Kentucky Coach Calipari Suggests Separation from NCAA

Brietbart Sports ^ | 17 May 2013, 11:16 AM PDT

[drewh]

At a time when the NCAA has never been more controversial, one of its most high profile coaches is advocating that his school leave the collegiate athletics governing body.

John Calipari, the highly successful coach for the Kentucky Wildcats basketball program, told WJKJ radio in Louisville that it might be time to separate from the NCAA.

In particular, he took issue with the age limit rule saying "I'm the one guy out there saying, 'We've gotta change this somehow. We've gotta encourage these kids to stay two years.'

But the NCAA's gotta do some stuff. And if they don't do it, we need to separate from them. I'm not afraid to say it. Look, they've embarrassed me."

The Wildcats program is known for its utilization of one-and-done players, talented freshmen capable of uniting for one year to take the program to the NCAA Tournament before departing for the NBA.

This pattern failed Calipari this year as the Wildcats were omitted from the NCAA Tournament and bounced from the NIT by Robert Morris on the road in Round 1.

Calipari's criticism comes at a time when NCAA President Mark Emmert and the organization have been under fire for botched investigations, compliance rules, and a host of other issues

[dfwgator]

I like the idea of athletic clubs, like you see in England, that serve as the source athletics, separate from schools. Complete from youth development teams straight up to the professional teams.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I’m all for it. And to do a thorough job, all schools who leave need to adopt offensive Indian nicknames.

[popdonnelly]

In other words, Cal doesn’t like the rules.

[Hot Tabasco]

colleges should focus on education instead of sports.

Personally I agree with you but the reality is that a successfull football program like the University of Michigan has with its 100,000 + seats in its stadium, brings in hundreds of millions of dollars in ticket sales, television and merchandising every year........

And the revenues from these programs also go to scholarships for the real students......