WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.280 --> 00:00:03.000 The kids are playing or trailot. The punctures are screwing 2 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:03.279 it up. 3 00:00:03.439 --> 00:00:06.639 Gold Play Inner Murals, Brother, gold Play Inner Murals. 4 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:09.720 They're supposed to be mature adults, but they're really not. 5 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:13.599 Who's the kid here? Who's the kid here? Are you 6 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:14.279 kidding me? 7 00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:20.199 Now? Here's Nick Coffee? 8 00:00:21.320 --> 00:00:24.519 All right, Happy hump day, ladies and gentlemen, welcome in 9 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:28.000 coffee and company, fueled by Thornton's here on Sports Talk 10 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:31.440 seven to ninety. Nick Coffee, that's me. We've got Austin Montgomery, 11 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:35.200 the travel Chief, alongside today. On a warm it's actually 12 00:00:35.240 --> 00:00:38.439 kind of kind of sticky out there. It's currently seventy 13 00:00:38.520 --> 00:00:42.280 nine degrees according to the Internet. The hot today's eighty one. 14 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:46.039 With the humidity I'm looking here it says fifty nine percent. 15 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:49.520 I feel like that's pretty humid. Yeah, you could tell 16 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:52.799 me it's you know, thirty three percent humid, and you know, 17 00:00:52.840 --> 00:00:56.520 I wouldn't know necessarily what percentage makes it humid or not. 18 00:00:56.600 --> 00:00:59.079 But I'm just gonna guess that fifty nine percent means that, 19 00:00:59.159 --> 00:01:01.200 in fact, you know, it is a little sticky, a 20 00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:03.920 little muggy out there. And I'm lucky today because this 21 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:07.840 is rare. I believe right now, the coolest place in 22 00:01:07.879 --> 00:01:11.159 our office is where I'm at. It's a cool sixty 23 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:14.560 seven degrees. And I was walking around in our I mean, 24 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:16.599 how do you describe this place Austin, Because like we 25 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:19.439 don't really have like nobody has an office, but we 26 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:22.200 have like meeting rooms that sometimes turn into people's offices, 27 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:24.359 and then we've got desks that are kind of out 28 00:01:24.359 --> 00:01:26.159 in a big common area. So I put it this way. 29 00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:28.480 I was just walking around the whole place, you know, mingling, 30 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:31.760 chatting with folks, and it's a lot warmer out there. 31 00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:35.680 And I asked one of our extraordinary sales folks, mister 32 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:37.400 Brady Driscoll. I was like, is it always this hot 33 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:38.920 out here? And he was like, yeah, we really never 34 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:40.480 know what we're going to get. I'm like, okay, well 35 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:42.879 it's not just me then, because usually if it's hot, 36 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:45.159 this is the oven, this is where it just bakes. 37 00:01:45.239 --> 00:01:45.359 Right. 38 00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:50.799 We've been lucky that someone has kept it cool and 39 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:54.599 nobody's like adjusted it because I mean I probably shouldn't 40 00:01:54.599 --> 00:01:57.200 have even said anything, but it's sixty seven degrees in here, 41 00:01:57.319 --> 00:02:01.519 and that's I mean, that's usually like most places won't 42 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:03.000 even let you turn it that low. There are certain 43 00:02:03.319 --> 00:02:05.760 certain hotels that like, you can't even get lower than 44 00:02:05.799 --> 00:02:09.240 sixty eight or sixty nine even So are you warm 45 00:02:09.240 --> 00:02:09.599 in there? 46 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:11.960 It's a little bit warm in here. Yeah, kind of jealous. 47 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:15.240 Yeah, well come in here and you know, cool off 48 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:16.759 in the break if you need to or go, you know, 49 00:02:17.159 --> 00:02:19.199 just dip my head and hose yourself down or something, 50 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:21.719 because it's it's a little sticky. I walked, we walked 51 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:24.840 to lunch today, and I don't know what's going on 52 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:27.400 in Louisville today. I should know that, but there are 53 00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:29.879 a lot of there's a lot going on downtown, which 54 00:02:29.879 --> 00:02:31.439 again is always a good thing. I mentioned that every 55 00:02:31.479 --> 00:02:34.199 now and then on the show. But it was. It 56 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:37.199 was a nice, nice walk throughout and again I walked 57 00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:39.639 further than I anticipated. I probably would have drove, but 58 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:41.800 got a good walk in but also got hot and sweaty, 59 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:44.719 which told me that it's actually pretty warm. So it's here. 60 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:48.280 It's here. Yeah, the warm weather has arrived, and uh, 61 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:50.479 I mean summer will be here soon. Kids are going 62 