WLEX is reporting that WVLZ in Knoxville said there are discussions about buying out Tubby’s contract. I’ve got the video form the 6 o’clock news if anyone is interested in hearing it straight from (yep, Alan Cutler). He goes on to say that UK officials have been approaching donors to come up with the money to buy out the contract. I’ve searched around a little and that would be no small feat. According to this Denver Post article that would cost UK 9 million dollars (and a shark with a frickin’ laser beam attached to its head). Or about a third of a practice facility.
I’m sure that kind of money would make some around UK mighty uneasy. Scott Stricklin was quoted by Cutler calling the story “inacurate”. Mitch Barnhardt also released a statement but didn’t specifically address the allegations by the radio station. That’s just so much cash that I don’t see how it could possibly be done. Stranger things have happened though. It does feel like the point of no return has been reached for Tubby. I said in this post that I thought he was “done”. I still feel the same way. I read somewhere recently that a loyalty clause will kick in for Tubby that will garner him a large bonus after the season. The reality is that I think there is to much money to be spent or lost by either side to make a change after this season regardless of how it ends up.
February 26th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
You really believe a Knoxville based station? Don’t you think a Lexington station would really know the scoop?
February 26th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
I didn’t say I believed it. I’m just passing it on. It’s up to you if you believe it or not. Like I said, that just seems like a lot of money.
February 27th, 2007 at 9:51 am
I got 5 on it
February 27th, 2007 at 10:58 am
I think people from all over the commenwealth of KY would donate money toward the 9 mil. needed to send Tubby on his way. I know im not alone on this thought.
February 27th, 2007 at 11:31 am
I heard the rumor yesterday to and I live close to Nashville. After watching the Vandy game, i could care less if they play for the rest of the year. I wish Smith would go to the Hawks and take Morriss with him.
February 27th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Thanks for writing about this. People need to realize that money is a BIG DEAL here. Buying him out might mean missing out on a great coach to follow him because we might not be able to afford an Izzo or Calipari.
February 27th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Did anyone see the first Timeout of the Tenn. Florida game on ESPN. Pat Summit Was dressed as a cheerleader and sang Rocky Top. Now that is school spirit. And she did it because Bruce Pearl stripped sown and painted a V on his chest at the Tenn. womens game. That is what we need! Agreed?
February 27th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
LOL nope. If you watched espn the anaylist agreed that bruce was trying to steal some of Pat’s thunder.
February 27th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
I think Tubby is a great coach and I think UK have terrible fans. They are basically idiots , actually act like spoiled children. They think they should win Ncaa Championship every year, even if they had 10 frosh, with 5 starting. Tubby is a top 10 coach with a better winning percentage than Rick Pitino. He has a National Championship Ring. As many rings as Pitino and Hall. The SEC is strongest League. Last place LSU beat Florida without their best player. Name another league where that has happen. All the teams that beat UK could elite 8 with a bounce here or there. I am a Hoosier fan and I would take Tubby in a second.
February 27th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
yea ill pull out an extra 4 mil to help out. (yea right)
id like to see if happen, but doubt it does.
February 28th, 2007 at 10:04 am
In reference for Gary Burns: UK fans are the best in college basketball, there’s no dispute there. Secondly, you can most definitely have Tubby! As far as the fans being idiots and spoiled children, well that doesn’t require a response since obviously you’re a bit of a moron being both a Hooier and Tubby fan. I pledge $100.00 towards the tubby fund
February 28th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Gary Burns said “I am a Hoosier fan and I would take Tubby in a second.”
Believe me, we’d give him to you in a second.
February 28th, 2007 at 11:49 am
Gary Burns please keep your opinions to yourself! We don’t care what you have to say
February 28th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
No effing way UK comes up with $9mil to buyout Tubby’s contract. Even though this season is going down in flames, Tubbs has an opportunity (by landing a few high profile recruits - Patterson especially) to inject some late-stage good news into the program and brand this season as a “rebuilding year”… he wouldn’t have to sell me too hard on looking ahead to a future without Sheray and Perry. Add a productive PF and a PG who can shoot to this team, and we’d be much improved. That is, provided half the team doesn’t jump ship to the NBADL (Morris, Crawford, etc.)…
February 28th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Why is it when traditional powerhouses in football like Notre Dame, Alabama and Miami hav e winning seasons but not typical seasons for their programs, they fire their coaches and it’s okay. Everybody says stuff like “Shula knew when he came to Alabama he had to beat Auburn”.
