If $44 million was too much to pay, will $35 million be any different if next season goes bad also????

[catben]

That’s the buyout after next season, so I STILL can’t see Mitch paying the $35 million either.

So, are we stuck with Stoops for at least 3 more seasons no matter how bad it gets???

 

[Imafan4evr_]

This has been my (feeble) attempt at arguing for his removal this offseason all along. We have to pay him $9 mil next season to suck again, then still buy him out? That’s crazy. Just cut the loss ASAP and be done with what must be done.

 

[reedsammy7]

I have a feeling that the buyout could possibly be negotiated down. I would hope those conversations have or will happen in the near future. Who knows.

 

[truebluewildcat]

I think the waiting is less about the money and more about allowing for an opportunity for CMS to bounce on his own…as well as surveying the landscape for a replacement.

Kind of like Cal. Could’ve and should’ve been booted after any of the last 4-5 seasons.

This year it became more obvious to Cal…everyone else had kind of known but who wants to be the guy to tell “the guy” especially if it’s going to cost multi millions per for the next decade. Also, hindsight being 20/20, who’s replacing him? Knowing what we know now I wouldn’t take any of those guys over Pope. It was still an out of left field hire, but there was at least a bit more data and body of work.

There is ultimately a red line to make a decision before things get really ugly. I would say, though he pushed it and things were getting a bit uncomfortable, MB played it masterfully. Now more than ever you can’t just Willy nilly pay millions to fire a coach. Need every dime for NIL and staff/support staff to handle NIL.

 

[Cat_Man_Blue]

With Stoops running the show in 2025, the season will be a throwaway/lost season. I see no way UK has a winning record next year. Mean while, UK's competitors are all on good to great trajectories. How exciting would it be if Sumrall or Bellichick were the coach right now?

In the Spring we will be told how great the team looks, only to watch the team get smacked around at USC. From that point, UK will win 1-3 more games. It doesn't have to be this way. I know Stoops has all of the leverage, because of the ridiculous contract that Mitch gave him, but any other SEC school would be trying to negotiate a seperation agreement knowing that the 2025 season will look the much the same as the 2024 season.

 

[Jeff Sykes]

What would have been the difference? A 44 million buyout or paying him 9 million to coach this coming year and then buying him out for 35 million? I know I'm not the brightest crayon in the box, but that equals 44 million. So what is the difference? I appreciate everything Stoops has done for Uk but the time has come for everyone to go their separate ways just exactly like it was with Cal.

 

[catben]

What would have been the difference? A 44 million buyout or paying him 9 million to coach this coming year and then buying him out for 35 million? I know I'm not the brightest crayon in the box, but that equals 44 million. So what is the difference? I appreciate everything Stoops has done for Uk but the time has come for everyone to go their separate ways just exactly like it was with Cal.

Because unless Coach Stoops leaves on his own, Mitch has NO intention of buying him out. So we are stuck with him regardless of outcomes for the next 3 seasons I’m afraid.

Hope he fools everyone and turns it around or some desperate school comes along and hires him away, because I have a feeling Mitch does NOT want to pay him to leave. JMHO

SAD

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Because unless Coach Stoops leaves on his own, Mitch has NO intention of buying him out. So we are stuck with him regardless of outcomes for the next 3 seasons I’m afraid.

Hope he fools everyone and turns it around or some desperate school comes along and hires him away, because I have a feeling Mitch does NOT want to pay him to leave. JMHO

SAD

I tend to agree. Barney wouldn't buy out calipari in a sport with the highest expectations in its sport (UK basketball fans are crazy with our expectations) and got lucky Arkansas bailed him out.

He has to hope he finds a similar suckered for Stoops. Barney knows UK is gonna get all that big time sec money whether UK goes 4 and 8 or 5 and 7 the next 3 years or 6 and 6 to 8 and 4 range. He knows UK football has crap expectations and history so in his mind Stoops had 1 bad season.

Barney doesn't look at things like some of our fans do.

 

[Imafan4evr_]

I get the argument that he’s “earned” the right to get this thing turned around based on his accomplishments. However, I could counter-argue that the “get right” season was 2024. Dude was saved from some heat in 2023 thanks to the UL upset, but tried his best to bail on us in the night and only came back because TAM rioted (as they should). His goodwill was lost on me at that point. This was the season to atone. Instead, he laid the biggest turd of his tenure. Gravy train should have quit rolling by now.

 

[catben]

I get the argument that he’s “earned” the right to get this thing turned around based on his accomplishments. However, I could counter-argue that the “get right” season was 2024. Dude was saved from some heat in 2023 thanks to the UL upset, but tried his best to bail on us in the night and only came back because TAM rioted (as they should). His goodwill was lost on me at that point. This was the season to atone. Instead, he laid the biggest turd of his tenure. Gravy train should have quit rolling by now.

