Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart needed only four games to know Guy Morriss was the man to lead his football program. Barnhart solidified Morriss' tenuous contract situation Monday, giving the second-year Wildcats coach a deal that could keep him in Lexington through 2007.

        Morriss took over the UK program in February 2001 following the resignation of Hal Mumme amid internal and NCAA investigations into dozens of recruiting violations. The team was slapped with a three-year probation, a one-year bowl ban and scholarship reductions. The Wildcats went 2-9 in Morriss' first season but are off to their best start in 18 years (4-0) with a natio nally televised showdown at No.7 Florida on Saturday.

        Morriss originally accepted a one-year, $400,000 contract from former athletic director Larry Ivy. That deal was extended through the 2005 season several months later by UK president Lee Todd, although a performance clause allowed the school or Morriss to void the deal on an annual basis.

        The financial terms of the contract will remain the same as in earlier versions - $170,000 in base salary and $230,000 in compensation for his radio and TV shows and the school's endorsement deal with Nike - but may be renegotiated following the season.

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