we need a better nickname than that

4/9/2006 6:25:01 PM

On Wral Tom Suiters Blog...

Quote :

"Fowler & Oblinger met with Cal face to face this morning in Memphis, this is a done deal, and will be announced in the next day or two with a press conference in Raleigh"

sounds like the work of an optimistic wolfwebber

4/9/2006 6:25:34 PM

" First Official Confirmation:

WRAL-TV (Raleigh) just officially reported on the 6pm news tonite (on Digital Cable 256 b/c of the Masters being on regular channel 5) that NC State AD Lee Fowler and Chancellor James Oblinger flew to Memphis today and met with Memphis Coach, John Calipari about the coaching position at NC State.

They showed video of them coming off the plane at RDU, and Jeff Gravley is supposed to have "more" when they do the Sports in about 10 minutes or so..."

4/9/2006 6:25:57 PM

Quote :

"sounds like the work of an optimistic wolfwebber"

More like a delusional PackPrider... That said I hope it's true.

4/9/2006 6:27:56 PM

someone please post what they say on the news @6:30-40, I dont have a TV at work...

4/9/2006 6:32:32 PM

LINK TO THIS PLEASE!!!

4/9/2006 6:34:57 PM

I find no links on the net. Must be so hot its TV only.

OR they are just bullshitting us with some video of handshaking and speculation

4/9/2006 6:37:19 PM

http://www.wral.com/news/8579113/detail.html

4/9/2006 6:37:57 PM

Kinda just throwing out the obvious. gg WRAL

4/9/2006 6:39:40 PM

....and there ya go, WHAT A CLIFFHANGER!

I'll say one thing about this whole deal though:
We are closer to landing Cal than we ever got to landing Barnes.
I dont think Fowler & Oblinger went to UT and had multi-hour talk with Barnes in person.

c'mon c'mon.......

4/9/2006 6:41:02 PM

Definite fear in Tiger Town.
http://www.ncaabbs.com/forums/memphis/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=48887

4/9/2006 6:47:07 PM

Wow, they have some reasonable discussions over there.

Quote :

"Don't blame Lee Fowler, he's a darn good AD and doesn't have to run anything by RC. It takes two to tango and if the overtures were welcomed by Cal then RC should have been proactive and seen this coming long before this week if he had bullets left to shoot. NC State is a great job in a great league with tons of tradition. Memphis is a great job with tons of tradition but a history of league changes and conference realignments. Don't even get me started about the CUSA TV package with CSTV. "

4/9/2006 7:02:42 PM

seriously, he can

-stay in Memphis and be seen on ESPN maybe twice in a season and play Rice and SMU

or

-come to NC State, be seen on ESPN weekly once the conference season starts, and play Duke, UNC, BC, Maryland, etc.

4/9/2006 7:04:28 PM

http://www.statefansnation.com/index.php/archives/2006/04/09/job-is-cals-if-he-wants-it-our-take/

4/9/2006 7:04:35 PM

tigger town seems pisssed!

4/9/2006 7:05:55 PM

Quote :

"its because college basketball in north carolina is crazy. there are huge rivalry games mutliple times a year, you're in a national spotlight with the majority of games at least making regional tv coverage. until i got here i never understood how crazy these people are about college basketball. little kids pick on each other and get into fights over it. these people are like jihadists, they are completely insane for their teams. the intense hate for other teams, its insane. "

http://www.ncaabbs.com/forums/memphis/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=48888

4/9/2006 7:13:10 PM

I love how their fans were talking all highly of calipari earlier and now they are saying they don't care if he leaves.

4/9/2006 7:19:24 PM

Quote :

"If Cal goes, money says that State fans are calling for his head in 2 seasons. Still love the guy, but he hasn't accomplished that much on the court. Great PR guy, great motivator, and great champion of the community. But there are many coaches better on the court."

[Edited on April 9, 2006 at 7:20 PM. Reason : :]

4/9/2006 7:20:33 PM

Man, I just hope this plays out good for the NC State side.... This would be huge if we do indeed land Calipari as head coach, and Fowler would be KING and worshiped by all for quite a while....

4/9/2006 7:21:59 PM

I think it's a done deal.

That's the only explanation for why Oblinger would have been on the plane. As statefansnation put it, you don't "interview" a coach like Calipari. And if you did, it would be over the phone to keep things quiet.

They flew out there to finalize the deal and get a signature on the contract. Now they are gonna give Calipari a few days to talk to his team and call his recruits before the deal is announced. I would expect a press conference early this week, and maybe tomorrow if the news starts to leak that he's already signed.

