Apparently, Calipari's Relationship with Stoops Not That Bad

Drama few years ago about which program was biggest for Wildcats not big deal

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops speaks to the media at the 2024 SEC Football Kickoff on Thursday at the Omni Dallas Hotel in Dallas. (James D. Smith / SEC) / James D. Smith-SEC

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas fans don't have to worry about new basketball coach John Calipari getting along with football coach Sam Pittman.

Apparently that whole deal at Kentucky was blown out of proportion by some media types. That happens quite a bit.

Usually all that is needed is a little nugget to make a mountain out of a routine family squabble. There's not an athletic program or business in the country where everybody is just having a wonderful time every day.

"Really, he and I have had a really good relationship for a long time," Stoops said Thursday at the SEC Football Kickoff in Dallas. "There was one little blip on there, but we're both big boys, we're both friends and have spoken, and I'm sure he'll be successful at Arkansas and wish him nothing but the best."

That little "blip" was about Calipari calling Kentucky a basketball school, which it's always been.

"It's always been that," Calipari told The Athletic in 2022. "Alabama is a football school. So is Georgia. I mean, they are. No disrespect to our football team. I hope they win 10 games and go to bowls. At the end of the day, that makes my job easier and it makes the job of all of us easier. But this is a basketball school, and so we need to keep moving in that direction and keep doing what we're doing."

Stoops, who appears to respond to everything, didn't waste time firing back. That was a little comical from a distance because it's like starting one of these social media fight with some guy on a phone at the bar or in his basement eating Cheetos and drinking beer. You're not going to win arguing with folks who don't even understand the argument.

"Basketball school?" he responded on X. "I thought we competed in the SEC? #4straightpostseasonwins."

Yeah, good luck to Stoops on winning that one. As for Calipari, it's just one of those things in his rearview mirror.

Seeing it in real time, it was just a matter of two guys yapping about their teams. That happens with every coach at every school and means absolutely nothing.

It is good for clicks and views, though. For better or worse, it's not going to change.

As for the Razorbacks, they aren't in a position to say Arkansas is anything but a track school. The Hogs have to win championships before they can declare the school is focused on an entire SEC program.

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