Mark Stoops maintains he will return "if it’s up to me," and so far, Mitch Barnhart hasn't grabbed a microphone to contradict him.
But let’s be adults here. The silence from the administration is deafening, and the conversations happening behind the scenes are very real. The 41-0 shutout loss to Louisville didn't just end a season; it likely ended an era.
With seven of Kentucky’s ten assistants on expiring contracts, a massive staff overhaul is coming regardless of who the head coach is. But for a fanbase that has seen attendance crater and apathy set in, a simple staff shuffle won't be enough.