00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:53.240 to get out of school soon, and you know that's 63 00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:55.599 it's good for the kids, I'm sure, But man, I've 64 00:02:55.639 --> 00:02:58.719 now definitely and you'll you'll be here someday, Austin. The 65 00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:03.240 kids being out of school is not a good thing 66 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:06.879 for most parents because they then have to either pay 67 00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:09.199 for childcare that they're not paying for during school hours, 68 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:12.159 probably during the school year. You know, they have to 69 00:03:12.199 --> 00:03:15.719 worry about, you know, what their kids doing and all that. 70 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:18.520 So we're trying. My wife and I are currently putting 71 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:21.400 together our plan for you know, who's gonna keep who's 72 00:03:21.400 --> 00:03:23.800 gonna watch our little ones whenever, you know, when other 73 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:26.159 school's out. You know, Moose is already in daycare, so 74 00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:27.439 it wo'll be good to go. But with Maya, she 75 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:30.479 gets out of school and we are, I mean, we're basically, 76 00:03:30.919 --> 00:03:32.879 you know, just running through interviews because everybody wants to 77 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:34.599 be around her, right like they want to sign up. Hey, 78 00:03:34.599 --> 00:03:36.159 can I get a day? Can I Can I get 79 00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:38.240 a day where I watch Maya? Because she, you know, 80 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:41.240 she just brings so much joy and she's and she's great. 81 00:03:41.319 --> 00:03:44.000 So anyways, it's a warm Wednesday, and we're gonna have 82 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:47.080 some fun. I at least I am. I'm gonna have fun. 83 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:49.159 Austin's gonna have fun. I guess it's up to you 84 00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:51.319 if you have fun. But what we planned to do 85 00:03:51.960 --> 00:03:54.680 is provide an experience here coffee and company on a 86 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:57.599 Wednesday that it'll be difficult for you to not have fun. 87 00:03:57.719 --> 00:04:00.680 That's what we want to do today, So let's get 88 00:04:00.759 --> 00:04:03.039 right to it. I will start with something that will 89 00:04:03.080 --> 00:04:08.639 make Louisville fans happy or at least you know, it'll 90 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:11.000 be a good thing to be reminded about it in 91 00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:13.240 case you might have forgot. And on the Kentucky side, 92 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:16.399 it's not good stuff, not good news. But like I 93 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:18.040 don't think they're going to be shocked, and I don't 94 00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:20.360 even think they could disagree with me if they wanted to. 95 00:04:20.439 --> 00:04:25.240 But the momentum for both programs right now, I mean, 96 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:29.439 it seems it seems like we've never really been in 97 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:34.079 a place where it's headed in opposite directions for both 98 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:37.519 programs at such a high rate of speed. Let me 99 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:41.600 give an example. So currently we now know this came 100 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:44.439 out a little bit earlier today. I believe Bret McMurphy's 101 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:46.519 the one who put it out there. And it's the 102 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:49.839 wind totals for all ACC teams. And this is from 103 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:52.720 circa sportsbook. Have you seen this, shed Austin? Do you 104 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:54.360 know what the win total is? For Louisville this year 105 00:04:54.399 --> 00:04:58.600 because I take a guess we're talking I'm sorry, we're 106 00:04:58.600 --> 00:05:02.000 talking football or basketball. Our football win total for louisvill football. Ah, 107 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:07.360 I'm gonna I'm I'm gonna say eight. See I would 108 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:09.800 have said seven and a half for eight, but it's 109 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:12.319 actually set at eight and a half. Oh and we'll 110 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:14.240 get into later sort of you know, what would be 111 00:05:14.360 --> 00:05:16.800 the you know, take away your fan, take away your 112 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:20.240 you know, the emotional attachment that you have to Louisville 113 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:21.680 because it's your team. You know, what do you think 114 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:23.079 here if you had to, if you had to lay 115 00:05:23.079 --> 00:05:24.560 some action, what would make the most sense. We can 116 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:26.000 get into that a little bit later on. But again, 117 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:29.240 just seeing that sports books objective folks look at Louisville 118 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:31.439 as a team that they set at eight and a half, that, 119 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:33.319 I mean, that's just a sign that you know, you're 120 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:34.680 in a good place. And I know people can make 121 00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:36.879 the jokes