With a $6 million buyout, they really wanted him gone. He was so good at his previous stops and such a disappointment at Kentucky. I know we have some avid Kentucky fans on the board, so I'm interested to know what happened to Billy Clyde and why he struggled so much at Kentucky. It's just odd to me that someone who could revive A&M and make them a winner would have so much trouble getting recruits to Kentucky.
EDIT: Crap, I am a dumbass; I misspelled his name in the title.
Originally posted by CorajudoArticle: With a $6 million buyout, they really wanted him gone . . . I know we have some avid Kentucky fans on the board, so I'm interested to know what happened to Billy Clyde and why he struggled so much at Kentucky. (edited by Corajudo on 27.3.09 1528)
He never signed his contract so not sure if he would be better off taking whatever the school/boosters offer him or letting his lawyers get most of the $6mil leaving him with what he likely will get anyways.
Two pretty good articles that sum up the situation:
As for my feelings as a Kentucky fan: I never got a "warm and fuzzy" about Gillispie from the get-go, but I was definitely ready to embrace "Billy Clyde" over "Billy the Creep (I mean kid)" and I still feel that way. I loved Tubby and wished he didn't feel like he had to leave/was pushed out the door, but was resigned to the "need" for a change by all the negativity at that time, which has just been multiplied by at least ten this go-around.
I don't have any real preference on who "we" hire next, but obviously hopeful it turns out to be a long and fruitful relationship. And I don't expect Kentucky to win the NCAA title every year, but I would like to think that "we" have more than just a chance on a fairly regular basis. A team that plays good, is fun to watch, and is competetive at the Top-25 level year in and year out is a must and would make me happy. Just like to see us in the mix and if we're good enough to win the title, then so much the better! (Oh, and beating Louisville, Tennessee and Florida more than we lose to them would be spiffy too! - which Tubby did)
“You are going to get a certain amount of snarkiness on the Internet no matter what, and my rule is that you don't post anything that you wouldn't say to someone's face.” Marc Andreyko (Writer of DC Comic’s “Manhunter”)
Kentucky fans are spoiled rotten and over the past two years they have gotten exactly what they deserve. I hear talks of courting John Calipari, Billy Donovan, and even Rick Pitino. Really? Give me a break. Good luck getting a high profile coach to come to your school after what you did to Billy G (and Tubby too, for that matter).
This is just yet another dumb knee-jerk reaction. Two years isn't enough time to do anything. Especially at Kentucky when they play real teams in their non-conference schedule. At least give him one more year with Meeks/Patterson. They could have improved to at least a Sweet Sixteen team by next year I think.
Also Tubby may have beaten Florida/Tennessee more often but Florida and Tennessee were a joke most of Tubby's career. Florida was only really a legitimate team in their two national championship seasons and Tubby went 1 - 4 against them in that stretch. Tennessee has only been a good program for a few years.
Drew and a couple of others may be as staunch in their UK fandom as me - but I'll go out on a limb and say there is no bigger Wildcat fan on this board than me.
BCG wasn't turfed because of the W-L record. There is an article here that may be on the second page by now, called "what went wrong" or something like that. http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com The guy who does the blog has a former player who writes for the site. That former player has a cousin who is a walk-on. I'll say that the "this happened on the team stuff" is accurate - even despite the fact that I normally believe 1-5% of the things that I read on the Internet.
Facts - Q is correct in that 2 years isn't enough from an "on-court" perspective. Recruting was looking promising. Fans were, however, conserned about losing to VMI and Gardner Webb on an annual basis.
The Edwards incidents were insulting. The comment about being the embassador of the program "not being part of the job description" during the SEC tournmament was hurtful. Not signing a contract after 2 years was bad.
FWIW, OTS did beat a # 1 ranked Florida team on national TV at Rupp. FWIW, OTS did convince Donovan his teams had to be tougher which led to him hiring Larry Shyatt and led to his lightning in a bottle run with the back to back guys.
I feel bad for Billy G, but a bad fit is a bad fit whether if you give him 2 years or 3 years. He lost this team, and he lost the fans. The bosses gave him every chance to walk the line, and he just wouldn't do it. It is not the same as coaching A&M, or any other school, save a few. Call that a good thing or a bad thing. He knew that going in, and refused to change. I was sorry to see Tubby go, and I still root for him. I will do the same for Billy, but it was the right decision, as it was with Tubby.
