Barnhart Emails

7/29/2019 Barnhart Emails

1/14

From: Jake Gabbard

To: Barnhart, Mitchell

Subject: Bobby Petrino

Date: Thursday, November 08, 2012 3:15:23 PM

Mitch,

As a long time UK football fan, I feel it is my duty to make my opinions known to the peoplewho matter. I know there has been much debate and scrutiny over the name Bobby Petrinoand UK's head football coaching position. I would like to weigh in with a respectful opinionon this subject rebutting some of the scrutiny on the matter:

1. Tremendous Baggage: Agreed. He has done some things in the past that professionallyand personally have been deplorable. However, many great people in society have made"moral" mistakes and are still revered for their great work. Bill Clinton and JFK to name acouple. Men who were Presidents of this country who are both very respected in history.People make mistakes, but does their greater good outweigh those mistakes. Bobby has hd isoff the field issues, but on the field, I challenge anyone to name 5 coaches who have been

more successful at building struggling programs to power.

2. Attitude towards UK in the past: Many are upset about his comments toward UK while atLouisville and his late TD to run up the score on UK one year. While this isn't what youwant to see as the losing coach, I would argue that most great competitors have a strongdistaste for their rivals. I want someone to stare across at UT, UL, UF and say I don't likeyou and I want you to feel that. We can't get caught up in hurt feelings, when if the shoewere on the other foot, things might be a bit different.

The bottom line is this. People deserve second chances. I think that John Calipari is a greatindicator of this. We have a school 90 miles away with the preseason #1/2 team in the

country in basketball, and an undefeated football team. We are falling behind in footballtremendously and need a shake up. What better way to send electricity through the fanbasethan with a top 5 coach in America hire? I know he has baggage, but remember so did JohnCalipari and as we have seen with him, winning cures everything.

Please Mitch, do what is right for this program and hire Bobby Petrino. He got stung, forbeing an idiot and paid the price, now I believe he has the ego and the talent to make UK aplayer in the game of football. What better way to scream, "I am the best coach in America"than to take UK to the top in football.

90% of the fan base agrees

Respectfully,Jacob Gabbard
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


2/14

From: Brandon Harmon


Subject: Support for Petrino hiring


Mr. Barhhart,

Hello I am a avid UK football fan, season ticket holder (section 119, row 2, seat 19 & row 3,seats, 18 & 19) and a UK alumni (Bachelors of Business Gatton College 2000). I mayactually be one of the few people who would say I am a bigger UK Football fan thanbasketball fan and I was actually one of the 18,855 that was at the game on Saturday. Thatbeing said I know that you have a very tough decisions on the horizon regarding funding forfootball facilities as well as the decision on a new coach who will hopefully take our footballprogram to competing for SEC championships. I just wanted to let you know that as aUK football fan I would support hiring Bobby Petrino as I think he would make a great headfootball coach at our school and is exactly what the program needs at this point in time. Hewould bring instant credibility to our program as well as get the fanbase exicited aboutfootball again. He would also be able to start recruiting right now in place of someone who

may not be able to take over until the end of bowl season. As much as i love seeing newbanners in the rafters at Rupp Arena there is nothing I would enjoy more than seeing the Catssquare off against Alabama in the SEC Championship in Atlanta in early December. Justwanted to voice my support for a potential new head coach.Thanks for your time,Mark Brandon Harmon104 Rock Bridge CourtGeorgetown, KY 40324


3/14

From: [email protected]



Hire petrino now!!


4/14

From: [email protected]


Subject: Coaching Search


Mr. Barnhart, as a former season ticket holder I want to implore you to at least talk with Coach Petrino.We all know his flaws but he is a great coach something UK desperately needs now. I know myself andmany other long time fans would renew with his hiring. Thanks. Scott Davis Pewee Valley KySent from my iPhone


5/14

From: Chris Flannery


Subject: A loyal UK fan..


Hello Mitch this is chris Flannery from sandy hook ky and I have a wildcat that I

have just had mounted in UK basketball fashion I will send picture with this emailbut I was wanting to try and have it sighned and shown to coach Cal and the crewwas wondering if this could be possible thanks...and go big blue....


6/14

From: Jonathan Hammons


Subject: Hello Mr barnhart!


My name is Jon I am a diehard Kentucky football fan and have been for years and I know Idon't make the decisions regarding football but if you hired bobby petrino right now me and

my family would instantly get season tickets. The guy is a winner, Yes everybody makesmistakes but God forgives them. I know me talking to you will have no diffrence in yourhiring process but I'm just saying if you want the seats filled and fans to be energized againbobby is the guy! Kentucky would no longer be the same in football. We would win and winsome big games as well. I LOVE his offense.Thanks again,Diehard UK FAN! GO CATS!


7/14

From: Tom Jones


Subject: Call Follow-up


Thanks for the time on Tuesday, Mitch.

He's a better coach than he's given credit for; he can put a great staff together in

short order; he can recruit the heck out of Ohio and niche areas like DC, South

Florida and Chicago; and UK would not be a stepping stone job for him, he would

retire there after building that program back up.

Feel free to reach out to me by cell (865 567 1654), and thanks for any consideration

you can give.

