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Thu May 28, 2009 9:32 am EDT

UK speaks: Calipari knew about allegations but is 'not at risk'

By Eamonn Brennan

I'm Mitch Barnhart! I drive a Dodge Stratus! Wait, Memphis is being investigated for what now? 

One detail I overlooked in the hectic mess that was my Thursday evening is this: Memphis received the notice of allegations from the NCAA on Jan. 16. That's well before Calipari left the Tigers to take his new, high-profile job at Kentucky. Clearly, he knew his former program was under investigation. Did Calipari tell Kentucky at the time of his hiring about the investigation? If so, what made Kentucky comfortable going through with the hiring?

Through a terse statement released by Kentucky early Thursday morning, we have our answer: Calipari was "forthcoming" about the allegations and ensured, through a letter sent to him by the NCAA, that he was under no threat of being charged with NCAA violations in the case. Kentucky's statement:

First and foremost, there are no NCAA allegations against UK Head Men's Basketball Coach John Calipari. Coach Calipari was forthcoming with the University of Kentucky during the hiring process about any issues under investigation at the University of Memphis at that time. It is normal procedure for the NCAA to ask a former coach to participate in a hearing. Therefore, Coach Calipari will participate as requested.

Coach John Calipari has received a letter from the NCAA stating that he is not at risk of being charged with any NCAA violations in this case.

This is a University of Memphis issue and the University of Kentucky will not comment any further.

So, there you go. Technically, Calipari is at no risk, and so Kentucky is at no risk. UK fans, breathe deep.

Or get angry. What's the proper reaction here? After all, while Calipari and Kentucky apparently took the proper steps to ensure his past indiscretions wouldn't follow him to his new job, UK also went ahead with hiring a person whose former program is under the gun for major violations. It's a big deal. It would be a little like if you walked into a job interview at an auto body shop and told your prospective employers, "Hey, guys, heads up here. Don't freak out, but ... some dudes that used to work for me at Memphis Tiger Body are being prosecuted for grand theft auto. I'm cleared of all charges, but I wanted to let you know. Just something to keep in mind as we go through this process." How long would that interview last?

Most people already think Calipari's one of the more, shall we say, unethical coaches in the game and sorry, but if your star player has his SAT faked for him, there's a pretty good chance you know about it. Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart -- and the rich old boosters who coughed up the millions in salary money -- apparently want to win so much they're OK with that. Will that trade-off ever catch up with Calipari? If it does, UK will be next.

Related: Ill-behaved People, SEC Basketball, C-USA Basketball

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103 Comments

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  1. Coach Isiah Thompson
    1. Posted by Coach Isiah Thompson Thu May 28, 2009 9:45 am EDT

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    Is it time to replace Coach Calipari with coach Isiah Thompson? Les and Rodney think so, do you agree? Discuss!
  2. Jesus Presley
    2. Posted by Jesus Presley Thu May 28, 2009 11:11 am EDT

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    Cal is a terrible gametime coach, & he is scum. I hope he takes UK down with him. Cal will do for UK what Sampson did for Indiana?????
  3. k.t.
    3. Posted by k.t. Thu May 28, 2009 11:25 am EDT

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    It makes a little more sence to me now. The coach catches the first plane out of town after the loss in the ncaas. Then Memphis interviews everyone and then after having to disclose to them that they might have a problem if they take this job, nobody will accept the job except for an unknown asst. who has absolutely nothing to loose.Shame on everyone involved especially the University of Memphis who let this all play out while knowing about it. THIS IS STANDARD for the University and the city of MEMPHIS.
  4. k.t.
    4. Posted by k.t. Thu May 28, 2009 11:28 am EDT

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    It makes a little more sence to me now. The coach catches the first plane out of town after the loss in the ncaas. Then Memphis interviews everyone and then after having to disclose to them that they might have a problem if they take this job, nobody will accept the job except for an unknown asst. who has absolutely nothing to loose.Shame on everyone involved especially the University of Memphis who let this all play out while knowing about it. THIS IS STANDARD for the University and the city of MEMPHIS.
  5. Puck Off EH
    5. Posted by Puck Off EH Thu May 28, 2009 11:49 am EDT

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    Calipari is a hack, this proves it and he should be held just as accountable as Memphis. Basically Rose was inelligible to attend that college and went as a number 1 overall pick..The system is screwed up to say the least.
  6. Ricky B
    6. Posted by Ricky B Thu May 28, 2009 11:51 am EDT

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    I'm just a Kansas fan watching the action here; but i have to say, how would calipari know about him cheating? Calipari doesn't follow him into the testing center and watch him whiles he's testing; One of rose's handlers or friends or someone could have just got a fake I.D. and sent someone else in claiming to be Derrick Rose, so it's a little early to jump on the bandwagon that cal is a cheater; also i remember that a player for UK in 98 had faked his college entry scores on his own and no one ever accused tubby of being a cheater.
  7. Red
    7. Posted by Red Thu May 28, 2009 12:24 pm EDT

