Gridiron Chaos in the Bluegrass
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As a very few of you might care, there’s a situation regarding Lexington’s football squad.
After insisting Saturday there was “0% chance” he was walking away, Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops is out as Kentucky football coach after all. “I want to thank Mark for his dedication and leadership over the past 13 years, and as importantly, the friendship that is marked by walking these journeys together,” UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart said in a statement posted on the school’s website Monday morning. “His tenure transformed the program and reset expectations. His time here was filled with memorable victories, a historic run of consecutive bowl appearances, and a commitment to developing young men both on and off the field. “We move forward committed to build upon the strong foundation that has been laid and to pursue excellence relentlessly.” ESPN first reported the plan to to fire Stoops Sunday night. Barnhart’s statement did not specify how the $37.7 million owed Stoops would be paid. Per the terms of his contract, UK would owe Stoops that sum within 60 days of firing him, but On3 reported Sunday Stoops was willing to agree to UK paying his buyout over multiple years.
$37.7 million is a lot of shrimp cocktail down at Stoops’ favorite haunt, the local Jeff Ruby’s. And see who’s getting a mention!
It is day one of Kentucky football’s search for a new head coach and a new name has been thrown into the mix.
Mike Florio of NBC’s Pro Football Talk is reporting that Chip Kelly is a name being thrown around as a candidate for the job.
Florio claims word is circulating among the program that Kelly could be in the line for the vacancy.
Kelly was the offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders under Head Coach Pete Carroll before being let go a week ago after 11 games.
Florio is an NFL insider and may sound familiar as he works on the Sunday Night Football broadcast crew.
This would set Chip on the Rich Brooks career path, with a few extra steps in between. I’m not sure why exactly Chip would take the job, as the Wildcats are in a structurally similar position to UCLA and Chip hated his time at UCLA. From the POV of Kentucky football… well, we’re sort of in a “hell, why not?” situation.
The other candidate I’m hearing is Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein, who’s probably a better choice. Wikipedia is on it:
I feel like that’s wishful thinking rather than inside info, but who’s to say?