LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Students said they don't have any bad feelings toward Joker Phillips, in fact they said they have great respect for him. They said it was simply time for a change.

Cats fans agreed with the decision to dismiss coach Joker Phillips.

"I love Joker, he's a great guy, but he's not right for us," said Jordan Reynolds.

"We have very high standards and, if you don't win, I'm sorry, you have to go home," said Eddie Garruto.

"You need a coach that's going to bring wins," said Lauren Lee.

With two games left in the season, some questioned the timing of the announcement.

"I think it was a little premature. I don't think they should have released it before the end of the season," said Kyle Vaughn.

As this season's losses piled up, students there wasn't much incentive to go to Commonwealth Stadium.

"I actually have season tickets and I didn't make it to many games. It was just the fact that a bunch of my friends weren't going and it was really hard to get people to go with me to the games," said Lee.

"It's just hard to get myself out of my house and go to a game when we're basically irrelevant in the SEC," said Garruto.

Though they said it was time for Joker to go, they still say they're fans of his.

"Joker's a really good guy. He obviously doesn't lack in character,"
"I love Joker. He's an amazing guy," said Garruto.

Some of those students said they had tickets to the final home game coming up in a couple of weeks. They plan to show up in support of the team.