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"Confidence is a scary term to use???"

  • Matt Jones asks Barnhart, "are you confident in the direction of UK football?" and Barnhart replies: "Confidence is a scary term to use." What the heck kind of response is that??? Bonding issues or not, Mitch reveals his true feelings when he says things like this. The dude expects football to be a sinking ship, and is just crossing his fingers and irrationally hoping things turn out ok.

    He also says somthing to the extent of: we need to get back to winning some of the games that people expect us to win. Really? Win SOME of the Games people expect? If that's the expectations for the program Mitch, no wonder we're not any further along than we are. When you set your goal at mediocrity, that's the best you'll ever get, and sometimes you even underachieve. I started to feel a little sympathy for Barny when the bonding situation was made public, but statements like these leave me feeling as if improving football just isn't that high of a priority for Mitch.

    Catmando

  • What do you really expect? We are not a top 25 program in football and until the excuses stop we'll continue with status quo.

    Whitaker568

  • I expect the excuses to stop! Maybe that's too much to ask, but I'll keep asking regardless.

    Catmando

  • Catmando said...

    I expect the excuses to stop! Maybe that's too much to ask, but I'll keep asking regardless.

    I hear what you're saying and so do I but some changes are needed for that to happen. I'll still go to games and I'm still in Joker's corner. But this program needs a complete overhaul and that's something that people have a hard time understanding or believing.

    I want a top 10 program in football. It can happen here.

    Whitaker568

  • that to me says joker u better do better than last year. and u better beat uofl vandy and a mississipi school. and look good beating the three cupcakes so i honestly think mitch pretty much just said no bowl joker no job.

    quagmire

  • lets be honest u cannot fire a coach after two seasons. u just cant do it but if after three we r worse than the first and 2nd yr mitch has to fire him. we all watched last yr that was the worst offense i have ever seen at uk what do u want mitch to say hes probably was dissapointed as well. but he had to give joker year three

    quagmire

  • I think people hear and interpret things however they want to based on their personal feelings of the person saying them.

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    Follow me on Twitter: '@TCPMattMay'

    Matt May ●

  • Barnhart is having to toe a very delicate line there when responding to those questions. Support your current coaches and players, but acknowledge that things need to get better. I respect Barnhart for handling those sorts of questions with class, and making sure it's clear that he continues to support the staff and the players. Now, with that said, I too wasn't crazy about the comments about winning SOME of the games people expect you to win - it does indeed sound like the acceptance of mediocrity. In context, he's probably just being realistic given the state of the program and not trying to make it sound as if the staff is in trouble if they don't win X number of games. We all know the program is somewhat down right now, but if it will ever get where we want it, the end goal has to be set higher.

    Jeremy Grey ●

  • Matt May said...

    I think people hear and interpret things however they want to based on their personal feelings of the person saying them.

    Well, Matt, my personal feelings about Barnhart are only biased based on the things he has and has not done in the past in regards to football. That is all I have to judge him on. He has consistently let us down, and until he says and does something differently, I will continue to expect more of the same. How long has the bonding issue been going on? Why did we just start hearing about it 6 months ago? I mean, if some outside entity was keeping you from doing your job correctly, wouldn't you at the very least, let it be known publically that it wasn't your fault, and maybe try to do something about it?

    I would love nothing more than to hear Mitch change his tone and put all of his support to football, and if he did, I would cautiously support him. You know, he very easily could have said: There are a lot of tough issues surrounding UK football right now, including the bonding issue, but I fully intend to adress each to the best of my abilities, to help this program become competitive in the SEC. Inststead, he said "confidence is a scary term to use." Just once, I would like to stop hearing excuses, and start hearing about ways he intends to get around the roadblocks that plague UK football. You can't fix a problem without first acknowleging that it is a problem.

    Catmando

  • does anyone really expect kentucky to win an SEC championship in football? it's not gonna happen. sorry folks. and building a bigger stadium or hiring a "big name coach" won't work. how's spurrier doing at south carolina? kentucky has neither the tradition nor talent base that schools like bama, auburn, florida, or lsu have. a 300 million dollar stadium doesn't=championships. it's about players, and uk will NEVER consistently get the athletes the schools i mentioned get.

    nbtoppers2

  • nbtoppers2 said...

    does anyone really expect kentucky to win an SEC championship in football? it's not gonna happen. sorry folks. and building a bigger stadium or hiring a "big name coach" won't work. how's spurrier doing at south carolina? kentucky has neither the tradition nor talent base that schools like bama, auburn, florida, or lsu have. a 300 million dollar stadium doesn't=championships. it's about players, and uk will NEVER consistently get the athletes the schools i mentioned get.

