WBN Roundtable: What should the off seasons bring?

It’s been a slow week in areas of actual news for Kentucky sports fans as we are now in the off season of football and basketball, and for the most part,m this could be a very uneventful signing period for the basketball team as the top rated class is already signed, sealed, and delivered.  In that vein, we went with a looser format for this week’s roundtable.  I just had one open ended question for the panel:

"What is/are the main thing(s) you want to occur for University of Kentucky athletics over the off seasons?"

Greg Edwards, Wildcat Blue Nation:  First off, I want the “Arena Commission” to get started in the right direction. I do not personally believe that Rupp can be turned into what we need, but I am willing to hear what the options are. Mitch said it best, whatever they do, must be the “Gold Standard”. And I really want it to be a “fan experience” type of arena. Build a lounge-type restaurant for the former players and coaches and alums to hang out in and let folks get autographs, right there at the arena. Make it something where it becomes an all-day experience to go to a basketball game. And like it or not, Commonwealth needs to be looked at immediately if not sooner. So I guess I am saying that facilities to me, take priority over other things.

Other than that, I am really hoping for a peaceful off-season. Get the kids into Lexington early, get them in class early, get the credits they need early, and not have anything hanging over our heads to worry about come fall. We have the players we need, we have the right circumstances in place, all we have to do is to show up and work hard.

I would love for the Hoops squad to get some more help in renovations on Memorial as well. It looks decent, but there is a lot that can be done to that place on the inside. The team facilities are great, but the gym itself could use paint, some more decor, and a little more pop to the inside. Just don’t take away from the atmosphere. It is still a great place to watch a ballgame.

Brian Eldridge, Kentucky Sports Report:  I’d like to see UK come to some kind of agreement on new facilities and/or upgrades.  There are a lot of questions about which program deserves and should receive funding for upgrades and facilities.  It’s obvious that football needs some upgrades and there are many people who want to see UK get a new basketball arena.  There needs to be some news from the higher ups at UK in this regard.  Another off-season (after this year) of speculation and in-fighting is unnecessary.

Paul Jordan, Wildcat Blue Nation:  I have to say that I agree with Greg and Brian.  I think the number one priority of the UK Administration should be to have a definitive plan in place to replace both Commonwealth Stadium and Rupp Arena.  Of the two, I think that Commonwealth is the most pressing of the two due to perceived structural problems.  I think my wish would be a sports complex on campus with the football and basketball arenas adjacent to each other, but I doubt that can ever happen for a myriad of reasons.  Regardless, I would hope by August, there is a firm plan in place for both.

Secondly, I hope that UK is successful in a search for a new President.  While not especially an athletics issue, I would hope that whoever the new president is has a healthy respect of the tradition of UK and be able to work well with Mitch Barnhart.  Of course, there is the possibility the new President may want to go in a new direction with an AD, but I think that Mitch is pretty firmly entrenched. 

Finally, I want a drama free summer.  No Calipari coaching rumors.  No Eric Bledsoe type of “investigations”.  No lazy reporters throwing mud.  Just a nice, peaceful summer where both all the basketball and football players make it to campus in the fall with no drama.  Is that too much to ask? 

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