Not a single person in the world can say, with a straight face, that they wouldn't phone it in if they had zero accountability from their bosses and were going to continued to get paid exorbitant amounts. A lot of us would lie to ourselves and say we wouldn't get complacent and no, we'd prove we were worth the money! But that's a lie, and deep down, I think we all know it. Cal probably told himself that same lie, and unfortunately for us, did it as head coach of the team we live and die with. Is Cal a different coach today if he didn't get that lifetime contract? Maybe, maybe covid broke something in him and despite what we've always heard, he kind of sucks at paying the players after all. If you cut him loose, maybe accountability at another gig sparks his fire again and he succeeds. Maybe. But I can't think of a single reason for UK to keep him with circumstances being what they are.
Despite my irritations with his coaching decisions up til that Bruce Weber loss, I really did enjoy the hell out of the Cal tenure. Like everyone else, duh. If you're Barnhart, how can you sell donors on the theory that guy will be back next year, when we have 5 years of proof he won't be? I just don't see it. So he takes all his recruits, whatever. In the transfer portal era, that has never been less of a consideration, IMO.
As gutless as Barnhart is, he has to see the writing on the wall. And the threat to his job if he keeps the guy.