4/9/2006 7:22:40 PM

Quote :

"So have we now become a "stepping stone" job like UAB? Thanks CUSA!"

Quote :

"No, the blame lies with RC Johnson and his fancy toupee."

hahaahaah, they are starting to crack me up.

4/9/2006 7:25:13 PM

Well, by tomorrow either Fowler will be a savior or Fowler and the NC State fans will look pretty stupid.

4/9/2006 7:36:37 PM

^ Fowler will be a savior, I have faith in our administration that they got the job done, especially if they flew out to Memphis on a Sunday morning...

4/9/2006 7:39:29 PM

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060409/NEWSREC0101/60409001

Quote :

" MORRISVILLE – Unless N.C. State athletics director Lee Fowler and university chancellor James Oblinger just suddenly decided to visit Graceland or Beale Street, it became clear on Sunday that the Wolfpack is very interested in Memphis coach John Calipari. Oblinger, Fowler and Donn Ward, the school's faculty athletics representative, flew to Memphis on Sunday morning on a private jet owned by Wendell Murphy, a university trustee and prominent benefactor. After spending just over three hours in Memphis, Fowler and Oblinger flew back to Raleigh, touching down at RDU International Airport just before 4 p.m. “How are you guys doing?” Fowler greeted several journalists as he walked into the reception area of Southern Jet. Asked if he had anything new to report about the search for a replacement for Herb Sendek, who left State a week earlier to become head coach at Arizona State, Fowler walked out to the parking lot without comment. On the way to Fowler’s car, one witness overhead Fowler’s wife, Carol, say “So much for being a secret.” The secret of State’s interest in Calipari – and Calipari’s interest in State – had stayed in the background for most of the week while the Wolfpack pursued Texas coach Rick Barnes. But by the weekend, when it became clear that Barnes was going to stay in Austin, talk centered around who would be the Wolfpack’s next target. Much of that talk was about Calipari. On Saturday afternoon, an article by Sporting News columnist Mike DeCourcy appeared on the publication’s website, declaring that Calipari was now the focus of State’s search. By Sunday, it was apparent that Memphis athletics director R.C. Johnson was aware that his coach was in play. Johnson told the Commercial Appeal of Memphis that he had canceled a trip to a NCAA Management Council Meeting in Savannah, Ga., to stay in town and rework Calipari’s contract. “Just about every year it's been like this with John,” Johnson told the paper, “and I'm OK with that.” Calipari reportedly will make at least $1.3 million this year and has a $2.5 million annuity he will collect if he remains at Memphis through the 2009-10 season. But N.C. State reportedly offered Rick Barnes a contract worth nearly $2 million a year. Johnson said Saturday no school has requested permission to speak with Calipari, but that step is considered merely a professional courtesy, not an obligation. Bob Winn, the associate athletics director for external affairs at Memphis, did not immediately return calls seeking comment. "

[Edited on April 9, 2006 at 7:49 PM. Reason : fds]

4/9/2006 7:47:57 PM

I hope this is more than just hearsay and "sources" like it was for Barnes.

And even though Jay Wright is my #1, his contract is difficult, and Calipari would be A-OK with me.

4/9/2006 7:58:57 PM

yeah I'd take Calipari

I'd prefer him over Barnes simply due to age; John has time (if we let him) to create something longstanding here since he's so young.

Still, I am not banking on having a new coach 'til the press conference is shown.

4/9/2006 8:19:27 PM

^ WRAL reported them going up there this morning, I don't remember them saying anything like that about Barnes...I hope this means its true.

4/9/2006 8:20:55 PM

I think the fact that they went there today means there has to be some sort of confirmation on whether or not he is coming by...tommorow?

4/9/2006 8:39:13 PM

Quote :

"North Carolina State University officials flew to Memphis today and discussed the school’s men's basketball coaching vacancy with John Calipari. The meeting lasted about two hours, and consisted of Calipari, N.C. State chancellor James Oblinger, athletic director Lee Fowler and other university officials. No deal was struck, sources said, but it’s clear Calipari is N.C. State’s top priority as it searches for Herb Sendek’s replacement. Texas coach Rick Barnes reportedly turned down an offer worth more than $2 million per year. "It’s unclear whether the same offer will be extended to Calipari. He makes a base salary of about $1.1 million at Memphis plus incentives that could push his total package to as much as $1.5 million per year. For example, thanks to a trip to the Elite Eight this past season Calipari made a minimum of $1.3 million, which included $200,000 in NCAA Tournament bonuses. Calipari and U of M athletic director R.C. Johnson did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment. "

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/tigers/article/0,2844,MCA_25363_4608954,00.html

4/9/2006 8:43:44 PM

no news.. should be good news.. If he turned us down then it should be reported.. If he accepted.. give him time to talk to his players, etc.... If he's still thinking about it.... I hope he makes up his mind soon.

