Should He Stay Or Should He Go Now?
by John Branston
- cnnsi.com
- John Calipari
A prominent University of Memphis booster says basketball coach John Calipari has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at North Carolina State but may still decide to stay at Memphis. Rick Spell, who is close to both Calipari and athletic director R. C. Johnson, said Calipari is being offered $2 million a year to compete regularly against the likes of Duke and North Carolina. Like Memphis six years ago, North Carolina State is struggling. “They need a silver bullet,” said Spell. On the other hand, Spell says, “expectations will be through the roof,” and the results that Memphis and Calipari have achieved in the last six years — one appearance in the Elite Eight — would not satisfy NC State. Plus, Spell said, Calipari genuinely likes Memphis and has a great team coming back that will contend for the national championship. “Before yesterday I would have said he was staying,” said Spell. “Now I’m not sure.” To find out how all of this is playing in North Carolina, go here.
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