I understand that given how Mitch Barnhart operates, we will have to suffer through at least another season like this one to get rid of Joker Philips. But when UK finally does start looking for a new coach, could it -- for once -- hire someone who will either generate some buzz for the football team, or who has experience at winning under adverse circumstances? Navy and West Virginia, for example, both have just as much difficulty in attracting talent as UK does, and yet they manage to do pretty well for themselves.
Also, can we please get someone who's not such a nice guy? For once, I would like UK to have a football coach who gets more angry about the UT game than I do.
after this weekend of football, i'm in 1974.
ReplyDeleteWith the basketball program, Mitch Barnhart followed up a terrible hire (Billy Gillespie) with a big-time winner in John Calipari. We will hope that he does the same in football. Personally, I think this job should go to Bobby Petrino -- and I think UK should move quickly, before Auburn hires him.
ReplyDeleteTo my mind this is one of those occasions where you sit down with the alums who are going to foot the bill and you ask them what they want to do. You either go all in with a Petrino or Tressel and expect to spend a lot of money to get him and keep him, or you go after a Willie Taggart with the understanding that you are taking a bit of a chance, but it will cost less initially and could be a big success. Those are your two options as I see it.
DeleteMy only concern with Petrino is he has shown in the past he's happy to drop a job overnight for something he perceives as being better, and I worry about us getting Kiffined.
I'm rolling with Go Heath's counsel here. He was right on John Calipari by a mile.
DeleteThat said, I think your concerns about Bobby Petrino's willingness to jump are well-founded, and, though there were those same concerns with Calipari, the truth was that Calipari had shown clear interest that this was the job he had wanted for some time. As far as I know, Petrino hasn't never indicated any longing to coach in Lexington. But I don't know that there exists such a perfect candidate for the football job (obvious winner who strongly wants the job).
Also, if Willie Taggart must leave WKU, I would rather he go to UK than anywhere else. But pretty much all of the dyed-in-the-red-towel Hilltoppers that I know would skewer me for saying that.
I agree with Matthew that Barnhart should decide what the alumni are willing to pay for. Personally, I think that if Petrino leaves after only two years, that would mean that he did a really great job for two years. If I were UK, the last thing I would worry about is that my coach would be so good that other teams might want him.
DeleteAs for Willie Taggart, I think he's done a fine job at WKU. But my own guess is that if he can't beat Middle Tennessee at WKU, he won't be beating Tennessee at UK.
Mr. Tough Guy.
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