I agree with everything you said, but unfortunately Mitch REFUSES to pay the buyout right now. My question is will he do it after next season??? I don’t think he will. So what will our fans and the media do in response if Coach Stoops is retained after another season like this one?

 

[bthaunert]

IMO, the buyout could be $1.00 and Mitch wasn’t moving on from him after this past season. Stoops being back has zero to do with the buyout and everything to do with Mitch thinking he should 100% be our coach next year

 

[Imafan4evr_]

I agree with everything you said, but unfortunately Mitch REFUSES to pay the buyout right now. My question is will he do it after next season??? I don’t think he will. So what will our fans and the media do in response if Coach Stoops is retained after another season like this one?

I think a scene like Joker’s 2012 Vandy game with about 20k in attendance late next season would force his hand. Ultimately, if they see the money well running dry, there’s no choice. Short of that level of boycott, I’m not convinced he would / will do it though.

 

[CrimsonCats]

I highly doubt that Mitch or anyone else with influence has much intention to pay 35 million to fire Stoops. That would be the second largest buyout ever paid by quite a large margin over the current second largest, the 21.5 million Auburn paid Gus Malzahn (the 76 million A&M paid Jimbo to go away will likely remain in a league of its own). To make matters even worse, it’s been reported that we’d owe the entire thing as a lump sum shortly after firing him instead of spreading it out over several years, which probably makes it even more prohibitive than it sounds on the surface. I just don’t see our booster base having the appetite for that.

Despite some people insisting that it’s negotiable, I also don’t see what incentive Stoops has to take less than what he’s owed. We seem to be in a place where we’re really hamstrung by that contract for a few more years unless another school unexpectedly takes him off our hands.

 

[bthaunert]

I highly doubt that Mitch or anyone else with influence has much intention to pay 35 million to fire Stoops. That would be the second largest buyout ever paid by quite a large margin over the current second largest, the 21.5 million Auburn paid Gus Malzahn (the 76 million A&M paid Jimbo to go away will likely remain in a league of its own). To make matters even worse, it’s been reported that we’d owe the entire thing as a lump sum shortly after firing him instead of spreading it out over several years, which probably makes it even more prohibitive than it sounds on the surface. I just don’t see our booster base having the appetite for that.

Despite some people insisting that it’s negotiable, I also don’t see what incentive Stoops has to take less than what he’s owed. We seem to be in a place where we’re really hamstrung by that contract for a few more years unless another school unexpectedly takes him off our hands.

While it might not be negotiable in terms of the monetary value, I think it’s definitely negotiable on how it’s paid out. See if he would take $3.5 million a year over 10 years instead of one lump sum. Te yearly payout is definitely doable.

 

[ukalum1988]

Thanks Mitch

 

[Caveman Catfan]

This fan base is committed to failure for 2025 even before the bowl games in 2024.

 

[R.O.T.Muckinfush]

How the hell can mitch be retained after this debacle? That is the question. Clinching your butt cheeks for 1 more go around ain't gonna do anything. This confirms that uk football is a joke program and doesn't care to compete. Need a new ad.

 

[CRZ4UK]

Because unless Coach Stoops leaves on his own, Mitch has NO intention of buying him out. So we are stuck with him regardless of outcomes for the next 3 seasons I’m afraid.

Hope he fools everyone and turns it around or some desperate school comes along and hires him away, because I have a feeling Mitch does NOT want to pay him to leave. JMHO

SAD

I agree with everything you said except….. Stoops is under contract for 7 more years. Not 3.
In three years his buyout is still about 28 million.
We are totally screwed

 

[ncaaky]

The buyout next year does not drop 9 million. It drops to 37 million. Also the buyout for the assistant coaches would be close to 8 million.

This year the buyout is 44 million for Stoops and 12 million for the assistants.

I read somewhere that Stoops’ buyout is one lump payment. Calipari’s buyout was over the remaining years left on his contract. That is where it gets so much harder to get rid of Stoops vs if UK had to get rid of Cal.

 

[TNCatfanforever]

I think when season ticket sales tank and the only fans we see next year in the stadium are opposing fans it may force his hand. Before anything happens we need a new AD.

 

[R.O.T.Muckinfush]

I think when season ticket sales tank and the only fans we see next year in the stadium are opposing fans it may force his hand. Before anything happens we need a new AD.

Maybe, but honestly with all the TV deals I think barney believes the ticket sales aren't as important as long as uk is still getting that sec money. Another reason why being in the SEC is a curse on this program, big money that pays no matter how good the team is. Kills the incentive for any real improvement.

