Can We FIRE Cal Yet?

buck8113

All-Conference
Feb 20, 2010
3,492
1,126
0
I thought time had gone back and we were watching a BCG team but hell his teams were better than this. Is it time to break out the For Sale Signs yet?
 

Rockfly78

Heisman
Nov 20, 2014
7,927
10,877
0
no it’s a stupid question. This isn’t cal 2010 this is cal 2020 on cruise control and there are at least 30 coaches who would do a better job at this point. Was Bcg an upgrade over tubby? Hell no and tubby was the same burned out and stubborn to change he was run out by the fan base and tubby never had a season like this. This season is basically over from a success standpoint. Now it’s playing just to make the tournament which is unlikely with this loss blow out.
Dude someone has to coach the team. If not Cal, then who?
 

morgousky

Heisman
Sep 5, 2009
23,959
43,171
0
I hate that its going to take a season like this for fans to wake up. Some of us have been pointing out the warning signs for years.

Im not even watching todays game. Im watching the NFL. Just checking in to see what the score is. Im apathetic to the point of just not even watching. It is time for a change.

Cal's system is antithetical to the way we've always viewed winning. In sports, traditionally, you understand to put the team first. Cal reversed this concept, and we are now paying for it.

These players are not playing for Kentucky. They don't understand Kentucky, they're 18, and their coach has promoted an entirely different league to them.

If you really think about it, we've been living in a dream world of coach speak. You cannot win big by way of Cal's operation. He was able to offset this early by obtaining many top 3 players, that's not happening now. His style is too old.

We're approaching a reality check that I fear has been coming for a long time.
 

Rockfly78

Heisman
Nov 20, 2014
7,927
10,877
0
I would hire Nate Oates in a second. Style is uptempo, plays hard. Hell anyone will recruit well at Kentucky if they work at it and are hungry. Cal is done. Admit it. This ain’t Kentucky basketball.
Only 30 turnovers so far, but we got a ways to go
Billy Clyde says “hey y’all remember that time I offered that 7th grader?”
 
Mar 21, 2006
138
202
43
Not trying to pile on but this is the softest ky team i've ever seen and i have followed them since 1952, not to mention there is no point guard, you don't win without a good point guard.
 

CB3UK

Hall of Famer
Apr 15, 2012
64,174
106,778
78
Cal's system is antithetical to the way we've always viewed winning. In sports, traditionally, you understand to put the team first. Cal reversed this concept, and we are now paying for it.

These players are not playing for Kentucky. They don't understand Kentucky, they're 18, and their coach has promoted an entirely different league to them.

If you really think about it, we've been living in a dream world of coach speak. You cannot win big by way of Cal's operation. He was able to offset this early by obtaining many top 3 players, that's not happening now. His style is too old.

We're approaching a reality check that I fear has been coming for a long time.
You can lead a horse to water but you cant make em drink
 

jimmybuffet123

All-Conference
Jun 22, 2011
978
2,007
61
Im not ready to fire him but, damn lumping this team in with last 3 teams... it looks like we are certainly on a decline
 

ZaytovenCat

All-American
Apr 25, 2013
24,115
8,933
97
Seriously, wtf has Cal done worth a **** since 2015? Even that year ended up with a failure and underachieving in the ncaa’s.

we’ve been EMBARRASSED 3 straight years in November and now December. GT had two losses to teams wayyyy worse than Richmond and they just beat the **** out of us. Josh freaking Pastner made Cal look like a chump.

100% serious, I’d be willing to totally blow up the program (Fire coaches, players can go pro, lose commitments) if it meant Cal got out of here. Cal is going to leave us totally screwed when he leaves anyway. The whole team will go pro but this time nobody is here to bring players in. So might as well get the process started.

Hell the freaking football team has a better outlook than the bball team.
 

ZaytovenCat

All-American
Apr 25, 2013
24,115
8,933
97
I think Bozo is dead. Who else?

This isn’t rocket science boys. The fact that no one has a reasonable answer to this straightforward question speaks volumes.
Yeah it does, it says that many of us don’t even care who we hire at this point as long as Cal is GONE!
 
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TankedCat

Heisman
Nov 8, 2006
22,792
21,500
0
You guys have to accept that Cal isn't going anywhere until Cal decides to

The only thing you can do as fans is help him decide.

