During his visit to West Liberty on Friday to raise money to help the tornado-ravaged town, UK basketball coach John Calipari announced that the Sept. 15 alumni game to be played in association with his Fantasy Camp would benefit the West Liberty cause.
That Sept. 15 date, however, is the same Saturday that Kentucky plays Western Kentucky at Commonwealth Stadium in football.
Though the basketball game will be played in the afternoon, with the football game scheduled for a 7 p.m. start, Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger says that the added basketball attraction can’t help but take away from football.
An excerpt:
But surely there could be a way to play the basketball game some other weekend. Don’t forget that is also the Hall of Fame weekend where Derek Abney (football), Leroy Edwards (men’s basketball), J.B. Holmes (men’s golf), Jeff Keener (baseball), Clayton Moss (swimming and diving) and Nancy Scranton (women’s golf) will be formally inducted into the UK Hall of Fame. They’ll be way overshadowed by the basketball exhibition game, too.
I agree. The basketball exhibition has the potential of overwhelming everything else that is going on that weekend. Plus, we are talking about an exhibition “alumni” game, not even an exhibition game involving current players. It goes for a good cause, yes, but the timing is not the best.
What do you think?
Related links:
- Pictures from John Calipari’s West Liberty visit
- Calipari lands in West Liberty for morale booster
- Video: Coach Cal’s visit to West Liberty
