It's no different for me. The people that love him still love him. The people that hate on him and think he's shady still think that. The people like myself that think he is amazing at what he does and figure he knows how to work around the system like most great coaches feel the same.

I fully admit that as of now I have not read the other thread on this so if this post is out of place I aplologize:lol:.

I will say that after listening to the news reports on this since last night it does concern me. Calapari has been mentioned in some things like this (NCAA trouble) before and although he has not been named, he was the head coach at Memphis and was the head coach at UMass years ago when the whole Camby thing broke. I stated when all the threads were going before and just after Cal was hired that was my only concern with him, just seemed to always be a dark cloud around him.

U.K./Barnhart knew about this before they hired him, checked with the NCAA on Calapari and were told there were no violations at that time (per:espn/Forde). What some may not know is that this problem had just recently been reported at that time and they (NCAA) could not comment on that. I sincerly hope that Cal is not involved in any of this but we have to say that him being the head coach when this happened does not look good.

I will wait and see what else comes out on this but I will say that should anything be proven on Coach Cal then imo the blame falls on Mitch Barnhart as well. I am not throwing Calapari or Barnhart undert the bus now at all. All I am saying is that "if" Cal is proven gulty of knowing/involved with any of this and "if" Barnhart knew of these dealings then imo both should go. I still support coach Cal and will wait and see what happens with it. I am glad that although not named in any violation or reqiuired to do so that Cal is going to testify in this case before the NCAA.

 

I do know that no matter what happens that this will only magnify the scrutiny on Cal and U.K. program, that is not a "everyone against us (UK)" type statement, just what I think will happen.

ESPN's 1st and 10 segment is already blasting Calapari along with saying U.K. should go down if Cal found guilty or knowing of these violations at Memphis and still hirig him. Bayless is calling for a one year suspension on Calapari coaching if found guilty. I don't put alot of stock in Bayless, just saying it has already started in some venues so I am prepared for all of the bashing from any number of people. I will not condem them for bashing now...unless all is proven and cleared on Clapri and the "blasting/bashing" continues.

Should coach Cal be proven to have known or been involved with this then I will blast him....and Barnhart hard! Right now I still support Cal, we will have to see what happens.

 

Notice all the bolded "If's"............there are too may "If's" right now.

Edited May 28, 200917 yr by oldrambler

This has nothing to do with Bayless's comments about UK, but I've thought he's an idiot for quite some time now.

Bump in the road. Hopefully he had no knowledge of the problems and he should be OK. He is still the coach at UK, but he has to walk a very tight rope. Its still about the wins. And the higher ups at UK are not stupid.

Does anyone think Barnheardt (sp?) looks like Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner when he does press conferences? :idunno:

My thoughts on end of Calipari's honeymoon:

 

John Calipari's exquisite honeymoon in Lexington is likely over. The new Kentucky coach has done everything right in his first couple of months on the job - he has brought in the nation's top recruiting class, represented the University of Kentucky from coast-to-coast, excelled in positive PR, made the correct choice in every decision and generated more interest in Kentucky basketball than has been witnessed in over a decade.

 

What does it take to wipe out all of his good deeds?

 

It takes reports coming out of Memphis that the NCAA has charged the Memphis basketball program with major violations stemming from the 2007-08 season. The coach of that Memphis team, of course, was John Calipari. Memphis stands to potentially forfeit their 38-win season and Final Four appearance if the allegations are proven to be true.

 

Calipari was not named in the NCAA report and is not being investigated in any way. Somehow, that will not matter as you can guarantee that this will leave a black mark on Calipari's Kentucky tenure that will never be forgotten. Memphis supporters and anti-Calipari band wagoners are already out in full force. Sadly, even if Calipari is 100% innocent (you know, that whole innocent until proven guilty thing), every positive goal that he obtains at Kentucky will be met with constant reminders of how he is cheating, how the wins will be forfeited or how he won with ineligible players.

 

Calipari's UMASS team had its Final Four appearance stripped many years ago and that black mark still follows him today. Add that to the new Memphis allegations and it spells trouble, warranted or not, for everything good that Calipari does.

 

Sadly, John Calipari's honeymoon with the University of Kentucky is now over. How will the first year of marriage be?

 

 

 

While I do feel it's definately a blimish, I don't think it's something that will harm him at UK. I'm sure Cal, Memphis, AND UK have known about this for a little while now and I'm sure Barnhart will be watching very closely to make sure this doesn't happen here. I think things are different for a school who is not a powerhouse and trying to reach that elite status rather than a school who is already an elite program. I think the elite schools (especially UK after Sutton) will make sure 100% that they are doing things the right way. When a school like Memphis is on the verge of being elite, I think more people are willing to break a rule here or there to reach that elite program status and I'm not talking of Coach Cal because I honestly believe that he knew nothing of either violation at UMASS and Memphis. UK officials and the NCAA are going to be watching like a hawk, Coach Cal will be fine.

Seems like a bit of an overreaction at this point.

 

If Calipari is cleared by the NCAA, then why should I care at this point?

Seems like a bit of an overreaction at this point.

 

If Calipari is cleared by the NCAA, then why should I care at this point?

No more of an overreaction than that of his hiring.

 

I love roller coasters, but this ride ain't no fun.

No more of an overreaction than that of his hiring.

 

:thumb:

Seems like a bit of an overreaction at this point.

 

If Calipari is cleared by the NCAA, then why should I care at this point?

 

I agree.

This has nothing to do with Bayless's comments about UK, but I've thought he's an idiot for quite some time now.

:thumb: :thumb:

Seems like a bit of an overreaction at this point.

 

If Calipari is cleared by the NCAA, then why should I care at this point?

 

Because the last two programs he has left in college have been in trouble for NCAA violations. If you want to believe he had no knowledge of the situations you are very naive. I guess you also believe that Eddie Sutton had no knowledge of the violations at UK during his tenure and that Dwayne Casey was just a rogue Asstant coach since Eddie was cleared of any wrong doing. I guess coach Cal never flew with the players and never thought to question why Rose's Brother was on the plane. Thats right he had no knowledge he wasnt paying. Coach Call will win and win big at UK. Just wondering if the NCAA will be in town when he leaves like his other two stops.

No more of an overreaction than that of his hiring.

 

I love roller coasters, but this ride ain't no fun.

 

His hiring brought the #1 recruiting class, #1 player, and several #1 preseason rankings.

 

I'd say this is more of any overreaction than that.

Maybe he knew, maybe he didnt. Who am I to say. Until he does something while at the University of Kentucky Im not going to jump ship on him.

Seems like a bit of an overreaction at this point.

 

If Calipari is cleared by the NCAA, then why should I care at this point?

 

:thumb: