Chris Townsend

The ESPN web site ran as its poll question the other day:  “Which is the tougher coaching job, Kentucky basketball or Notre Dame football?”

First, who cares?  Apparently I do, but just because the question annoyed me.  Seriously, neither of these programs has been relevant in over 10 years.  That’s right, 10 years. These schools will be the first to tell you that nothing less than a championship is acceptable.  Since neither Kentucky nor Notre Dame has sniffed a championship in recent memory, they are irrelevant by their own standards. 

Yet, somehow both schools continue to believe they are still the pride and joy of their respective sports.   I love hearing about their huge loyal fan bases and how they have fans all across America, yet I don’t know a single fan of either program.   

Both programs live in the past and are desperately hoping to relive it.  But the answer to ESPN’s poll question is easy.  Kentucky basketball is a much easier job. The Wildcats want to win and they want to win now.  Unlike the Fighting Irish, Kentucky won’t let pesky academic standards get in the way of success.  The University of Kentucky will give its new 31 million dollar investment whatever he needs to win.