Billy Gillispie, UK Coaching Update: Friday AM

Well, we thought we had our first hard news on the Gillispie situation last night when WHAS11 reported he had been fired. After a UK statement to the contrary, we realized we had no such luck.

Where does that leave us this morning? How is this day going to go? Did Billy Donovan order room service last night, and if so, how can we get an exclusive interview with the room service attendant?

Even though reports of Gillispie’s demise were premature, I still think there is pretty universal agreement that his future is not as the Kentucky coach. However, I do believe that UK was not lying when they said he had not been fired.

Based on what I have heard, I really believe that this split is going to be posed as a mutual one. This will allow both sides to save a little bit of face and for each to go on their merry way. Additionally, I am hearing that part of the settlement will be a negotiation of that painful $6 million buyout that is more palatable to the University’s budget.

Do not, however, look for a press conference announcing this. President Todd and Mitch Barnhart will be looking to avoid the firing squad of the media, so a press release sometime today is much more likely.

Now, regarding a replacement. It has been reported that Billy Donovan is in Lexington, and presumably it’s not for vacation. There are likely hard negotiations that are ongoing, and I do not think it is a done deal yet. I have heard that the deal should get done today, but do not necessarily expect an announcement today.

Due to timing and logistics issues, I think the announcement and pep rally could easily get pushed back to Monday if a deal gets finalized. On Monday, UK will only have to share SportsCenter time with the women’s Elite Eight and whatever ridiculous NFL story that ESPN concocts.

A lot of other names have been swirling around in past weeks, but there is really only one other that I have been hearing along with Billy Donovan: Travis Ford. Some people, including Pat Forde on Mike and Mike this morning, have said they believe he will become the coach.

Doug Gotlieb is also reporting that UK may go after Villanova’s Jay Wright.

Dreams have also played a big part in this whole Gillispie fiasco.  There was a lady who called into an Eastern Kentucky radio station and explained that Jesus came to her in a dream and said Gillispie would not be back.

Well this morning we received an email at info@straitpinkie.com from a gentleman who had a dream in which MLB Commissioner Bud Selig was actually responsible for Billy Gillispie’s impending dismissal.  Below is the dream.

I was at Lexington Catholic High School watching a basketball game. Billy G. showed up to enjoy some high school basketball. He was on the opposite side of the court from me, and he sat down right in front of Bud Selig, baseball’s commissioner. I wanted to let Billy know how I felt about his future, so I started to chant (by myself) “Bring Back Billy!!!” “Bring Back Billy!!!” I got a bunch of awkward looks from the small crowd, but I continued to chant in support of BCG.

Billy responded to my chant by pointing over his shoulder toward Bud Selig in a way that made it obvious that Billy believed his fate was in Bud’s hands. Billy was clearly not happy about reporting to Bud. “He’s in control”, Billy said.

There you have it. Bud Selig is the one making the decisions.

The situation is still, at best, fluid, so today will probably be just as interesting as yesterday, so keep typing in straitpinkie.com in your web browser.