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Bill Belichick’s reported buyout talks could spell trouble for Kentucky Football
Posted on 10/9/25 at 6:34 am
Posted on 10/9/25 at 6:34 am
quote:
According to Ollie Connolly, a writer for The Guardian US and Read Optional, Bill Belichick has reportedly discussed buyout options with North Carolina’s leadership, signaling his willingness to pay his own $1 million buyout if he can find a “soft landing” elsewhere, whether it be with another team or in the media.
While that news is notable on its own, it could have an unexpected ripple effect that impacts Kentucky football.
Kentucky fans continue to eye Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall, a former Wildcat player and assistant, as a potential top candidate to return to Lexington if Mark Stoops were to step away or be let go after the season.
However, Sumrall’s name had also been connected to North Carolina’s coaching search last year following Mack Brown’s firing.
If Belichick does leave UNC or he gets fired, don’t be surprised if Sumrall’s name gets thrown around again for the job.
Of course, the Arkansas Razorbacks are trying to replace Sam Pittman, and Sumrall could be the perfect replacement, and it would get him back in the SEC.
There will be plenty of other openings before the season ends. It will just be interesting to see if Sumrall stays another year at Tulane or if he finally goes to a Power 4 school somewhere.
For now, Belichick’s situation adds another twist to the coaching carousel. For Kentucky fans, it may complicate what many hoped could be a homecoming reunion for the fans and Sumrall.
Wow!
LINK
This post was edited on 10/9/25 at 6:35 am
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Posted on 10/9/25 at 6:40 am to TrueLefty
Not sure which is the better job.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 6:53 am to TrueLefty
Further proof that he was nothing without Brady.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 6:58 am to TrueLefty
UNC would be an easier place to win games than Kentucky or Arkansas. Not that UNC is a better program, just that it is in the ACC. If using as a stepping stone, I'd say UNC is the best job of the 3.
Would love to see Arkansas succeed but without a 180 on NIL for football, it really doesn't matter much who the coach is.
Would love to see Arkansas succeed but without a 180 on NIL for football, it really doesn't matter much who the coach is.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 7:19 am to Ole Ag
quote:
If using as a stepping stone, I'd say UNC is the best job of the 3.
On paper, maybe. But in reality, Mack Brown was the last coach to leave UNC for a better job, and that was 30 years ago.
Butch Davis, Larry Fedora, and now BB have all gone to UNC, and walked away battered and bruised.
It's a harder job than it appears to be. It has a lot of meddling at the BoT level, and it's always going to be 2nd, and probably 3rd, given how successful the baseball program has been.
If you're wanting a job in the ACC, VaTech is the better gig that's open right now.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 7:24 am to RoyalAir
quote:
If you're wanting a job in the ACC, VaTech is the better gig that's open right now.
Not a chance. VT is relatively underfunded and a very difficult job overall. No one except Frank Beamer has ever won there. UNC’s brand dwarfs VT.
This post was edited on 10/9/25 at 7:25 am
Posted on 10/9/25 at 7:42 am to Crowknowsbest
UNC > KY
Simply b/c UNC has proven over time that they are willing to cheat cheat cheat.
UNCheaters
Simply b/c UNC has proven over time that they are willing to cheat cheat cheat.
UNCheaters
Posted on 10/9/25 at 7:50 am to TrueLefty
Tom Brady should do the Chad Powers thing at UNC.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 7:51 am to daydreamin
quote:
mply b/c UNC has proven over time that they are willing to cheat cheat cheat. UNCheaters
The sham classes that UNC was teaching actually were not considered cheating because the entire student body was offered the classes, not just the athletes.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 7:55 am to TrueLefty
Tulane still have their eyes on Blake Baker when Sumrall leaves?
Posted on 10/9/25 at 9:07 am to RelentlessTide
quote:That is a good question. Maybe the answer depends on what your objective is. If you are looking to use the job as a stepping stone to your ultimate destination, Kentucky might be more of the high risk/high reward type. Any coach who was to win beyond the Mark Stoops level at Kentucky would be in line for some top tier jobs; whereas, win at UNC (short of a Dabo Swinney level), and people will probably say, "Yes, you've done a nice job, but that was in the ACC."
Not sure which is the better job.
Now, if you are looking for your ultimate destination, UNC would probably be the better pick. If someone had the kind of success that Mack Brown did in his first tenure at UNC, they could stay as long as they want, and become, if not a legend, definitely a fixture.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 9:07 am to Dallaswho
Sumrall is the next hot name from the lower level for Power 4 jobs.
He was great at Troy. Would be a great hire for UNC. In the ACC there's 3 teams he couldn't compete with...in the SEC there's about 10 if he went to Arkansas or Kentucky.
He was great at Troy. Would be a great hire for UNC. In the ACC there's 3 teams he couldn't compete with...in the SEC there's about 10 if he went to Arkansas or Kentucky.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 9:09 am to RelentlessTide
quote:
Not sure which is the better job.
Tulane is a better gig than all 3 of those shite sandwiches.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 9:10 am to Chad4Bama
Is BB going to pull a SOS and leave in the middle of the season. 
Posted on 10/9/25 at 9:11 am to theballguy
He had a real good defensive mind and was definitely responsible for some of that success and with NY winning that Super Bowl but he is not a fit for college at all besides that distraction g/f.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 9:17 am to RelentlessTide
Arkansas is the only one of those programs I can remember putting together good teams, between the McFadden/Felix Jones/Peyton Hillis years and the Petrino years. Those teams gave LSU fits.
I remember what it looks like to see Arkansas humming and ranked high. I'm on the younger side I guess (started following CFB in the mid-90s) and I just don't remember Kentucky or UNC ever fielding top 5 teams.
If Arkansas can get their NIL situation figured out, and the right coach, they could be a good program. They have a good fan base and support. They will always have a meat grinder schedule though and have to compete with the big boys for LA, TX, & MS recruits.
I remember what it looks like to see Arkansas humming and ranked high. I'm on the younger side I guess (started following CFB in the mid-90s) and I just don't remember Kentucky or UNC ever fielding top 5 teams.
If Arkansas can get their NIL situation figured out, and the right coach, they could be a good program. They have a good fan base and support. They will always have a meat grinder schedule though and have to compete with the big boys for LA, TX, & MS recruits.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 9:23 am to TrueLefty
quote:
Kentucky fans continue to eye Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall, a former Wildcat player and assistant, as a potential top candidate to return to Lexington if Mark Stoops were to step away or be let go after the season.
Would take a competent AD, ours buttons the top button on his polos.
I guess Barnhardt could show that UK has paid around $9 million per SEC win season the last few years.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 9:23 am to Crowknowsbest
quote:Most UGA fans would know that none other than Bill Dooley was a winner at VA Tech. Even while a lame duck Coach / AD.
No one except Frank Beamer has ever won there.
He laid the ground work for Beamer.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 9:39 am to baytiger11
quote:
If Arkansas can get their NIL situation figured out, and the right coach, they could be a good program.
The NIL is going to be an issue I fear. It isn't that Arkansas doesn't have money. The state itself is dirt poor but NW Arkansas has money out the wazoo. The problem, right now, is that with NW Arkansas in a boom economy the big pocket donors have plenty of neat toys to spend their money on.
Why donate 10 million to a shaky football team when you can build a park and name it after yourself? Or put up an apartment complex that will make you money for the next 30 years?
Posted on 10/9/25 at 9:44 am to TrueLefty
it could have an unexpected ripple effect
Every coaching move contributes to the ripple effect some more than others.
Every coaching move contributes to the ripple effect some more than others.
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