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Buddy Ate Lunch With Barnhart, Here....

  • Is what he told told him. He knows that he has to get a top name coach that can pull in the players, fans and recruits under his umbrella and get this going in the right direction. He is talking big numbers for the coach and his staff. No names were mentioned, but my buddy said that Petrino has too much baggage to take on. So the way I took it was, there was no way he would be considered.

    He apparently is concerned that there will be other vacancies opening up in the conference, i.e., Auburn and Tennessee. They will be more attractive jobs than ours here at Kentucky.

    I was also told that MB has quietly build up a nice coffer for the millions it will take to secure a coach and have the money for the length of the contract. He was specific about that.

    One thing that holds Kentucky back is the fact we are the only team (except maybe Vandy) that does not have an Athletic Assn. that can fund sports privately as other schools do. We have the KFund, but apparently Frankfort and the Gov Office does not want our athletic dept to hold that much power, they want to be able to control the strings. MB said before he leaves here he needs to have this in place for our future.

    I have to admit to being confused by the info given to me sketched in the above paragraph. I know for a fact that Louisville has an athletic association as well and it is very active according to my buddy and the conversation he had.

    On the idea of a bond from Frankfort, there is a limit to the amount they can get for UK, and at this time we really cannot get the capital needed for improvements, because with other projects and the huge UK Medical Center upgrades, those funds are just not available now.

    The bottom line is, if he cannot procure a top name quickly and thoroughly, that then Joker will return for his last season on the contract. That was made clear to me and the fact that other SEC jobs bigger than ours will most likely be open, that he will be forced to hold out one more year to ensure getting the person he seeks for the job.

    nashwan

  • I have a hard time believing Mitch would be telling someone this over lunch..If that were the case then he has just told your friend that Joker is done...Maybe the semantics were a lot more general..Maybe he said things like ,"when the time comes" etc...I did like the sound of it but that is not usually the way Mitch operates...

    wildcatdon

  • Totally bogus.

    bigcat65

  • Kooky Kats 247

  • I was hoping he had lunch with Buddy Garrity (from Friday Night Lights). Buddy woulda straightened him out.

    Otherwise, the content of the conversation seems entirely plausible to me.

    djkycat54906

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    PatWren ●

  • Why are you all calling bogus? You have no idea if this info is false so just shut up. OP, thanks for the info. What you're saying seems pretty plausible.

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    Been a Cat fan since August of '92

    BELIEVEinBLUE

  • 1) Joker has two years remaining on his current contract, not one. He's under contract until Dec. 31, 2014. It would cost $2.55 million to fire him after this season.

    2) This doesn't sound like Mitch Barnhart at all. Not saying it's not true, but he has never been the type to sit around telling people his plans over lunch. That's not his M.O. and would seem to be even less likely given all the pressure he is under to make the right decision for the future of the program.

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    Follow me on Twitter: '@TCPMattMay'

    Matt May ●

  • Matt May said...

    1) Joker has two years remaining on his current contract, not one. He's under contract until Dec. 31, 2014. It would cost $2.55 million to fire him after this season.

    2) This doesn't sound like Mitch Barnhart at all. Not saying it's not true, but he has never been the type to sit around telling people his plans over lunch. That's not his M.O. and would seem to be even less likely given all the pressure he is under to make the right decision for the future of the program.

    Thank you Matt for your wise response. This post is total fecal but it takes an authority (such as youself) to quash this nonsense. I doubt that even Mitch's wife knows his next move. Dude is very tight lipped!

    PatWren ●

  • Matt May said...

    1) Joker has two years remaining on his current contract, not one. He's under contract until Dec. 31, 2014. It would cost $2.55 million to fire him after this season.

    2) This doesn't sound like Mitch Barnhart at all. Not saying it's not true, but he has never been the type to sit around telling people his plans over lunch. That's not his M.O. and would seem to be even less likely given all the pressure he is under to make the right decision for the future of the program.

    Matt, I have been told that the language in Joker's contract is the same as Rich Brook's contract when it comes to early termination.

    If the contract is terminated early, the amount of money to be paid out is no where near the annual compensation amount times 2 years. Where did the 2.55 million figure come from?

    I do know that the University of Kentucky's portion of his compensation package is $400,000. TV, radio, etc. makes up the rest of the nearly 1.8 million annual package.

    5368ppi

  • 5368ppi said...

    Matt, I have been told that the language in Joker's contract is the same as Rich Brook's contract when it comes to early termination.

    If the contract is terminated early, the amount of money to be paid out is no where near the annual compensation amount times 2 years. Where did the 2.55 million figure come from?

    I do know that the University of Kentucky's portion of his compensation package is $400,000. TV, radio, etc. makes up the rest of the nearly 1.8 million annual package.

    I've never been able to figure out how to post my copy of Joker's contract here on the boards but my colleague Kyle Tucker did at the link below. The way we both read it, UK is obligated to pay both Phillips' base salary and broadcast/endorsement rights (the total compensation listed in sections 5(a) and 5(b). It appears as thought it's the full amount for 2013 and 50% of the 2014 compensation.

    But I'm not a lawyer so maybe I'm reading it wrong.

    The latest on Joker’s job status, a look at his contract | Kyle Tucker – UK Beat

    Louisville, Kentucky Sports blogs for The Courier-Journal

    blogs.courier-journal.com
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    Follow me on Twitter: '@TCPMattMay'

    Matt May ●


  • Will Mitch Barnhart put his friendship with Joker ahead of the Football Program……….

