Vol Villains Quarterfinals: John Calipari vs. Geno Auriemma
by Will Shelton on May 25, 2011 8:00 AM EDT
in Tennessee Volunteer Basketball
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PrintHow much of an impact do the Lady Vols make in the grand scheme of Tennessee Athletics?
If all sports were equal, Geno Auriemma would be in the conversation with Steve Spurrier for the number one overall seed in this tournament. His teams have been directly responsible for the Lady Vols not winning championships, 4-0 against UT in the title game. He has a winning record against Pat Summitt. And going above and beyond the call of duty, he's one of the least likeable figures in all of college sports. How many non-UConn fans do you find saying, "You know, I really like that Geno Auriemma fellow."
The Lady Vols are more equal in Knoxville than on any other college campus except the one in Storrs, though both will always struggle against juggernauts in football and basketball. But it's Bruce Pearl who gets an assist in making John Calipari matter as much as he does in Knoxville.
Calipari beat Rick Pitino in the first round, who is the single most successful coach against Tennessee in any major sport. I'm sure Cal's personality scores him some villain points as well, and his efforts in this rivalry are more recent. But the main reason Cal beat Pitino is because he won games that mattered.
The UT-UConn rivalry is strong enough to surpass many of the smaller men's rivalries; Auriemma beat Kevin Stallings in the first round. But Calipari spent time in the most meaningful trenches of the Tennessee-Memphis rivalry, and is currently in charge of the Vols' basketball nemesis during a time when it means something for Kentucky to beat Tennessee (hopefully Cuonzo Martin can continue to make this the case). They are similarly successful: Calipari is 7-4 against UT (.636), Auriemma 13-9 (.591). You really can't make a bad decision here.
Cal has beaten very successful Tennessee teams, but again, Auriemma has beaten a number of Lady Vol squads that would've been National Champions had the outcome been different. They are excellent villains to have in our two biggest basketball rivalries (you know, if UT and UConn would actually play again). But there can be only one.
Is John Calipari's presence in two of our biggest men's basketball rivalries enough to topple the greatest villain of the university's proudest sport?
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I will gladly own up to the Auriemma vote.
Put it this way: I can talk about Calipari rationally. I can’t with Auriemma.
Formerly 'snail. You get used to it after a while.
Wow
This is tough. But I went with Calipari – the slight edge just because I care more about men’s hoops.
I voted for Auriemma
1. Because he’s directly cost us so many national championships
2. I wanted to see Calipari lose to a girl.
Dooley-isms Archiving the Genius.
I care more about men's hoops
But Auriemma is more villainous.
Heel for school, Vol for life!
Go Bolts! Out West, go Preds! Southern hockey solidarity!
by Incipient_Senescence on May 25, 2011 10:50 AM EDT reply actions
I hate Calipari with a passion that is surpassed only by the molten temperature of the sun
and the level at which I despise Geno
Hey, bad guys. Look up in the sky. See the UAV? Nope? We see you. "Don't laze me, bro'!"
So...
are they reflexively voting for Squid, or do they want him to not be a villain?
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
I think Geno is one of the worst human beings on the planet
Not as bad a human being as Urban Meyer, but still right up there at the very very top.
...just apologize for not thanking me.
Yeah...
um, when I first checked it was like 70% Auriemma…
now Calipari conveniently has a small lead despite me not knowing a single Tennessee fan who actually voted for him.
The same thing happened with the Saban vote… I know Kentucky basketball fans and Alabama football fans have quite a bit in common… but why are they the only fans I’ve ever met who constantly seek validation from everyone else?
also...
I’d completely recommend disqualifying Calipari unless some actual Tennessee fans are able to give the guy a win in a legitimate headcount.
let's do a revote using comments.
so we can see whose voting here
by golfballs03 on May 26, 2011 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions
It's been picked up by a couple of UK sites and a UConn message board
though you can see which one is making the biggest difference…we’ll keep an eye on it, poll stays open until tomorrow night
by Will Shelton on May 26, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm a Tennessee fan and I voted for Calipari
Is it that hard to believe that a good number of Tennessee Vols fans find it easier to hate a men’s basketball coach than a women’s basketball coach? FWIW, I voted for Kevin Stallings over Auriemma too.
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
It's not hard to believe...
what is hard to believe is that the Tennessee fans who read this before early this morning voted for Auriemma by almost a 2/1 margin, and the ones who only read it after preferred Calipari by something like 3/1
I don't find that hard to believe.
I didn’t vote until later because I forgot about it. There was no nefarious Kentucky conspiracy involved. But I can only speak for myself.
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
Voted for Auriemma
Calipari may be an odious operator, but Auriemma is just a colossal prick.
by JohnCoctostan on May 26, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Even if Calipari wins
he’ll just have to vacate it later.
by danmarcel on May 26, 2011 1:30 PM EDT reply actions 7 recs
Or will he declare it the greatest day in the history of John Calipari?
Bring it across, shape it down
by Getoffmyvols on May 26, 2011 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
What, Kentucky lurkers?
No defense for your boy?
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
Yep.
God’s will.
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
I just put Geno over the top with 193
instant gratification
If your eyes need some exercise...
Here’s the perfect post to get them rolling…..
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
Alright well, technical difficulties are preventing me from closing the poll
but it ended along with the others last night at midnight – Auriemma will advance to the Final Four
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