Belk Bowl certain, Jones' status isn't
Bearcats to face Duke Dec. 27


Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendon Kay (11) hands the ball off to running back George Winn (32) during the second half against the Connecticut Huskies at Rentschler Field. The Bearcats defeated UConn, 34-17.

Written by
Tom Groeschen

University of Cincinnati football fans are celebrating the team’s acceptance of a Belk Bowl bid to play Duke, while wondering if Bearcats coach Butch Jones will still be around for the Dec. 27 game (6:30 p.m.) in Charlotte.

The Bearcats (9-3) learned Sunday night that they will play Duke (6-6) in the Belk Bowl, at Bank of America Stadium. UC, part of a four-way tie for the Big East championship, was the No. 3 bowl choice from its league. Duke, the No. 5 choice from the Atlantic Coast Conference, will play in its first bowl game since 1994.

For UC it will be the sixth bowl appearance in the last seven years. Last year, UC beat Vanderbilt 31-24 in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis.

This year, UC fans are concerned that Jones might leave for Purdue, Colorado or parts unknown.

EDIT: I added the newspaper articles.

The Lafayette Journal and Courier http://www.jconline.com/article/20121202...ck_check=1 reported that Jones spent four hours in West Lafayette (Ind.) on Sunday interviewing for the Purdue job. The paper posted a video of Jones on its website, showing the UC coach arriving at the local airport for the Purdue interview.


Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Butch Jones is doused with Gatorade by his players as they celebrate their win over the Connecticut Huskies for a Big East Championship title at Rentschler Field. The Bearcats defeated UConn, 34-17.

The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/paige/ci_22112...cu-closing reported that Jones is the leading candidate for the Colorado job, and said Jones could interview for that vacancy today.

Jones’ only recent comments about his status came Saturday night after UC’s 34-17 win at Connecticut in the regular season finale. When asked about the speculation surrounding him, Jones replied:

“I’m not going to talk about that. That’s absolutely ridiculous. It’s about our kids tonight. You know what, it’ll all work out, but this is a night for the kids and for our football program.”

Sunday, UC released a statement by Jones regarding the bowl bid:

“We are pleased to accept a bid to the Belk Bowl. We are excited by the prospect of a great number of Cincinnati fans being behind the team and helping us celebrate the holiday season in Charlotte.”

Jones, 44, has a 50-27 career coaching record. A native of Saugatuck, Mich., Jones was 27-13 at Central Michigan from 2007-09 and 23-14 at UC from 2010-12.

It is believed that UC is trying to rework part of Jones’ contract in an attempt to keep him. Included in those talks is a guarantee that Nippert Stadium will be renovated in a defined period of time.

UC athletic director Whit Babcock will neither confirm nor deny that UC is trying to redo Jones’ contract. Jones signed an extension at the end of last season that keeps him under contract through 2017.

After losing standouts such as quarterback Zach Collaros, running back Isaiah Pead and defensive lineman Derek Wolfe from last year’s 10-3 team, UC won a share of its fourth Big East title in five years.

UC was picked to finish fourth in the Big East preseason media poll.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20121...RONTPAGE|s

I'm not concerned he leaves for CU....in the least. I'd say there is 5% chance of that.

I'd put his chances at going to Purdue 45% and that's only due to conference alignment.....

(12-03-2012 07:33 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  I'm not concerned he leaves for CU....in the least. I'd say there is 5% chance of that.

I'd put his chances at going to Purdue 45% and that's only due to conference alignment.....

Quote:Colorado offering Jones $13.5 million over 5 years
12/03/12 at 8:49am by bkoch


Butch Jones might have a difficult time saying no to Colorado officials when he and his wife, Barbara, meet with them today in Boulder.

According to The Denver Post’s Woodie Page, Colorado is prepared to offer Jones a five-year contract worth $13.5 million, with upgrades to 53,613-seat Folsom Field, the Dal Ward Athletic Center and the team practice facilities.

