Hmm, so Memphis offers John Calipari more money than Kentucky in the immediate future but Cal jumps to Lexington, saying that coaching at Kentucky was his dream job? I guess it’s entirely possible, but now something tells me he was ready to jump ship so quickly because he knew the NCAA was getting ready to crack down on Memphis for major violations. Yeah, I’d say knowing a guy cheated on the SAT is a pretty big deal. The Memphis Commercial Appeal says the Memphis program is being accused by the NCAA of major violations:
The allegations include “knowing fraudulence or misconduct” on an SAT exam by a player on the 2007-08 team.
The NCAA alleged the prospective player became eligible after an “unknown individual” completed his SAT. The player, said the NCAA, “subsequently competed for the men’s basketball team through the 2007-08 season, which included his participation in the 2008 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.”
The only player who fits the description in the report (a guy who only played on the team during the ‘07-’08 season) is Derrick Rose who’s currently with the Bulls. The punishment as of now is that the team could forfeit its 38-win season and Final Four appearance of two seasons ago. I’m pretty sure the punishment will be much harsher — almost program killing — if the allegations are proven to be true. And they better darn well follow Calipari to Kentucky — he can’t just escape the problems and violations he committed by running away from them. They should follow him the way Kelvin Sampson’s problems followed him to Indiana.
Maybe this will temper all that excitement created when John Wall said he’d go to Kentucky. And maybe now this also explains why the school fired Billy Gillispie — they knew Calipari wanted to get out of Memphis and that they’d be able to sign him. Ahah! Everything’s starting to come together!
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You know why they fired Gillispie. It had nothing to do with Cal… or wins and losses for that matter.
No I don’t, you’ll have to explain to me why.
These are your words: “I’m pretty sure the punishment will be much harsher — almost program killing — if the allegations are proven to be true. And they better darn well follow Calipari to Kentucky — he can’t just escape the problems and violations he committed by running away from them.”
Please enlighten us all on the actual violations that JOHN CALIPARI committed at Memphis. His name was not included ANYWHERE on the official letter from the NCAA. UK knew about this before they hired him, and they discussed the issue with the NCAA’s lead investigator. The NCAA said there was no evidence of misconduct by Calipari or anyone on his staff.
If you actually took the time to read the NCAA memo, you would see that 95% of the violations stem from women’s golf. I guess Calipari should be blamed for those violations as well?
Lemme guess, you must be a Kentucky fan. You want to stick your head in the sand, go right ahead. I have a really hard time believing a coach didn’t know that there was funny business going on when a player cheated on the SATs and I would even have good reason to believe the school set up the help. We’re not idiots here.
And, if you want to know why UK fired Gillispie, I’ll give you several reasons:
1) He refused to sign an official contract despite two years of negotiations with UK officials
2) He had to be reprimanded (by the President of the University) on at least two occassions for his off-the-court behavior. To nail home this point, Gillispie has been spotted nearly every night in Lexington since his termination hitting on college girls and drunk off his ass
3) Mental abuse of his players. Making a player sit in a bathroom stall for two hours after the game because he played like s— and that’s where he belonged (according to Coach). Kicking a player off the team bus and making him walk because he wasn’t tough enough. Verbal abuse that knew no bounds.
4) Public embarrassment. He treated the local and national media like crap. Jeannine Edwards being the best example. He blew off public appearances and things that were directly tied to his compensation package.
5) At least 6 players from last year’s roster indicated to the UK administration that they planned to transfer after the season if Gillispie remained as coach.
Would you like more examples or will that suffice?
“Lemme guess, you must be a Kentucky fan. You want to stick your head in the sand, go right ahead. I have a really hard time believing a coach didn’t know that there was funny business going on when a player cheated on the SATs and I would even have good reason to believe the school set up the help. We’re not idiots here.”
Prove it. The NCAA certainly can’t and didn’t find ANY EVIDENCE to suggest that were the case. Based on your logic, every individual should be deemed guilty unless proven innocent. Who needs evidence when people like you can pass judgement based on opinion only?
There isn’t even convincing evidence that Rose cheated on the test. That is still under pretty heavy dispute at this point.
Almost everything you wrote (and most of it hasn’t been published anywhere before) can be said about Bob Knight while he was the coach of Indiana. That’s not what got Gillispie fired — it’s that he didn’t win enough and that Calipari was available. Simple as that.
Fight Fight Fight Fight!
IT IS MUCH WORSE THAN JUST ROSE .. 2 Universities are involved!
The Chicago Newspapers are over this story. They are not saying if Rose did the Grade Change. They are flat out saying that he was involved.
And now the newspapers have said that they know who actually who took the SATs. I find that a little hard to believe.
BUT… this is a summary of what has been reported in the Tribune and Sun papers.
This is bigger than Memphis and Rose.
Rose and 3 of his high school team mates worked together to cheat on SATs and to change their grades via a computer system so that the NCAA would get the wrong information so that 3 of the kids could play college basketball.
There are 2 colleges and the NCAA that are involved. It appears that neither the NCAA that clears the kids to play nor either school nor staff new about this.
Calipari must be the greatest cheat and most feared man in college basketball!
4 players are being investigated for having their grades changed at Simeon.
ESPNChicago Quote: Illinois High School Association officials said Friday that they are investigating the eligibility of several players on the 2006 and ‘07 Simeon teams that won the Class AA boys basketball championship, according to published reports.
Wow…Calipari is so good at cheating that people even change the grades of student-athletes he didn’t recruit in High School!
Memphis and Calipari are a non issue in this matter…watch and learn.
Follow that to Kentucky!
I never did get back to this post, but if you honestly think Gillispie’s firing was about wins and losses, then you missed the story completely. What idiot tried to detail in his comment was close, but there was even more to it than that. And if you doubt that, just look at home many bars ole Billy’s been spotted in since he was fired. You might start to get a clearer picture then.
Or not, that’s up to you.
Also, the Bob Knight excuse might’ve worked 20 years ago, but not now. Oh, and how was Calipari “available?” He was gainfully employed with one of the best recruiting classes in the America.