Personally, I would be satisfied if Cal apologized for this, admitting that this one and done process has spiraled out of control and is not what he envisioned, and will vow to fix it.

But he isn't going to do that, he's all in and has too much pride. He'll tell the fans we are unrealistic, he'll fall back into the "these are kids" and somehow he'll manage to tell us that Askew should be starting his senior year as if that was out of his control as the coach.
 
Jan 24, 2005
20,352
11,690
0
I’m not advocating firing Cal. But you could quite literally name any 5 coaches right now.

Scott Rigot
Reggie Hanson
Jeremy Cox
Billy Clyde
Tubby Smith

All currently better coaches. If you simply want mid-major coaches. Then pick any 5 coaches from the Atlantic-10. Calipari’s coaching right now goes beyond bad. He’s not even trying. Hiring Bruiser Flint this offseason was a huge middle finger to everyone associated. And he’s too stubborn to realize he is the problem.
 

BigBlueFanGA

Heisman
Jun 14, 2005
26,435
23,456
0
Cal's system is antithetical to the way we've always viewed winning. In sports, traditionally, you understand to put the team first. Cal reversed this concept, and we are now paying for it.

These players are not playing for Kentucky. They don't understand Kentucky, they're 18, and their coach has promoted an entirely different league to them.

If you really think about it, we've been living in a dream world of coach speak. You cannot win big by way of Cal's operation. He was able to offset this early by obtaining many top 3 players, that's not happening now. His style is too old.

We're approaching a reality check that I fear has been coming for a long time.
Oh, its coming, like the oak tree an out of control car is about to hit.
 

TankedCat

Heisman
Nov 8, 2006
22,792
21,500
0
IMO, at best any replacement would be a gatekeeper. There is no obvious choice like Calipari was in 2009

Just because we're a national embarrassment basketball program at the moment is no reason to push for knee jerk action. That's how you end up with nut like Gillispie.

The next coach needs to be able to field a team, bring them to the final four, all while managing the most intense (well it was, not sure now) fanbase/expectations in college basketball, maybe in all of college sports.

Too many fans think the flavor of the moment can pull this off just because he had a good year at state U.

We would have never heard of Gillispie if it weren't for Acie Law.
 
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IHATEUAVEL

All-American
Aug 11, 2015
5,618
5,761
1
I’m not advocating firing Cal. But you could quite literally name any 5 coaches right now.

Scott Rigot
Reggie Hanson
Jeremy Cox
Billy Clyde
Tubby Smith

All currently better coaches. If you simply want mid-major coaches. Then pick any 5 coaches from the Atlantic-10. Calipari’s coaching right now goes beyond bad. He’s not even trying. Hiring Bruiser Flint this offseason was a huge middle finger to everyone associated. And he’s too stubborn to realize he is the problem.
Scott Rigot Billy Clyde are you on crack?
 

michael895

All-Conference
Apr 9, 2020
1,339
1,659
0
 

TankedCat

Heisman
Nov 8, 2006
22,792
21,500
0
behind the scenes I just wonder what the UK prez and Barnhart of thinking.

This can't be what they signed up for and I'm not talking about the losing at the moment.
 

morgousky

Heisman
Sep 5, 2009
23,959
43,171
0
IMO, at best any replacement would be a gatekeeper. There is no obvious choice like Calipari was in 2009

Just because we're a national embarrassment basketball program at the moment is no reason to push for knee jerk action. That's how you end up with nut like Gillispie.

The next coach needs to be able to field a team, bring them to the final four, all while managing the most intense (well it was, not sure now) fanbase/expectations in college basketball, may in all of college sports.

Too many fans think the flavor of the moment can pull this off just because he had a good year at state U.

We would have never heard of Gillispie if it weren't for Acie Law.

In response to both of your posts.

Yes, Cal can still be removed, but it will take an NIT this year and a bad season next year. That's probably going to happen.

Cal will leave on his own if he thinks this is coming. His brand in the only thing that's important to him. He'll land in the NBA.

If the fans apply mad pressure, which they are about to, his hand becomes even more forced. Changing will not happen with John Calipari. You have to think you're doing wrong to change, he doesn't. Cal is doing exactly what he wanted to do.

1. Be the go to guy for NBA players
2. Cement a legacy as the guy who coaches OAD's
3. Make a **** ton of money doing it

This is how his story was meant to be written. Cal stopped caring about wins and losses a long time ago, he cares about his personal crusade to be the NBA players coach, regardless of outcomes.