about the ACC being so bad and that's 122 00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:38.839 why well whatever, I mean, I'm not here to say 123 00:05:38.839 --> 00:05:41.480 that the ACC is great. But you know, when you've 124 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:43.759 got eight and a half as the line, I mean, 125 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:46.879 the expectation is that you're you're you're gonna win a 126 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:48.680 lot more games and you're gonna lose, and we you know, 127 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:50.879 we know that doesn't always play out that way. But 128 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:53.800 when I see that, I mean, I can't remember. I 129 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:56.360 don't know Jeff's first year. I know it wasn't close 130 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:58.879 to being eight and a half, but I don't remember 131 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:00.600 last year because you got to keep it. Louisll went 132 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:03.439 ten and two in his first year, and then the 133 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:05.560 next year you really didn't seem to have a whole 134 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:07.800 lot of momentum to take from that, right because you'd 135 00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:10.040 made your appearance in the AEC Championship game, and really, 136 00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:12.040 people forgod, because it was all about Florida State, how 137 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:14.519 they were without Jordan Travis, and they won the AEC 138 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:16.959 title against Louisville and still didn't get in. And then 139 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:19.560 Louisville lost their last three games to close out the season, 140 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:22.680 and really they were all kind of in bad fashion. 141 00:06:22.759 --> 00:06:22.879 Right. 142 00:06:22.920 --> 00:06:25.160 You lost to Kentucky, which is the ultimate punch to 143 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:27.920 the gut, and then you lost to Florida State in 144 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:30.439 a game that was really disgustingly ugly, and you know, 145 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:33.360 the AEC championship game and they beat you without their 146 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:36.240 second and first dring quarterback, and then of course the 147 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:39.519 bowl game against USC you know, you got routed in 148 00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:42.120 the end. So I don't know what the wind totals 149 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:44.000 were for last year, but I feel like it wasn't 150 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:45.439 eight and a half. I feel like it was probably 151 00:06:45.480 --> 00:06:47.240 lower than that, probably closer to seven and a half 152 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:49.879 or maybe eight, maybe even seven, I'm not sure. So again, 153 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:52.879 that's a sign that there's momentum. You look at preseason 154 00:06:53.639 --> 00:06:56.079 rankings or I guess they're calling them post spring rankings. 155 00:06:56.120 --> 00:06:58.879 I mean, just about anyone that you can find, you'll 156 00:06:58.920 --> 00:07:01.879 see that. You'll see that Louisville is in the top 157 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:04.519 twenty five. I think I saw the ESPN one earlier 158 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:07.399 this week had him at number twenty two. So there's 159 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:10.319 good momentum. And I think given where you are, and 160 00:07:10.360 --> 00:07:14.439 given the conference being you know there for the taking 161 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:17.120 outside of maybe a couple teams, you know, it's just 162 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:18.959 nice going into a season knowing that, yeah, you're not 163 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:21.279 crazy to be looked at as a team that might 164 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:23.800 end up in the playoff because they now put in 165 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:25.720 more than just four and oh, by the way, you're 166 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:29.079 a pretty good team. And also, I mean I feel 167 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:32.240 like Louisill got a lot of free pub in real 168 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:35.079 good PR because of the Tyler Shuck situation. Right when 169 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:37.639 Nick Saban on that Friday night of the NFL Draft 170 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:41.040 Day two was just glazon over my man, Jeffrey Bram 171 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:43.120 I mean that, I mean he's acting like. One of 172 00:07:43.160 --> 00:07:45.959 the reasons why, in fact, that Tyler Shuck will have 173 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:49.319 a good you know, will have an easier transition among 174 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:51.160 a lot of things, was that he played for Jeff 175 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:53.639 Bram in a pro style offense and he really prepared 176 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:57.560 his quarterback for the next level. I mean, again, there's 177 00:07:57.560 --> 00:08:00.560 no guarantee that does anything for you, but it certainly 178 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:02.399 can't hurt you, right if you've got quarterbacks that are 179 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:04.839 hitting the portal or quarterbacks that are being recruited out 180 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:07.199 of high school. They hear Nick Saban on the NFL 181 00:08:07.319 --> 00:08:10.279 draft coverage say that Jeff Brohm gets his quarterbacks ready 182 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:13.160 for the NFL. I mean pretty damn good pr. 183 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:13.600 Right. 