Tom Jones

Privileged and Confidential.If sent in error please discard/delete and contact me immediately by reply to this

email or by phone at865 540 8777. Thank you.

(Sent via Verizon Wireless)


8/14

From: Johnybrownjr


Subject: Fwd: Butch Davis Package


Mitch ---I'm out of the business of being involved bringing a football coach toKY .Your more than qualified and know the quality of coach we need to recruit the

type players to haveA winning successful program.Years ago we had a discussion about you consideringButch Davis and as I remember you were impressed with him as a person and coach.Obviously your

Aware of his ability to recruit and quick turn around at N C. His NCAA problemswere well publicized and maybe such to prohibit consideration even though he wascleared of any wrong doing.By accident Butch 's wife met a family member of mine who suggested I call herwhich I did.She gave me his resume and all references including both N C and Miami presidentand athletic directors .Certainly its impressive that he coached 101 players thatplayed in the NFL as well a number that are now coaches in college and the NFL.

Butch is presently with Tampa Bay and wants to get back in coaching so I'm passingalong to you his resume and reference for your consideration.Your selection is agreat opportunity toHave a new start after nine straight losing coaches and fifty years of losing.Reasonfor my frustration over the years after Bear Bryant was we never thought big.I'vealways thought we could recruit with anyone being with in a days drive for parentsto attend and within 500 milesOf two third of our country' s population.Talked with Lou Holtz when he spoke hereand he was interested in KY after leaving N D and said we could recruit withanyone.He stated it's not about X's and O's but getting the blue chip players .Yougot a chance to be a hero again so go get the best and give our fans something to

be proud of.Hope you take the time necessary to make the right decision .GoodLuck. JYB (I was there when we had Natl champions in both majorsports with Rupp and Bryant -Would be great to do that again --you know what itmeans to the pride and self esteem of our state). Resume and references to follow.

From: TTDDate: October 31, 201210:45:41 PM EDT

To:"[email protected]"Subject:Butch DavisPackage

Governor Brown,
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


9/14

Thank you for the call, itwas a pleasure speakingwith you. And, thank youfor the support and kindwords regarding myhusbandI am a total

believer in him.

Here is the package wediscussed. I'm sorry it tooka little while, but as Imentioned, I am not inChapel Hill right now andhad to have someone go tothe house and email it tome. If you have anyquestions, or would like meto send a hard copy booklet,

please just forward me youraddress. Also, if you wouldlike a list of references, I canget one together.

Again, it was a pleasure tospeak with you .

Sincerely,

Tammy Davis


10/14

From: Anne Kielkopf


Subject: No, no Petrino


Dear Mr. Barnhart,

I don't typically write letters to strangers in an effort to sway their judgment in the course ofdoing their jobs. Even as a UK alumnus and fan, I feel a bit presumptuous, but there is toomuch rumor in the press of fan support for Bobby Petrino as a successor to Joker Phillips forme to remain silent.

Don't do it. Please!

I'm not telling you anything the record does not show, but the man is a slimeball. He ispoison. His lack of integrity has been glaringly obvious at Louisville, Atlanta and Arkansas.His personal character stands in marked and unflattering contrast to that of coach Phillips andJohn Caliperi.

As much as I believe Kentucky needs and deserves a successful football program, I don'tbelieve we need it that badly. I hope you don't either.

Thank you for your time.

Larry KielkopfLouisville


11/14

From: Bill Khayat


Subject: Bill Khayat Letter and Resume


Attachments: Kentucky.docBill Khayat 2012 Resume.pdf

Mr. Barnhart, I have attached two documents. Thank you. Bill Khayat


12/14

From: Larry


Subject: Coach


-od help KY if evens considers Petrino - he might be a decent coach but his track record shows he is a

man with no character. We someone with a solid reputation.

What about Kirby Smart - defensive coordinator at Alabama. He has learned from Nick Saban - coachedfor him for many years. He has played and worked with Will Muschamp. He is young and an up andcomer. He knows the SEC. He can recruit. Consider him - could be just what KY needs.

Larry Melvin


13/14

From: Mike Courtney


Subject: I"ll keep this short since you"re probably getting lots of advice


Sonny Dykes, especially if he brings Tony Franklin with him as his OC.

No Bobby Petrino. No Mike Leach.

Thanks,Mike CourtneyClass of '74


14/14

From: William Martin


Subject: football coach prospect - bud foster


mr b - you didn't ask for suggestions but I will offer this.....

Bud Foster - defensive coach at Virginia Tech might be an attractive prospect for you.

Here is why I say look him over. My research shows:

he is the only NCAA football coach I can find who was born in Somerset, Ky. - Ky rootshe played for Frank Beamer at Murray State and has coached for him since that time 25 -

30 years ago - loyalhis record speaks for itself.he is comfortable talking 1-on-1 with just ordinary folks and is a vey good listener. Can

fully engage with parents and prospects and is not overbearing. - good recruiter. (Likes tovisit antique stores with his wife in his off time. That takes patience.)

He wants the best for his student athletes and is willing to help them achieve excellence. You can depend on what he says and he will out work anybody else you can name.

negative - may not want to leave Va Tech.Thank you for your time. I wish you well.Bill Martin630 Cane Run StreetHarrodsburg, Ky

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