Calipari One of UK Football's Biggest Fans
In the midst of a bye week and with a lighter schedule of interviews and press conferences, Kentucky football has taken a step back from the wall-to-wall coverage that had marked the first six weeks of the 2018 season.
John Calipari stepped up to fill the void on Thursday.
Coach Cal fielded multiple questions about the football team on media day, a day meant to herald the start of basketball season. He did so happily, because there are few people have enjoyed UK’s 5-1 start more than Calipari.
“Oh, it’s been great,” Calipari said.
Calipari has been in regular communication with Mark Stoops, attending practices and games as his schedule allows. His tweets about the football team have come on a nearly weekly basis, with Calipari celebrating win after win during UK’s 5-0 start. And though the victories were great, what Calipari has seen from the team in the wake of the Cats’ first loss at Texas A&M last weekend might be what has encouraged him most.
“It wasn’t your best game and you still went to overtime with a chance to win,” Calipari said, recounting a postgame text message he sent to Stoops. “Incredible. Best thing, the culture, everybody was mad and angry. Do you remember where two years ago we’d be sad and disappointed? Wasn’t no sad now. Everybody, their staff was mad, their players were mad, our fans were mad, the culture has just changed in football.”
Calipari gives great credit to Stoops for the transformation of that culture, as well as the leaders on the football team. Benny Snell Jr. is very much included in that, particularly after the star running back publicly showed no signs of frustration after losing a game in which he carried the ball only 13 times for 60 yards.
“The best thing that came out of it was Benny,” Calipari said. “In basketball we call it touches. He didn’t get a whole lot of touches, and he is like a Heisman candidate. Now, the game ends, they lose. The last play was — OK, and Benny, I can’t imagine what he did in the locker room, but I know this, in front of the media, he said everything the right way because he was thinking about his team. That is big.”
Calipari is well known for his players-first approach to leading a basketball program. It turns out that mentality translates to his football fandom as well. He loves that NFL scouts are flocking to Lexington this season in much the same way NBA scouts always do.
“I’m happy for their staff and Mark, but I’m really happy for the guys that came back,” Calipari said. “I mean, Josh (Allen) is one of the best linebackers in all of college football. The guy is ridiculous.”
Calipari isn’t alone in his support of Allen and the football Wildcats. Basketball players have been regulars at Kroger Field this season, particularly PJ Washington, who has built a bond with Allen.
“We’ve been to almost every game,” Washington said. “I’m just excited to see them doing so well this year. I’m pretty close with a couple of the guys. It’s just great seeing them do well this year.”
For Calipari, the way the team is winning is just as important as the wins themselves.
“What Mark has done and what Benny and Josh and the guys have done to change the culture, and players ride the culture,” Calipari said. “It’s not like you say this is what it is and then they do what they want. They’ve got to ride it, which means we’re going to compete and fight like heck but we’re sticking together.”
