Playing Athletic Director; How Do You Get Us Back to the Gold Standard?

[bbncal02]

Just for a bit of fun and bit of stress relief, but also some productive discussion,

Im the President of UK now. And Ive decided to let Barnhart go (And by proxy Cal)

I call you in for an interview to be the new AD,

How do you get the basketball program back on track? Who would you hire to be the new coach if you became AD?
How would you get him here?

Also, since you’re going to be the new AD how do you maintain the good things Barnhart did accomplish? How would you get UK to a Top 15 athletic department in the country consistently?

Would you make any changes to games at Rupp?

Discuss

 

[bluefaithful]

Ask every fan to donate something. 1 quarter. Let’s start the pot. Let’s get this man outta here

 

[Louis_Skunt]

Changes at Rupp? Less band, more music. South Carolina has it right. Every timeout they have really cool stuff going on with awesome music. How many times do i have to listen to the UK fight song that nobody gives a chit to?
Another change to Rupp? Have the crowd sing the anthem every game, not just for the big ones.

 

[rick64]

Instead of players first, make it team first. And if you ain’t down with that, I’ve got two words for ya!!

 

[UKReedY]

Changes at Rupp? Less band, more music. South Carolina has it right. Every timeout they have really cool stuff going on with awesome music. How many times do i have to listen to the UK fight song that nobody gives a chit to?
Another change to Rupp? Have the crowd sing the anthem every game, not just for the big ones.

Also we need to honor Nick Sandmann at halftime. He stood up to the obnoxious, fake veteran Injun and racist black Hebrew Israelites.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Just for a bit of fun and bit of stress relief, but also some productive discussion,

Im the President of UK now. And Ive decided to let Barnhart go (And by proxy Cal)

I call you in for an interview to be the new AD,

How do you get the basketball program back on track? Who would you hire to be the new coach if you became AD?
How would you get him here?

Also, since you’re going to be the new AD how do you maintain the good things Barnhart did accomplish? How would you get UK to a Top 15 athletic department in the country consistently?

Would you make any changes to games at Rupp?

Discuss

Embrace NIL and make sure the boosters are all contributing.

Idk on the coach. There is no perfect candidate. I think Oats would win a title at UK. I think Pearl would as well but he would be a short term fix due to age. Drew would probably win big at UK as well.

I'd just keep doing what barnie did for his alphabet soup sports no one cares about. I'd keep Stoops here in football as long as he will stay.

On Rupp it needs a better atmosphere but not sure how to improve it. The blue hairs pay the bills so they aren't going anywhere.

 

[catzfanjim]

We're Kentucky and that used to mean something. Teams aren't scared to play at Rupp Arena like they used to be and I'm not for sure if things will ever change. I used to go to games knowing that we were going to win and the only question was by how many points. Now I wonder if we'll have enough players to scrimmage. We need players that will play for the name on the front of the jersey and not worry about the NBA.

 

[Bhad Rhabies]

you resign and wish the next guy good fcking luck after theres still a 40 million dollar buyout for a basketball coach thats given up, and your biggest donor just lost a governors race

 

[BluPappi81]

A balance needs to be struck between the reverence for the rich traditions of UKBB and the present day realities of NIL and the transient nature of today's game. I know, no shit right?

But you have to promote the hell out of the heritage of UKBB and the lifetime benefits to a player of being a beloved Wildcat-it remains unique and valuable-while also playing the necessary game of being a leader in the NIL marketplace.

 

[WildcatNC]

Quit being a conservative stick in the mud and make decisions about what helps us be the best, not what makes me look wholesome.

Go get the best and brightest, give them what they need, stay out of their way unless it would screw us.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Also we need to honor Nick Sandmann at halftime. He stood up to the obnoxious, fake veteran Injun and racist black Hebrew Israelites.

That's the ticket. Just when UK is emerging from decades of racist accusations, we should have a racist POS Trumper honored in Rupp? Really brilliant idea.