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    all good points ricky b. im not sure whats going on, but if calipari was involved with this, i dont think he'd b getting a letter from the ncaa saying hes not at risk. while the calipari haters are saying i told u so, they can't b 2 happy considering hes not at risk. cheating on test scores does seem to b one of the more common violations, and just like with tubby, i dont see how the coach can know about it. i feel bad for memphis, and if this is proven to b true, id like to see whoever was responsible b held accountable. it couldve been someone from his highschool, that's where i took my sat. i'll just reserve judgement for now, and wait and see what comes out of all of this.
  8. Wilkie C
    8. Posted by Wilkie C Thu May 28, 2009 12:29 pm EDT

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    But now will UK step up to the plate and fire this schmuck on principle and saving face?!? They revere one of the biggest racists ever in Rupp to this day...probably not =P
  9. Brandon
    9. Posted by Brandon Thu May 28, 2009 12:41 pm EDT

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    As a UK fan I must ask... what the hell do you want us to do? We went through years of having to watch Tubby's "prospects" fail on the court (Yes, he recruited Tayshaun and yes he had a great class with Rondo, Morris and Crawford, but everything in between was terrible) and ultimately lead us no farther than the 2nd round of the tournament nearly every season. Naturally, the fan base was not happy and Tubby eventually caved under the pressure and left, coming into the job knowing he would be put under a microscope. The media shot us down for that.
    Next Barnhart admittedly made a mistake and, after he couldn't hire Billy Donovan or a couple other 1st choices, jumped the gun too quickly and hired Billy Gillispie. Gillispie came in also knowing he would be under a microscope, but instead decided to treat our locals (and reportedly players) like dirt and using his "outstanding X's and O's" to make extremely questionable lineup changes and substitutions. (I don't care what kind of message you're trying to send... you don't sit Jodie Meeks with your team losing on that team.) Eventually he drug us down enough that we missed the NCAAs altogether for the first time in nearly 20 years. Naturally Gillispie was fired, as people that incur negative outcomes in the jobs normally do. What happened? We were slammed once again in the media.
    Finally we make the homerun pick... John Calipari. Everyone is happy. The media talks about how much of a dream matchup this is for both the school, the coach, the players and basketball fans as a whole. Everything is hunky-dory in Lexington again. Then comes an allegation that a former one-and-done player cheated on his SATs. Now UK is under fire again. Why? Are you all LOOKING for an excuse to knock us down a peg? When have you ever prepared for an exam with your coach by your side? It is incredibly baffling to me that anyone is giving UK slack for hiring Calipari. They did what they were supposed to do... they looked into the NCAA allegations on Memphis and even spoke with an NCAA official who told them that Calipari was clean in the issue and had nothing to do with it. Why is this a UK issue? Calipari made a mistake in the past. Deal with it. It wasn't a good thing, but every coach has done it and Calipari has learned from his mistake. Stop slamming him like he's a dirtbag until you find out he's actually done something wrong. Until then, enjoy seeing us on the top again.
  10. Tyrone J
    10. Posted by Tyrone J Thu May 28, 2009 12:59 pm EDT

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    The guy is dirty Brandon. Plain and simple. This is what you wanted, a win at all costs coach. Well, you got him and his slimey little sidekick William Wesley or is Cal WWW's sidekick. Either way, get used to it. Cal will bring UK down because he'll be under the microscope the UK fans demand the coach stay under so you can satisfy yourselves in whatever sick little way you get satisfaction with it.
    Enjoy yourself !
    This is what you wanted !
    It'll be fun to watch UK go down in flames !
  11. CarterCoCat
    11. Posted by CarterCoCat Thu May 28, 2009 1:13 pm EDT

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    I would like to know when and where it is a coaches job to identify the individual taking the SAT. I am pretty sure that job falls on someone else.
    Calipari did not take the test for the kid, plus a letter from the ncaa said that hes not at risk.
  12. acc24
    12. Posted by acc24 Thu May 28, 2009 1:28 pm EDT

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    Every win UK has under Calipari is tainted. The guy is a pathological cheater. UK fans can talk themselves into supporting the guy, but know the rest of the nation is rolling their eyes.
  13. Gregory W
    13. Posted by Gregory W Thu May 28, 2009 1:33 pm EDT

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    Tyrone J, You're a moron
  14. Shawn S
    14. Posted by Shawn S Thu May 28, 2009 1:50 pm EDT

