Duke Blue Devil coaches use their win over Kentucky Wildcats as a recruiting tool

Well there we go.  Everyone is “source crazy” and while I respect Kyle Tucker’s source, the continuing theme of this job search is that there is so much misinformation floating around.  For the record, the news about Dykes and Jones not taking the Kentucky job is nothing new, but I still think Mark Stoops is very much in play at Kentucky.  Along with Bobby Petrino. I know that people like Larry Vaught maintain that Mitch Barnhart is not going to talk to Petrino, no matter what, and that very well may be the case.  But I maintain that Barnhart has to at least talk to Petrino or risk alienating a large portion of the fanbase.  Maybe I am out of the loop and Petrino is not an option, but it is the Athletic Director’s job to at least interview all viable candidates.  Personal bias be damned.  But everyone has their opinion on this and sources, so take everything you hear with a grain of salt.

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

Speaking of Barnhart, Larry Vaught tells us that Mitch met with the football team and that the team meeting apparently gave the players no insight about the hiring.  Here are some of the comments from parents of players who talked to Vaught and I have to say the comment about Barnhart blaming the team for lack of effort (if true) came off as offsetting to say the least:

"“What worries me is it is time to be recruiting and I thought by firing Joker (Phillips) three weeks ago that UK would have a new coach in place by now,” one parent said. “They need to be recruiting, maybe even looking at junior college players for some help. The kids are frustrated, especially the seniors, and wondering about the future.” Another parent was a bit shocked by what his son told him. He indicated there was “no word yet” on the coach, which he could accept. However, he didn’t like what he heard that UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart told the team about needing to give a better effort and that played a role in Phillips being fired. A third parent wants a new coach and staff to “not play as many favorites” and use the most talented players all the time."

For what it’s worth, Barnhart hopes to have a new coach in place by December 14th or so, according to a parent.  Things like that make me think Stoops may still be in play due to the fact he still has an ACC Championship game to worry about this weekend, but once again, take everything you hear today with a grain of salt.