Signal Mountain Quarterback Reese Phillips is shown in action against East Hamilton in the 2011 season opener at Signal Mountain.
Staff File PhotoReese Phillips is standing by his commitment to the University of Kentucky football program and said he plans to enroll there in January.
“Yeah, I’m solid,” said the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Signal Mountain quarterback who committed to the Wildcats on Aug. 13.
There have been rumors at least since the Wildcats (1-3) lost in overtime to Western Kentucky on Sept. 15 that current coach Joker Phillips would be ousted by season’s end.
Following that loss to WKU, the coach said, “I’m built for this. I was 0-10-1 [as a player at UK in 1982]. All we talked about was ‘Stay together. We’ll get it turned. Stay together.’ Then 6-6, 9-3 (in 1983 and ’84). I’ve been around some head coaches that I’ve gotten a chance to watch go through this. We’re fine. I’m fine.”
Regardless, a list of possible replacement candidates is making the rounds. It includes former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel; Bobby Petrino, the former Arkansas, Atlanta Falcons and Louisville coach; Mike Leach, the current Washington State coach who formerly headed the program at Texas Tech; and Phillip Fulmer, who hasn’t been a head coach since he was ousted in 2008 by Tennessee despite a 152-52 record.