184 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:16.079 So again, a lot of good moment for football on 185 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:19.360 the Louisville side and on the Kentucky side, not so much. 186 00:08:19.879 --> 00:08:22.360 Austin their win total for Kentucky this year is set 187 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:26.079 at four and a half. In that under that's gotta 188 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:29.560 be the lowest that they've been set at in a 189 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:33.039 long time, a long long time, And like, who's surprised 190 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:35.200 by that? Like, I don't even think Kentucky fans are 191 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:40.600 in any way surprised that that's what the wind total 192 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:42.519 is set at. Because of what happened last year, their 193 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:46.279 rosters seemingly got worse. And another big factor that's really 194 00:08:46.279 --> 00:08:49.559 important here that I'll never not acknowledge. They have a 195 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:52.879 really tough schedule. They play Ole Miss South Carolina, who's 196 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:57.240 got a lot of momentum, clearly a better program than Kentucky, Georgia, Texas, Texas, 197 00:08:57.279 --> 00:08:59.080 and Tennessee. I don't need to tell you about those 198 00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:01.879 programs being better in Kentucky, it's quite clear. And then 199 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:04.600 Auburn and Florida teams that are kind of in in 200 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:07.879 a bad place right Like Florida did rebound well at 201 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:09.639 the end of last year, but they hated their coach 202 00:09:10.440 --> 00:09:12.799 Auburn albert in Florida last year. With the teams that 203 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:15.159 Kentucky was supposed to just simply be better than this 204 00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:17.519 past year. Therefore, you know you could easily lose because 205 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:20.879 you know they're not complete chumps. But at the same 206 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:24.159 point in time, like those teams embarrassed Kentucky. So they've 207 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:25.960 got a tough schedule, but like four and a half, 208 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:28.559 I think I would take the over and it's because 209 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:32.200 I don't see them beating anybody in the SEC outside 210 00:09:32.200 --> 00:09:35.159 of maybe Vandy, and I don't even think that like 211 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:39.480 their fans would disagree. So they've got Eastern Michigan, they'll 212 00:09:39.480 --> 00:09:44.159 win that. They've got Tennessee Tech, they'll win that, and 213 00:09:44.200 --> 00:09:47.600 then maybe Vandy, although Vandy is in Nashville this year, 214 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:51.279 and then they played Toledo to start the season. I 215 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:52.960 look at that as Okay, of course they're going to win. 216 00:09:53.320 --> 00:09:56.639 But Toledo, I mean they beat an SEC team last 217 00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:59.279 year by I think a bunch. I think, you know, 218 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:01.240 this team was really bad. The only team that finished 219 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:04.240 worse than Kentucky in the SEC was Mississippi State. But but 220 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:07.879 Toledo went down to Starkville and bent them over. So 221 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:10.480 Toledo is not exactly the MAC opponent that I think 222 00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:12.759 you would typically want to play. So I mean, I 223 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:16.440 think rivalry aside, emotion aside, not trolling. I think the 224 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:19.360 wise play there would be under four and a half. 225 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:21.519 And I don't even think their fans, if they're objective, 226 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:24.440 would really disagree. I can't speak for them, but like 227 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:28.639 they know that they're probably not going to be super 228 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:33.039 excited about Kentucky football again until a coaching change is made, unless, 229 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:37.679 of course, Stoops somehow does really well out of nowhere 230 00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:40.639 this year, like unexpectedly they just end up being really good, 231 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:43.559 which I don't see a scenario where that happens. So 232 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:48.399 they know, and they're showing with the lack of interest 233 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:51.519 their ticket sales for season tickets. It's again, this is 234 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:54.399 I'm not beating them up, although it may sound like it, 235 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:57.039 but like this is not a good piece of news. 236 00:10:57.080 --> 00:11:00.639 But it's also totally understandable. They sold out season tickets 237 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:03.679 the last two seasons. This year, their season tickets are 238 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:08.600 down seemingly at a substantial level. So therefore there was 239 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:13.080 such a step back last year and really no plan 240 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:15.799 to get the fan base back up and sell them that, hey, 241 00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:18.039 we're going to get this thing turned around. We know 242 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:21.799 last year was unacceptable. We are ready to prove people wrong. 