Rating:

5.0 (1 vote)

For Joker Phillips, this has been a long time coming.

He was named the head coach in waiting in in January of 2008 and at that point, facing Louisville in the season opener seemed a long way off.

Now, it's almost here.

"I am ready," Phillips said.

"I am ready. I am excited and ready to go. It seems like it has been forever but it has only been about eight months. I remember it seemed that a couple of days ago it was eight days and now it is two days, the day before the day before," the UK head coach said.

But the coaching job began Thursday night. Of course Joker will continue to pour over film of his team in preparation for Saturday's game, but with Thursday night being the kickoff of college football nationally, he's going to be calling a few plays from his couch.

"I'll be watching the games tonight, be watching games Friday night just to try to coach up the situation. Hey, what if my team was in this situation what do I do? Is this a good time to call a time out? I'll probably be coaching the South Carolina-Southern Miss game tonight."

While neither of his coordinators will be at his house for chips and dip, he won't be watching the games along. He'll be looking for a little advice from his wife.

"Thursday's date night so sometimes our date is to watch the game together," said Joker smiling.

It's almost here. The day this coach has been waiting for since he wore a Kentucky uniform himself.