named after the man.
Brooks can achieve the same thing at Kentucky. He is savvy enough to surround himself with innovative contemporary assistants who will deal with the technical means to achieve the objective. But like all good commanders, Brooks will provide the direction and the overall blueprint for success...and I think he'll get the 'Cats there. I'm certainly rooting for them.