If the money doesn’t turn Jones’ head, the facilities upgrades likely will. Under terms of the contract he signed with UC at the end of last season, Jones is scheduled to make $1.6 million in 2013, gradually increasing to a high of $2.05 million in 2017, the last year of the contract.

Jones is also known to have been frustrated at UC by the inability of the school to renovate Nippert Stadium. Furthermore, when Jones wanted to build a players’ lounge he had to raise the money himself through his 1200 Club for football boosters.

Jones does have great faith in UC athletic director Whit Babcock, who has been on the job for 13 months after replacing Mike Thomas. Whether that faith in Babcock will be enough to get Jones to turn down what Colorado is offering remains to be seen.

According to sources, UC has talked to Jones about re-doing his contract, including a pledge to renovate Nippert Stadium, but UC officials have said they don’t have the money to renovate either Nippert Stadium or Fifth Third Arena, so it’s unclear where that money would come from.

Damn sounds like Colorado really wants him.

(12-03-2012 09:28 AM)eroc Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 07:33 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  I'm not concerned he leaves for CU....in the least. I'd say there is 5% chance of that.

I'd put his chances at going to Purdue 45% and that's only due to conference alignment.....

Quote:Colorado offering Jones $13.5 million over 5 years
12/03/12 at 8:49am by bkoch


Butch Jones might have a difficult time saying no to Colorado officials when he and his wife, Barbara, meet with them today in Boulder.

According to The Denver Post’s Woodie Page, Colorado is prepared to offer Jones a five-year contract worth $13.5 million, with upgrades to 53,613-seat Folsom Field, the Dal Ward Athletic Center and the team practice facilities.

If the money doesn’t turn Jones’ head, the facilities upgrades likely will. Under terms of the contract he signed with UC at the end of last season, Jones is scheduled to make $1.6 million in 2013, gradually increasing to a high of $2.05 million in 2017, the last year of the contract.

Jones is also known to have been frustrated at UC by the inability of the school to renovate Nippert Stadium. Furthermore, when Jones wanted to build a players’ lounge he had to raise the money himself through his 1200 Club for football boosters.

Jones does have great faith in UC athletic director Whit Babcock, who has been on the job for 13 months after replacing Mike Thomas. Whether that faith in Babcock will be enough to get Jones to turn down what Colorado is offering remains to be seen.

According to sources, UC has talked to Jones about re-doing his contract, including a pledge to renovate Nippert Stadium, but UC officials have said they don’t have the money to renovate either Nippert Stadium or Fifth Third Arena, so it’s unclear where that money would come from.

Wow... if it's true that CU is going to offer Jones that insane amount of money, he'd be stupid to turn that down.

But Colorado... really? That much for Butch Jones???

Does anyone honestly believe Butch is good enough to warrant $13.5 million??

(12-03-2012 09:46 AM)pat5775 Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 09:28 AM)eroc Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 07:33 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  I'm not concerned he leaves for CU....in the least. I'd say there is 5% chance of that.

I'd put his chances at going to Purdue 45% and that's only due to conference alignment.....

Quote:Colorado offering Jones $13.5 million over 5 years
12/03/12 at 8:49am by bkoch


Butch Jones might have a difficult time saying no to Colorado officials when he and his wife, Barbara, meet with them today in Boulder.

According to The Denver Post’s Woodie Page, Colorado is prepared to offer Jones a five-year contract worth $13.5 million, with upgrades to 53,613-seat Folsom Field, the Dal Ward Athletic Center and the team practice facilities.

If the money doesn’t turn Jones’ head, the facilities upgrades likely will. Under terms of the contract he signed with UC at the end of last season, Jones is scheduled to make $1.6 million in 2013, gradually increasing to a high of $2.05 million in 2017, the last year of the contract.

Jones is also known to have been frustrated at UC by the inability of the school to renovate Nippert Stadium. Furthermore, when Jones wanted to build a players’ lounge he had to raise the money himself through his 1200 Club for football boosters.

Jones does have great faith in UC athletic director Whit Babcock, who has been on the job for 13 months after replacing Mike Thomas. Whether that faith in Babcock will be enough to get Jones to turn down what Colorado is offering remains to be seen.

