Calipari rocking the boat a little bit with Athletic Dept.

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

A source with Rupp Arena mentioned that Calipari is causing some unrest within the athletic department because he's demanding that the UK locker room be redone. The locker rooms were redone within the last couple of years, but Coach Cal is demanding that the lockers which are the same color as the floor be redone in cherry wood.

Rupp Arena covered the last renovation costs, but says that this one will be on the Athletic Dept which will cost around $1.2 mil.

[pjquirk]

$1.2M for a locker room renovation? Can I get in on that contract???

[dougwhit]

wow....a locker room worth more than my house...

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

The last renovation was $512K.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Originally Posted by BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN

A source with Rupp Arena mentioned that Calipari is causing some unrest within the athletic department because he's demanding that the UK locker room be redone. The locker rooms were redone within the last couple of years, but Coach Cal is demanding that the lockers which are the same color as the floor be redone in cherry wood.

Rupp Arena covered the last renovation costs, but says that this one will be on the Athletic Dept which will cost around $1.2 mil.

maybe they could take that 1.2 million out of his salary

just a joke

[TrueblueCATfan]

No really I don't see a problem with it
you want top notch facilities for top notch recruits
the price you pay for having a top notch basketball program

[lilproUK98]

Originally Posted by BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN

A source with Rupp Arena mentioned that Calipari is causing some unrest within the athletic department because he's demanding that the UK locker room be redone. The locker rooms were redone within the last couple of years, but Coach Cal is demanding that the lockers which are the same color as the floor be redone in cherry wood.

Rupp Arena covered the last renovation costs, but says that this one will be on the Athletic Dept which will cost around $1.2 mil.

Hmmm, kind of pointless considering we're looking at being in a new arena within the next 6-9 yrs.

[Soldier1969]

Good for Coach to make that recommendation... Hear me out now (because I know most of ya are a itchin to raise yer voice at me about right now)... I am willing to bet ya a cold PBR that Coach has been in more locker rooms than most of us over the last year or two and has a good idea of what a class act looks like and what merely nice looks like... I bet he is tryin to set the bar within the facilities moreso than some of the more competitive recruiting schools out there... If yer still with me, it might be the difference to several recruits as well when considering the facilities... I'd rather have the nicer facility and if I were a visiting team and saw NBA caliber locker rooms (again this is where I think he is looking towards mirroring) then I recon I would score 10 points a game less just from the intimidation factor... Now I put my thought on it, let me know yer thoughts as well... regardless, I can not wait fer October to get here!!!!!

[Wally Londo]

Originally Posted by Soldier1969

Good for Coach to make that recommendation... Hear me out now (because I know most of ya are a itchin to raise yer voice at me about right now)... I am willing to bet ya a cold PBR that Coach has been in more locker rooms than most of us over the last year or two and has a good idea of what a class act looks like and what merely nice looks like... I bet he is tryin to set the bar within the facilities moreso than some of the more competitive recruiting schools out there... If yer still with me, it might be the difference to several recruits as well when considering the facilities... I'd rather have the nicer facility and if I were a visiting team and saw NBA caliber locker rooms (again this is where I think he is looking towards mirroring) then I recon I would score 10 points a game less just from the intimidation factor... Now I put my thought on it, let me know yer thoughts as well... regardless, I can not wait fer October to get here!!!!!

You're going to have to up the ante. Can't do any PBR's.

[CATHYnKY]

Are you telling me a recruit would be impressed with a cherry wood locker room? I think he would be more impressed with a Slushy machine in The Lodge.

[Blue_N_White]

Originally Posted by CATHYnKY

Are you telling me a recruit would be impressed with a cherry wood locker room? I think he would be more impressed with a Slushy machine in The Lodge.

Good point.

Seriously...if they were just renovated two years ago, and the cost would be $1.2 MILLION to do it...then this is one that Cal might not get his way with. I don't blame him for WANTING...but this falls into that "not such a pressing need" category.

