Indoor track facility construction and Nutter Field house renovation update.

[Magilla Gorillla]

Progress update :
Construction on the @kentuckytrack Jim Green Indoor Track and Field Center has begun with goal to complete by end of 2023.

@ukfootball’s Nutter Field House renovation will begin in April and goal for completion is by the time practice resumes in August.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

Mitch Barnhart is such an idiot....far him.

 

[SECCountry75]

Mitch Barnhart is such an idiot....far him.

Yeah. Updated facilities. Bigger recruiting budgets. Strong, competitive sports programs. Kentucky players getting drafted. Bowl games. Just awful, isn't it?

 

[DrH. Lecter]

Yeah. Updated facilities. Bigger recruiting budgets. Strong, competitive sports programs. Kentucky players getting drafted. Bowl games. Just awful, isn't it?

I was being sarcastic. I think he is a fine AD. I was mocking, "far", the toothless who oppose him for some reason. Was forced to or didnt actually hire Cal, but somehow now he was able to give a fake news titled lifetime contract to him. Blame him for Joker but no credit for Rich Brooks or Stoops. Nonsense.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Yeah. Updated facilities. Bigger recruiting budgets. Strong, competitive sports programs. Kentucky players getting drafted. Bowl games. Just awful, isn't it?

Need work on wbb, baseball and mbb coaching!

 

[Rembrandt90]

Need work on wbb, baseball and mbb coaching!

It is not a perfect world. Never has been, never will be. Perfect is the enemy of good. In general, the state of UK's athletics department is better than it has ever been. I am not happy with Calipari either, but he beat TN today and nothing sucks like a big orange.

 

[sluggercatfan]

It is not a perfect world. Never has been, never will be. Perfect is the enemy of good. In general, the state of UK's athletics department is better than it has ever been. I am not happy with Calipari either, but he beat TN today and nothing sucks like a big orange.

Not asking for perfect because it doesn't exist, but like President Oswald(I think) said I would like to go to UK sporting events thinking like we have a shot. In bb because we should expect more because of recruiting.

 

[Rembrandt90]

Not asking for perfect because it doesn't exist, but like President Oswald(I think) said I would like to go to UK sporting events thinking like we have a shot. In bb because we should expect more because of recruiting.

Perceptions are subjective. These things are measured over a period of time, because the resources and institutional forces that build departments don't cycle rapidly. It takes strategic planning and management of large amounts of resources and personnel.

Over the last decade, UK has had a successful athletics department in the nation's most competitive conference. Could it be better? Sure. Could it have been a whole lot worse? You bet it could have. Fans like you and me have the luxury of hindsight without accountability. We don't have any real skin in the game, although the 15 Club is just beginning to change that assessment just a little bit. But we don't have any real experience or comprehension of what it takes to manage a $150 million annual budget in a department with 22 functional subunits and hundreds of participants. We do have a right to our opinions, but fair is fair. Our athletics department is getting the job done. John Calipari's pecular idiosyncrasies and fluid issues like NIL might cause our perceptions to drift, especially when we don't specifically understand all of the forces driving these things. But at the end of the day, our athletics department legitimately deserves a lot more credit and respect than it has been getting.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Women's basketball getting a 70-80 million dollar upgrade but stoops had to use contract talks as leverage to get UK football upgrades needed (and promised) for a while.

Also told basketball no on upgrades.

I'm not trying to sh1t on women's sports. All non revenue sports should be way down the list of priorities. It should be football first, basketball distant second, then everything else a way distant third

 

[Rembrandt90]

Women's basketball getting a 70-80 million dollar upgrade but stoops had to use contract talks as leverage to get UK football upgrades needed (and promised) for a while.

Also told basketball no on upgrades.

I'm not trying to sh1t on women's sports. All non revenue sports should be way down the list of priorities. It should be football first, basketball distant second, then everything else a way distant third

"Should" is a completely subjective word. Having never managed a $150 million annual budget funding 22 different sports, none of us is honestly qualified to judge. We have a right to our opinions. But our opinions are retrospective and, to be objectively honest, not very well informed.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

"Should" is a completely subjective word. Having never managed a $150 million annual budget funding 22 different sports, none of us is honestly qualified to judge. We have a right to our opinions. But our opinions are retrospective and, to be objectively honest, not very well informed.