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    Some of you all simply need to take a deep breath and let it go. We get it, you hate Coach Cal, and you hate even more that he's going to be a terror at Kentucky next year and for many years on. He out recruits everyone (yes, even ol'Roy), plays an exciting, up tempo brand of Basketball that all the big name prospects love to play, and with the name recognition of Kentucky, Cal's mug is going to be everywhere from now on. I can understand the resentment and the disdain for both him and UK. But the simple fact of the matter is: These charges have NOTHING to do with Coach Cal! Like it or not, nothing you rant and rave about is going to change that, as he'll be wearing UK blue next season, standing on the sidelines, wearing a big smile as his teams chew through their competition. If your team was/is really good at Basketball, might I suggest becoming a Football or Baseball school?
  15. Boo
    15. Posted by Boo Thu May 28, 2009 1:53 pm EDT

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    As a UK fan, I think ALL UK fans should be sitting up and thinking about this very closely. Honesty, I do think Cal had nothing to do with this directly, but he is certainly totally responsible indirectly. If you think about it, three major bodies all think he had nothing to do with this directly; NCAA, UK AND MU. The inqury started in Jan, yet when UK offered Cal, MU was right there topping every bid for his services. I think its quite funny that MU fans are accusing UK of winning at all costs when they were bidding on the very same win at all costs coach. I, for one, and NOT a win at all costs type fan.
    So how was Cal totally responsible indirectly? Because Rose is the type of kid he doesn't mind going after. Wall and Bledsoe also are skirting into college by the skin of their teeth and Wall is the type of kid that agents will be glad to slip him whatever he wants. Cal has a long history of this and it isn't will one of these kids get UK in trouble, it's a matter of when.
  16. mark
    16. Posted by mark Thu May 28, 2009 2:23 pm EDT

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    Go Carolina TarHeels!!!
  17. Neil A
    17. Posted by Neil A Thu May 28, 2009 2:38 pm EDT

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    Give Memphis the death penalty, give UK the death penalty, put Cal on the show-cause list, and while your at it, take out the crooked programs at UConn, and USC.
  18. Tyler
    18. Posted by Tyler Thu May 28, 2009 3:03 pm EDT

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    Ricky, the allegations are Knowing Fraudulence, they KNEW someone messed with or took the SAT exam for Rose. And don't you think a coach would know his own star players scores and what was going on? I'm pretty sure he was in the know.
  19. Older_than_Moses_Shaq
    19. Posted by Older_than_Moses_Shaq Thu May 28, 2009 3:17 pm EDT

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    Two for two. Calipari has had two final four banners flying at two different universities and both have to come down with their seasons wiped off the books. Shady is a mild word to choose to describe his character.
  20. Michael B
    20. Posted by Michael B Thu May 28, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    Kentucky fans justly say that they have a winner in Calipari, in the sense that he will win games for them. It is equally true that there is no proof against him (at least not yet, though I bet there are millions of Kentucky dollars that will see to it that not yet is never) that would stand up in a court of law. However, even without proof, I (and probably most everyone outside of Kentucky and even some within) find the fact that both UMass and Memphis committed serious transgressions on his watch to be compelling circumstantial evidence. At the very least, he is guilty of poor oversight. The contrast between Kentucky's actions and the behavior of other schools that compete at the pinnacle of traditional excellence in CBB (certainly UNC and also UCLA, Kansas and Duke--this isn't a debate who exactly should be in this list) is pretty striking. I don't think those other schools would have hired him (though admittedly UCLA had its Jim Harrick period), and that says a lot. Indiana, another school with a proud tradition, also succumbed to the win-at-all-costs mentality and paid the price. Kentucky should be ashamed.
  21. mickey m
    21. Posted by mickey m Thu May 28, 2009 6:38 pm EDT

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    did we really expect anything different? we are talking about memphis, just open your eyes and what do you see? thug, thug, thug, the thug capital of the country!! when you put a crook like calipari and a city of (well you know) this is what you get. most of those thugs probably cant even spell their name but i bet they can fire a gun over someones nikes! this really should not be that shocking!!
  22. RJS
    22. Posted by RJS Thu May 28, 2009 7:08 pm EDT

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    Coach Chaney knew the deal. Calipari needs an *sswhuppin'.
  23. GARY B
    23. Posted by GARY B Thu May 28, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    Eddie Sutton and Eric Manuel are names that should ring a bell for Kentucky fans. It wasn't that long ago. That period almost resulted in the death penalty for UK basketball. How could Barnhart rationalize this hire considering the eerie similarities in the Manuel allegations with these allegations against Rose? Oh well, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
  24. Giant
    24. Posted by Giant Thu May 28, 2009 7:23 pm EDT

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    I really figured Kentucky wasa much better school than to get involved in a situation like this. One would think they didnt learn anything before when they had coach problems? The recuits should leave this program like rats on a sinking ship!
  25. Lee A
    25. Posted by Lee A Thu May 28, 2009 7:56 pm EDT

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    sounds to me there is alot of worried fans of other programs who does not want to see kentucky return to the most dominate program in the nation. more than likely most all the major schools have had violations that were never discovered. they say he had nothing to do with it so get off it. whine whine whine

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