Updated @ 9:00am
Sunday Evening Update – Job is Cal’s if He Wants it
Sunday Afternoon Update – Wheels in Motion?
Today could be the day…or it might not be the day.
That is how good…and bad that we feel right now.
By now, it is no secret that NC State has engaged in significant talks with Memphis Head Coach John Calipari.
Although some reports indicate that a contract offer was not made and talks will continue, we can’t imagine a scenario where NC State loads up its Athletics Director and Chancellor to meet face to face with Calipari if an offer was not discussed; this opinion is underscored by Dave Glenn who shares more details than other sources and says that State’s $1.7 million offer “overwhelmed” Calipari.
* We think Memphis is working very hard behind the scenes to pull something together to appease Coach Cal. But, Glenn’s comments on compensation makes us feel a little better:
“He used the word ‘overwhelming,'” the source said. “He said, going into the meeting, he was just going to listen. He came out and said he doesn’t think there’s any way Memphis can afford to pay the kind of money N.C. State is offering.”
One possible explanation for Calipari’s apparent skepticism about Memphis’ ability to match NCSU’s offer is the stark contrast in the size of the schools’ athletic budgets. According to tax forms, NCAA-sponsored data and other resources, the Tigers’ athletic department spent about $24.3 million during the 2004-05 fiscal year, compared to more than $37 million for the Wolfpack.
* We think that the folks at NC State have more confidence about the Calipari situation than they are letting on. But, our sources tell us that Memphis is working hard behind the scenes. Since the job has not formally been accepted, then Memphis has a shot.
* Are we on the verge of greatness again or are we about to suffer a huge embarrassment? Fifteen years have ingrained in all of us to fear the “other shoe dropping”. SFN thinks the race is currently as too close to call. The rational side of the analysis really leans towards Calipari coming to State. But, one cannot look at this chain of events and not fear a Jim Valvano and UCLA scenario where we are suddenly UCLA.
* One notable difference between the Valvano/UCLA situation and the Cal/NCSU situation is that Valvano was more deeply rooted in Raleigh and at NC State than Calipari at Memphis. As we all know, Raleigh / NC State / ACC is a very unique situation and Valvano loved it here. In addition to being one of the most established coaches in the ACC, he was one of the biggest celebrities in the conference and the area, which he wouldn’t have been at UCLA.
* We think that any announcement today – the earlier the better – would be a positive thing for NC State. It would make sense that Memphis can’t just snap their fingers and make money appear. That takes time. If they could make the money appear so quickly, why haven’t they before today? The wild card in this is, of course, Fed Ex founder Fred Smith. He can snap his fingers and make money appear.
* If this became a financial pissing contest, we would expect it to go no higher than $2 million per year. At that point the difference is going to come down to the allure of the ACC vs Calipari’s established program (and personal life) in/at Memphis. The Tigers have a legitimate opportunity to make national noise next year on the court.
* We are on high alert expecting that an answer could literally come at any moment. The longer that this drags out past mid-day on Tuesday, the worse it is for NC State. We say Tuesday because if Memphis finds a way to match the offer today, then we wouldn’t be surprised to see NC State reach back into the vault and raise the stakes.
* By all accounts, Sunday’s flight and meeting with Calipari was not designed to be public. This is why SFN did not reference the flight until hours after message board posters all over the internet were tracking the plane. The last thing that we would want to do is negatively impact the search; which is also why most of what you have been reading here are comments after things have developed and analysis on the information.
* The public revelantion of the flight/meeting should not hurt us with Calipari. In fact, it may help us as it ultimately accelerates his timetable and puts Memphis under a tougher time contraint to move quickly. The shorter the time, the harder it is for Memphis to get their ducks in a row. All we do is counter with a higher number and they have to try to do it again.
* The public nature of the news WILL hurt NC State from a PR perspective if we miss on Calipari. That is why we are saying that we haven’t offered to anyone that will listen.
* 1090 AM in Raleigh is reporting that NC State spoke with Villanova Head Coach, Jay Wright on Saturday. This would help explain a comment that Wright (seemingly inadvertently) slipped into an interview over the weekend that referenced State and Calipari’s conversations. SFN has no confirmation on this and we don’t know if this contact was “official” (ie – made through Fowler or the Wolfpack Club).
* We think that the Wolfpack Club, Lee Fowler, and NC State have made their play and we are very appreciative for the effort. It sounds like State has done all that we can do at this point.
