How we have gotten to this point is because a strong-willed, stubborn-ass, egotistical guy may have just realized that he's about to lose all that is or appears to be dear to him. Fans and donors largely dictate whether coaches have jobs. We're here because we have a coach who has been allowed to jump off the gold standard track that we enjoyed for a few years, distant though they are now.
This whole crappy affair is extremely complicated and we need to get this right. To get it wrong means a reversal of fortunes that could irreparably damage the program and set us back even more than one can imagine. We do need to exercise some patience, but the law has to be laid down that a return to the humble Calipari and a track laid to get back to the gold standard is immediately put into motion. This approach would be much better than any buyout. We fans, administrators, and donors have to send a message that the same paths to meediocrity will not be tolerated further. Performance becomes a big condition of employment. Part of that must be retaining a good measure of this present roster. Part of his fundamental change of course must be that we are no longer a stepping stone after 10 months to the NBA. Build this roster for longevity. Build it so it becomes an efficient machine that can compete favorably with the best teams in college basketball with dominance and winning the ultimate goals.
After hearing what I did today, and for what I feel is best for this program's long-term sustainment, I hope Mitch Barnhart stays with Calipari but issues these kinds of strict guidelines for the future conduct of this program. I am confident that we can get to a realistic level, a Nick Saban type standard wherein competing for championships is not just a yearly expectation but is also a reality.
For the good of our program, I think retaining and supporting Coach Calipari, provided he proves he is willing to make these changes, is best. We are here in this mess because of a yearly mass exodus thanks to his flawed business model--that must change. This beloved program is simply not going to be successful if that is allowed to happen every year--we know it now, enough sampling.
Frankly, I am like the title says: embarrassed, disappointed, and furious that we're going through this. I would find it refreshing for us to go in a different direction and just be done with it; Calipari also probably needs something new. However, it will pay us dividends to be careful and cautious. It behooves us to have even more patience. He sounds both contrite and committed, and there were some mitigating circumstances surrounding this year that made it much more difficult than we had hoped. Given that, on the heels of immediate changes, I think one more year to get back on track will be best for all concerned. I am confident that the Calipari we once knew will return, as the glory will return. One of the great lessons of my almost 68 years is that patience truly is a virtue--so many tremendously good things have happened when I have exercised great patience and deferred instant gratification. We have exercised patience and more, yes, but I'm sure that doing it a little more will serve us well.
Go Big Blue! Go Cats! Forever and Always! Max, UK, Class of 1978
This whole crappy affair is extremely complicated and we need to get this right. To get it wrong means a reversal of fortunes that could irreparably damage the program and set us back even more than one can imagine. We do need to exercise some patience, but the law has to be laid down that a return to the humble Calipari and a track laid to get back to the gold standard is immediately put into motion. This approach would be much better than any buyout. We fans, administrators, and donors have to send a message that the same paths to meediocrity will not be tolerated further. Performance becomes a big condition of employment. Part of that must be retaining a good measure of this present roster. Part of his fundamental change of course must be that we are no longer a stepping stone after 10 months to the NBA. Build this roster for longevity. Build it so it becomes an efficient machine that can compete favorably with the best teams in college basketball with dominance and winning the ultimate goals.
After hearing what I did today, and for what I feel is best for this program's long-term sustainment, I hope Mitch Barnhart stays with Calipari but issues these kinds of strict guidelines for the future conduct of this program. I am confident that we can get to a realistic level, a Nick Saban type standard wherein competing for championships is not just a yearly expectation but is also a reality.
For the good of our program, I think retaining and supporting Coach Calipari, provided he proves he is willing to make these changes, is best. We are here in this mess because of a yearly mass exodus thanks to his flawed business model--that must change. This beloved program is simply not going to be successful if that is allowed to happen every year--we know it now, enough sampling.
Frankly, I am like the title says: embarrassed, disappointed, and furious that we're going through this. I would find it refreshing for us to go in a different direction and just be done with it; Calipari also probably needs something new. However, it will pay us dividends to be careful and cautious. It behooves us to have even more patience. He sounds both contrite and committed, and there were some mitigating circumstances surrounding this year that made it much more difficult than we had hoped. Given that, on the heels of immediate changes, I think one more year to get back on track will be best for all concerned. I am confident that the Calipari we once knew will return, as the glory will return. One of the great lessons of my almost 68 years is that patience truly is a virtue--so many tremendously good things have happened when I have exercised great patience and deferred instant gratification. We have exercised patience and more, yes, but I'm sure that doing it a little more will serve us well.
Go Big Blue! Go Cats! Forever and Always! Max, UK, Class of 1978