It turned into being about relationships with Cal after 2010. He was able to win because he landed top 3 players. That's over, but his point is still to have these relationships. It's just about his lifestyle.

I hate it, Cal suckered a lot of people with this crap.
 
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michael895

All-Conference
Apr 9, 2020
1,339
1,659
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Beard would be a fantastic choice. I would be beside myself. Back to team concepts, Kentucky first, a hungry young proven coach, and one of the best in the game right now.

He's at TT, so we've yet to see what this guy is capable of. If we want him, you better get him before Kansas does.
Don’t know if he qualifies for the job though because he hasn’t won 5 championships and 10 final fours at Texas Tech.
 

TankedCat

Heisman
Nov 8, 2006
22,792
21,500
0
If the fans apply mad pressure, which they are about to, his hand becomes even more forced.
yea, its coming

people stuck at home, can't leave the house, frustrated about life in general - and for some the only thing they had to look forward to this fall is a dumpster fire in front of them.

It will be bad.

and on top of that, Covid has wrecked revenues for athletics and you have the football team tanking (notice they decided they *would* go to a bowl game today*) and now it looks like revenue will be severely impacted by the basketball team not making a deep run.

wow, its a perfect storm for the pitchforks and torches. Cal has no idea what is about to hit.
 

TankedCat

Heisman
Nov 8, 2006
22,792
21,500
0
I worry about Beard handling everything that UK requires off the court and while we know recruiting would take a hit regardless who we get, whoever comes in is going to have to recruit beyond a state or region.
 

UK90

Heisman
Dec 30, 2007
31,460
27,816
0
I don’t hate the lifetime contract tbh because I truly think Cal will do the right thing when it’s time.
Well, that’s a nice thought, but I think you’re nuts if you truly believe Carl’s gonna walk away from the crazy money still owed on that contract just “to do the right thing.” People don’t walk away from a guaranteed $70-$80 million. Would you?

The only way I could see Cal leaving is if an NBA team offered him a comparable amount. But I don’t see that happening, as Cal is no longer the hot commodity he was several years ago.

LIke it or not, UK and Cal are probably stuck together for years to come, even if the two sides don’t really want it that way. That contract binds us together, it makes it impossible for us to fire him, and he’s still owed too much to walk away.
 
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morgousky

Heisman
Sep 5, 2009
23,959
43,171
0
I worry about Beard handling everything that UK requires off the court and while we know recruiting would take a hit regardless who we get, whoever comes in is going to have to recruit beyond a state or region.

Well, I don't think we can know anything. Maybe Donovan goes to 3 NIT's at UK to start his career, maybe Self would have sucked when he left Illinios for Kansas.

Beard looks to be the real deal. That's what I'd go with, The upside is huge. I see now way it could be worse than holding serve at UK.
 

morgousky

Heisman
Sep 5, 2009
23,959
43,171
0
Well, that’s a nice thought, but I think you’re nuts if you truly believe Carl’s gonna walk away from the crazy money still owed on that contract just “to do the right thing.” People don’t walk away from a guaranteed $70-$80 million. Would you?

The only way I could see Cal leaving is if an NBA team offered him a comparable amount. But I don’t see that happening, as Cal is no longer the hot commodity he was several years ago.

LIke it or not, UK and Cal are probably stuck together for years to come, even if the two sides don’t really want it that way. That contract binds us together, it makes it impossible for us to fire him, and he’s still owed too much to me to walk away.

But Cal is a religious figure now, a morality man. He wouldn't force UK to keep him, would he?
 
Jan 10, 2015
19,239
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He’s got a “lifetime“ contract that guarantees him around $10 million per year through the year 2029.

So, NO, we absolutely cannot fire him even if we wanted to, as nobody could pay that buyout. That crazy extension Mitch gave him made him unfireable for a looong time to come. Cal now has all the leverage and UK by the balls.
That great Athletic Director and his great extensions for both our basketball coach and football coach! Neither one had done anything fantastic to deserve the kind of extentions he handed the both of them!
 

TankedCat

Heisman
Nov 8, 2006
22,792
21,500
0
I firmly believe Cal will walk. There will be no buyout, and I don't think he needs to go to another job.

But no matter how bad this year is, Cal won't leave, IMO. But he'll know that he can't have another start like this.
 
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