Memphis officials have changed their minds and will not be honoring former Tigers coach John Calipari for his induction into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.
At least not anytime soon.
Just hours after announcing a dinner Dec. 28 benefiting the Tigers and honoring Calipari, Memphis President M. David Rudd issued a statement on Twitter saying the university will not be recognizing the former coach.
"I apologize for the unnecessary upset, embarrassment and genuine distress generated by the issue of honoring Coach John Calipari on the occasion of his installation into the College Basketball Hall of Fame," Rudd wrote Thursday afternoon.
Here is the note in full:
Here is my response to our University and Community. pic.twitter.com/A8yx1ZlVDd
— Dr. M. David Rudd (@UofMemphisPres) September 10, 2015
Rudd first teased the university's plans Wednesday on Twitter, and Memphis announced the dinner benefiting the men's basketball program in a release Thursday morning. Calipari, who is being inducted this weekend in Springfield, Massachusetts, was head coach from 2000 to 2009. He led the Tigers to the 2008 national title game in a season later vacated by the NCAA.
Calipari heard of the brewing backlash from a friend and said Thursday in Springfield, before Rudd announced the new plans, that whatever Memphis does is fine with him.
"They gave me a chance to revive my career," Calipari said. "There's many friends that I have there that'll be here, and I'm excited for all the players that are going to be here, and it was a great time. My wife and I have many great friends, so it's good."
The idea of honoring Calipari angered fans still upset he left for Kentucky and took several recruits with him then. Calipari more recently recruited 6-foot-11 forward Skal Labissiere from Memphis to join him at Kentucky as a freshman this season.
Hey @UofMemphisPres, I love Memphis. Went to school there. Worked in Athletic Department. Don't make the mistake of honoring Calipari.
— Preston McClellan (@p_mcclellan) September 10, 2015
@SBNation he will be boo'd so hard. Guaranteed. #tigernation
— Casey Lynn (@CaseylynnRN) September 10, 2015
The U of M should give the award at the beginning of the game, then vacate the award at the end. http://t.co/evvhQePQ4q
— Ryan Poe (@ryanpoe) September 9, 2015
So fans shared their feelings with Memphis' president. Rudd, who said he read every email, post and responded to every call, wrote he was "deeply troubled" by how upset people were at the idea.
"I recognize this will not end the debate and discussion, but it will put this chapter to rest for our University, fans and community," Rudd wrote.