243 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:24.480 We've got the right guys and here, look all that's words. 244 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:26.919 It doesn't give you action, doesn't give you results. But like, 245 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:28.399 I don't think there's been a whole lot of that 246 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:31.559 like Stoops has kind of been chilling and you know, 247 00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:35.120 staying out of the public eye in every way this offseason. 248 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:37.840 And again it could be because he's got something special 249 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:41.360 brewing and he wants to lay low, or he might realize, yeah, 250 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:43.519 we were really bad last year and I don't think 251 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:46.440 we're going to be any better this year. So there 252 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:51.960 are This is from the Herald Leader says the season 253 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:55.559 football ticket sales are down, and they mentioned that they 254 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:59.159 sold out forty thousand tickets the last two seasons. And 255 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:04.559 now let's see, according to the Harold Leader, through May twelfth, 256 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:08.080 which was yet earlier, this is Monday, Kentucky sold more 257 00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:10.799 than twenty one thousand season ticket packages, which is still 258 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:13.960 twenty five thousand fewer tickets sold by the renewal deadline 259 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:18.080 in April of twenty twenty four. So they've kept the 260 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:20.879 price the same as what UK claims here per the 261 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:24.120 Herold Leader, and you know that's a substantial drop off. 262 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:26.000 Like these are the kind of things this is, this 263 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:29.799 is the type of action that your fans take. And 264 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:31.919 it may not even be because they're trying to force 265 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:34.039 the issue here, trying to force the hand of Mitch 266 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:37.200 Barnhardt they're just like they're out, like they're checked out, 267 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:40.159 like they're they're not going to Like I think they 268 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:42.720 realized that the best days of Kentucky football under Mark 269 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:45.240 Stoops are clearly in the in the past and not 270 00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:47.919 in the future. Now, what I don't know is like 271 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:50.240 how long is Barnhart even going to be there? And 272 00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:53.600 you know, like if they lost to Toledo, I think 273 00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:56.240 they would be of the belief that Stoops would get 274 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:58.600 the can. I don't know that he would. I mean 275 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:05.320 all the coaches that Mitch Barnhart has hired and been 276 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:08.879 the boss of during his time in Lexington And disclaimer, 277 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:11.120 I'm not at all connected anything at UK. I'm just 278 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:13.360 going off of the optics and the public perception and oh, 279 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:17.759 by the way, react like results. Things that happened Mark 280 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:21.879 Stoops got Mitch Barnhart to prioritize football more than I 281 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:25.240 think really any coach as Kentucky has now. Stoops also 282 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:28.120 gave them a good return with improvements and they were 283 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:31.159 clearly better during his you know, the majority of his 284 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:34.440 stint there. So there's a scenario that like Barnhart can 285 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:36.120 know he's out in two three years, and he can 286 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:39.879 also just know deep down like, Yeah, that's my guy, 287 00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:42.279 and he's gonna be my guy until I'm not here anymore. 