4/9/2006 8:43:48 PM

skumstea knows everything about everything

4/9/2006 8:45:07 PM

^Yeah. the offer is physically on the table as of today and that is signifiacant.

The biggest question is can UofM match the offer and sway him back?
He has history of leaning towards leaving and then coming back with a raise while @ UofM.

Hopefully this isnt Barnes #2, but again:
We never flew out 'en masse' and offered Barnes a contract.
Everything was on the dilly with Barnes and obviously we were talking to Cal during all that in preparation for the move today (despite rumors of not returning phone calls)(those were good rumors in hindsight)

If we dont hear anything by at least tuesday morning then we have failed yet again....
Hopefully that is not the case...

4/9/2006 8:46:02 PM

Gotta like this quote from Memphis board:

[quote]
I don't know if he is going to NC State or not but something he has done I have been concerned about....he stated on several occasions late in season and during the NCAA run that the people of Memphis should enjoy what the team was doing because it is something that doesn't happen often.

Is that a coach saying:

1. he is not capable of having the program at this level year in and year out
2. Memphis is not capable of having a program at this level year in and year out
3. the school has not made enough of a commitment to keep it at that level year in and year out
4. something else

I didn't understand why he kept saying it. I know he probably thinks the home arena should have been packed this year regardless of opponent and I wonder if he feels something is missing. It took him 5-6 years to get the program to this point of national consciousness, longer than I am sure he thought it would take. Maybe in his mind he has met some kind of challenge, resurrected and taken the program to a level as far as he can take it.

4/9/2006 9:26:21 PM

haha. I love how all the premium people in the packpride chat are bitching about people with Free trial memberships. haha. I also think a couple memphis fans have joined.

4/9/2006 9:31:01 PM

http://mb23.scout.com/finsidecarolinafrm6.showMessage?topicID=110599.topic

haha carolina fans are so funny,

4/9/2006 9:52:06 PM

do they really think thats funny?

4/9/2006 9:55:55 PM

its true though

both of these coaches could just end up with raises after talking to state

they should be loving us

[Edited on April 9, 2006 at 10:05 PM. Reason : ]

4/9/2006 10:04:49 PM

he took MEMPHIS and UMASS deep into the tournaments


i mean, that's getting a top ten finish at Talladega in a school bus.



the guy can coach. i reaaallly hope we get him.

4/9/2006 10:08:09 PM

I'd rather have Archie Miller. He had mad skills at yelling at cafeteria ladies.

4/9/2006 10:11:11 PM

and running down the breezeway half naked at Avent Ferry, I won't forget that

4/9/2006 10:13:48 PM

Quote :

"haha carolina fans are so funny, "

how long ago was it that frank beamer played UNC like a fiddle for a raise?

3 years?

4/9/2006 10:20:52 PM

archie introduced me to saying "Birfday" "stremph" and "crunk"


i'll always be in his debt

4/9/2006 10:21:23 PM

hey lets not forget it took them two seperate coaching searches to get Roy

4/9/2006 10:24:25 PM

Quote :

"I'd prefer him over Barnes simply due to age; John has time (if we let him) to create something longstanding here since he's so young. "

4/9/2006 10:31:04 PM

I'll miss Herb, but Calipari would be a good replacement.

4/9/2006 10:39:06 PM

I would love it if Calipari does come here. but he does seem like the type of coach that wont stay at a program forever like K did. he seems like he will coach a team for 8-10yrs then move on (which for us, 8yrs > 0yrs)

4/9/2006 10:44:43 PM

It really depends on what he is looking for. NCSU has the potential to be an end-stage job. If he does bring us back to the top, where would he go to upgrade?

Eight years from now, he might have a great team in the best conference, pulling in the best recruits, and making deep runs regularly.


I suppose you can't do anything but enjoy the ride if he truly is a sojourner.

[Edited on April 9, 2006 at 10:50 PM. Reason : 465]

4/9/2006 10:49:39 PM

Quote :

"he took MEMPHIS and UMASS deep into the tournaments i mean, that's getting a top ten finish at Talladega in a school bus. "

haha, so true, especially the umass part

4/9/2006 10:51:37 PM

I don't see him staying the long haul either. He just doesn't seem the type. I would pick him to go to a lesser team for the sake of proving his greatness, or to have another crack at the NBA.

4/9/2006 10:51:48 PM

Lollerskates

4/9/2006 10:53:31 PM