 

[Padsfs07]

The buyout next year does not drop 9 million. It drops to 37 million. Also the buyout for the assistant coaches would be close to 8 million.

This year the buyout is 44 million for Stoops and 12 million for the assistants.

I read somewhere that Stoops’ buyout is one lump payment. Calipari’s buyout was over the remaining years left on his contract. That is where it gets so much harder to get rid of Stoops vs if UK had to get rid of Cal.

Can yall tell me how you arrive at these numbers? Is it 75%? Does he have 7yr/$63M remaining at this moment?

I had him at 8yr/$72M going into the 2023 season , due to the added year for having 7 wins.

 

[Padsfs07]

Maybe, but honestly with all the TV deals I think barney believes the ticket sales aren't as important as long as uk is still getting that sec money. Another reason why being in the SEC is a curse on this program, big money that pays no matter how good the team is. Kills the incentive for any real improvement.

Baseball is going through this now with revenue sharing. Apathy from the owners at the bottom and half-a-billion dollar contracts from the teams at the top.

 

[satcheluk]

I agree with everything you said, but unfortunately Mitch REFUSES to pay the buyout right now. My question is will he do it after next season??? I don’t think he will. So what will our fans and the media do in response if Coach Stoops is retained after another season like this one?

Refuses? If he wanted to pay it, it's not in the budget, so he would have to hit up enough donors who want to get rid of Stoops to pony up the $44mm and the donors are personal friends of Stoops. You and everyone repeating this without factoring in the reality of why it is not happening is akin to listening to someone from the stone age opine about flying. There has to be desire AND means just like it takes intelligence AND understanding to know why this is not happening any time soon.

 

[ncaaky]

Can yall tell me how you arrive at these numbers? Is it 75%? Does he have 7yr/$63M remaining at this moment?

I had him at 8yr/$72M going into the 2023 season , due to the added year for having 7 wins.

His is 80% of what is owed to him for the next 2 seasons and then it drops to 60% of what is owed after that. He has 6 seasons remaining on his contract. The killer is he gets paid in 1 lump sum if terminated. Calipari's was over the course of the remaining years.

 

[Padsfs07]

His is 80% of what is owed to him for the next 2 seasons and then it drops to 60% of what is owed after that. He has 6 seasons remaining on his contract. The killer is he gets paid in 1 lump sum if terminated. Calipari's was over the course of the remaining years.

So that $21.6M after the 2026 season is when a buyout is likely most palatable.

I assume they could get a loan for the buyout if they really needed to.

Also, don't we get $50M or so from the SEC TV deal, which went up $20M or so this year? Why would the money have to come from boosters as satcheluk referred to above?

 

[bthaunert]

Can yall tell me how you arrive at these numbers? Is it 75%? Does he have 7yr/$63M remaining at this moment?

I had him at 8yr/$72M going into the 2023 season , due to the added year for having 7 wins.

There is no added year for 7 wins. That was removed from his contract.

 

[bthaunert]

His is 80% of what is owed to him for the next 2 seasons and then it drops to 60% of what is owed after that. He has 6 seasons remaining on his contract. The killer is he gets paid in 1 lump sum if terminated. Calipari's was over the course of the remaining years.

I'm pretty sure it's 75%. I don't see anything in his contract that has changed those numbers.

He's paid $9.1 million annually and has 6 years remaining on his contract. His contract goes through the 2030 season.

Total remaining contract - $54,600,000
Current buyout at 75% - $40,950,000

Year by year breakdown of buyout:

$34,125,000 after the 2025 season
$27,300,000 after the 2026 season
$20,475,000 after the 2027 season
$13,650,000 after the 2028 season
$6,825,000 after the 2029 season

 

[kywildcat41035]

I'm pretty sure it's 75%. I don't see anything in his contract that has changed those numbers.

He's paid $9.1 million annually, and has the following left on his contract:

2025 - $9,100,000
2026 - $9,100,000
2027 - $9,100,000
2028 - $9,100,000
2029 - $9,100,000
2030 - $9,100,000

TOTAL - $54,600,000

Buyout at 75% - $40,950,000

Hey quick question for you. Do you think Sumrall held out on taking any of the bigger jobs because he thinks the UK job might be opening up in the next couple of years?

 

[buster3.0]

 

[bthaunert]

Hey quick question for you. Do you think Sumrall held out on taking any of the bigger jobs because he thinks the UK job might be opening up in the next couple of years?

That's hard to say. The only job out there that was even worth considering at this time was UNC. Just because it's the first one, doesn't mean it's the best one. He's taking a gamble that he will have another really good year. IMO, I don't think he's specifically holding out for the UK job.