LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Kentucky football coach Rich Brooks will be back next season to lead the Wildcats' struggling program, the school's athletics director said Tuesday.<br>
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Athletics director Mitch Barnhart said he made the announcement because he was tired of watching players agonize over whether everything they did could cost Brooks his job.<br>
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Barnhart said he told Brooks on Monday night and met with the team Tuesday morning. The players were unanimously supportive of the decision, he said.<br>
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Barnhart said the effort players have shown in last few weeks show they are improving. In their past three games, Kentucky lost 13-7 at Mississippi, defeated Mississippi State 13-7 and lost last Saturday to Auburn 49-27.<br>
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Barnhart also said Brooks had established a good recruiting base and had his priorities in order.<br>
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``It's time to start winning some games and giving fans the things they deserve,'' he said.<br>
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UK President Lee Todd said he was in ``complete agreement'' with Barnhart's decision.<br>
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``We asked Coach Brooks to take a program in ruins and rebuild it,'' Todd said in a written statement. ``To that end, I am convinced that Coach Brooks and his staff are building a solid foundation for the future. Making this decision now will give our recruits the assurances they need and deserve as well as our current players, who have expressed strong support for this staff.''<br>
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Brooks, in the third year of a five-year contract as head coach, has an 8-23 record, including 3-18 in the Southeastern Conference. The Wildcats are 2-6 this season, 1-4 in the SEC with games remaining against Vanderbilt, Georgia and Tennessee.<br>
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The Wildcats were plagued by injuries earlier in the season when starters were lost at receiver, defensive tackle, defensive end and free safety.<br>
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(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
