With the new transfer portal rules, many players are leaving their schools in search of better opportunities for their athletic careers. This often results in former players returning to face their old teams. Most of the time, the reunion is filled with mutual respect and goodwill between the player and the former team. However, fans don’t always share the same sentiment and tend to boo players who leave.
In some cases, head coaches also leave their schools for new opportunities, creating even more volatile emotions among both players and fans.
This Saturday night, John Calipari will return to Rupp Arena for the first time since his unexpected departure from Lexington. Calipari’s Arkansas squad enters the game with a 1-6 SEC record, and it’s unlikely his return will be a friendly one, given the lingering frustration from fans over his exit.
Adding fuel to the fire, fans were upset when it was announced that Duke and North Carolina would be the hosts for College Gameday this weekend instead of Kentucky’s game with Calipari’s return. ESPN’s Seth Greenberg weighed in on the situation during a recent interview with ESPN Louisville, and his comments are unlikely to sit well with Kentucky fans.
“Outside the state of Kentucky and Arkansas, no one gives a blank about bringing him back just so people can boo John Calipari, cheer him, or whatever,” Greenberg said passionately.
He went on to explain the financial side of the decision, stating that College Gameday’s programming choices are driven by ratings.
“Those decisions are made by programming,” Greenberg continued. “Duke will outrate any game we put on television. It’s all a business.”
Greenberg didn’t mince words when explaining why Arkansas and Kentucky didn’t get the College Gameday spot. Though Kentucky and Arkansas fans might not like it, Greenberg delivered a harsh reality about how these decisions are made.