    Well, he won the East in 2010, and these are the bowls Spurrier has taken them too. If this was UK's resume, I'd feel a lot more optimistic. How about you?

    December 30, 2005 Independence
    December 29, 2006 Liberty
    January 1, 2009 Outback
    January 2, 2010 PapaJohns.com
    December 31, 2010 Chick-fil-A
    January 2, 2012 Capital One

    Catmando

  • Matt May said...

    I think people hear and interpret things however they want to based on their personal feelings of the person saying them.

    this

    signature image

    Stoopified!

    cobbycobb

  • Mitch has addressed the issues. He has stated that we don't have the bonding ability we need and that the legislature has our hands tied there.

    He has stated that donors come out in droves for BB but not football.

    He stated "Confidence is a scary term to use." because he didn't want to sound either fully in support of or against joker. He is showing that he is evaluating Joker on this season and how they progress. He clearly wants to see more W's and a better, more exciting product on the field.

    signature image

    Stoopified!

    cobbycobb

  • Catmando said...

    Well, he won the East in 2010, and these are the bowls Spurrier has taken them too. If this was UK's resume, I'd feel a lot more optimistic. How about you?

    December 30, 2005 Independence December 29, 2006 Liberty January 1, 2009 Outback January 2, 2010 PapaJohns.com December 31, 2010 Chick-fil-A January 2, 2012 Capital One

    You wouldn't if you had SC's recruiting base. You'd be frustrated.

    signature image

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

    Jeff Drummond

  • Catmando said...

    The dude expects football to be a sinking ship, and is just crossing his fingers and irrationally hoping things turn out ok.

    I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that Mitch Barnhart does not feel this way.

    signature image

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

    Jeff Drummond

  • nbtoppers2 said...

    does anyone really expect kentucky to win an SEC championship in football? it's not gonna happen. sorry folks. and building a bigger stadium or hiring a "big name coach" won't work. how's spurrier doing at south carolina? kentucky has neither the tradition nor talent base that schools like bama, auburn, florida, or lsu have. a 300 million dollar stadium doesn't=championships. it's about players, and uk will NEVER consistently get the athletes the schools i mentioned get.

    UK could win the championship and be a contender with the right resources, support, and coach.

    Is Joker that guy? Only time will tell. I think he can get us there if we give him time to grow and don't have a rabid fanbase trying to backstab him simply because we stumble. Joker loves this university and FB more than anyone. He doesn't want to see this fail. He has even more invested in this program than any of us do considering he played here, graduated from here, is the coach here and thus his paycheck is dependent upon UK's success.

    signature image

    Stoopified!

    cobbycobb

  • nbtoppers2 said...

    does anyone really expect kentucky to win an SEC championship in football? it's not gonna happen. sorry folks. and building a bigger stadium or hiring a "big name coach" won't work. how's spurrier doing at south carolina? kentucky has neither the tradition nor talent base that schools like bama, auburn, florida, or lsu have. a 300 million dollar stadium doesn't=championships. it's about players, and uk will NEVER consistently get the athletes the schools i mentioned get.

    Yes, I do!

    If, "IF" Joker can't turn this thing around then the next hire MUST be a grand slam! Mitch said they have the funds so money shouldn't be a issue? The right Coach + Scheme = UK winning games. It's really that simple!

    This season is huge for the program on so many levels. And the first game must be a win! If UK comes out flat and gets beat vs UL the fans(most of the bandwagon fans) will give up and start doing their best LOD crap! If UK only wins 3-4 games and looks bad doing it, Joker is out.

    We need wins and a Bowl game. We need even better recruiting. This season will be interesting to say the least. So much is riding on how this team performs. Lets pray the Cats have a 06-07 type season.

    Whitaker568

  • Whitaker568 said...

    Yes, I do!

    If, "IF" Joker can't turn this thing around then the next hire MUST be a grand slam! Mitch said they have the funds so money shouldn't be a issue? The right Coach + Scheme = UK winning games. It's really that simple!

    This season is huge for the program on so many levels. And the first game must be a win! If UK comes out flat and gets beat vs UL the fans(most of the bandwagon fans) will give up and start doing their best LOD crap! If UK only wins 3-4 games and looks bad doing it, Joker is out.

    We need wins and a Bowl game. We need even better recruiting. This season will be interesting to say the least. So much is riding on how this team performs. Lets pray the Cats have a 06-07 type season.