I'm sure there are some on this board that manage a budget of that size or much larger. Might sound surprising, but in big business a budget of that size is middle manager level. Not that it matters, but still.

Spending the most on the sports that produce the most shouldn't be controversial. It should be common sense. It's basically reinvesting capital. Whereas putting non revenue sports ahead, at any time, is just throwing money away.

Should there be money spent on them? Yes. But only after football has it's needs and wants met. That way it keep keep producing the revenue needed

 

[Rembrandt90]

I'm sure there are some on this board that manage a budget of that size or much larger. Might sound surprising, but in big business a budget of that size is middle manager level. Not that it matters, but still.

I'm sure very, very few people ever manage a $150 million annual budget. It's possible that someone on this board has, but I doubt it. High level executives are the only people who do it. They don't have much time to post on fan boards. Not long ago, I managed a $22 million departmental budget. That isn't even in the same league as UK's athletics department, but it was still difficult.

Spending the most on the sports that produce the most shouldn't be controversial. It should be common sense. It's basically reinvesting capital. Whereas putting non revenue sports ahead, at any time, is just throwing money away.

No, it isn't "throwing money away" when the AD was hired by an executive Board to manage all 22 sports. Your disinterest in the minor sports is your choice, but it does not have anything to do with the priorities assigned to the athletics department by the Board. The Board has an athletics committee that directly oversees everything the athletics department does. That is your guarantee that the athletics department has not gone rogue.

Should there be money spent on them? Yes. But only after football has it's needs and wants met. That way it keep keep producing the revenue needed

The annual budget is overseen and approved by the Board. The Board maintains an athletics committee that supervises all of this. So the Board determines the priorities. Title 9 and several conference and NCAA rules provide a framework for how a college athletics department prioritizes and operates. We can question their priorities, but nobody here has ever run a large university. This is an example of what I meant when I pointed out that none of us understands the forces that actually drive these matters.

I assure you, I am not trying to be dismissive. But our athletics department really does deserve a lot more respect and trust than it is receiving here.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Perceptions are subjective. These things are measured over a period of time, because the resources and institutional forces that build departments don't cycle rapidly. It takes strategic planning and management of large amounts of resources and personnel.

Over the last decade, UK has had a successful athletics department in the nation's most competitive conference. Could it be better? Sure. Could it have been a whole lot worse? You bet it could have. Fans like you and me have the luxury of hindsight without accountability. We don't have any real skin in the game, although the 15 Club is just beginning to change that assessment just a little bit. But we don't have any real experience or comprehension of what it takes to manage a $150 million annual budget in a department with 22 functional subunits and hundreds of participants. We do have a right to our opinions, but fair is fair. Our athletics department is getting the job done. John Calipari's pecular idiosyncrasies and fluid issues like NIL might cause our perceptions to drift, especially when we don't specifically understand all of the forces driving these things. But at the end of the day, our athletics department legitimately deserves a lot more credit and respect than it has been getting.

I think I'm one of those that has given MB that respect. He has chosen a couple bad coaches, but most of the programs in the league have done that. When MM suddenly retired it left the wbb program in a funk and I'm not sure KE can do the job.
To be honest, the men's baseball bothers men the most. Mingione looked like a homerun after the first season, but he should have been let go two years ago. I think that Central Kentucky and the surrounding area would flock to KPP if the team was competing.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I'm sure there are some on this board that manage a budget of that size or much larger. Might sound surprising, but in big business a budget of that size is middle manager level. Not that it matters, but still.

Spending the most on the sports that produce the most shouldn't be controversial. It should be common sense. It's basically reinvesting capital. Whereas putting non revenue sports ahead, at any time, is just throwing money away.

Should there be money spent on them? Yes. But only after football has it's needs and wants met. That way it keep keep producing the revenue needed

Believe it or not,but at UK between the hospital and Campus rebuilding has been the primary priority for several years. Not having a lot of large corporate backing or a few billionaire backers hurts UK...it's the difference in the fb stadium being named after a food chain and oh say something like LN Ferderal Credit Union Stadium. Which sounds better.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I'm sure very, very few people ever manage a $150 million annual budget. It's possible that someone on this board has, but I doubt it. High level executives are the only people who do it. They don't have much time to post on fan boards. Not long ago, I managed a $22 million departmental budget. That isn't even in the same league as UK's athletics department, but it was still difficult.