288 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:45.679 Because whoever is the new AD after Barnhart whenever he 289 00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:48.399 does retire, like they're gonna want their own coach. So 290 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:50.480 like if Barnhart ends up hiring a new coach and 291 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:53.639 then retires a year or two later, I mean that, 292 00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:56.279 actually that would make your job a little less attractive 293 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:59.000 because I think a coach would think, Look, I'm not 294 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:01.720 if it's quite clear that you're kind of already phasing out, 295 00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:03.559 there needs to be an inner or there needs to 296 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:06.159 be an AD in waiting or something, because I don't 297 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:07.960 want to get here and have to clean up Mark 298 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:10.600 Stoops's mess and then know that you're out in the 299 00:14:10.679 --> 00:14:12.360 year or two and somebody's going to come in and 300 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:14.639 already want to get a new coach because if you're 301 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:16.639 an AD, you're foolish to not have your own guy 302 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:19.799 because you're you don't want to go down with somebody 303 00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:21.559 you didn't even hire, right, Like, who, I mean, who 304 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:25.440 would do that? Ads are evaluated for a lot of things, 305 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:28.679 but at most schools it's the coaching hire for football. 306 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:30.679 Now Kentucky and louisll are a little bit different because 307 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:35.879 our basketball programs are monsters nationally and clearly, like we 308 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:37.639 learned the hard way, not that we didn't know it already, 309 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:39.879 but man, we really learned during the Kidney Payne era. 310 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:44.039 This city and this university UL needs basketball to be 311 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:46.840 alive and thriving, not have you know the years that 312 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:49.279 we had. So I don't know, I just I don't. 313 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:52.279 I don't see a scenario where Stoops is not their coach, 314 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:58.080 you know, at least a couple more years unless he 315 00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:59.960 walks away. And that that takes me back to the 316 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:03.360 conversation that we had towards the end of the season 317 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:05.519 here and there throughout the show, because Kentucky Evans were 318 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:08.000 just like, you know, yeah, yeah, you know what. I 319 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:09.679 think he might just call it, you know, he might 320 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:12.360 be done. He might walk away. Who's walking away from 321 00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:14.919 that much money? Nobody Like do you hear yourselves? 322 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:15.000 Like? 323 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:18.840 Who would walk away from knowing you could lose every game? 324 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:23.039 Like he would make them, Stoops would absolutely make them 325 00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:26.039 fire him, and he'd be foolish not to because that's like, 326 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:28.320 I mean, that's the amount of money still owed on 327 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:32.840 its contract. I mean, that's who's walking away from that 328 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:34.559 and just saying, yeah, I'm good, I'll get a new job. 329 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:36.639 I'll go be a greeter at Walmart or something like. 330 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:40.559 Nobody would do that. So I guess there's a scenario 331 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:45.080 where he could maybe negotiate like a buyout that's lower 332 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:48.440 to where it's a little bit more of a of 333 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:50.960 a of a you know, not such a contentious and 334 00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:56.679 toxic exit. But everything I've seen like Stoops seems sensitive 335 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:59.600 and bothered that people are mad that they sucked ass 336 00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:02.919 slash like pardon my language, but like, you know, he's 337 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:05.600 got like this. You know, he still operates as if 338 00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:09.080 their fan base should not be critical of the bad, 339 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:11.519 bad season they had and other issues, they should just 340 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:14.320 be thankful that he showed up and saved their program 341 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:16.080 like he did, which, to be fair, he did do 342 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:17.600 a really good job, and he has done a good 343 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:20.159 job overall. But to me, I just think this thing 344 00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:25.279 probably should have like he absolutely would have been wise 345 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:28.960 and it would have worked out better for everyone had 346 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:32.480 A and M not pulled the plug and