By RICHARD CHEEKS
On the football front, I am so pleased that the team could put it together for Joker’s last game, and for themselves. An effort like that Saturday could be enough to get the Vols because they are reeling now. Wouldn’t it be a great finish for Joker to get Tennessee two times in a row?
When the Tubby Smith situation came to a head, I learned that Mitch Barnhart does not respect the fan base, and prefers to ignore the fans that point out the problem areas, and discount them as raving, unreasonable, etc. I know because I got the direct assault from him and his lieutenants. On Sunday morning on WLAP Larry Vaught, Mark Buerger and Anthony White seemed focused on Barnhart’s inexplicable conduct surrounding this football coaching situation.
From my perspective, it is precisely the same conduct relative to the fans I saw from him back then. The fall from the top of the mountain to the mediocrity of the Tubby years for basketball was as dramatic a fall as the fall of the football program into oblivion that we have just witnessed. The only differences are the beginning and ending points for basketball are higher than for football, but the fall was as dramatic for each program, and both have occurred on his watch.
With respect to the football program, I am pleased that more and more people are beginning to talk about the absence of institutional commitment and support, because this demise is predictable within that understanding. Rich Brooks lifted this program on his own back and carried it to new heights despite that absence of commitment. Joker, like so many of the others before him, could not sustain the weight of that world. It is so sad to me, because Joker loves UK football more than anyone I have seen in that chair in my lifetime as a fan.
We should all give thanks today for Mitch Barnhart’s contribution to soccer, tennis, and tidily-winks.
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As a UK soccer team alumni thanks for that last jab,so I guess we don’t matter? This is why the fanbase is what it is, I thought we were the BBN? MB knows this is a must win hire not just for UK but for him personally and I trust he will do so.
Just wish I could share your optimism. I don’t think MB can look beyond his ego and arrogance to form a clear thought. Just saying…..
The sour grapes comes from the fact, if it wasn’t for football, the feeling is the title IX sports wouldn’t be supported at all. The sad part is since the AD has been here, he used to boast in ten years he had invested 10 million back into the football program. Nothing more than maintence errr sealing the pipes at Commonwealth was the running joke for a long time.
I don’t knock soccer, mens or womens. Afterall I have a daughter that plays soccer, has camped at a UK soccer summer program already.
Its the idea, for all the money that UK brings in from football, very little has ever been invested back into football. Instead, all the money has gone to all the other title IX sports. New softball fields, or baseball facilities. Soccer, while UK football has had no recent additions simply in ages. In the war of upgrades in the SEC, UK hasn’t competed in that area alone in a decade. I’m not saying UK facilities are shabby but we are falling behind our SEC brethen.
But our AD has once mentioned about football we don’t have to be the best we just have to be in the ball park somewhere, but then he goes on later and says in basketball we have to be the gold standard in basketball. There are two complete differing standards. The gold cup in basketball and the tin cup in football. lots of aggravation in this article.
Mitch thinks he is still in the PAC where Olympic sports are higher priority. This is the SEC and football drives this bus. UK has invested $14m in football over the last 10 years. The other 13 SEC schools averaged $150m+ over that same period. Why do you think Bama softball and gymnastics have excelled the last few years? It’s because of the AWESOME income of the football program. Winning football means a bigger stadium, higher ticket prices, higher donations and more exposure. Winning begets winning. It is rocket surgery. Sorry, but until football reached a respectable level I would gut every money leechingsport to the bone, the minimum financial support possible to meet SEC and Title IX standards and poor every dime that football generates back into football. Mitch has strangled the Golden Goose but still expects to find those eggs. Well guess what, the fanbase has had enough of watching OUR money building facilities we will never set foot into or check the score of while the program that could put 100k fans in seats if the commitment was made is basically ignored. That’s just the facts.
Cheeks is a chump and posting him takes away all credibility of this site. Barnhart is as classy of a AD as UK has ever had.
Mr. Cheeks article’s add credibility to this site. His opinions are always backed up by facts & statistics. I support the “other Sports” at U.K. but you can’t continue to ignore Football & expect the Football revenues to carry everything else. I agree with Cheeks.
You know it is too bad morons like this continue to belittle sports they simply don’t comprehend. I get it. You think that the commitment to sports besides football and basketball is not worthwhile. You are wrong. This the UNIVERSITY of Kentucky. The sports program does not exist just to provide you opportunities to brag. Nor is this a pro sports franchise which exists merely for your entertainment. It exists to allow athletes to participate at the highest level while representing the university.
If you are mad because you don’t think Mitch Barnhart tends to your needs as a fan that is obviously your call but a man with any integrity would just keep his mouth shut about about the other sports. The athletes who play theses sports are just as dedicated as those who play the revenue sports – and most of them are not on full scholarship.
I have been a UK Football season ticket holder for years and I also am tired of seeing the team be blown out. Who isn’t? Nevertheless, this post was nothing more than whining.
I do not see the article as belittling the other sports.
He did not say that the “Other sports” are not worthwhile.
He did not say that athletes in other sports are not dedicated.
He is trying to point out (again) the lack of institutional support to football at U.K.
Barnhart has improved several of the “Other Sports” by using football revenue.
At the same time he has ignored Football. I agree with Cheeks.
If you have read his other articles & posts here you would understand.
Cheeks has a better understanding than many of us.