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Wow. Sure seems like a good to great move on the surface, but we'll see how it works out.
Upon reflection about "our" situation with firing Gillispie and throwing money at one of the best coaches out there, I find it interesting that I don't really recall North Cackalacky having to deal with a lot of the same slings and arrows when they did a similar move to get Matt Doherty out a few years back and bring in Roy Williams from Kansas. Of course, maybe I'm just an over-sensitive Kentuckian given our (oftentimes deserved) standing nationally as a backwards bumpkin state (or commonwealth if you prefer). I dunno.
“You are going to get a certain amount of snarkiness on the Internet no matter what, and my rule is that you don't post anything that you wouldn't say to someone's face.” Marc Andreyko (Writer of DC Comic’s “Manhunter”)
Wow. Sure seems like a good to great move on the surface, but we'll see how it works out.
Upon reflection about "our" situation with firing Gillispie and throwing money at one of the best coaches out there, I find it interesting that I don't really recall North Cackalacky having to deal with a lot of the same slings and arrows when they did a similar move to get Matt Doherty out a few years back and bring in Roy Williams from Kansas. Of course, maybe I'm just an over-sensitive Kentuckian given our (oftentimes deserved) standing nationally as a backwards bumpkin state (or commonwealth if you prefer). I dunno.
Along those same lines, have you ever heard people say that Roy won his title with Doherty's players like they did about Tubby and Pitino's players in 1998? I always felt most people had a short fuse for Tubby due to the color of his skin, and were always looking for a reason to bash him, even when he wins the National Title!
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Wow. Sure seems like a good to great move on the surface, but we'll see how it works out.
Upon reflection about "our" situation with firing Gillispie and throwing money at one of the best coaches out there, I find it interesting that I don't really recall North Cackalacky having to deal with a lot of the same slings and arrows when they did a similar move to get Matt Doherty out a few years back and bring in Roy Williams from Kansas. Of course, maybe I'm just an over-sensitive Kentuckian given our (oftentimes deserved) standing nationally as a backwards bumpkin state (or commonwealth if you prefer). I dunno.
Along those same lines, have you ever heard people say that Roy won his title with Doherty's players like they did about Tubby and Pitino's players in 1998? I always felt most people had a short fuse for Tubby due to the color of his skin, and were always looking for a reason to bash him, even when he wins the National Title!
I agree with both of you. I'm staying mum on Cal until I see it on ESPN, TCP will implode if it doesn't happen though.
People can bash UK fans until the cows come home, but we are passionate. We probably crashed every server for every news station in Memphis over the past 2 days. We traveled hard to the NIT quarterfinal game to cheer on the 'Cats as they lost to Notre Dame in BCG's last game. We have our share of idiots (and then some), but frankly, it's what we breathe.
Cal? I can't wait to see the DDM offense in Lexington. I can't wait to see Top 10 recruiting classes become the norm.
Wow. Sure seems like a good to great move on the surface, but we'll see how it works out.
Upon reflection about "our" situation with firing Gillispie and throwing money at one of the best coaches out there, I find it interesting that I don't really recall North Cackalacky having to deal with a lot of the same slings and arrows when they did a similar move to get Matt Doherty out a few years back and bring in Roy Williams from Kansas. Of course, maybe I'm just an over-sensitive Kentuckian given our (oftentimes deserved) standing nationally as a backwards bumpkin state (or commonwealth if you prefer). I dunno.
Did he contact Eddie Sutton to find out where the local FedEx location is? With Calipari leaving Memphis, does anyone else suspect the NCAA will be arriving their shortly and Memphis' place in the NCAA Tourney will be remembered with UMASS's NCAA run that doesn't officially exist.
Good for UK I guess, but more importantly Mizzou gave Mike Anderson a new contract today! I was really worried he'd take the money from Georgia or Memphis(if Calipari left and he got offered the job), but he took less than offered from Georgia(appx. 2.3 mil to 1.6 from Mizzou).
Wow. Sure seems like a good to great move on the surface, but we'll see how it works out.
