Kentucky Wildcat fans get a preview of best high school player in America Andrew Wiggins
By Paul Jordan
Nov 17, 2012; Lexington , KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats athletic director Mitch Barnhart on the sidelines during the game against the Samford Bulldogs at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-US PRESSWIRE
Welcome to week three of the great UK Football Coach search and there was quite a buzz this weekend when it leaked that Kentucky had yet to offer anyone for the job. Make that an angry buzz by some and Larry Vaught tells us that a lot of the anger is directed at the UK administration and Mitch Barnhart for seemingly dragging their feet on making progress.
"Now the coaching search is infuriating fans even more because no UK official will talk. Instead, Phillips has had to answer all the questions and face the media and fans by himself. He’s done it with no bitterness and more class than anyone I’ve ever been around in the same situation, but talk about leaving a coach on an island by himself. That just is unfair and UK officials should be ashamed of doing that. Tell us a timetable for a new coach. Tell us what is being looked at in the new coach. Tell us what financial restraints there will be or not be. Tell us what kind of commitment there will be to football facility-wise. I also believe that if UK officials suddenly think Commonwealth Stadium is going to be full of fans next year they are in for a big surprise. The fans are not going to pack the stadium unless UK does make a home run hire because they are so upset with the commitment to football."
Granted, I like to play devils advocate here and point out that MAYBE, just MAYBE, Kentucky has made a home run hire and just can’t announce it yet. Yet as the days go on that is looking less and less like a possibility. Regardless, Barnhart’s legacy will be determined by this hire.
Nov 3, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Butch Jones reacts during the first half against the Syracuse Orange at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-US PRESSWIRE
As expected, there were lots of rumors and speculation about the Kentucky job over the weekend, with the news that Cincinnati’s Butch Jones had been offered the job and the denial by Kentucky that no one had been offered the job. For what its worth, I think Jones would be a good hire. Not a homerun, but a good solid ground rule double that may stick around the see the fruits of his labor and success. The UK job search was complicated by the firing of Derek Dooley and an almost immediate rumor that Bobby Petrino had taken the Vols job. That seems to also be false as well and it seems that Bobby Petrino will not be a candidate at Tennessee for many of the same reasons that some Kentucky fans are so opposed to him.
Regardless, Tennessee fans seem confident that AD Hart will make a homerun hire while Kentucky fans are wondering if they will get a viable coach at all. It is interesting to see a Tennessee wish list for the job and not casting stones, their rock bottom choice is David Cutliffe, who some Kentucky fans have in their top list of contenders. Just saying.