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** Would Barnhart consider Tennessee? **

  • Probably because Mitch Barnhart worked several years at Tennessee, but there has long been a belief that the Vols' job might be one that Kentucky's A.D. would seriously consider should it ever come open. That day is now.

    Please be aware this is nothing more public speculation on my part, but there are several factors that make a person pause.

    -- UK has a new president as the man who hired him just retired.
    -- UK is also in the works of creating that dreadful oversight committee that would function between the AD and president. Just what any employee wants, another layer of bureaucracy between you and the person who can give you an answer.
    -- Tennessee athletics is in shambles so any new hire stands the chance to look like a genius, even with small improvements.
    -- With major, embarrassing issue in men's basketball and football, Tennessee needs a stand-up guy. Barnhart is above reproach, a solid familly man with a life built on solid rock (Luke 6:48).

    It's been nearly 10 years. Is it time for a new challenge? I've long thought that if Mitch ever left UK it would not be for another AD job but perhaps something in missions work. But how tempting that Tennessee job would be. Stay tuned.

    Darrell Bird

  • Wow... you really may be on to something there DB. When you put it like that, it would not surprise me a bit.

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    JawJacker

  • I have no idea whether Barnhart would be interested, but it's easy to understand why he might be. You mention many of those reasons in your post. In addition to those reasons, I would expect that UT's financial strength would be appealing to Barnhart after all the work his administration has put in to get UK's budget more in line with the UT's of the world. UT football is as giant cash machine, affording them a huge budget. A 100,000 seat stadium filled 7-8 times each fall, plus a small army of very well heeled boosters ready to write big checks to keep the Big Orange machine churning. And because of that financial strength, for many years, UT has had the resources to field competitive teams in all sports (vs. the traditional UK model of allowing all other sports to languish as long as men's basketball is among the best). Moreover, if a UT facility needs an upgrade, it's done and it's done now. Meanwhile, for Barnhart at UK, he has to fight off the local newspaper and professors re the financing plan for new videoboards. There is a near riot when ticket prices are raised to the vicinity of ticket prices of other SEC schools.

    Make no mistake about it, I loathe the University of Tennessee. In fact, as I type this, there is an advertisement on the right hand side of the page for UT gear and it makes me want to pukeface. But I can see why Barnhart would be inclined to take a serious look at the job.

    Jeremy Grey

  • Well hell, you guys are so convincing (of the possibility)... that you have me thinking about his replacement at UK already. Who would we go after?

    shrug

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    JawJacker

  • I'll be crushed if we lose Barnhart. The guy has done so much for UK athletics. I want him to witness the football team reach even greater heights. What I'm really afraid will happen is his replacement would treat UK Football as a distraction to the basketball program. That would be a huge blow to Joker and the goals he has for this program. I pray Barnhart stays here.

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    Been a Cat fan since August of '92

    BELIEVEinBLUE

  • Someone who is very charismatic, does things the right way, is strong fundraiser, believes that bothfootball and basketball (as well as other sports) can excel equally and someone who shares Mitch's belief that the kids come first in all sports.

    I don't think its a given, but wiith the funding issues he faces, his biggest supporter (Todd) leaving,. some challenge to his increased compensation package, the loss of some control in the basketball program and the perceived strain with Cal, it wouldb't surprise me to see him jump at a better-funded Vol program that would would see him as one of their own coming home. He would look like a savior too, if he was successful in righting the ship.

    This post was edited by snarkster on 6/8/2011 at 10:55 PM

    snarkster

  • He's on the top of the list of speculation candidates from our Vols site on 247 today. I added the link to the front page of CatsPause as well if you'd like to read it.

    I think this is certainly a possibility with a new UK president coming in. Man, that would be quite a challenge for him right off the bat.

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    E-mail: JDRUM@247SPORTS.COM Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JDrumUK

    Jeff Drummond

  • I'd be hurt if he left for UT but I would understand also.

    Two major negatives hurt TN chances of stealing him, imo.
    #1. The boosters wouldn't like him dismantling the 'Good Old Boy' Network that has opperated there for ages. Mitch knows what it's like to be shunned by some major boosters here at UK. Can you imagine what the mega-boosters for TN football would think and do?
    #2. Sanctions, Sanctions, and more sanctions that are coming. Does Mitch want to deal with a program that has sanctions in not just one but both major sports on campus? Baseball and football are going to be hammered with sanctions in the next few years thanks to the mess left by Lame Kiffin and Bruce Pearl.

    I just don't envision Mitch wanting to deal with the headaches that will come with that job. I think if he is to leave it will be for a bigger program without looming sanctions or else for mission type work.

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    Stoopified!

    cobbycobb

  • cobbycobb said...

    I'd be hurt if he left for UT but I would understand also.

    Two major negatives hurt TN chances of stealing him, imo. #1. The boosters wouldn't like him dismantling the 'Good Old Boy' Network that has opperated there for ages. Mitch knows what it's like to be shunned by some major boosters here at UK. Can you imagine what the mega-boosters for TN football would think and do? #2. Sanctions, Sanctions, and more sanctions that are coming. Does Mitch want to deal with a program that has sanctions in not just one but both major sports on campus? Baseball and football are going to be hammered with sanctions in the next few years thanks to the mess left by Lame Kiffin and Bruce Pearl.

    I just don't envision Mitch wanting to deal with the headaches that will come with that job. I think if he is to leave it will be for a bigger program without looming sanctions or else for mission type work.