50 years of mostly crap football will make a person frustrated enough, to be make statements like this!I feel his pain but I also support all UK sports!
I’m thankful to Mtch for John Calipari and Rich Brooks who was the second best football coach we’ve had. I’m also thankful for Tubby winning a national championship and several SEC chamionships. I for one don’t take those things for granted. I wish the biggest problem in my life was the AD not speaking publicly. I’ve spent a lot of time in Third World countries wIth people who would love to have these kinds of “problems”. No wonder they view us as spoiled. I’m simply AMAZED at how ungrateful so many peolpe are on Thanksgiving day.
Cheer up R. Cheeks. Good news is coming soon.
So is Santa Claus!
I am proud of all the minor sports teams at UK,and i want them to be champions in their own right
.Hopefully the change being made in football will lead to a better ,more productive team on the field.
As I’ve said before, being athletic director doesn’t mean taking care of just the football and basketball teams. The other sports and athletes that compete in those sports deserve the support of the athletic department as well. (and yes, I’m well aware that football and men’s basketball pays the way for the rest of those sports).
ROFL, apparently the tiddly-winks team was reading the site tonight. Well said Cheeks. As for the rest of you ‘sour grapes’, futbol’ers, your ‘sport’ does nothing for the university but cost it money. Thanks for accepting the free ride to school and taking cash out of the sports that could actually lower tuition costs. you know, the ones that make money?
Going with your tone here, try this: you have no clue how finance works in an athletic department. And a successful FB or BB program never helps tuition go down. In fact, the short version is that it helps the University charge more (because the profile is higher) and makes it harder to get into (because it attracts more students)
Happy Thanksgiving Coach Petrino….
Ah Soccer, the only sport with a fanbase of “player and his/her parents’…. and that’s about it.
There is no such thing as minor sports. Just because you don’t wear a jock strap does not mean you are not a dedicated athlete. Some students, men and women are more talented in tennis, gymnastics, volleyball, soccer, etc. then men who suit up in helmets and basketball shoes. Every person has a different mind set and talent. Last year the SEC POY for tennis was Eric Quiley, 3 times in a row Mr. Wildcat. You cannot call him a minor athlete in a minor sport. He is now chasing his dream on the pro circuit. The women’s team had the POY of the year in SEC. She is not a minor athlete in a minor sport. We all know about AD, but we know where basketball stands. No sport is minor when your heart is in it. Everyone deserves a chance to excel at what they are best at doing. Perhaps it is time to put what happened to you in the past behind you and move on. Support all sports and keep smiling. It will make you feel better, I promise.
http://www.aseaofblue.com/2012/9/18/3354632/kentucky-footall-whos-worth-more-uk-basketball-or-football
I would pull for any team Kentucky has out there but Football is the revenue maker and deserves the biggest portion of its earnings
David, that is something I don’t understand. Football brings in more money because they are in the BCS but the salary of the coach, the coaches staff and the facilities does not reflect that. I am at a loss to understand that. Why not pay a good football coach a substantial salary so he can recruit better players and earn more money for the University? Why doesn’t the alumni, the movers and shakers and the coal people donate to the football program like they seem to do to basketball?
I know! It is sad to think that the AD just doesn’t get it. Here is an link to SEC revenue generated from football, we are near the bottom, no surprise because we do not think big.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/sportsmoney/2011/01/26/whos-making-money-in-sec-football/
So, if I get this right, if they spend more money on the football program they will make more money and there would be more money for the other sports? Why is that so hard for the AD to understand?
All of UK sports are important in their own right but not taking care of football because non revenue sports need money is like taking unpaid leave from a six figure job, so you can work at Walmart. UK football winning games and bowls means more money for everyone and vice-versa. The hardest hit for a bad football hire is the non revenue sports. The quicker everyone realizes that the better.
Good response!
I have come to the conclusion if Kentucky is going to make a honest effort to compete in the SEC Barnhart must be fired and a new Athletic Director that does not put his ego in front of the school must lead. Barnhart has dropped the ball too many time his number has been called. Fire Barnhart hire an energetic AD to help our football program move forward. Spurrier got away and now Petrino has gotten away.
We have to demand CHANGE – Not just a Coaching change.
We must demand INSTITUTIONAL change! Fans must demand it now.
Everyone is focused on the Coaching hire but we are NOTdemanding this Institutional change.
Why not! We are giving Barnhart another free ride to hire someone that will fail again without Institutional support.
Some think that Barnhart is doing a good job – I disagree. His silence is deafening.
I would like to hear something like this from his office:
-I have formed a task force of former players, key business leaders, Financial Contributors, Ky. Legislative leaders and myself that will examine the football program and develop a long term plan along with our new Head Coach that will make it competitive with the top teams in the SEC. This plan will include football facilitiy upgrades, needed football staff additions, and the FINANCIAL committment to complete this task.
-I have met with Dr. Capulito & obtained his support.
-I have met with the U.K. Board of trustees obtained their support.
-Recruits have been called to inform them of this exciting new committment.
-__________________________________
-___________________________________
The blanks are for your ideas.
And Finally:
– We are well along with our Search for a Head Football Coach that will embrace this plan to bring U.K. Football to the top of the SEC.
Again the silence is deafening.
-Players currently on the roster have all been told the details of our new plan.
I did not know that we had a new plan.
I thought that we were continuing down the same old path.
Richard, this is another great article from you. Especially the last sentence. Keep up the good work!