[SLIDESHOW] The Rich Brooks file: A timeline of the up and downs of Brooks’ career

The following, compiled by football beat writer Ben Jones, notes the highs and lows of the Rich Brooks era at UK, which is thought to be coming to a close after Brooks announced after Sunday’s bowl game that he is “80 percent sure” he will retire.

The early years (2002-2005)

• Dec. 30, 2002 – Brooks is hired as UK head coach, taking over a team without a full compliment of scholarships and on NCAA probation

• Nov. 29, 2003 – A 20-7 loss to Tennessee ends Brooks’ first year at UK, a 4-8 campaign that included a 1-7 record in the Southeastern Conference

• Oct. 2, 2004 – In the midst of a 2-9 season, UK loses at home 28-16 to Ohio University. UK was shut out 28-0 by Louisville that year and went 1-7 in the SEC.

• Oct. 29, 2005 – A 13-7 win over Mississippi State marks the only SEC win of the year for the team, and Brooks comes under fire by fans and the media after the season. After 2005, his record at UK stood at 9-25, with a 3-21 mark in the SEC.

The turning point (2006)

• Sept. 9, 2006 – UK beats Texas State 41-7 to begin what will become a school-record 18-game nonconference winning streak that won’t end until the 2009 Music City Bowl.

• Oct. 14, 2006 – UK is shut out 49-0 in a trip to Louisiana State, and the Cats are 3-4 midway through the season. Brooks comes under heavy fire from critics again.

• Nov. 4, 2006 – UK fans storm the field and tear down the goalposts after a 24-20 home win over Georgia, a game many consider to be the turning point in the Brooks era.

• Dec. 29, 2006 – The Cats beat Clemson 28-20 in the Music City Bowl, the first of what will be four straight bowl games for the team. UK finishes the year 8-5 with a 4-4 mark in the SEC.

The breakthrough year (2007)

• Sept. 15, 2007 – With a late pass from Andre Woodson to Steve Johnson, UK beats Louisville 40-34 for Brooks’ first win against the Cats’ archrival. The fans storm the field and UK is catapulted into the Top 25 in national polls.

• Oct. 13, 2007 – In a three-overtime thriller, UK storms back to beat No. 1 LSU, the eventual national champions that season. The Cats were ranked in the Top 10 nationally and hosted ESPN’s College Gameday the next week before a loss to Florida.

• Dec. 31, 2007 – A 35-28 win over Florida State in UK’s second consecutive Music City Bowl caps an 8-5 season. In the regular season finale, the Cats dropped a four-overtime game against Tennessee that would be remembered as UK’s best chance to break what is now a 25-game losing streak against the Volunteers. The Cats were 3-5 in the SEC.

The end? (2008-2009)

• Jan. 18, 2008 – Joker Phillips, then offensive coordinator, is named UK’s head coach in waiting.

• Nov. 8, 2008 – Freshman quarterback Randall Cobb can’t lead UK to a fourth quarter comeback against Georgia after UK started 6-3. UK played musical quarterbacks during the season until Cobb was injured and sophomore Mike Hartline resumed the starting role.

• Jan. 2, 2009 – Hartline and the UK defense lead the Cats to a 25-19 comeback victory over East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl. UK finishes 7-6 with a 2-6 mark in the SEC

• Jan. 15, 2009 – Phillips receives a title change, from offensive coordinator to head coach of the offense. Randy Sanders is named the new offensive coordinator, though Phillips retains playcalling duties.

• Sept. 19, 2009 – UK beats Louisville 31-27, the third straight win in the series.

• Oct. 17, 2009 – Playing three different quarterbacks, UK wins at Auburn 21-14 for the first time since 1961 despite entering the game as two-touchdown underdogs.

• Nov. 21, 2009 – A 34-27 win at Georgia, UK’s first since 1977, clinches a fourth straight bowl for UK. The win also marks the first time since 1977 that UK has won three road games in the SEC in one season.

• Dec. 27, 2009 – In the third Music City Bowl in four years, UK loses 21-13 to Clemson, capping a 7-6 season with a 3-5 SEC record. After the game, Brooks says he is 80 percent sure he will retire after leading UK for seven seasons.