According to sources, UC has talked to Jones about re-doing his contract, including a pledge to renovate Nippert Stadium, but UC officials have said they don’t have the money to renovate either Nippert Stadium or Fifth Third Arena, so it’s unclear where that money would come from.

Wow... if it's true that CU is going to offer Jones that insane amount of money, he'd be stupid to turn that down.

But Colorado... really? That much for Butch Jones???

Does anyone honestly believe Butch is good enough to warrant $13.5 million??

He's a good coach, and he's worth as much as someone will pay.

Having said that, the decision isn't a no-brainer. The Colorado program is moribund. CBJ will have a hard time taking his recruits out there; that is, even if they are on the whole good enough to be game-changers in the P12, which is uncertain. At the same time, CBJ has no recruiting inroads in CU's traditional territory.

This has all the earmarks of a three years then fired experiment. With the buyout, CBJ will make a lot of money, but he'll also be damaged goods. If he were stuck with a 500k MAC job, yes, it would be a chance worth taking...not so much when he has a 1.7 mil contract with UC, and a chance for a similar contract, or larger, from Purdue.

All IMHO.

(12-03-2012 09:46 AM)pat5775 Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 09:28 AM)eroc Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 07:33 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  I'm not concerned he leaves for CU....in the least. I'd say there is 5% chance of that.

I'd put his chances at going to Purdue 45% and that's only due to conference alignment.....

Quote:Colorado offering Jones $13.5 million over 5 years
12/03/12 at 8:49am by bkoch


Butch Jones might have a difficult time saying no to Colorado officials when he and his wife, Barbara, meet with them today in Boulder.

According to The Denver Post’s Woodie Page, Colorado is prepared to offer Jones a five-year contract worth $13.5 million, with upgrades to 53,613-seat Folsom Field, the Dal Ward Athletic Center and the team practice facilities.

If the money doesn’t turn Jones’ head, the facilities upgrades likely will. Under terms of the contract he signed with UC at the end of last season, Jones is scheduled to make $1.6 million in 2013, gradually increasing to a high of $2.05 million in 2017, the last year of the contract.

Jones is also known to have been frustrated at UC by the inability of the school to renovate Nippert Stadium. Furthermore, when Jones wanted to build a players’ lounge he had to raise the money himself through his 1200 Club for football boosters.

Jones does have great faith in UC athletic director Whit Babcock, who has been on the job for 13 months after replacing Mike Thomas. Whether that faith in Babcock will be enough to get Jones to turn down what Colorado is offering remains to be seen.

According to sources, UC has talked to Jones about re-doing his contract, including a pledge to renovate Nippert Stadium, but UC officials have said they don’t have the money to renovate either Nippert Stadium or Fifth Third Arena, so it’s unclear where that money would come from.

Wow... if it's true that CU is going to offer Jones that insane amount of money, he'd be stupid to turn that down.

But Colorado... really? That much for Butch Jones???

Does anyone honestly believe Butch is good enough to warrant $13.5 million??

Do back to back 10 win seasons mean anything to people around here? That's not a birth right people. This was a team that lost some very key pieces yet found a way to win yet another conference title (share) and could reach ten wins. He didn't have a CBJ is a top notch coach. He may not be at the level of BK but we are all spoiled. This guy is heads and tails above the legion of mediocre coaches that othre programs have in charge. CBJ is a very very good coach and some here won't realize what we got till its gone.

Most importantly, he will still be able to "Represent the C"!

(12-03-2012 10:23 AM)NofClifton Wrote:  Most importantly, he will still be able to "Represent the C"!

Actually he will be representing the B

Representing the BS?

(12-03-2012 09:46 AM)pat5775 Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 09:28 AM)eroc Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 07:33 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  I'm not concerned he leaves for CU....in the least. I'd say there is 5% chance of that.

I'd put his chances at going to Purdue 45% and that's only due to conference alignment.....

Quote:Colorado offering Jones $13.5 million over 5 years
12/03/12 at 8:49am by bkoch


Butch Jones might have a difficult time saying no to Colorado officials when he and his wife, Barbara, meet with them today in Boulder.

