DEAD to Memphis?

Is this any way to treat arguably one of the best basketball coaches in the history of the University of Memphis? Whether or not this headline shows any class or respect for Coach John Calipari isn’t being debated. What U of M alum, along with loyal Tiger basketball fans want to know is why? Why now?
If you think about this whole ordeal from Coach Calipari’s perspective, the decision seems to be a no-brainer. But , Calipari maintains the decision wasn’t made over money, alone. he has no control over the timing.
Regardless of how you feel about Coach Calipari’s departure from Memphis, Calipari maintains that the decision wasn’t made over money. Calipari spoke about how prestigious Kentucky was in the 70’s. He spoke of what it meant to him, to be the head coach at the University of Kentucky. Sure the increase in salary doesn’t hurt his decision making.
Also, it doesn’t hurt that Kentucky is in the SEC, a more prestigious conference than C-USA, and it doesn’t spoil his decision-making ability. It also helps that Kentucky receives more national television coverage.
So, it sounds like Calipari has a bit of an ego, in a way. Most people want recognition in their jobs. So, is it wrong for Calipari to strive to achieve that? Seems like when you think about it, there are many reasons a coach would want to become part of the University of Kentucky. So, in a way, we should be happy for him.
The press put on a tremendous spectacle, with about 200 reporters, and almost two dozen cameras pointed at the coach during his news conference at the team’s practice gym Wednesday morning. (ESPN.com)
Susan Te Paske, head of SDS (Students with Disabilities Services), and avid Tiger basketball fan, had this to say, “I was surprised he stayed as long as he did.” She went on to say, “I think he is probably a good match for the U of K.”
A lot of other die-hard Memphis basketball fans feel differently about the way in which Calipari left Memphis. Joy Ross, junior at Memphis and Biology major said, “I think it is a little sad but I wish him well at UK. This will very negatively affect the university’s general scholarship program as well as the other money coming into the university.”
When all is said and done, we'll recover from John Calipari's departurefrom the University of Memphis. Hopefully, students, alums and U of Mbasketball fans will soon realize that Coach Cal helped us at a time whenwe really needed help. He did his part in elevating our basketball programto the level of national recognition that we enjoy today and will continueto enjoy in days to come. He's not dead to us.