It was reported Sunday that athletics director Lee Fowler, Chancellor James Oblinger and other NCSU represented flew to Memphis, Tenn. to meet with University of Memphis head basketball coach John Calipari. Well, on Monday ESPN's Andy Katz reported that Calipari and his staff returned the favor by visiting NC State. He and his staff were in town to take a look at the campus and athletic facilities.
A little more than a week ago the nation wide coaching search started after Herb Sendek decided he would be better off at Arizona State. Initially, Fowler attempted to lure Rick Barnes, a North Carolina native, away from Texas; however, Barnes decided a pay raise at Texas would be better than a raise at NC State.
Fowler and NC State have since turned their attention to John Calipari. Calipari had earlier told ESPN that he was not interested in the NC State job or any other job besides Memphis. He cited that being all that goes with coaching at a school within 30 miles of Coach K at Duke and Roy Williams at UNC.
It looks, however, like Calipari may be thinking about the possibilities of coming to a school that, unlike Memphis, has 2 National Championships. Calipari has also said, in an interview prior to the NCAA Tournament, that he knows that Memphis will not be a high ranked basketball school year in and year out.
But, at NC State that possibility exists. The Wolfpack is one of only 15 schools that have made 5 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Memphis is not one of those 15.
A coach of Calipari's caliber should want to coach at a school such as NC State. It's the ACC, which is the nation's top basketball conference. The conference boasts 6 of the last 18 national championships, more than any other conference. Also, there's the opportunity for him to go up against the 2 coaching legends down I-40.
It seems a perfect fit for Calipari and for 'Wolfpack Nation'. Calipari gets his chance to coach at a high-profile basketball school and the 'Wolfpack Nation' gets the vibrant personality not easily intimidated (just ask John Cheney) coach it felt it lacked in Herb Sendek.
As a proud citizen of the 'Wolfpack Nation,' who feels that we need a home run after losing a great coach in Sendek, I hope that Calipari is serious about restoring the glory to a once glorious program and not just trying to milk more money out of Memphis. I hope by the time Wednesday rolls around that Calipari and his staff are employed by NC State.
Pictures:
http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2005/scorecard/05/27/truth.rumors.nba/t1_calipari_getty.jpg
http://sportsmed.starwave.com/media/ncb/2000/0105/photo/s_0105cap.jpg
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