Reset Root Password MySQL on Ubuntu
I managed to figure it out.  I started digging more into the user table and found the root user entry, and then found the authentication_string column.  I had already followed the guides that someone commented and it didn't work, not sure why, so I tried the following.
mysql&gt; USE mysql
mysql&gt; UPDATE user
    -&gt; SET authentication_string = 'newpassword'
    -&gt; WHERE User = 'root';

RESULT: Query OK, 1 row affected (0.01 sec)
Rows matched:1 Changed: 1 Warnings: 0
mysql&gt; FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

I then checked on phpmyadmin and it shows that it has a password on it now.  I think it should be good now...unless there is another check i need to run to be sure?