Petrino has always turned programs around fast. He is a brilliant football mind, and I'll give him that. Baggage? Lots. I remember when fans were either pining for him, or didn't want a thing to do with him.
I had no doubt that he would turn UL around quickly, and they do look very good. For me personally, I would have hired him with some very strict contract clauses. He liked to jump ship a lot, and Jurich, iirc, put quite the buyout clause on him to prevent that. I think he was just itching to get back to coaching and put his personal life on the backburner and do what he does best...coaching. But it didn't work out that way, and I'm fine with that. Regardless of your feelings about Stoops, he has helped put Commonwealth, and our facilities back on the map to help give us a recruiting edge. That much has worked, but now its time for him to put up or shut up on his end of the bargain. I'll judge at the end of the season, but IMO it has always been about Barnhart. He had a gun to his head when hiring Cal, and that worked out nicely for us.
The only thing Barnhart does well is raise money and get projects completed. He is one of the best when it comes to that. I don't think the man has any idea what he is doing from a hiring perspective. The college athletic landscape has changed. Hiring up and comers just doesn't work in SEC football anymore. Not sure it ever did. However, because of our basketball program (thank god), I have no doubt this is one of the premier AD jobs in the country. We could get anyone we wanted because our basketball and fan base is that good. The question is, will the board of trustees and our president have the balls to make a change in the AD position. I don't think they ever will, so until the fanbase speaks loud and clear (donations), we are stuck with whoever Barnhart hires. He will give Stoops next year to reach a bowl, and then maybe he will make a change in coaching. I want Stoops to succeed. However, 3 different OC in 4 years doesn't translate well to results on the field.
