John Calipari called Kentucky a basketball school, and football coach Mark Stoops and former football player Max Duffy fired back.
On Thursday, John Calipari called the University of Kentucky a basketball school in regards to wanting a better practice facility. Kentucky football head coach Mark Stoops was not pleased.
Stoops fired back at Calipari’s response, asking whether or not the football team was also part of the SEC. Additionally, former Wildcat punter Max Duffy also chimed in, bringing up Kentucky basketball’s loss to Saint Peter’s in the most recent NCAA Tournament.
Completely out of the blue question but has the Kentucky football team ever lost to St.Peters? 💙
— Max Duffy (@Max__Duffy) August 11, 2022
Duffy also began questioning other aspects of the University and the other athletic programs that represent the school. All in all, these were merely shots at John Calipari’s claim that the University is primarily a basketball school.
Kentucky football: Mark Stoops, former player fire back at John Calipari calling UK a ‘basketball school’
To Max Duffy’s point, Kentucky basketball did suffer a low moment last season when Saint Peter’s beat them en route to the Peacocks’ first Elite Eight appearance, falling short to North Carolina. Wildcats fans will recall how Luke Maye hit a clutch shot against Kentucky to deny them a chance at possibly winning a title.
Moreover, the basketball program, as great as it has been, has largely underachieved in Calipari’s tenure, with two trips to the national championship, leaving with one win, and the loss of a potential perfect season in the Final Four in 2015. A lot has left to be desired.
What will be interesting to see is how Mark Stoops and John Calipari interact with each other. Frustration is one thing, but sometimes, the words spoken can lead to other incidents, and based on what Calipari said, Kentucky’s football season in 2022 will be one to watch. Stoops’ players will no doubt be fired up about this comment.