Upon reflection about "our" situation with firing Gillispie and throwing money at one of the best coaches out there, I find it interesting that I don't really recall North Cackalacky having to deal with a lot of the same slings and arrows when they did a similar move to get Matt Doherty out a few years back and bring in Roy Williams from Kansas. Of course, maybe I'm just an over-sensitive Kentuckian given our (oftentimes deserved) standing nationally as a backwards bumpkin state (or commonwealth if you prefer). I dunno.
Did he contact Eddie Sutton to find out where the local FedEx location is? With Calipari leaving Memphis, does anyone else suspect the NCAA will be arriving their shortly and Memphis' place in the NCAA Tourney will be remembered with UMASS's NCAA run that doesn't officially exist.
Yes, the guy has a shady past, but let's not pretend that the type of things Calipari does isn't done by many other schools. Milt Wagner stayed at Memphis 5 years after he his son went pro, and even finished his degree. When TN hired Wade Houston to get his son Allan, they didn't even wait half a season to fire him after Allan graduated. I am not saying Cal's way of doing things are right just because many others do it. But that is hating the player, and not hating the game by targeting Calipari. And the guy has never been penalized himself. I also believe some of these "shortcuts" won't be needed as much at KY as they were to draw recruits to Memphis and UMass. Yes the guy has baggage, but I think it is a calculated risk that needed to be taken. Donovon already said no (twice) and UK had to get a slam dunk here, and Cal was the only top guy out there that they could get. Who else is out there that is this caliber that would come to KY? They couldn't go the "hot up and comer" route this time, it failed 2 years ago.
That being said, always love a good Eddie Sutton joke.
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
I have the feeling that the NCAA could arrive at any major program and close it down. Some is done intentionally, some not but I doubt any program is clean. The larger issue is the selective nature of the NCAA's hammer. They will clock smaller programs and even egregious behavior by a name program is minimized.
I love Eddie Sutton jokes too, but that was Emery, and it was Dwayne Casey who was nailed and yes, I'm still bitter (mentioning Emery and Eddie to UK fans is probably like talking Bucky Dent, Buckner, et al. to Sox fans - just saying is all....).
Cal was vetted by the UKAD through the NCAA prior to the contract and he was exhonerated. Cal owned his press conference today.
Originally posted by RudoublesedoublelI love Eddie Sutton jokes too, but that was Emery, and it was Dwayne Casey who was nailed and yes, I'm still bitter (mentioning Emery and Eddie to UK fans is probably like talking Bucky Dent, Buckner, et al. to Sox fans - just saying is all....).
Cal was vetted by the UKAD through the NCAA prior to the contract and he was exhonerated. Cal owned his press conference today.
Only reason I mentioned him was why would Calipari consult with a coach who led the school to close to SMU measures?
Originally posted by RudoublesedoublelI love Eddie Sutton jokes too, but that was Emery, and it was Dwayne Casey who was nailed and yes, I'm still bitter (mentioning Emery and Eddie to UK fans is probably like talking Bucky Dent, Buckner, et al. to Sox fans - just saying is all....).
Cal was vetted by the UKAD through the NCAA prior to the contract and he was exhonerated. Cal owned his press conference today.
Only reason I mentioned him was why would Calipari consult with a coach who led the school to close to SMU measures?
To see what not to do?
"As you may have read in Robert Parker's Wine Newsletter, 'Donaghy Estates tastes like the urine of Satan, after a hefty portion of asparagus.'" Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock
Originally posted by RudoublesedoublelI love Eddie Sutton jokes too, but that was Emery, and it was Dwayne Casey who was nailed and yes, I'm still bitter (mentioning Emery and Eddie to UK fans is probably like talking Bucky Dent, Buckner, et al. to Sox fans - just saying is all....).
Cal was vetted by the UKAD through the NCAA prior to the contract and he was exhonerated. Cal owned his press conference today.
Only reason I mentioned him was why would Calipari consult with a coach who led the school to close to SMU measures?
To see what not to do?
I assumed it was to find where the good bars in Lexington are (the ones that let you drink past "last call" which is like midnight or 1am there)
“You are going to get a certain amount of snarkiness on the Internet no matter what, and my rule is that you don't post anything that you wouldn't say to someone's face.” Marc Andreyko (Writer of DC Comic’s “Manhunter”)
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You know, to take this on a bit of an aside, I can't help but think about Mark Cuban and Steve Kerr getting fined for mentioning LeBron James' pending free agency. But why doesn't that rule apply in regards to coaches that are under contract?