According to The Denver Post’s Woodie Page, Colorado is prepared to offer Jones a five-year contract worth $13.5 million, with upgrades to 53,613-seat Folsom Field, the Dal Ward Athletic Center and the team practice facilities.

If the money doesn’t turn Jones’ head, the facilities upgrades likely will. Under terms of the contract he signed with UC at the end of last season, Jones is scheduled to make $1.6 million in 2013, gradually increasing to a high of $2.05 million in 2017, the last year of the contract.

Jones is also known to have been frustrated at UC by the inability of the school to renovate Nippert Stadium. Furthermore, when Jones wanted to build a players’ lounge he had to raise the money himself through his 1200 Club for football boosters.

Jones does have great faith in UC athletic director Whit Babcock, who has been on the job for 13 months after replacing Mike Thomas. Whether that faith in Babcock will be enough to get Jones to turn down what Colorado is offering remains to be seen.

According to sources, UC has talked to Jones about re-doing his contract, including a pledge to renovate Nippert Stadium, but UC officials have said they don’t have the money to renovate either Nippert Stadium or Fifth Third Arena, so it’s unclear where that money would come from.

Wow... if it's true that CU is going to offer Jones that insane amount of money, he'd be stupid to turn that do
But Colorado... really? That much for Butch Jones???

Does anyone honestly believe Butch is good enough to warrant $13.5 million??

Apparently Purdue does if the reports of the value of their offer is accurate.

Folks, we are in a no limit high stakes game when our finances dictate that we should stick to the $10 tables.

(12-03-2012 03:15 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 09:46 AM)pat5775 Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 09:28 AM)eroc Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 07:33 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  I'm not concerned he leaves for CU....in the least. I'd say there is 5% chance of that.

I'd put his chances at going to Purdue 45% and that's only due to conference alignment.....

Quote:Colorado offering Jones $13.5 million over 5 years
12/03/12 at 8:49am by bkoch


Butch Jones might have a difficult time saying no to Colorado officials when he and his wife, Barbara, meet with them today in Boulder.

According to The Denver Post’s Woodie Page, Colorado is prepared to offer Jones a five-year contract worth $13.5 million, with upgrades to 53,613-seat Folsom Field, the Dal Ward Athletic Center and the team practice facilities.

If the money doesn’t turn Jones’ head, the facilities upgrades likely will. Under terms of the contract he signed with UC at the end of last season, Jones is scheduled to make $1.6 million in 2013, gradually increasing to a high of $2.05 million in 2017, the last year of the contract.

Jones is also known to have been frustrated at UC by the inability of the school to renovate Nippert Stadium. Furthermore, when Jones wanted to build a players’ lounge he had to raise the money himself through his 1200 Club for football boosters.

Jones does have great faith in UC athletic director Whit Babcock, who has been on the job for 13 months after replacing Mike Thomas. Whether that faith in Babcock will be enough to get Jones to turn down what Colorado is offering remains to be seen.

According to sources, UC has talked to Jones about re-doing his contract, including a pledge to renovate Nippert Stadium, but UC officials have said they don’t have the money to renovate either Nippert Stadium or Fifth Third Arena, so it’s unclear where that money would come from.

Wow... if it's true that CU is going to offer Jones that insane amount of money, he'd be stupid to turn that do
But Colorado... really? That much for Butch Jones???

Does anyone honestly believe Butch is good enough to warrant $13.5 million??

Apparently Purdue does if the reports of the value of their offer is accurate.

Folks, we are in a no limit high stakes game when our finances dictate that we should stick to the $10 tables.

It depends on what exactly is being offered. If its largely around salary, I think we can compete with these two schools. If it is about facilities expansion, etc. I'm not sure we can.

Purdue was offering about 4.5 Million for the coaching staff annually.

(12-03-2012 03:22 PM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote:  Purdue was offering about 4.5 Million for the coaching staff annually.

And Butch alone makes what? 1.7 Million. I would think we could get close to that # for the total staff if we had to in order to keep him.