No, it isn't "throwing money away" when the AD was hired by an executive Board to manage all 22 sports. Your disinterest in the minor sports is your choice, but it does not have anything to do with the priorities assigned to the athletics department by the Board. The Board has an athletics committee that directly oversees everything the athletics department does. That is your guarantee that the athletics department has not gone rogue.



The annual budget is overseen and approved by the Board. The Board maintains an athletics committee that supervises all of this. So the Board determines the priorities. Title 9 and several conference and NCAA rules provide a framework for how a college athletics department prioritizes and operates. We can question their priorities, but nobody here has ever run a large university. This is an example of what I meant when I pointed out that none of us understands the forces that actually drive these matters.

I assure you, I am not trying to be dismissive. But our athletics department really does deserve a lot more respect and trust than it is receiving here.

But , if they would just sell beer!

 

[Rembrandt90]

I think I'm one of those that has given MB that respect. He has chosen a couple bad coaches, but most of the programs in the league have done that. When MM suddenly retired it left the wbb program in a funk and I'm not sure KE can do the job.
To be honest, the men's baseball bothers men the most. Mingione looked like a homerun after the first season, but he should have been let go two years ago. I think that Central Kentucky and the surrounding area would flock to KPP if the team was competing.

I think Barnhart is giving Elzy and Mingione more time as an intentional strategy. Maybe that will work out. Maybe it won't. But Barnhart is playing chess while we are playing checkers. Barnhart takes responsibility for his hires by giving them what he considers a fair chance to recruit and be successful. Barnhart clearly believes it takes a number of years to work through the process. That's why Barnhart didn't fire Rich Brooks and Mark Stoops when nearly everyone in our fan base was screaming for their heads on a stick. We can agree or not, but we don't take any consequences for what we say here. Barnhart's career depends on how he run his department and how UK's Board evaluates him on the job.

I myself am admittedly not a huge fan of minor sports. But I do follow UK baseball and track. My sister in law played hs basketball. She and my brother are huge wbb fans, and they are frustrated with Kyra Elzy. So I listen to them and follow wbb with them. I don't see a path forward for Coach Elzy to succeed unless she can amp up her recruiting a lot. I have noticed she is a tenacious and very effective defensive coach. But she never has enough players with scoring skills. So that has to change. But if she was replaced, the basic problem would still be the same. On paper, Coach Elzy is well qualified. So I see why Barnhart is trying to give her a chance.

Mingione worries me, but I also understand that baseball recruiting is complicated. Every year, the baseball coach recruits players he wants. Then some of those players decide they prefer football or basketball. Then major league baseball holds their draft and some college bound players suddenly sign pro contracts. Successful recruiting is at least as important to a college baseball team as to a football team. Mingione has tried to build his team around a physically imposing pitching staff. That isn't a bad idea at all. But it hasn't been enough so far. Large pitchers sometimes struggle to develop command. When Mingione was hired, he was the most qualified finalist. Again, if Mingione is fired, his successor will face the same problems.

I surmise Mingione and Elzy are both on the hot seat over the next 24 months. But I have no illusions that I am qualified to be the AD, and no desire to second guess a man who is among the best in the business. So I agree with you at least to a certain extent.

 

[Rembrandt90]

But , if they would just sell beer!

The only primary source of football revenue comes from the SEC TV contract. Forgive me, but it is misinformed to believe beer would materially change UK's athletics budget. If someone needs beer to enjoy football, stay home and watch on TV. I am not prudish at all. I drink alcohol at dinner, but I don't drink and drive. People lose their lives because of drunk drivers. People have already lost their lives in Lexington after being hit by vehicles around the football stadium after games. So we know what happens. I am sure that is driving the decision by our athletics department, as it should and must.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Very few? Yes. Not noone on this board which you initially said.

My interest is of no issue. The issue is money. The biggest revenue producer should get the biggest reinvestment. It's really that simple. Feeling good etc doesn't pay the bills. Football does.

No way should stoops have to use another job offer as leverage while the very same department spend 80 million on any non revenue sport.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Believe it or not,but at UK between the hospital and Campus rebuilding has been the primary priority for several years. Not having a lot of large corporate backing or a few billionaire backers hurts UK...it's the difference in the fb stadium being named after a food chain and oh say something like LN Ferderal Credit Union Stadium. Which sounds better.