    I like Mitch. He has done a great job overall. I want him to stay for a long time.

    However, if he retains Joker then he will have lost credibility with me. I’ll be done with him and the entire program until he is also gone!

    When you look at what has transpired over the last 3 years it is an absolute no brainer that a change is warranted.

    So the question to Mitch is Friendship or UK Football?

    sram53239 ●

  • So would you all rather just hire someone for the sake of hiring someone new, even if no one felt that it was a good candidate?? If Mitch can't find someone willing to take the job that he is comfortable with hiring to lead the program, it would be a tough spot to be in. . .

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    BG631

  • There are plenty of coaches out there that would love this job and they are better coaches than Joker...Don't kid yourself..I think Mitch will make a good hire on this one..So many dont give him enough credit because of Gillespie..We shall see soon..

    wildcatdon

  • Matt May said...

    I've never been able to figure out how to post my copy of Joker's contract here on the boards but my colleague Kyle Tucker did at the link below. The way we both read it, UK is obligated to pay both Phillips' base salary and broadcast/endorsement rights (the total compensation listed in sections 5(a) and 5(b). It appears as thought it's the full amount for 2013 and 50% of the 2014 compensation.

    But I'm not a lawyer so maybe I'm reading it wrong.

    Just what the doctor ordered, Matt.

    Thanks!

    5368ppi

  • Fair enough guys. This is a fellow whose family has given many millions of dollars to UK over the years. He has always been candid with me, so I have no reason to think he is being untruthful. Understand many of the remarks, but interesting to see how things play out. GBB.

    nashwan

  • Matt May said...

    2) This doesn't sound like Mitch Barnhart at all. Not saying it's not true, but he has never been the type to sit around telling people his plans over lunch. That's not his M.O. and would seem to be even less likely given all the pressure he is under to make the right decision for the future of the program.

    Under normal circumstances, I would agree with you Matt, but people tend to spout off after having a few stiff drinks... and lord knows Mitch has every reason to be on a drinking binge these days. lol . It's possible that Mitch said more than he wanted to... it happens to the best of us while under the influence.

    Maybe it wasn't just a club sandwich they were having for lunch that day... and who can blame him? It's not only Mitch who's found a friend in a bottle... many (once sober) fans of BBN have turned the bottle this year.

    Joker is solely responsible for a huge increase in alcohol sales these days.

    Btw... JK

    This post was edited by JawJacker on 10/19/2012 at 5:58 PM

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    JawJacker

  • BG631 said...

    So would you all rather just hire someone for the sake of hiring someone new, even if no one felt that it was a good candidate?? If Mitch can't find someone willing to take the job that he is comfortable with hiring to lead the program, it would be a tough spot to be in. . .

    Great question Brad

    I don't think Joker should be fired until Mitch is certain he can land or has a commitment from one of the top coaches on his wish list... because if not, Mitch would have us in a situation where we'd be forced to settle for a "less than desired" candidate. That would most likely keep us in the same boat we're in now... and that would suck. It's GO BIG or don't go at all... this next move is critical, so it's in our best interest to wait if we have to. There's no need to rush if we can't get a coach we want (need).

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    JawJacker

  • I'm not buying ANY of it, either way.
    The UKAA and MB are not committed to improving the Kentucky football prgram. If both were we'd have seen the needed changes a long, long time ago.
    It doesn't matter one iota whether CJP gets fired or not, because no matter who comes in to replace him we'll get the same exact results.
    You guys may as well get used to this, because it's the way it's always been. And it's not going to change. Ever.

    suncat05

  • suncat05 said...

    I'm not buying ANY of it, either way. The UKAA and MB are not committed to improving the Kentucky football prgram. If both were we'd have seen the needed changes a long, long time ago. It doesn't matter one iota whether CJP gets fired or not, because no matter who comes in to replace him we'll get the same exact results. You guys may as well get used to this, because it's the way it's always been. And it's not going to change. Ever.

    Ever?

    C'mon sunny... that's a long ass time my friend. biggrin

    This post was edited by JawJacker on 10/19/2012 at 7:04 PM

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    JawJacker

  • You need to change your name to dripcat because the sun is on the back side of the moon and it must be raining where you are. UK needs a lot and we all know it. I've believed since 1968 and I refuse to stop now! A better day is coming! Get ready to win with Coach Jones when he moves south about a 100 miles.

    Cumberlandcat ●

  • You need to change your name to dripcat because the sun is on the back side of the moon and it must be raining where you are. UK needs a lot and we all know it. I've believed since 1968 and I refuse to stop now! A better day is coming! Get ready to win with Coach Jones when he moves south about a 100 miles.

    Cumberlandcat ●

  • BS BS BS

    Any conversation that has any criteria were Joker comes back is bogus. Only a total idiot would use the excuse "if" we can't get a top coach, Joker returns til we can.

    Are people on here that stupid? I don't think so.

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    The meanest dog in Taiwan.

    mrhotdice

  • It was explained to me 2 weeks ago 20 some of the very highest donors met with Barnhart and expressed their opinion on the football program. This is a group, 22 is the number I was told, that have Barnhart's ear at all times. So nashwan's story is realistic to me. This was a meeting where the donor's did most of the talking and when you donate at this level you do get a chance to express your opinion.

    Katonic

  • If they can't "donor up" enough to get the program up to par with middle of the pack SEC programs then our donors are as bad as our coach. Maybe the key is fire the donors and get the assistant donors from Alabama.

    BenSam

Kentucky
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