The Kentucky Wildcats athletic program has won 14 NCAA National Championships in 19 different sports. The men’s basketball team is responsible for eight of those championships. With the basketball team’s success in mind, it makes sense that men’s basketball head coach John Calipari calls Kentucky a “school for basketball,” but the coach- Kentucky football chief Mark Stoops scoffs at the idea.
Mark Stoops is not above John Calipari’s Kentucky football shadow: ‘Wasn’t born on third base’ https://t.co/dT50KZmOsz pic.twitter.com/D8RfXb9NFS
— New York Post (@nypost) August 13, 2022
Originally, Calipari’s comments were intended to secure a new training facility for his team. It seems his comments rubbed some people the wrong way.
“I don’t care about anyone’s program, I stay in my lane. But when you start talking about mine and the people I’m competing against, I’m going to stand up for my players… Don’t put yourself down and distract from what we’ve done to get here, Stoops said.
he later added that Kentucky’s football program “wasn’t born on third base”.
Stoops has served as Kentucky’s head football coach since 2013. During his tenure, the team went 59-53. He also led the team to six straight games, the the longest sequence in the school’s history.
Calipari later apologized:
“I contacted Mark [on] Thursday and I’ll try again. By comparing our athletics department. to others was my evil. I supported Mark and the football team through good times and bad. I will continue to support and encourage them,” Calipari said.
Under Calipari’s leadership, the Kentucky men’s basketball team has a 365-101 record. In 2012, they won the NCAA National Championship. They also returned to the championship game in 2014. Unfortunately, the team has struggled lately, losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season.
The rise of Kentucky’s football program and the inconsistency of its men’s basketball program have caused some to doubt the validity of Calipari’s comments.
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