A sign supporting University of Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie was put up in front of Memorial Coliseum on the UK campus. PHOTO COURTESY OF LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER

Friday morning, the Lexington Herald Banner reported one of Gillispie’s assistant coaches was seen cleaning out his office on Thursday. He wouldn’t say why.

The Herald also reported a press confrence was expected Friday concerning Gillispie’s future.

So, what does all this mean for Oklahoma State fans? Nothing yet, but it wouldn’t hurt to brace yourself.

Before Gillispie was hired two years ago, Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart got shot down several times when he contacted coaches about the job. Florida’s Billy Donovan? Nope. Villanova’s Jay Wright? Nope. Texas’ Rick Barnes? Nope.

Some say Barnhart was aiming too high, going for elite coaches.

So, was there a lesson learned? Could he go right after a guy like Travis Ford — a guy that would jump at the chance to coach his alma mater — instead of shooting for coaching stars?

Here’s a couple other links to items on Gillispie and Ford:

* ESPN’s Pat Forde says there’s plenty of blame to go around in this deal.

* Here’s a look at Gillispie’s “Memorandum of Understanding” at Kentucky. He never signed his contract. Oh, check out the part about his buyout. $1.5 million per years left on his seven-year contract. By my math that’s a cool $6 million Billy Clyde could be taking home.

* The USA Today had a quick item on Bill Self defending Gillispie.

– Ryan Sharp, Asst. Sports Editor

The door isn’t completely closed on the possibility of Guthrie star athlete Donte’ Foster playing football at Oklahoma State.

I traded text messages with the 6-foot-2, 180-pound football and basketball standout Thursday afternoon and he said he is being pursued as an invited walk-on for the Cowboys.

Guthrie coach Rafe Watkins told multiple Web sites that Foster-to-OSU was a done deal, but Foster says it’s not 100 percent just yet.

“It’s a possibility,” he said. “I’ve talked it over with them and they said it would be a great idea, so there’s a chance I may do that. It’s not written in stone quite yet though.”

Foster got some interest from OSU just before signing day, but never received a scholarship offer. At that time, the Cowboys needed more help in the secondary and were considering Foster as a safety prospect.

But with some attrition at receiver, OSU has come back around to Foster on the offensive side of the ball.

The Cowboys may have balked at offering Foster a scholarship because they had not hosted him in camp, and thus, did not get the chance to see his ability up-close.

If Foster walks on, it’s the best possible scenario for the Pokes. They don’t have to use a scholarship, but still bring in a receiver with big-time play-making ability — just check his YouTube clips — who has NCAA Division I scholarship offers in football and basketball. And Foster gets to play at the school he has long wanted to attend.

Guthrie football player Donte Foster. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

by andrea cohen

By now you’ve read that OSU baseball player Dylan Brown intends to join the football team. Brown was an all-state wide receiver in high school in Florida. And let’s not kid ourselves, OSU needs all the options at wide receiver they can get.

But perhaps the most interesting thing about Brown, who I know very little about, is who his high school quarterback was.

Anyone care to take a guess?

Anyone?

That’s right, Robert Marve, the former Miami quarterback that’s looking for a new home and OSU just happens to be at the top of his short list.  Marve told ESPN that he and Brown have talked but that the QB wasn’t going to pick a school just based on having a buddy there.

 Marve also told ESPN that he’s been working out and throwing to Seattle Seahawks WR Logan Payne, a former University of Minnesota player who lives near him.

 - Ryan Sharp, Asst. Sports Editor