    Money not only talks, it's cures headaches that come with a job... including sanctions.

    I think he would seriously consider the move.

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    JawJacker

  • Money certainly talks but it isn't the end all be all. Especially for someone such as MB who has good Christian values and already has ample bank.

    I agree he considers it, who doesn't unless they simply detest TN which MB doesn't.

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    Stoopified!

    cobbycobb

  • cobbycobb said...

    Money certainly talks but it isn't the end all be all. Especially for someone such as MB who has good Christian values and already has ample bank.

    I agree he considers it, who doesn't unless they simply detest TN which MB doesn't.

    I'm not sure.... just how strong IS his ties with TN? I worry that, between his ties and the money they would offer, that he may be lured. I sure hope you are right though Cobb. I would hate to lose him... especially, to the Vols.

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    JawJacker

  • Tennessee -- Senior Assoc. AD (1986-98)

    He isn't a dyed in the wool TN guy by any stretch of the imagination, but he has ties to them for sure. I'm just not sold on him going to them. I would think he'd have more interest in say a Kansas, Oregon, or TX. Kansas cause it's where he is from. Oregon cause of the $$$ and he has worked their before and TX cause it's freaking TX. Their athletics pretty much across the board are top notch and donors to give you whatever you request.

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    Stoopified!

    cobbycobb

  • cobbycobb said...

    Tennessee -- Senior Assoc. AD (1986-98)

    He isn't a dyed in the wool TN guy by any stretch of the imagination, but he has ties to them for sure. I'm just not sold on him going to them. I would think he'd have more interest in say a Kansas, Oregon, or TX. Kansas cause it's where he is from. Oregon cause of the $$$ and he has worked their before and TX cause it's freaking TX. Their athletics pretty much across the board are top notch and donors to give you whatever you request.

    Thanks and +1

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    JawJacker

  • I think he definitely has to listen to UT and consider their offer. But, does he want to step into the mess that exists and the NCAA sanctions sure to come their way? IMO, no. But, he has the experience already after leading UK through it. Definitely something to watch.

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    "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." ~ Emerson

    alphacat93

  • If he does leave and right now that's a big if. Then I say we go get Papa Brooks. He would give Cal the free reign he wants and he could control football and other things. Also hire an AD that knows other sports to help him out.

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    It smells like microwaved homeless people in here.

    Warmother51

  • Warmother51 said...

    If he does leave and right now that's a big if. Then I say we go get Papa Brooks. He would give Cal the free reign he wants and he could control football and other things. Also hire an AD that knows other sports to help him out.

    Considering Calipari essentially has his own Basketball AD, I would assume that the basketball background AD candidates can be quickly eliminated. I would love to see Brooks in that role.

    kaocats

  • Are we sure that joker would want Brooks as his boss again?

    BlueGhost

  • As I dont know Joker's feelings I cant answer that. But if he had a problem you would think he would have left before Brooks retired or there would have been some serious clashes in the past. I dont recall anything of any serious nature. Maybe someone who has been around the program alot more could answer this but at the end of the day what Joker wants may hold some water but I would imagine if Brooks was the best man for the job then UK would hire him.

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    It smells like microwaved homeless people in here.

    Warmother51

  • Warmother51 said...

    If he does leave and right now that's a big if. Then I say we go get Papa Brooks. He would give Cal the free reign he wants and he could control football and other things. Also hire an AD that knows other sports to help him out.

    I love Coach Brooks, but I don't think this is the job for him. Good ADs are a profession unto themselves. The "retired coach as AD model" can still work, but for the most part it's going out of fashion.

    I'm sure this is a discussion going on at UT right now whether they want to bring back Coach Fulmer in this role (and he would have a lot of advantages) or if they want to go after somebody in the Mitch Barnhardt--Jeremy Foley--Scott Stricklin mold.

    djkycat54906

  • IMO, Barnhart can't make overtures toward this opening and not take it. If he does, this will be the second job within six months that he has flirted with, and (at least to me), his credibility as UK's AD will be diminished.

    DACats86

  • BlueGhost said...

    Are we sure that joker would want Brooks as his boss again?

    Not sure the dismissal of Brooks' coaches went over real well, especially Ortmeyer.

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    "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." ~ Emerson

    alphacat93

  • DACats86 said...

    IMO, Barnhart can't make overtures toward this opening and not take it. If he does, this will be the second job within six months that he has flirted with, and (at least to me), his credibility as UK's AD will be diminished.

    People flirted with Pitino all the time. They still flirt with Calapari. It just means you are good at what you do.

    flknopp

  • Good point and I know this convo is probably moot but wouldn't Brooks be a pro about it. He knows the way things work. Unless Joker flat out told him he would keep them then I see no prob.

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    It smells like microwaved homeless people in here.

    Warmother51

  • Warmother51 said...

    Good point and I know this convo is probably moot but wouldn't Brooks be a pro about it. He knows the way things work. Unless Joker flat out told him he would keep them then I see no prob.

    Absolutely. The problem would be more likely the other way. I don't think Joker has a bigger fan than Coach Brooks. If things were to fall apart with Joker, could Rich be able to pull the trigger on him--especially since it's an extension of his own legacy.

    djkycat54906

  • Yeah I hadnt thought of that but I think he could. Knowing that the entire school would suffer from it I think he could fire him. It isnt Brooks' MO but I think at that point he would realize all that he worked for was about to be flushed. Personally though I love the fact that he knows how to stay the course.

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    It smells like microwaved homeless people in here.

    Warmother51

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