Ok but I'm talking specifically athletic projects

 

[sluggercatfan]

Ok but I'm talking specifically athletic projects

So am l..that came from MB.

 

[Rembrandt90]

My interest is of no issue. The issue is money. The biggest revenue producer should get the biggest reinvestment. It's really that simple.

And football and basketball do, in fact, receive the most financial support, by far. 80 million won't even pay Cal's contract. 80 million didn't cover the football stadium renovations by themselves. So, all due respect, I am not seeing where this is going.

Feeling good etc doesn't pay the bills. Football does.

That's true. No one who knows about the budget would argue with that.

No way should stoops have to use another job offer as leverage while the very same department spend 80 million on any non revenue sport.

All due respect (and I definitely respect you), this is speculation on your part. There is no actual evidence that Stoops leveraged anything. It is a fact that other schools have had an interest in him from time to time, even if that has been widely refuted on this board. But my understanding is that Stoops intends to finish what he started in Lexington. Stoops is a different kind of man. Old fashioned. Now his brother is here. If you are looking for a coach who has used leverage to negotiate contract extensions, look no farther than Calipari.

Our athletics department manages 22 sports because that is the Board's direction to the department. So, again, you have every right not to be personally interested in the minor sports. Some are, some aren't. But UK is governed by Title 9 and SEC rules. The narrative that Barnhart may have favored minor sports over major sports is not credible. Nor would that matter, anyway, since everything Barnhart does is overseen and subject to revision or cancellation by the Board's athletics committee.

You just have to understand that Barnhart manages his department according to the Board's directions. Everything Barnhart does is supervised by the Board. They don't just give him a budget and turn him loose. I can guarantee you that the gray beards on the Board care about basketball first and everything else second, although the Board's interest in football is rapidly becoming equal to basketball because of Stoops' accomplishments and Barnhart's support for football.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

And football and basketball do, in fact, receive the most financial support, by far. 80 million won't even pay Cal's contract. 80 million didn't cover the football stadium renovations by themselves. So, all due respect, I am not seeing where this is going.

Iirc the UK portion of their contracts are 500k annually. The rest is a bundled endorsement and other deals.

All due respect (and I definitely respect you), this is speculation on your part. There is no actual evidence that Stoops leveraged anything. It is a fact that other schools have had an interest in him from time to time, even if that has been widely refuted on this board. But my understanding is that Stoops intends to finish what he started in Lexington. Stoops is a different kind of man. Old fashioned. Now his brother is here. If you are looking for a coach who has used leverage to negotiate contract extensions, look no farther than Calipari.

Appreciate it and the feeling is mutual. I certainly don't know it and you are correct it's speculation. I drew the conclusion because the last two significant investments I recall were announced immediately after giving stoops an extension. Just like the private plane he had to negotiate for, I believe the upgrades were part of deals.

I agree I don't think he's going anywhere but given the situations we needed to make sure he didn't

 

[Rembrandt90]

Stoops got raises because they were earned. Many of our fans don't agree with that. I'm glad they don't run our athletics department.

Calipari is the worry. Calipari is a man of complicated idiosyncrasies. He is the most skilled recruiter of this era in large part because he appeals to elite young players' vanities and to their subjective sense of urgency to get to the NBA quickly by virtue of a lottery contract. This has gotten so out of control now that our basketball program has lost its identity and neutered its most important traditions. IMHO, Calipari leveraged UCLA's overture in order to negotiate his current contract. UCLA got Mick Cronin and we enscounced Calipari. Calipari's personality drift was not predictable. To be fair, no one could have anticipated that Calipari would get a new contract and then lose his competitive drive to win championships. This impression comes directly from Calipari's public statements, but it is only my impression in hindsight. I have been following college sports all my life, but I can't ever remember another elite basketball coach having this kind of a paradigm shift in goals. Unless Calipari does another 180, UK will spend a fortune to dig Calipari out of his fortified position and find a real solution. I am far more concerned about this that about Kyra Elzy. Sweeping TN has not changed my impression. Calipari has been a master of doing just enough to dig in and reinforce his case. But I think he crossed some red lines this last 12 months.