But when Kentucky, the all-time winningest program, gets a coach who puts a mediocre at best team on the court for the past eight years and we want to get rid of him because “everybody knows when you come to kentucky it’s about winning” but all of a sudden we are whinners and racists and everything else. It’s a total double standard. Smith has lost his way and I wish they would start today and win every game for the rest of the year, but it ain’t going to happen. The Suns score more points in a quarter than we do for a game, sometimes two games.
My opinion, we don’t need Izzo either. Same track record as Smith.
February 28th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Can anyone say JOHN PELFREY ?
February 28th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Not that my opinion matters, but I will give it anyways. I am a head basketball coach in Houston, Texas and have seen Lucas play many times this year. If this is the type of recruit that we Kentucky fans think will help save the program, we are wrong. The only thing Lucas can do to help us out is bring Patterson with him. I coached at Ballard in 2003 and saw what Lofton could do when he destroyed us in the state championship. Tubby missed that evaluation, and he will miss this one. Lucas is good but he is not even the best PG in the Houston area. I have seen him schooled by at least 3 different PG’s that are going to smaller and less note worthy schools. He is a gamer and does come from a family of players but his name is his asset not his game. Tubby has lost the fans because of poor recruiting. I shell out money for ESPN FULL COURT not to see exciting basketball but to see UK wins. I could care less if it is fast paced or defensive minded games, I just want to see wins. To address this Gillespie talk, look “it’s not going to happen”. A&M are already talking about a new contract and all his ties are here in Texas. So lets look at people that are available that would be interested in the job, and “NO!” Donovan is not one of those people. Ford and Pelphrey are going to be the obvious names to come up but both need more time to prove them selves. Somebody said Pat Riley, Yes, I would love to see it and, Yes, it would be easier on him, but come on, he never has shown any interest in being a college coach. Who does that leave? I don’t know! We need to see who is interested and who will be available. There are some great mid-level coaches out there that can recruit with the best of them. All I know is that I’m a 1000 miles away and I have to believe that it is time for Tubby to go or at least clean house and get some younger more energetic coaches in there to help him recruit. Remember that one of the best recruiters in the game is a former UK walk on in Steve Masiello.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Coach J
Well said, I’m not big on Lucas either. We have good guards, they just need direction. I think the coach from Marquette would be a good fit. just a thought
February 28th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
I don’t think Pelphrey or Ford are ready for this level. Izzo is a Mich State guy, it will never happen. Donovan is who everyone would want. Mark Few maybe. It would be nice if Howland would come from UCLA.
February 28th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Donovan would be great! But I seriously doubt he will leave the Gators.
February 28th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
You UK fans are a bunch of morons. I mean seriously, you are the laughing stock of the country.
February 28th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Donavan isnt coming FORGET that idea. I mean seriously think about it he is in a recruiting dynasty what 18 yr old kid wouldnt wanna come to college at Florida beaches,girls,and to top all that defending national champions. I wish he would be it aint gonna happen. I really hope our next coach has no ties to Pitino. I agree with previous posts Ford and Pelfrey both are good young coaches but I honestly dont think they have enough wins under there belt to lead UK, thats what our problem is right now with Tubby. I look for another BIG name coach to come in but Im not sure who it will be.
February 28th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
yep cards that bobby petrino guy really stuck it out in louisville.
February 28th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Only one good thing to ever come out of Louisville and thats interstate 64 when your leaving that damn place.
March 1st, 2007 at 11:53 am
Go Cards-That makes Louisville what? The second-biggest laughing stock because Louisville will always be second fiddle to UK in everything, no matter your record. Can’t we just go ahead and annex Louisville to Indiana? Look how much support UK had at the Music City Bowl, Louisville fans won’t even travel to see their team play in the BCS. By the way, who won that basketball game earlier this season, I forgot? Next year, Pitino will probably be like “Pervis Ellison ain’t walking through that door”
March 1st, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Tubby is a great coach. Tubby is an even better guy. Tubby can’t recruit.
March 1st, 2007 at 11:25 pm
go cards - Just like the hoosier fan that left a comment We DO NOT CARE WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY
March 6th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
It’s recruiting stupid. And Tubby can’t do it. Orlando is a good man and a fine coach, he just cannot recruit. As far as Patterson, we can all forget it. I know his mother personally and have been to her office and seen her shrine to Patrick. There are recruiting pamphlets from nearly every D-1 school in the country hanging on her wall and I do not recall seeing one shred from UK. That is the problem. A year from now Patrick will be starting for the Blue Devils and I would nearly stake my reputation on it. This will be another case like Chris Lofton. I am friends with his cousin who told me Chris always wanted to play at UK, but didn’t even get a visit from Tubby. Now he makes us look bad everytime he steps on the floor against us. You have to be as good in the living room as you are on the court, and Tubby is not.