John Clay's Sidelines

At football practice on Thanksgiving Day, UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart turned down interview requests, just as he had done all week. But before Saturday’s Kentucky-Tennessee game, Barnhart went on the UK Network pre-game show with Dick Gabriel and addressed the Joker Phillips rumors, saying that the coach would be back for 2012. Then after the game in which UK snapped its 26-game win streak over Tennessee, Barnhart appeared in the media room for interviews.

On the basketball pre-game show last night, Barnhart again appeared and Gabriel asked him why the AD was on the field for the entire game, when usually Barnhart comes down on the field during the fourth quarter. “I thought it was important to show people I am firmly behind this coaching staff,” he said.

There wasn’t much support for Mitch Barnhart’s comments supporting Kentucky football coach Joker Phillips.

The UK athletics director said publicly last Friday that Phillips would “absolutely” be back for the 2012 season. Barnhart also said that he was in it “for the long haul” with Phillips, who is 8-11 since taking over as head coach last season.

I believed Barnhart’s comments to be appropriate, but judging from this sampling, I’m in the minority.

(H-L photo/Pablo Alcala)

Judging by the current poll numbers, and the subsequent tweets and e-mails, Mitch Barnhart’s comments on Friday in support of head football coach Joker Phillips were not greeted with a wealth of positive vibes. Doesn’t matter. Popular opinion aside, Barnhart did the right thing.

Yes, the Cats have lost four straight games, their last three by a combined count of 137-20. And yes, UK’s string of consecutive bowl appearances appears to be in major jeopardy. And yes, Phillips was an assistant coach for seven seasons before being promoted to the head chair. He’s not the new guy in town.

But you don’t fire a head football coach after two seasons, and certainly not midway through his second season. The emphasis here is on head coach. Being the head coach is different from being an assistant, even from being a coordinator. Phillips has tweaked things to make the program his own, specifically in the area of staff changes. He needs time to prove those can work.

Saying he would give Phillips that time has earned Barnhart plenty of flak. Tthat may have more to do with the athletics director’s popularity than the head coach, however. Barnhart has been a punching bag, and I myself have taken my fair share of swings. His defensive nature can be his own worst enemy. But on this one, the AD got it right.

Barnhart needed to issue a strong statement of support to keep Phillips from twisting in the wind. He needed to do it now, before a three-game home stand that could be, shall we say, lightly attended. He needed to show public support for his embattled coach. And Barnhart did just that. The most popular thing to do isn’t always the right thing to do.

Mitch Barnhart gave Joker Phillips a vote of confidence today.

The Kentucky athletics director told the Courier-Journal that Phillips would “absolutely” return as the school’s football coach next season.

Then before Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena, Barnhart expounded on his remarks to Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.

“I said what I’ve always said. I stand by the coaches,” said the athletics director. “We’ll find ways to get better and keep plugging along. Nothing’s changed.”

Barnhart lamented our “microwave” society.

“That’s what sports has gotten to,” he said. “Joker represents everything right about this program.”

Off this Saturday, the Cats are currently 2-4 overall with an 0-3 record in the SEC. Phillips is 8-11 as the Kentucky coach with a 2-9 conference mark. The Cats lost their last three games — to then No. 12 Florida, No. 1 LSU and No. 18 South Carolina — by a combined 137-20.

Continue reading ‘Barnhart says Phillips will “absolutely” return next year’

(H-L photo)

In what started with Rich Brooks’ appearance on the Joe B. and Denny Show, through a weekend drubbing by Florida, a Monday column by yours truly and then a Tuesday interview with the Cats Pause (subscription),  Mitch Barnhart has been a talk-about figure this week.

At issue is whether the UK athletics director is doing enough to help the school’s football program, which put up a losing record last year, culminated by a dreadful bowl performance, and is now off to a 2-2 start, including a home loss to Louisville, this season.

That sparked a poll question: Do you approve of Mitch Barnhart’s handling of the football program?

Bill Byrne

It’s official. Texas A&M will join the SEC on July 1, 2012. The Aggies will compete in all SEC sports during the 2012-13 school year.

UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart released a statement this afternoon:

“On behalf of the coaches, administrators and student-athletes at the University of Kentucky, I would like to welcome the Texas A&M Aggies to the Southeastern Conference. Coming off its best year athletically in school history, Texas A&M adds a strong athletic program along with its academic prowess to the best league in the country. I look forward to competing against one of my mentors, Bill Byrne, for years to come.”

As the AD at Oregon, Bill Byrne hired a young Barnhart as regional director for the Duck Athletic Fund. Barnhart went on to be assistant AD at Tennessee and AD at Oregon State before coming to UK in 2002. At UK, Barnhart hired Byrne’s son, Greg, as an assistant AD. Greg Byrne is now the AD at Arizona. Bill Byrne is the AD at Texas A&M.

And, of course, Bill Byrne was the AD at Texas A&M when Kentucky hired away the Aggies basketball coach, one Billy Gillispie.

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Derek Willis visits Louisville, but UK in contact, reports Jody Demling of C-J.
• Matt Moore of CBS Sports says Kentucky and John Calipari is the new NBA nexus.
• A pond bonds UK’s offensive line, writes Jen Smith of the Herald-Leader.
• Barnhart and Gray head to Columbus to look at arena, reports Jerry Tipton.
• My Wednesday column is on UK’s special teams coach Greg Nord.
• Football teammates discover they are related, reports Aaron Smith of the Kernel.
• Kentucky looking to be more offensive, writes Randy Beard of Courier and Press.
• Trevathan understands athletics and academics go together, reports Larry Vaught.
• Mosley leading secondary the “Kentucky Way,” writes Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• A Sea of Blue looks at the UK running backs.
• WLEX’s Mary Jo Perino looks at the UK tight end situation.
• Wildcat Blue Nation asks (facetiously) why hasn’t Calipari done more?

How are season football ticket sales going?

OK, says UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart.

Click here to see this video on YouTube.

Tony Delk

Update: New Mexico State officially hires Delk.

Big Blue Links for Saturday morning:

DIRECTORS CUP – Kentucky finished 36th in the measurement of over-all sports programs. UKAA’s official blog, Cat Scratches, reports: “After a slow start, Kentucky finished 36th in the final 2010-11 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings. Boosted by a rifle national championship, a men’s basketball Final Four run, a national quarterfinals berth by the men’s tennis team and the school’s first Super Regional appearance in softball, UK finished in the top 40 for the fourth consecutive year. Kentucky was eighth among Southeastern Conference schools.” So while Mitch Barnhart deserves praise for promoting competitive teams in every sport, UK is still in a very difficult league.

TONY DELK TO NEW MEXICO STATE? – Anthony Wireman at All Ky Hoops is reporting that the former UK All-American has been offered an assistant coaching job at New Mexico State. Former U of L assistant Marvin Menzies it he head coach there. And though Delk is currently on John Calipari’s administrative staff, Delk obviously has a connection to Rick Pitino, as well. TD sort of helped Ricky P win a title. And Menzies has two openings to fill.

HOW DO YOU LIKE OREGON, MR. MULLENS? – Former UK associate AD Rob Mullens is now the athletic director at Oregon. That sounded a lot better before a college recruiting “scout” applied a hammer to Oregon football coach Chip Kelly on Friday. Mullens is in damage control mode, saying, that he still believes the Ducks are doing their business “the right way” but that the school is cooperating with the NCAA.

Continue reading ‘Tony Delk to New Mexico State and other Big Blue Links’

(H-L photo)

Update: Barnhart says “I don’t have any interest” in UT job.

This showed up in my inbox this hot afternoon:

They are talking about it everywhere but on Kentucky.com. Any chance Mitch leaves for UT? He would succeed Pitino for most hated traitor if he did.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Well, actually, on Kentucky.com, I addressed that subject in my apparently not-read-by-everyone notes column this morning.

Continue reading ‘Question of the day: Would Barnhart go to Tennessee?’