LEXINGTON, Ky. — A letter from the NCAA tells Kentucky coach John Calipari he must participate in next week’s hearing on alleged major violations at Memphis, even though he isn’t considered “at risk” in the probe.
The University of Kentucky provided letters between the new Wildcats coach and the NCAA on Friday in response to an open records request by The Associated Press and other news organizations.
Calipari, who coached the Memphis Tigers during the 2007-08 season in question, explains in one letter than he wouldn’t be able to attend next Saturday’s hearing in Indianapolis owing to a previously scheduled trip to China.
But in a response last week, the chairman of the NCAA’s committee on infractions tells him he needs to participate anyway, either through phone or video conference.
“After reviewing the information in this case, the committee now, more strongly than ever, believes that you should make yourself available to participate in the hearing in some manner,” wrote Paul T. Dee, the chairman.
Calipari responded Wednesday that he would join the hearing by phone.
“I am very willing to cooperate with the committee and provide my views on the issues involved in this case,” Calipari said.
Memphis is facing major NCAA violations, the most serious of which is an allegation that an unknown person took the SAT in place of a player. The NCAA said the athlete in question played for the Tigers for only the 2007-08 season and the 2008 NCAA tournament. The only person who fits that description is Derrick Rose, the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
Memphis could lose its 38 wins that season. Kentucky officials, who hired Calipari away from the program in March with an eight-year, $31.65 million contract, have stressed the coach himself is not a target of the investigation. The first letter from the NCAA, dated April 27, also makes that point.
“The committee wishes to make it clear that you are not considered to be ’at risk’ in these proceedings,” wrote Shepard Cooper, director of the Committee on Infractions. “However, because you were the head men’s basketball coach at Memphis during the time alleged NCAA violations occurred, the committee believes that you can provide helpful information and useful context that would assist the committee in better understanding this case.”
Calipari said the June 3-10 trip to China had been planned for months.
While at Memphis, he made a five-year commitment to conducting clinics in that country to help the university expand its base of Asian students. He said in his letter he hoped to continue that project now that he is at Kentucky.
UT's new $45 million football…
Images from Larry Murphy's book on…
Smokey undergoes physical therapy at UT
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 14
beachvol1 writes:
Boy talking about egg on their face(UK) and it has only just begun.....he'll lie for sure, that is his fortay!!!!
Colliervol writes:
From China, they won't be able to see him with his fingers crossed behind his back. If his lips are moving, he'll be lying. What do they expect him to say? "Yep, I arranged it all." No, he's too smart for that. He always has it fixed where he either didn't see the guys on the plane or he didn't have any knowledge of someone else taking Rose's test and that someone else must have done it. You don't think he's that stupid, do you?
My question is this. The U of M got the first letter last September and had notice of the investigation in January. R.C. Johnson stumbled all over himself yesterday trying to defend why they didn't release the information and it is clear that Calipari told him not to for fear of 1) screwing up their recruiting and 2) fear of messing up their season. And that's if he didn't have designs already on leaving. How do you think that little tidbit would have affected KY looking at him? My feeling is the pressure would have been way too high on Barnhart if they knew Calipari was under investigation.
corrinebrown writes:
"I did not have sex with that woman"
Colliervol writes:
Junior, I don't have to get over anything. And I'll stay on Calipari till the NCAA bans him. If that's forever, so be it. This is our site and we can say or discuss anything we like. On the other hand, you are not a UT fan and therefore your opinion is irrelevant. Clear enough for you?
robow writes:
if you change your mind...can I watch
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Duprre said that Calamari will stay in China.
Dupree is seldom worng.
dvols writes:
haha
im just sayin
gatorzwearstebowpanties writes:
I don't know what is more annoying, the Gator fans or you posting I'm just sayin on every post
tennrich1 writes:
I usually enjoy the bantering back and forth but nothing you say makes much sense and its not even funny...I will no longer read your replies....it is a waste of time..
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Gonna call in from China, eh?
That's about as far away from this mess as one could probably get.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
as sonny and cher once sang....
and the beat goes on and the beat goes on......
dvols writes:
im just sayin
chrisw2967 writes:
I didnt know Ky was the best , I must of slept through those years.you sound like those bama idiots that has 1 good year and think they are a dynasty again.the difference is they have had 1 good year.
Like I said before I like Pearls chances against cheatercal.you better hope these recruits can say their ABCs and pass the test.but knowing cheatercal he probably has someone lined up to take the tests for them.
stevefrommemphis writes:
Kentucky basketball: a tradition of winning built on a foundation of corruption by Adolph corRUPPt.
This is a good time to remind readers about the history of Kentucky basketball (things they don't teach kids in Kentucky):
(1) Kentucky basketball program was first to ever receive NCAA death penalty. A defiant Rupp said: "They have found a way to beat Kentucky. They have cancelled our season."
(2) Players charged with point-shaving scandal in another incident, in late 1950s, I think.
(3) Program in such trouble during Eddie Sutton era that Sports Illustrated put out an issue with cover page reading simply: "Kentucky's Shame" (To my knowledge, Sutton was never in trouble with the NCAA before or after coaching at Kentucky.) UNLV's Jerry Tarkanian said: "The NCAA is so mad at Kentucky right now that they put Cleveland State on probation another three years."
This is just what I remember without research.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.