Before there was Coach Cal, there was Billy Clyde. In fact, the thought of hiring Calipari seemed too much of a risk. Many fans felt it he was trouble , just waiting to happen and we have some old forum post as a reminder.
Looking back on it now it seems that the Johan Calipari hire was a no brain-er. And it’s hard to see anything wrong when your winning, but unfortunately those skeletons do live in our Coaches closet. It’s just a question of whether we can keep them there! He’s never been personally mentioned in any of the NCAA’s reports regarding violations at both Massachusetts and Memphis. I also have to believe that the UK did a thorough job in researching these issues before making him an offer.
We ran across these old post on a discussion board and it’s a reminder that we didn’t always want Coach Cal and many fans still have concerns. Take a read through these statements for a little blast from the past.
“Calipari would have brought us another …probation!”
“He’s a bigger ***** than Pitino, and hasn’t done jack**** as much.”
“His offense is basically 5 guys playing a pickup game. They will shoot themselves out of any chance at a national title given the chance.”
“He certainly knows how to cheat the best”
“He will never win a National Championship because he has no control over his players.”
“We would have been on probation in a month. I hear they got crap on that guy feet deep.”
“If we had hired Calipari we would be on probation within 5 years.”
“I don’t think cali and his team will cut any nets, maybe some throats, but no nets.”
“We’d be on probation the week after he got here.”
“There would be, however, always the lingering doubt that the late 1980s might happen all over again.”
“UK wasn’t going to hire a coach with a past involving NCAA sanctions.”
“Support our coach, he is who you should be talking up, not some two-bit cheater.”
“I wouldn’t want him at Kentucky. He is not high on my list of being trustworthy.”
“Calipari would have gotten us the death penalty.”
“If you like goal is to be on probation then Calipari would have been a great fit.
Do you think Calipari will lead to any NCAA voilations in the future?
