So...is Stoops done?

[thebluestripes]

Thanks alot mitch

[UKWILDCAT2004]

Thanks alot mitch

Really makes you wonder how that negotiation went ya know?

Stoops: I want my buyout to be 37.5 million.

Barnhart: Absolutely we will do that. Also we can make sure you get it within 60 days of being fired. Also I know you asked for 8 million a year to coach but we'll just give you 9 million instead.

Stoops: well Mitch you drive a hard bargain but we'll agree to that.

UK administration: stairs blankly and speechless.

[bthaunert]

UK Athletics almost being a private entity now provides some flexibility that they did not have. I believe Stoops will be let go after the season and I think UK athletics is probably currently exploring options of ways to do that. Can they get a loan as a private entity that can cover the cost of the buyout up front and be paid off over the next 5 years as an example. Here is what I would do and how you make that money up quick:

1. I would see if Stoops would be open to paying the buyout over the length of his contract instead of within 60 days.
2. If he's not open to doing that, I would have the 5 year loan in my back pocket immediately. Pay Stoops his $35 million and and then pay off that loan over 5 years.
3. Bring in someone like Jon Sumrall or Matt Campbell at around $6 million annually
4. Your total compensation for the buyout and new coach is around $15 million annually, or about $6 million more annually than you have slated for Stoops currently.
5. Ticket sales alone would jump drastically (about $750k - $1 million per game), so you would bring in an additional $5 million per year through ticket sales

At the end of the day, you're at about a $1 million loss annually by getting rid of Stoops and bringing in a new coach.

[Majoga]

Been done for a while. Now just getting rotten and stinky.

[Matt Dillon]

Another thing that is rarely mentioned is the buy-outs, if any, of the assistants.

[Los Gatos]

UK Athletics almost being a private entity now provides some flexibility that they did not have. I believe Stoops will be let go after the season and I think UK athletics is probably currently exploring options of ways to do that. Can they get a loan as a private entity that can cover the cost of the buyout up front and be paid off over the next 5 years as an example. Here is what I would do and how you make that money up quick:

1. I would see if Stoops would be open to paying the buyout over the length of his contract instead of within 60 days.
2. If he's not open to doing that, I would have the 5 year loan in my back pocket immediately. Pay Stoops his $35 million and and then pay off that loan over 5 years.
3. Bring in someone like Jon Sumrall or Matt Campbell at around $6 million annually
4. Your total compensation for the buyout and new coach is around $15 million annually, or about $6 million more annually than you have slated for Stoops currently.
5. Ticket sales alone would jump drastically (about $750k - $1 million per game), so you would bring in an additional $5 million per year through ticket sales

At the end of the day, you're at about a $1 million loss annually by getting rid of Stoops and bringing in a new coach.

Fantastic, thanks for the post. While I suspected that the new UK Athletics organization would allow this flexibility, I wasn't sure. I think your analysis is right on.

[Uncle Dave]

We're gonna take out a multi million dollar loan to pay off a guy who's failing at his job??

[Los Gatos]

We're gonna take out a multi million dollar loan to pay off a guy who's failing at his job??

The alternative is to continue to pay him 9M a year for failing to do his job. At the end of the year there will still be 5.5 years left on his contract. So 9 x 5.5 = 49.5M

[KyWilson239]

I have said it before and will say it again. UK CANNOT AFFORD TO ALLOW STOOPS TO BE HERE. The longer he is here, the bigger hole UK is digging themselves. Barnhart should be negotiating his buyout now, and looking for his replacement. Stoops has business ties to Lexington, those can and should be leveraged to force him out.

[Jaxcat]

5. Ticket sales alone would jump drastically (about $750k - $1 million per game), so you would bring in an additional $5 million per year through ticket sales

I'm not saying you're wrong but aren't pretty much all the tickets already sold? If so, how does the AA realize an ADDITIONAL $5M per year through 'ticket sales'? Now, if the AA raises prices when a new staff arrives, I can see additional revenue. But, if most/all of the boxes and season tickets are sold this year, for example, I don't see how an extra $5M per year materializes.

[Sjslhill]

Stadium work.....did Mitch ask fans how they want the $35 million spent? Fire Stoops with it. More stadium work is worthless if it's 50% full.

[Los Gatos]

5. Ticket sales alone would jump drastically (about $750k - $1 million per game), so you would bring in an additional $5 million per year through ticket sales

I'm not saying you're wrong but aren't pretty much all the tickets already sold? If so, how does the AA realize an ADDITIONAL $5M per year through 'ticket sales'? Now, if the AA raises prices when a new staff arrives, I can see additional revenue. But, if most/all of the boxes and season tickets are sold this year, for example, I don't see how an extra $5M per year materializes.

If you keep Stoops I expect a significant drop in ticket sales. With a new coach you maintain those sales. So it's not that you sell more in 2026 than 2025. It's that you don't suffer the drop in sales.

[Jaxcat]

If you keep Stoops I expect a significant drop in ticket sales. With a new coach you maintain those sales. So it's not that you sell more in 2026 than 2025. It's that you don't suffer the drop in sales.

Avoiding an expected significant loss if Stoops is retained vs actual additional revenue - that makes sense. And, for sure, if Stoops & co. are still here next season, I would expect a very large loss in ticket sales, NIL contributions, box rentals, etc.

[Davidmack]

Stick a fork in him.

[Pete Hogwallop]

I defended him much longer than a lot of people I know....probably until late in the season last year. I was cautiously optimistic that we might look better this year even though our schedule was so tough. I'm not optimistic anymore. He looks like he's going through the motions and so does the rest of the team and coaches. The placekicker has been solid, though.