[westtncat]

If it is true I'm sorry I can't back coach up on this one. The current floor is barely two years old? Can't see that kinda money being spent on a new floor this soon. I know we want top notch facilities but you gotta draw the line somewhere. You can't go into panic mode thinking everything is gonna make or break recruiting. We got the current class with this floor.

[JMBluechip]

I'm not onboard with Cal on this one. The state is in a budget crisis. College tuition keeps going up and up. Unemployment is...., well you know. This just sends the wrong message right now. A couple of years down the road? Perhaps, if the financial environment is better.

Furthermore, I think the Craft Center alone should be impressive enough. That is where a recruit will be spending most of his time. I understand it is unrivaled.

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

Originally Posted by westtncat

If it is true I'm sorry I can't back coach up on this one. The current floor is barely two years old? Can't see that kinda money being spent on a new floor this soon. I know we want top notch facilities but you gotta draw the line somewhere. You can't go into panic mode thinking everything is gonna make or break recruiting. We got the current class with this floor.

I wasn't talking about the Rupp floor, but the same person said that coach was in Rupp today doing the Windstream commercial and they wanted the floor down to drive the windstream truck out on. I take it that Rupp has a brand new floor next year, and they made a special section of the floor that was painted like the Rupp floor, just for the truck to roll out on and not damage the real floor.

[Joe Hardy]

Originally Posted by JMBluechip

I'm not onboard with Cal on this one. The state is in a budget crisis. College tuition keeps going up and up. Unemployment is...., well you know. This just sends the wrong message right now. A couple of years down the road? Perhaps, if the financial environment is better.

Furthermore, I think the Craft Center alone should be impressive enough. That is where a recruit will be spending most of his time. I understand it is unrivaled.

wrong message or not...the UK AD is not in a budget crisis and makes a ton of money regardless of the economy. There is no economy bad enough to keep people out of Rupp arena or to keep TV networks from wanting to show our games. This is a non-profit organization we're talking about here. They make money and they need to spend it on something. That one-million figure seems like alot to you and I but it seems to me that is pocket change for our AD.

and I gotta be honest....I've never seen the entire Craft Center but that practice gym they have is a little on the dull side if you ask me. We get all excited when 5-star recruits even make a VISIT to UK so it seems we'd all be willing for someone else to spend money that isn't ours to impress said recruits.

I agree completely with TBCF. you want the best you need to give them reason to want to be here.

[JMBluechip]

Originally Posted by Joe Hardy

wrong message or not...the UK AD is not in a budget crisis and makes a ton of money regardless of the economy. There is no economy bad enough to keep people out of Rupp arena or to keep TV networks from wanting to show our games. This is a non-profit organization we're talking about here. They make money and they need to spend it on something. That one-million figure seems like alot to you and I but it seems to me that is pocket change for our AD.

and I gotta be honest....I've never seen the entire Craft Center but that practice gym they have is a little on the dull side if you ask me. We get all excited when 5-star recruits even make a VISIT to UK so it seems we'd all be willing for someone else to spend money that isn't ours to impress said recruits.

I agree completely with TBCF. you want the best you need to give them reason to want to be here.

Joe, I understand completely that the UK AD is independent of state money. I also know that the SEC just signed a very lucrative contract with ESPN. Yes, the athletic department needs to spend the money somewhere. They have already done so with Cal's contract and the Craft Center (both of which I fully support). This is just too much too soon on one program. There are many others in need of money as well I think.

How about they spend some money on other sports like football, baseball, track and field, gymnastics, or soccer? Why not give these sports some cash so they can build better programs and get better recruits too? I understand basketball and football are the honeypots, but spread the wealth a little. A recruit won't come to UK because Rupp got fancy new lockers. He will be sold on the Coach first and the tradition second. A new locker room is way down the list.

[Blue_N_White]

Originally Posted by JMBluechip

Yes, the athletic department needs to spend the money somewhere.

It's always easier to spend someone else's money, isn't it?

