The House of Blue

How many times did he say "we will continue to work through that"? It sounds like he's having a hard time selling the program.

Are we going to be the first program in the SEC to have a coaching vacancy... but the last program to fill it?

Geez Mitch... if you can't run the ball, hand it off to someone who can.

I've got no problems with Mitch's statement and he's making it clear that's he's in charge and he'll make the decision when he feels he's got the right guy. Basically, he's saying "I'm in charge" and I respect that. The other edge to this sword is that his credibility, and very likely his job, depends on getting the right guy to take the reigns and make UK a winner. Mitch knows this and I think the UK fandom should give him a little maneuver space to get the next Head Coach.

Just showed my wife this, her statement was "You really don't like me do you..." Thought that was funny

I personally cannot stand Mitch Barnhart. There I have said it. He can change my mind about his ability by making a good hire but I can't stand what he says in public. What coach is out there who wants to build on "the foundation Joker has put in place"?. What an arrogant and stupid thing to say. No one wants to build on a guy who demolished a mid level SEC program in a year. If you are focused primarily on "the respect and the accountability that he's gained in the locker room, the way we conduct our business" instead of playing winning football you are completely lost. What competent coach would want to work in this nut house. If you have a bad program and want it to be better you don't start out telling prospective hires how to do their job.

Point taken. I don't have the general disdain for Mitch that many have but I am a long suffering and frustrated fan who just wants to see a team that every once in a while competes for and SEC crown. I was 13 years old the last time UK won the SEC (1977) and that was with an * due to probation. Can this program ever overcome the lack of a solid recruiting base coupled w/competing in THE TOUGHEST conference in America???

Realistically, Arkansas has had their job open since April when Petrino's dumbassery unraveled on them.

Saw that one too. While I realized it is only 1 game, watching his defense collapse in the 4th quarter today doesn't exactly excite me about him.

I really just don't get why people think Mitch should be handling this whole coaching search out in the open. Any of the coaches that we may be talking to that are currently employed don't want their names associated with a search, for obvious reasons. I don't know, maybe it is just todays culture of instant gratification and people thinking they have a right to any and all information. Now with that said I wish Mitch had acknowledged that he knows we need someone in place to secure the recruits we have and hopefully either steal some from somebody else or get in on some who are still wavering. I am sure he knows this, but even statements like that could appease some of the masses. I thought his statement was much like one from some coaches, lots of ambiguity, doesn't want to show his cards (good or bad), but feels the heat so gives a statement. My gut feel is we have somebody in place by shortly after the SEC Championship game. And if Mark Stoops is on the list, as suggested above, that would be another name I could get behind.

No that was just my initial thought to his name being thrown in the mix. I looked at the win/loss record of Arizona when he was DC there and it is 33-34. His defense at Florida State this year is ranked #1, I think, in total yards allowed. I tend to put more weight on what he did at Arizona as the school is more similar to UK than FSU. I like many others am frustrated with UK football right now and want to get in someone who will turn the program around and win games.

Blah, Blah, Blah... I'm so damn tired of hearing how freaking great our AD is. Fact is that when Mitch Barnyard came here he was said to be a "Football AD" with all this experience with winning football programs that he was going to turn us around. He has not done didley squat for the football team. However, our rifle team and out tiddley wink team have won national championships. Personally, I don't give a damn about the olympic sports. When Mitch couldn't (or wouldn't) get it done for Brooks he should have been gone. I'm so tired of hearing the multitude of excuses for all these years of how we can't or why we don't win. I don't believe for one minute that a coach can't come here and get the job done. Someone has to have the vision and fortitude to make the RIGHT hire. I don't think that person is our current AD.