actually hired him. 347 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:34.879 They wanted to hire him, and then they realized, yeah, 348 00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:37.440 now we can't do that. And I still think it's 349 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:40.080 hilarious that there are some that actually try to run 350 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:42.480 with the narrative that he yeah, he told him no 351 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:45.600 thanks after really considering, and you kidd me, I mean, 352 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:49.000 not a chance in France that Mark Stoops turned down 353 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:51.279 A and M to stay Kentucky. And you kind of 354 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:54.120 felt like last year the way things played out, that man, 355 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:57.399 he was already out the door and then uh oh yeah, 356 00:16:57.440 --> 00:17:01.399 we had to talk with some of our or donors, boosters, 357 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:03.759 whatever down here in College Station, and we're gonna go 358 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:07.759 in a different direction. That's what happened. I mean, and 359 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:11.440 there's conflicting stories about it, but I trust who who 360 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:14.359 I trust. As far as Stoops was making the phone calls, 361 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:16.400 he was on his way out, he was telling people, 362 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:19.319 thank you so much, and I mean he's celebrating not 363 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:21.680 only because he beat Louisville that day, but like he'd 364 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:23.920 gotten a huge job. And then you know he didn't 365 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:27.319 actually get said jobs. So again, there's some real momentum 366 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:29.000 for Louisville football, which is the way it should be 367 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:32.599 and for Kentucky. I mean, it's nice for me to 368 00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:34.400 be able to position it this way. But I'm also 369 00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:36.400 not telling any lies here, Like what have I said 370 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:39.920 that is untrue about the direction for both programs right now. 371 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:42.640 I mean I think, I mean, I think it's I 372 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:45.240 think it's quite clear. And this isn't even like a 373 00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:48.720 you know, this isn't even about well, louisvill is just 374 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:50.960 so great they're gonna make the college football Playoff. I mean, 375 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.640 I did say that they could realistically get there, but 376 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:55.160 I'm not predicting it by any means right now. But 377 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:59.279 it's more so that like Kentucky has completely fallen off, 378 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:04.079 like can there be like Mississippi State would have to 379 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:10.319 be the other, Like Mississippi State would have to be 380 00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:12.799 the only program that could have a lower wind total 381 00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:16.599 than Kentucky, right, I mean, I'm doing a quick little 382 00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:22.799 search here. Yeah, So according to CIRCA, Kentucky is at 383 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:25.000 four and a half, Mississippi State's at three and a half, 384 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:27.039 Vandy's five and a half, Arkansas five and a half, 385 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:30.000 and everybody else is seven or more. So, I mean, 386 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:34.400 they were in a spot to where they were better 387 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:37.240 than Vandy consistently, and now that's not really the case anymore. 388 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:42.680 And they were kind of trading barbs with South Carolina 389 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:45.799 and then Florida, kind of a roller coaster but they 390 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:49.839 had a good stretch of success against Florida, and then 391 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:53.160 Tennessee really has had their numbers certainly in the last 392 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:56.000 however many years, certainly since Josh Hipel's been there, and 393 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:57.960 then they would go out and win their non conference games. 394 00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:00.799 But now you got Texas and you got Oklahoma in 395 00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:03.200 the league. So your league schedule's clearly going to be 396 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:06.400 tougher and you might go to nine games. It sounds like, 397 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:09.119 which again is going to make life harder. And I mean, 398 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:12.559 I don't know Mitch Barnhardt could tell their fan base. Yeah, 399 00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:15.599 we think Mark Stoops is the guy that's going to, 400 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:18.559 you know, get Kentucky to where they're more so competitive 401 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:20.880