Fire Fox?
Kentucky Coach John Calipari got on a soap box after Saturday’s 82-77 victory at Georgia, defending colleagues like Georgia’s Mark Fox and recently fired Mark Gottfried of North Carolina State.
Calipari said Fox and the Bulldogs should have won overtime road games at Florida and Kentucky, as well as a controversial game at Texas A&M.
“We were lucky to win,” Calipari said. “Then he loses at Texas A&M because the clock stalled. The clock stalled, that’s why he loses the game. But he keeps his team together. That’s coaching.”
Calipari broadened his scope, in reference to Gottfried, who is staying with the Wolf Pack through the end of the season.
“We’re firing coaches in midseason,” Calipari said “Are you s ******* me? We’re firing coaches in midseason. You know what I’m putting in my contract? You can fire me at midseason, but you’re going to have to pay me $3 million. Oh, you’ll let me stay now, won’t you?” Calipari continued. “Every coach in the country, put it in your contract,” he said, heavily emphasizing the final five words while staring into the cameras. “What if Mark Gottfried goes on a run at the end and gets to the NCAA Tournament, which he was in four out of five years?”
Georgia Coach Mark Fox said he appreciated the support he received from Calipari.
“Someone said that John said some things after the game, which I certainly appreciate and respect,” Fox said. “John’s not a young guy. He’s been around the block a few times, so I think he probably has a pretty good perception of the national landscape.
“We all care about the game. We all care about kids, and it was nice of him to say some of those things.”