Now I have seen everything. This week, Kentucky's basketball and football coaches have been pitted against one another in a public spat. To my eyes, Kentucky fans are not only divided over this crap storm, but also confused by it.
Historically, Kentucky has been a basketball school. As far as that goes, Cal is correct. Stoops is also correct, in that basketball and football are both major SEC sports. They are not mutually exclusive. Regardless of what happened in the past, each season is its own new story.
Being a basketball school does not mean Kentucky will never be a basketball AND football school in the future. This is not a decision for fans on a website. It is a decision for University of Kentucky's leadership, and they already made it. Kentucky is not the only SEC school attempting to excel in basketball and football. It is not a new concept.
Football generates more revenue for the Athletics Department than basketball generates. That is not a knock on basketball. Football is the cash cow at every P5 school. Everyone in Kentucky's Athletics Department should hope football thrives.
Cal started this. It sounded like he was calling out Stoops. But IMO, Cal was calling out Barnhart. Anyone can support what Cal did, or queston his wisdom. But Cal is a Kentucky employee making $9.2 million a year from the University. The University butters his bread, and Barnhart is his direct supervisor. It is inappropriate for Cal to embarrass his boss publicly, not to mention his peer Mark Stoops.
It may or may not have been appropriate for Stoops to respond on Twitter. Judgment call. But Stoops didn't start it. We are now in the prime part of Cal's and Mark's recruiting seasons. Because of that, both coaches must engage in damage control because optics of this spat are terrible for both sports and for the University. It is Barnhart's responsibility to end the spat rapidly and manage the optics.
I have always supported both sports and both coaches. All Kentucky fans should, and most do. Both sports can be successful.
As as general rule, everyone behaves in a manner that they believe will work. Cal aired his grievance in public. He apparently believes this will achieve his objective. He was willing to alienate his boss. It is Barnhart's job to smooth things over and see that both sports prosper. No one has stronger interest in the prosperity of all Kentucky sports than Barnhart has. But Barnhart manages a budget. Assets are finite. The University of Kentucky has rules and executive governance. Cal understands this and evidently believes putting public pressure on Barnhart will achieve his objective. Cal has what amounts to a lifetime contract, and likes his current team. So Cal does not perceive his behavior as being risky. Cal is willing to hurt Kentucky's football program if necessary to get what he wants as quickly as possible.
As fans, we can excuse Cal's behavior or question it. I am willing to let Barnhart decide.
But I still do not understand why Cal needed to mention football. After all, a new facility is being built for the track team. Is Kentucky allowed to have a great track program? In one way or another, almost all universities are involved in expansion. For all we know, Barnhart may agree with Cal's desire for more basketball facilities, subject to availability of new funding. If Cal wants a new practice facility, he does not need to start a public fight with the football coaches and call out his boss. That was a mistake. Cal's behavior is not leadership, and the University should expect more from Cal for its $9.2 million a year. IMO.
But OTOH, Cal's behavior in championing victims of natural disasters in Kentucky like flooding and tornadoes has provided examples of strong leadership. So Cal has his strengths and weaknesses. No one is perfect.
Historically, Kentucky has been a basketball school. As far as that goes, Cal is correct. Stoops is also correct, in that basketball and football are both major SEC sports. They are not mutually exclusive. Regardless of what happened in the past, each season is its own new story.
Being a basketball school does not mean Kentucky will never be a basketball AND football school in the future. This is not a decision for fans on a website. It is a decision for University of Kentucky's leadership, and they already made it. Kentucky is not the only SEC school attempting to excel in basketball and football. It is not a new concept.
Football generates more revenue for the Athletics Department than basketball generates. That is not a knock on basketball. Football is the cash cow at every P5 school. Everyone in Kentucky's Athletics Department should hope football thrives.
Cal started this. It sounded like he was calling out Stoops. But IMO, Cal was calling out Barnhart. Anyone can support what Cal did, or queston his wisdom. But Cal is a Kentucky employee making $9.2 million a year from the University. The University butters his bread, and Barnhart is his direct supervisor. It is inappropriate for Cal to embarrass his boss publicly, not to mention his peer Mark Stoops.
It may or may not have been appropriate for Stoops to respond on Twitter. Judgment call. But Stoops didn't start it. We are now in the prime part of Cal's and Mark's recruiting seasons. Because of that, both coaches must engage in damage control because optics of this spat are terrible for both sports and for the University. It is Barnhart's responsibility to end the spat rapidly and manage the optics.
I have always supported both sports and both coaches. All Kentucky fans should, and most do. Both sports can be successful.
As as general rule, everyone behaves in a manner that they believe will work. Cal aired his grievance in public. He apparently believes this will achieve his objective. He was willing to alienate his boss. It is Barnhart's job to smooth things over and see that both sports prosper. No one has stronger interest in the prosperity of all Kentucky sports than Barnhart has. But Barnhart manages a budget. Assets are finite. The University of Kentucky has rules and executive governance. Cal understands this and evidently believes putting public pressure on Barnhart will achieve his objective. Cal has what amounts to a lifetime contract, and likes his current team. So Cal does not perceive his behavior as being risky. Cal is willing to hurt Kentucky's football program if necessary to get what he wants as quickly as possible.
As fans, we can excuse Cal's behavior or question it. I am willing to let Barnhart decide.
But I still do not understand why Cal needed to mention football. After all, a new facility is being built for the track team. Is Kentucky allowed to have a great track program? In one way or another, almost all universities are involved in expansion. For all we know, Barnhart may agree with Cal's desire for more basketball facilities, subject to availability of new funding. If Cal wants a new practice facility, he does not need to start a public fight with the football coaches and call out his boss. That was a mistake. Cal's behavior is not leadership, and the University should expect more from Cal for its $9.2 million a year. IMO.
But OTOH, Cal's behavior in championing victims of natural disasters in Kentucky like flooding and tornadoes has provided examples of strong leadership. So Cal has his strengths and weaknesses. No one is perfect.
