Mitch Barnhart said all along he wanted to wait and see how this season played out on the field before deciding what the future of the Kentucky football program would be. After watching the Cats pile up a three-game Southeastern Conference winning streak Barnhart has seen enough to now where he wants go in the future.

The UK athletics director and head football coach Rich Brooks have begun discussions on a contract extension that will keep the fourth-year coach in the Bluegrass. Although details of the contract will need to be worked out over the coming weeks and months, both parties said this week they are intent on moving forward with their partnership.

"We talked earlier this week about having discussions when we have time about extending it," Brooks said. "I'm all for it. That's what I came here to do, to get this thing going. I know it hasn't been as quick as some people would like to see it but we've got a good group of young players coming back."

The move comes at a time when morale has never been higher around the program under Brooks' leadership. The Cats have beaten conference foes Mississippi State, Georgia and Vanderbilt to reach bowl eligibility and would seal a postseason berth with a win this Saturday over Louisiana-Monroe. By leading the Cats to a 6-4 record thus far this season Brooks has reached his highest win total at UK and raised his overall record to 15-29 with the Cats.

"This staff has done a very good job of garnering these kids to the point where we won three in a row and have a chance to go to a bowl game," Barnhart said.

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