Originally Posted by JMBluechip

They have already done so with Cal's contract and the Craft Center (both of which I fully support). This is just too much too soon on one program. There are many others in need of money as well I think.

How about they spend some money on other sports like football, baseball, track and field, gymnastics, or soccer? Why not give these sports some cash so they can build better programs and get better recruits too? I understand basketball and football are the honeypots, but spread the wealth a little. A recruit won't come to UK because Rupp got fancy new lockers. He will be sold on the Coach first and the tradition second. A new locker room is way down the list.

Men's basketball is the MONEY MAKER for UK. It's the flagship program. So I don't think I'm in favor of "spreading the wealth" as much as I am "spending it WISELY!" I just don't know that renovating a locker room that was just renovated two years earlier fits into that "wisely" category. Especially when it's purely for cosmetic, and not practical, purposes......

[JMBluechip]

Originally Posted by Blue_N_White

It's always easier to spend someone else's money, isn't it?



Men's basketball is the MONEY MAKER for UK. It's the flagship program. So I don't think I'm in favor of "spreading the wealth" as much as I am "spending it WISELY!" I just don't know that renovating a locker room that was just renovated two years earlier fits into that "wisely" category. Especially when it's purely for cosmetic, and not practical, purposes......

If I understand you correctly, you are saying that the money belongs solely to the basketball program. What do you mean when you say it is easier to spend someone else's money? Last time I checked the university has many athletic programs. I support every single one, not just basketball. Don't you want to see all athletic programs thriving? I think we have basketball covered right now considering this year's recruiting class or have you forgotten we have the #1 class? They came despite the current locker rooms at Rupp.

What's wrong with building other sports programs at UK?

[Blue_N_White]

Originally Posted by JMBluechip

If I understand you correctly, you are saying that the money belongs solely to the basketball program. What do you mean when you say it is easier to spend someone else's money? Last time I checked the university has many athletic programs. I support every single one, not just basketball. Don't you want to see all athletic programs thriving? I think we have basketball covered right now considering this year's recruiting class or have you forgotten we have the #1 class? They came despite the current locker rooms at Rupp.

What's wrong with building other sports programs at UK?

The comment about it being easier to spend other people's money is an age old expression that is accurate. It's always easier to tell someone else how to spend their money.

As for the athletic department...I'd have to see a break down of how much money is generated by the men's basketball program compared to the other sports programs...and then see how the money is allocated before I could make a definitive statement one way or the other. But one thing I'm NOT in favor of...is the men's basketball team bringing in money that would be redistributed to other programs..."just because". In a small percentage sense, perhaps. But if you do it for one...the "other" programs will have their hands out wanting "THEIR" fair share. So there's a slippery slope you run into. I'd have to see what kind of dollar amounts and the percentages of what before I could speak somewhat intelligently to this subject.

[JMBluechip]

Originally Posted by Blue_N_White

The comment about it being easier to spend other people's money is an age old expression that is accurate. It's always easier to tell someone else how to spend their money.

As for the athletic department...I'd have to see a break down of how much money is generated by the men's basketball program compared to the other sports programs...and then see how the money is allocated before I could make a definitive statement one way or the other. But one thing I'm NOT in favor of...is the men's basketball team bringing in money that would be redistributed to other programs..."just because". In a small percentage sense, perhaps. But if you do it for one...the "other" programs will have their hands out wanting "THEIR" fair share. So there's a slippery slope you run into. I'd have to see what kind of dollar amounts and the percentages of what before I could speak somewhat intelligently to this subject.

I don't want to redistribute money "just because" either. I think we agree here. I want to spend money to build every athletic program. I don't think that qualifies as "just because". As I stated, I am a fan of ALL athletic programs, not just basketball. Some schools have proven that they can excel in several sports. UF and Texas come to mind. I would like to see the day when UK competes annually in every sport as well.

Basketball is the bread and butter. I get that. It would not be advised to neglect it. I would just like to parlay that revenue to build other programs. One day, we could have several sports contributing to the coffers.