I hate to start a thread with similar threads all having similar topics
but this needs to be said
Whether Mitch wanted Cal or not, whether Mitch had a hand in giving Cal the lifetime contract or not, he is still the Athletic Director for the University.
Not to dive into the hyperbole, but he is way past due on both addressing this publicly by stating that what has happened at Kentucky is not to UK standards and *HE* is taking steps to correct it
and secondly to actually do something to prevent this current slide in the program. We aren't Indiana by any stretch but the program invests heavily on winning, and if the program can't win the games it needs to win to be relevant in College Basketball, then as AD he has an obligation to the program to step in.
So far, IMO, he has hid in his office and refuses to address this, again, I'm guessing but I would say its because if he says the wrong thing, he just committed the university to a $33m buyout and there may be some heavy hitters including his boss , key donors and people on the BOT who will throw him out with the $33m, so the safe play is to say nothing and take the heat.
But that is his job - to address a poor performing sport , just like he did with women's basketball a few days ago.
At this point UK isn't keeping Calipari on merit, its keeping Calipari on due to their fiduciary responsibility as caretakers for the University. That isn't what is supposed to happen. Whoever structured that contract has to go. They guessed wrong, and if the AD is unwilling to step up and address it, he needs to go, especially if UK ends up paying it to Calipari or retains him for yet another failed season.
but this needs to be said
Whether Mitch wanted Cal or not, whether Mitch had a hand in giving Cal the lifetime contract or not, he is still the Athletic Director for the University.
Not to dive into the hyperbole, but he is way past due on both addressing this publicly by stating that what has happened at Kentucky is not to UK standards and *HE* is taking steps to correct it
and secondly to actually do something to prevent this current slide in the program. We aren't Indiana by any stretch but the program invests heavily on winning, and if the program can't win the games it needs to win to be relevant in College Basketball, then as AD he has an obligation to the program to step in.
So far, IMO, he has hid in his office and refuses to address this, again, I'm guessing but I would say its because if he says the wrong thing, he just committed the university to a $33m buyout and there may be some heavy hitters including his boss , key donors and people on the BOT who will throw him out with the $33m, so the safe play is to say nothing and take the heat.
But that is his job - to address a poor performing sport , just like he did with women's basketball a few days ago.
At this point UK isn't keeping Calipari on merit, its keeping Calipari on due to their fiduciary responsibility as caretakers for the University. That isn't what is supposed to happen. Whoever structured that contract has to go. They guessed wrong, and if the AD is unwilling to step up and address it, he needs to go, especially if UK ends up paying it to Calipari or retains him for yet another failed season.