    NO ONE CANNOT SAY MITCH IS NOT A GREAT AD, UK IS WHAT A FINAL BASEBALL RANKING FROM UK BEING NO #1 IN SPORTS ATH THIS YR. I MEAN LOOK AT THE BASEBALL, MENS BASKETBALL, WOMENS BASKETBALL, VOLLYBALL, WOMENS SOFTBALL, SHOOTING, TENNIS, GOLF, ETC ETC.
    YES THE FOOTBALL HAS LACKED BUT HE (MITCH ) HAS SPENT MORE MONEY ON FOOTBALL THAN ANY AD BEFORE HIM. HE DOES CARE ABOUT FOOTBALL, BUTY HE HAS BOSSES ABOVE HIM THAT GIVE HIM MONEY TO SPEND. HE (MITCH) PUT IN FOR EXTRA FUNDING BUT WAS REJECTED BY THE STATE HOUSE. DON'T YOU GUYS GET IT??????? MITCH WANTS TO WIN BUT IT WILL TAKE ALOT OF TIME IN FOOTBALL.

    dvillepro1

  • AND UK STILL HAS TO RECRUIT KY A STATE THAT LACKS TALENT. THIS IS NOT FLA, GA BAMA SC LOL. IT IS HARD TO BUILD A TOP SEC FOOTBALL PROGRAM GOING OUT OF STATE

    dvillepro1

  • Athletics is like war in that the group with the most resources and commitment usually win. UK with Gilispie= not much. Uk with Cal= dynamite. Big time coaches get big time money and support. I don't think the facilities are the difference, people are. If UK wants to turn around football it is going to take giving a big time coach big money, support for assistants, and control of football money. UK isn't willing to do that and here we are hoping Joker can succeed on the cheap because he is one of us and deserves a chance. I'm betting that ticket sales will start to drive the train. Joker must win this year or we will face a more monumental building job.

    zcats

  • ^ That's why I was against hiring Joker in the first place. Uk finally lucked into progress with Rich Brooks. Brooks created a foundation, and the only way to sustain/improve it was to make a grand slam hire that would make waves troughout the college world. Instead, we get a guy who's never been a head coach, let alone a HC in the SEC.

    We should have looked to make a Caliperiesque fb hire, and then turned the program over to Joker once it had sustained succes for a substantial period of time. Now that he's here, I am all for Joker and hope like heck that he turns it around, but I just don't have a good feeling about it, and right or wrong, that interview made me feel like Mitch doesn't either.

    Catmando

  • zcats said...

    Athletics is like war in that the group with the most resources and commitment usually win. UK with Gilispie= not much. Uk with Cal= dynamite. Big time coaches get big time money and support. I don't think the facilities are the difference, people are. If UK wants to turn around football it is going to take giving a big time coach big money, support for assistants, and control of football money. UK isn't willing to do that and here we are hoping Joker can succeed on the cheap because he is one of us and deserves a chance. I'm betting that ticket sales will start to drive the train. Joker must win this year or we will face a more monumental building job.

    I don't think it's that they're not willing to do it, I think it's two things:

    (A) They know they'll have to overpay for "big name coach." No two ways about it. Elite coaches aren't lining up to coach at a place known for being a graveyard of their profession. It would take a fortune to get a guy like that. Even with huge money, a lot of coaches would hesitate to come here with the state's troublesome recruiting base. It's a tough, tough job.

    (B) They know "big name coach" would be out the door as soon as he gives UK one eye-opening season for another gig at a school with more tradition and resources. And then you're back to Square One.

    Joker was hired because he's been successful here and he wants to be here for the long haul. The gamble is that he can survive long enough to get past the "learning curve" of being the head man and give this program some stability for years to come. The idea is to find "UK's Frank Beamer."

    I'm not telling you it's going to work, but I do think the strategy is sound.

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

    Jeff Drummond

  • ^^^^^ Spot on as usual Jeff.

    Follow me on twitter @ TailgatingCzar

    princeuk21 ●

  • i agree with that. and i want joker to succedd but u gotta recruit and recruiting starts and ends with winning. we just have to hope guys like collins robinson cunningham fields king all have good yrs.

    quagmire

  • nbtoppers2 said...

    does anyone really expect kentucky to win an SEC championship in football? it's not gonna happen. sorry folks. and building a bigger stadium or hiring a "big name coach" won't work. how's spurrier doing at south carolina? kentucky has neither the tradition nor talent base that schools like bama, auburn, florida, or lsu have. a 300 million dollar stadium doesn't=championships. it's about players, and uk will NEVER consistently get the athletes the schools i mentioned get.

    Spurrier has done pretty damn good at USC. Of course he was given enough time to do it.

    If Mitch would have said, Hell yeah I'm confident in the football program and Joker is great. Somebody probably would have posted a thread telling Mitch he needs to wake the F up. I don't have any problems with what he said. We do need to start winning some game that we're expected to win like Louisville, Vandy, Ole Miss, Miss St. and shocking one of the big boys to at the least make a bowl.

    tWhit ●

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