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[FONT=Tahoma]”[/FONT][COLOR=#444444][FONT=Verdana]He’s my football coach, and I intend to ride this thing for the long haul with him and make this thing work”. That was Mitch Barnhardt referring to Joker Phillips late Friday evening. Mitch had been fairly quiet throughout the week on the future status of the head coach. We had stated on our podcasts this past week that Mitch had only 1 option and that was to say something neutral about the direction of the football program. He didn’t have to be hot or cold, just something along the lines “..we’ll evaluate as the season goes on”. But Mitch didn’t do that, instead he made a move he couldn’t afford to make.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#444444][FONT=Verdana]Mitch went on to say “….If they know one thing about me, I’m stubborn. I’m going to fight through stuff. My great frustration in the world we live in today is it’s a microwave society. We have determined that everything must happen instantly. And if it doesn’t, we’re on to the next thing”. Many items about this particular quote frustrate me. [/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#444444][FONT=Verdana]This has nothing to do with being stubborn; this has everything to do with ensuring our football program is competitive. That’s Mitch’s job. He hired Coach Calipari to run his basketball because Mitch certainly couldn’t. 2 years before Cal, Mitch let our basketball program fall further than it ever has since probation. [/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#444444][FONT=Verdana]Rich Brooks essentially ran the football program for his entire tenure. Now I will say, Mitch stuck with Brooks through the thick and thin, however Brooks walked into a much, much worse situation than Joker did. Deservedly so, Brooks had a longer leash. He had time to get the players and personnel he wanted. Mitch is making it seem like this is the exact same situation. It is not. We have no scholarship limitations, faster athletes, a 5 star QB and a staff that’s been around the program for multiple years.[/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#444444][FONT=Verdana]Mitch says he’s frustrated with this “microwave society” we live in. Oh yeah, well I just warmed up come chili in a microwave and IT WAS AWESOME!!! There’s nothing wrong with microwaves. Do you want to know what else I’m frustrated with? People who are paid a ton of money and don’t make no adjustments when things get bad. 17 PASSING YARDS!?!?! Crap like that gets some people fired, but not at UK. Here they get a vote of confidence. [/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#444444][FONT=Verdana]Making the microwave statement is also a bit contradictory. Billy Gillispie was sent packing after 2 years. Sure we found out about all the unrest within the program but nothing was acted upon until UK missed the tournament for the first time in 18 years. I’m not saying there is unrest or isn’t, but I do know we have certain recruits looking very closely at what is going on right now. [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#444444][FONT=Verdana]Patrick Towles has NOT signed with Kentucky and was looking at Cincinati, Vandy, Illinois and Louisville before verbally committing to the Cats. I guarantee he is looking at the Cats every weekend. Is he thinking he can turn this around or is he thinking “I’m gonna get sacked every play and no one will be able to catch a ball”? Who knows, but it’s something Mitch needs to ponder.[/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#444444][FONT=Verdana]What about attendance and fan morale? What if Jacksonville State only garners 30 thousand inside Commonwealth? Will this year’s football team be able to compete with Keenland? If Keenland were a D-2 football program the answer would still be no. Keep turning that blind eye, Mitch.[/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#444444][FONT=Verdana]The last thing that infuriates me is that Mitch Barnhardt wouldn’t speak to anyone about this until 3 hours before Big Blue Madness. If you think for one second that it was a coincidence, think again. This was a carefully planned statement. Mitch knew that UK fans would be so excited about Madness that they wouldn’t be so fired up about his comments. Otherwise, why didn’t he say anything for 2 whole weeks? [/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#444444][FONT=Verdana]Mitch knows this ship is going down, and he knows what the fans want. Whether that’s Mike Leach or some other drastic change in the coaching staff, he has made it clear that he is stubborn and doesn’t make quick changes. Hope that works out for you , Mitch.[/FONT][/COLOR]
