Guy Morris - Rich Brooks

[JOHN BLUEBLOOD]

The Guy Morris to Boyle Co. story made me look a the Guy Morris leaving UK in hindsight.

To match Baylor's offer, it would've cost UK 1.2 million per season - this for a decent coach with little head- coaching experience, just after you had quadrupled his salary.

Mitch got a former "National Coach of the Year" and former NFL defensive coordinator (who helped lead Atlanta to a superbowl) and head coach for HALF PRICE.

We need to give Mitch props on that one - now I know why he didn't match Baylor.

And yes, I do wish Morris and his family the best - they are good folks.

[Matt Dillon]

FWIW, I was against giving an unproven coach that kind of money. I know Morris would have had better facilities, the SEC, etc. going for him here but, in my opinion, I doubt that he would have faired much better here than he did at Baylor. I certainly don't think he would have matched what coach Brooks has done.

[lotsaloans]

What can't be understated is the deep pool of talent that Coach Brooks has assembled on the coaching side. I haven't checked it out or anything, but from top to bottom we very well could have the deepest, most experienced, well rounded coaching staff in the SEC. Guy Morriss simply could not have brought that to the table no matter how much the players liked him while he was here. Lastly, the Coach Brooks' first year success or lack thereof likely had as much to do with the affect that Morriss' departure had on the team rather than Coach Brooks coming in and changing things around. Guy Morriss was liked by the team and it hurt them bad when he left, and in my opinion slowed down greatly the time it took for the remaining players to give their trust to the new coaching staff.

[lighthouse]

Barnhart's decision has turned out great, but I remember a lot of us (including me) gave him a hard time when he made it.

[gerntz]

I think both Mitch & GM made good decisions. Can't fault GM for going for the pot of gold. Don't think he was ever paid all that well before or since. Set his family for life. That should be anyone's first priority.

[JOHN BLUEBLOOD]

Barnhart's decision has turned out great, but I remember a lot of us (including me) gave him a hard time when he made it.

At the time, I fully understanded not given Morris that kind of money, I thought we did all we could do for him by taking an o-line coach and giving him an SEC head job - I would've been fine giving him a raise a few years down the road. I'll admit too, the Brooks hiring puzzled me, I wanted that hot, young coach but we were heading into dark days with restriced schollies and we couldn't risk probation again with an unproven commodity - Mitch made the right call, the right man for the situation.