True Blue Kentucky

A letter to the Big Blue Nation from AD Mitch Barnhart was just posted on Cat Scratches, UKAA’s blog. Read below:


Today’s victory reinforces the belief of Dr. Capilouto and I that Head Coach Joker Phillips continues to be the right fit to lead our football program. Although this season certainly fell short of our expectations, today we celebrate a victory that has eluded this program for 26 seasons. Congratulations to Coach Phillips and our football team.
As I do after each season, I will follow up on our regular, in-season conversations with a more formal and thorough review of all aspects of our football program and address any needs after that meeting with Coach Phillips.

Bowl games and a climb up the rigorous SEC ladder continue to be my expectation and markers of our program’s progress. I remain confident in Coach Phillips, his continued ability to find and develop young talent and his plan to return Kentucky football to post-season play.

The Big Blue Nation has been very supportive of our football program as we strive to reach our goal of championship football in Lexington. Coach Phillips helped turn our offense around to what our expectation level is today and I’m confident he will do it again. Only with your continued support can we reach our dreams of celebrating our accomplishments together.

Til the Battle is Won,

Mitch Barnhart

thats the only bad thing about ending decades long losing streaks, it saves jobs

Atlas Olshan wrote:
thats the only bad thing about ending decades long losing streaks, it saves jobs

My bet is not everyone's job was saved today.......

We beat one of the worst UT teams in recent memory. Glad to get the monkey off our back, but I'm not that impressed. We should have beat UT the last three or four years. It's a double edge sword.

Should have but didn't. Keyword DIDN'T. Unbelievable job by the coaches to get the win by creating a play in 3 days to use a WR as QB. Great job by Minter as well defensively.

It's going to be hilarious when Joker turns around the program and Mitch gets fired anyway for pissing off the boosters. His job is about funds as much if not more so than winning sports. Dude, there are ways you go about telling everyone you are right without being a pompous ass. This letter may be the beginning of the end for Mitch.

Ty Whitler wrote:
Should have but didn't. Keyword DIDN'T. Unbelievable job by the coaches to get the win by creating a play in 3 days to use a WR as QB. Great job by Minter as well defensively.

Credit to Minter, defense won the game, on the offensive side we were forced to use the running game, maybe it will open the eyes of the joker and the offensive coaches that running game wins game when combined with good D. If we double up on our ground game it will open up the passing game and keep the defense off the field.

Sorry, but I also do NOT agree that breaking the streak against the WORST college team I have seen at Commonwealth in years SHOULD save anyone's job. Still way too many questions about this head coach and staff. Too many misreads in TALENT levels of the players brought in and playing MOSTLY because they are seniors and have given to the program. Glad for Roark but outside of his special teams play WHERE has he been all this time. Same for Newton. Joke is given way too much praise for finally bringing in some freshmen who can play at the SEC level, but where are the backup receivers and return people when we need them. Poor performance over the whole year, but wins against Ole Miss and Tennessee that MAY lead to their coaches being FIRED are not JUSTIFICATION for keeping coaches who COULD NOT motivate this team in game they should have been winners in and gone bowling. I am one who thinks that Newton would make a very good tight end and should be given that chance and turn the reins over to Max and Cobbins and see what happens when the Highlands QB is redshirted for a year. I understand if Joke is let go then we lose some very good coaches with him and I understand where MB is coming from just like when I was wanting Coach Brooks gone early too. I guess that we are KY and we will always be middle to low tier in the SEC in football and we should just give the KY boy another year to show us whether or not he can be a leader like he was as coordinator and pull this team together like the last couple of games and play that way ALL year instead of only the last 3 of 5 games. No matter what, GO BIG BLUE.

Casey Johnson wrote:
It's going to be hilarious when Joker turns around the program and Mitch gets fired anyway for pissing off the boosters. His job is about funds as much if not more so than winning sports. Dude, there are ways you go about telling everyone you are right without being a pompous ass. This letter may be the beginning of the end for Mitch.

^ This would be my dream scenario........