I was at the post-game presser.

K stated everything u would expect him to say when not questioned too hard: Said he was staying "for the long haul."  Said he was hired to do a job and was going to do it.  Repeated again that he and TJ had not "talked."

But... no one really put him on the spot with specific questions--such as 1)what "long haul" really meant now, 2)whether there had been ANY  contact whatsoever  between either him or his representatives and with U of L or its representatives concerning his employment, or 3) even if a candidate search was indeed going on.

Naw, I didn't go there either, although I and others were sorely tempted, but....

After a come-from-behind, feel good moment like the end of the game--after so many losses-- no one in that presser wanted to push too hard with pointed hard questions.  Eric Crawford and others danced around the issue, asking  K and each of the players how they "dealt" with "it". ("it" being very vaguely defined as "the rumors")

K allowed that "it" did affect his family-- he mentioned his wife in particular, and  said it was hard on his family.

Obviously also  the players were at least aware of  "it'-- Vic was the most specific, stating he had received numerous texts but he just ignored them, and he and the team were not going to worry about them "until they heard something official."  This last comment raised a few eyebrows.

There was NEVER  a direct statement by K or any of the players that these rumors were absolutely false or that K would be back next yr. The players simply stated that they supported K and were ignoring "it".

As has been pointed out by top insiders-- K will most likely stay through this season--so this is really no surprise.  If we had lost the game by 20--as it appeared we might do at halftime--then the presser might have been a lot different --and tougher--I believe.

K bought himself some temporary lessening of the intense pressure of  "it" with this victory.  But let me assure you: "it was the 2 ton  pound pink elephant in the presser and in the press box all night long--and "it" ain't going way...