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

That's the ticket. Just when UK is emerging from decades of racist accusations, we should have a racist POS Trumper honored in Rupp? Really brilliant idea.

GO COLONELS!

 

[Zissou87]

Also we need to honor Nick Sandmann at halftime. He stood up to the obnoxious, fake veteran Injun and racist black Hebrew Israelites.

Totally relevant.

 

[kartmd]

That's the ticket. Just when UK is emerging from decades of racist accusations, we should have a racist POS Trumper honored in Rupp? Really brilliant idea.

I remember what happened the last time someone defamed Sandmann….

 

[UKReedY]

That's the ticket. Just when UK is emerging from decades of racist accusations, we should have a racist POS Trumper honored in Rupp? Really brilliant idea.

No one should hold UK accountable for what Democrats did during the Jim Crow days. Then they turn around and salivate over dead black babies in the 1970s. “Women’s rights” … Democrats so cruel they’ll kill their own voting base.

 

[ukcatz12]

Embrace NIL and make sure the boosters are all contributing.

This is the answer. Doesn't matter if Phil Jackson in his prime is coaching here, if the NIL situation isn't on par or better than other schools you're not landing the best players. In 2023 exactly zero players care about a schools prestige or history. It's all about NIL and coaches now.

 

[Zissou87]

Just for a bit of fun and bit of stress relief, but also some productive discussion,

Im the President of UK now. And Ive decided to let Barnhart go (And by proxy Cal)

I call you in for an interview to be the new AD,

How do you get the basketball program back on track? Who would you hire to be the new coach if you became AD?
How would you get him here?

Also, since you’re going to be the new AD how do you maintain the good things Barnhart did accomplish? How would you get UK to a Top 15 athletic department in the country consistently?

Would you make any changes to games at Rupp?

Discuss

Put boosters on payroll.

 

[Pickle_Rick]

I bring in Pat Riley and beg him to help fix this cluster***.

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

I bring in Pat Riley and beg him to help fix this cluster***.

Yeah why not. How much does Riley care about UK btw? He played for Rupp but does he ever mention it?

 

[Pickle_Rick]

I said beg.

 

[SkyPrince1]

Well we know the next coach won't inherit a championship team the way Tubby did in his first year.

 

[JuniorBrady23]

Embrace NIL and make sure the boosters are all contributing.

Idk on the coach. There is no perfect candidate. I think Oats would win a title at UK. I think Pearl would as well but he would be a short term fix due to age. Drew would probably win big at UK as well.

I'd just keep doing what barnie did for his alphabet soup sports no one cares about. I'd keep Stoops here in football as long as he will stay.

On Rupp it needs a better atmosphere but not sure how to improve it. The blue hairs pay the bills so they aren't going anywhere.

What does embrace NIL mean specifically tho. That’s like saying embrace winning or embrace a better atmosphere at Rupp? What would you do embrace NIL?

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Free ice cream for players at RUPP.

 

[BBNinSC]

Changes at Rupp? Less band, more music. South Carolina has it right. Every timeout they have really cool stuff going on with awesome music. How many times do i have to listen to the UK fight song that nobody gives a chit to?
Another change to Rupp? Have the crowd sing the anthem every game, not just for the big ones.

They know one tune in Colonial Life Arena. "Sandstorm" gets real annoying after about 10 minutes.

 

[CatPatrick13]

That's the ticket. Just when UK is emerging from decades of racist accusations, we should have a racist POS Trumper honored in Rupp? Really brilliant idea.

The kid is a racist POS? What an ass you make of yourself, snow...

 

[NociHTTP]

Replace the coach, period. All these suggestions to make Rupp Arena more fun are just Cow loyalty in disguise. You start winning, and the rest will take care of itself.

 

[AGEE11]

First and foremost - You make it public that we are now the #1 University for NIL deals. Promote what our guys are getting. With this comes re-establishing good connections with the boosters who love UK, so not a big obstacle. I like the idea of NIL, it's a mess now, but it's what we have to use, so embrace it. Let everyone know you ain't getting a better deal anywhere else.

