SB Nation User Blog: Thomas Hunt Morgan

Are Barnhart and Todd out of touch with UK fans?

Thomas Hunt Morgan — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:19:54 -0000

A number of weeks I posed a simple question to the A Sea of Blue Community: Should Gillispie be fired? This was before many of the events of the season transpired, but still just short of 400 votes were tallied. In the end, a small majority said Gillispie should be retained. More telling than the actual result, however, were the reasons supporting removal of Gillispie.

Reading through the comments, not one person mentioned any sort of mistreatment of fans, players, media or officials as the reason for firing the coach. Contrary to reasoning mentioned by Barnhart, fans quite justifiably siezed on Gillispie's on the court results. So the question arises: are Barnhart and Todd valuing a principle that is not held in high import by fans?

In the end, Barnhart cited not Gillispie's record for his dismsal but some sort yet-to-be fully elucidated "philosophical disparity." Barnhart's words are either profoundly telling or extremely poorly chosen.

A philosphy implies a deep-seated belief. Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do." Either Barnhart, when interviewing Gillispie, failed to probe deeply into the coach's views (i.e., philosphy) or, less likely, he hired Gillispie knowing a gulf existed between the philosphy of UK (apparently determined by administrators) and the philosphy of the would-be-coach. Regardless, Barnhart did not discover the "philosophical disparity" at the point of intiation of employment. This is either gross negligence or gross indifrference or an absolute derilection of duty.

The absolute failure to expose the "philosphical disparity", calls into serious question the capacity of Mitch Barnhart and Lee Todd.

Poll: Should Gillispie be fired?

Thomas Hunt Morgan — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:29:00 -0000

I've read a lot of posts in the past few weeks calling for Gillispie to be fired due to the team's recent struggles (i.e., losing five out of the past eight and losing someone of those games badly). I'm more than a little curious to quantify this feeling and see if it is just a vocal minority or truly represents the sentiments of the A Sea of Blue community. Since the ASoBers are generally the most reasoned and sober UK fans on the internet, if Gillispie can't find majority support here, I doubt he'll find it.

There's no equivocation in this poll, if the season ended today, should Gillispie be fired: YES or NO. Black or white. No "well, if he loses against so and so" or "wins X out of the last Y."

I'll start and say simply: No it is downright ridiculous to fire the coach.

Poll

If the season ended today, should Gillispie be fired?

YES

172 votes

NO

220 votes

392 votes | Poll has closed

UK's worth? Music City Bowl sees $17 million drop

Thomas Hunt Morgan — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:19:51 -0000

UK's worth? Music City Bowl sees $17 million drop

"the 2008 bowl had a $9.97 million impact on the local economy — a decrease of more than $17 million from 2007's bowl" While the article plays up the bad economy as a potential cause, I think a second more likely cause is that the University of Kentucky Wildcats played in Memphis and not in Nashville this bowl season.

Opinions on Post Game Bourbons

Thomas Hunt Morgan — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:44:55 -0000

I am trying to branch out of from my usual post game selection of Maker's Mark and wanted to throw it out to the ASoB community to see if they had any recommendations. I've got a fifth of Four Roses small batch (90 proof) that I am thinking about diving into. Anyone ever had it?

Also, if you are going to give a really pricey bourbon, go right ahead. In addition, however, please post one that is more moderate in price.

Recruiting by the numbers

Thomas Hunt Morgan — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:50:11 -0000

Recruiting by the numbers

Per Jody Demling, UK has the 29th best football recruiting class in the nation which is only the 11th best in the SEC. Take that Vandy!

Jodie Meeks SportsCenter Highlights

Thomas Hunt Morgan — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:41:41 -0000

Jodie Meeks SportsCenter Highlights

Some things go beyond basketball

Thomas Hunt Morgan — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:18:27 -0000

Some things go beyond basketball

We just want to say "thank you" to Rick Pitino for the kindness he showed our daughter, Robin, a cancer patient. Last Friday, Rick was purchasing magazines in the gift shop at Jewish Hospital before he visited a sick friend, and Robin was waiting for an MRI. He approached her and teased her about a UK cap she was admiring, and she admonished him for leaving Kentucky as their coach.

I just wanted to say how much it meant to her and to her family that he took the time to make small talk with her and then he wished her well in her test.

Rick, you are a great humanitarian as well as a great coach (even if you are at U of L).

Thank you for making Robin's day a little brighter and God bless.

FRED and BETTY HAMMONS

La Grange, Ky. 40031

Steer clear of Duke men's basketball coach

Thomas Hunt Morgan — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:40:17 -0000

Steer clear of Duke men's basketball coach

"Steer clear of Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. The university said he was involved in a one-car accident last Friday, but no other details have emerged. Not surprisingly Durham police have no report on the accident, but the word on the street is that whatever object Krzyzewski hit, the object was at fault."

--Eric Crawford, Louisville Courier Journal

Not UK related per se, but anytime you can gig Coach K, I'm happy.

Mumme out as New Mexico State coach

Thomas Hunt Morgan — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:09:46 -0000

Mumme out as New Mexico State coach

In what might be the most unsurprising news of all, the Mumme tenure was marred by lawsuits and losing records.

Genuinely surprised that the Aggies ever hired him. I mean you knew he was a snake when you picked him up.

IU Penalty: Slap on the wrist, 3 years probation

Thomas Hunt Morgan — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:59:41 -0000

IU Penalty: Slap on the wrist, 3 years probation

Hoosiers get just three years probation in addition to self imposed loss of one basketball scholarship (for current season) and recruiting restrictions (already "relaxed" for Tom Crean) for last seasons Kelvin Sampson fiasco. No post season ban. No additional or future scholarship loses despite NCAA adding "failure to monitor" charge.