I have not validated this or seen it confirmed, but man is it flying around. At this point I’d be a bit shocked if some of it isn’t true. You know nothing about it really? You seem to be pretty on top of the JMI deal.
I’ve asked around, and nobody seems to be able to confirm it. So I really can’t say. I do feel corruption is part of it but not sure to the legality of it. Just my feel that it’s corruption to me, but it’s based on opinion.
There is a lot of stuff being said right now and I think emotions are high. I know I’m beyond frustrated at what is going on. Mitch hired Pope in my mind because he was an easy get and could be controlled. See Pope’s comments from today. Pope was hired to coach my favorite team so I was reluctant but last year was better than I expected. Pope’s words today were not very reassuring to me.
I think Mitch entered into a deal w/JMI because it gave him a way to say he had covered the shortfall revenue sharing was creating. It has been stated often that UK was late to the NIL game because Mitch was personally against it. Now the CSC attempted to put rules in place and Mitch wants those rules and felt Congress would pass legislation so again he takes the easy road of familiarity with JMI.
I think Mitch has made numerous terrible contractual decisions usually I believe out of complacency. Joker, Elzy, Stoops’ buyout, Cal’s buyout and now this with the ridiculous apparent guardrails/restrictions of the JMI contract. I cannot call that corruption but bad management. Bad management by the AD, the President and the BOT. There is something off.
-UK not addressing the conflict of interest raised is ridiculous.
-Reporters not pressing UK reps on what they think is against the rules that others are doing that UK wont do is lazy reporting.
-Reporters not asking what is the outlined punishment they expect others to incur and who is enforcing the rules is terrible reporting.
There is a problem in the UK Athletics Dept. Is it:
-an AD who has screwed up yet again with a long-term contract?
-an AD that hired an inexperienced coach who cannot recruit?
This issue can be fixed but there is going to have to be some changes. If I’m an agent for a top recruit right now, I am salivating at the opportunity to take advantage of UK because I have to believe they are in full blown crises mode.