Basketball:

1. Make Brad Stevens turn down $10 mil a year
2. Same offer to Billy D (even though I hate to try a third time)
3. Next I turn to the group of Oats, Vogel, or Drew for around $6-7 per
4. If they say no, you go older: Few, Muss, maybe Pearl (he can coach, but I don't like him). Then you look at a younger up and comer to be groomed by one of these guys for 4-5 years
5. I think by now you have a head coach for hoops. I am sure there are other candidates in those grouping, just the first of my head.

Football

1. Give Stoop 3-4 years to take us to the next level. He's a top 20 paid coach, we need top 20 level results.
2. If it don't pan out (I think it will pan out and Stoops retires here), you look for former NFL guys and make a big splash hire.
3. Again, going as all-in on NIL as we can here.

Other Sports:

1. Barnhart did a good job on the other sports. Stick with what he did. They don't generate revenue like basketball and football. Nor do they drive boosters for NIL $$

 

[UKWildcats1987]

What does embrace NIL mean specifically tho. That’s like saying embrace winning or embrace a better atmosphere at Rupp? What would you do embrace NIL?

Do the opposite of what barnie is doing.

I'm not some NIL expert.

As for NIL and basketball no idea if the big boosters holding back because they don't like cal is true but my next coach is gonna be brown nosing the hell out of these Richie riches.

 

[Zissou87]

First and foremost - You make it public that we are now the #1 University for NIL deals. Promote what our guys are getting. With this comes re-establishing good connections with the boosters who love UK, so not a big obstacle. I like the idea of NIL, it's a mess now, but it's what we have to use, so embrace it. Let everyone know you ain't getting a better deal anywhere else.

Basketball:

1. Make Brad Stevens turn down $10 mil a year
2. Same offer to Billy D (even though I hate to try a third time)
3. Next I turn to the group of Oats, Vogel, or Drew for around $6-7 per
4. If they say no, you go older: Few, Muss, maybe Pearl (he can coach, but I don't like him). Then you look at a younger up and comer to be groomed by one of these guys for 4-5 years
5. I think by now you have a head coach for hoops. I am sure there are other candidates in those grouping, just the first of my head.

Football

1. Give Stoop 3-4 years to take us to the next level. He's a top 20 paid coach, we need top 20 level results.
2. If it don't pan out (I think it will pan out and Stoops retires here), you look for former NFL guys and make a big splash hire.
3. Again, going as all-in on NIL as we can here.

Other Sports:

1. Barnhart did a good job on the other sports. Stick with what he did. They don't generate revenue like basketball and football. Nor do they drive boosters for NIL $$

Brad Stevens already turned down $10 million a couple years ago when his home state school offered.

 

[FtWorthCat]

I would fine Cal $1 million for every available scholarship not taken by a legitimate basketball recruit at the start of each Fall semester.

 

[bthaunert]

If I was hired as AD, here is what I would do:

1. Hire a full-time staff/team that their sole job is to market to the common fan. Make it know to the coaches of our major programs that one of our focuses is getting the every day fan back.

2. I would have NIL clothing/apparel/fan shops in both Kroger Field (lease space to the collective to get around the rules), next to Rupp Arena and a couple other strategic spots in the state where 100% of the profit made in those shops go into NIL collectives.

3. I would bring in a young, former NBA player (think MKG) to work with former players as a liaison between former players (especially NBA guys) and the university/collectives. There are a ton of rich former players out there with very little to show.

4. I wouldn't waste my time with guys like Brad Stevens, Jay Wright, Billy D. I'm not part of the "make them so no" crowd as all of a sudden your first legit option is actually option 4. I know this isn't a popular opinion, but I'd go after Eric Musselman (and tell him to keep his shirt on).

5. I would hire game day operations people away from the schools that have the best gameday atmospheres and improve our game day atmosphere.