now official, Memphis v. GTown, @FedExForum.

[uofmemphis]

from the Commercial Appeal:

Georgetown added to U of M schedule
By Dan Wolken
Contact
June 14, 2007

The University of Memphis is adding a home game with Georgetown, a potential preseason top-five team, and delaying its road game at Ole Miss for two years in a major shakeup of the 2007-08 schedule, according to a source close to the situation.

Though the University of Memphis has not received the signed contracts, the deal is done, according to the source. The contracts will be for a four-year, home-and-home series with Georgetown, which went to the Final Four last season and will return star center Roy Hibbert and possibly Jeff Green, who is currently in the NBA Draft but is eligible to withdraw and return to school.

Georgetown joins Arizona, Gonzaga and Tennessee as potential top-20 teams that will play in FedExForum this season. Memphis will also play USC in the Jimmy V Classic in New York.

More details to follow in Friday's editions of The Commercial Appeal.

Copyright 2007, commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN. All Rights Reserved.

man, this will be a GREAT game...Memphis is a VERY fun place to visit, and this should be one MONSTER game.

you guys will join teams like Arizona, Tennessee, Gonzaga, Cincy, Kentucky, UConn etc. on our schedule next year.

here's a look at FedExForum...

Please, no remote posting of images.--Admin


man, i can't wait to see our teams play!

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

[Elvado]

there goes my hope that Cal's players see a classroom this year...

[757hoyafan]

when is the last time we played them? I am thinking we haven't since the days of Gibson & Watkins?

[Elvado]

Days of Wine and Roses...

[sleepy]

I think this is great news. I think its a good sign for our team next year that JTIII wants to play the potential preseason #1 (or two depending on what Green does) cosidering he says he scheduels based on what he thinks the team needs to get ready for. If its getting ready for the NC game, thats fine by me.

[uptownathlete]

hAHA.....a good game indeed. I can't wait

[HoNYaSaxa]

Now it'd be great to get Tennessee on the schedule, too...

[theexorcist]

I had to travel last year and missed the road trip to Nashville. I'd prefer country to blues, but it's all good.

(The negative of last year's trip was registering to get a list of things to do in Nashville, and then getting sent emails every week asking me to vote for Sara Evans on Dancing With the Stars).

[idhoya]

George Butler and em I believe. last time we played up there was BCA Classic vs. Arkansas. The year they won it all and AI's frosh year. I think?

[uofmemphis]

last time we played we were at the Pyramid, not FedExForum...so at least 4 years.

i want to say 98 was the last time we played.

"there goes my hope that Cal's players see a classroom this year..."

if you can help it, don't be an ass...of course, that might be too much to ask of someone like you.

The University of Memphis was founded under the auspices of the General Education Bill, enacted by the Tennessee Legislature in 1909. Known originally as West Tennessee State Normal School, the institution opened its doors Sept. 10, 1912, with Dr. Seymour A. Mynders as president.

Students in the first classes selected blue and gray as the school colors and the tiger as the mascot. Tradition holds that the colors, those of the opposing armies during the Civil War, were chosen in commemoration of the reuniting of the country after that divisive conflict.

Over the next decade, The Desoto yearbook was created, the first library was opened in the Administration Building, the first dining hall was built and the first men's dorm was built; today that dorm, Scates Hall, houses the College of Arts and Sciences' Dean's offices.

In 1957 the state legislature designated Memphis State full university status. In 1959 the university admitted its first black students, and the first doctoral programs began in 1966. The 1970s, under President Cecil C. Humphreys, saw new buildings constructed across the campus, including a University Center and a 12-story library. In 1983 MSU became the first public university in Tennessee to gain accreditation of its entire curriculum.

The 1990s were characterized by another name change and another building boom. In 1994 MSU became the University of Memphis, and the Ned R. McWherter Library was completed. Moving into the 21st century, the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management and the FedEx Institute of Technology have made their mark on the University landscape.

Today, the University of Memphis is one of Tennessee's three comprehensive doctoral- extensive institutions of higher learning. Situated in a beautiful park-like setting in the state's largest city, it is the flagship of the Tennessee Board of Regents system. It awards more than 3,000 degrees annually.

With an enrollment of approximately 21,000 students, The University of Memphis has 24 Chairs of Excellence, more than any other Tennessee university, and five state-approved Centers of Excellence.

i happen to love our campus, professors, and even the class-rooms.

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

[Elvado]

Go ahead and defend the integrity and history of one John Calipari. Then call someone an ass.

[uofmemphis]

John Calipari is a good guy...i've meet him several times and i'm good friends with his daughter, Erin...miss Ellen can cook too...they're great people, and they do so much for our university and city.

i want you to read this...THIS is the Calipari i know and admire.

A side of Calipari that few know

By Geoff Calkins
Contact
March 18, 2007

pictureThe Memphis Tigers had just beaten Houston to win the Conference USA Tournament, the players were standing on tables and hugging each other and cutting down nets, when an announcement came over the FedExForum sound system.

"Would David Stewart please report to the floor."

David Stewart, 77, has terminal cancer. He was sitting in a wheelchair, in the handicapped section, and couldn't make it to the floor.

The announcement came again.

"Would David Stewart please report to the floor."

No Stewart. Nobody paid much attention, either, with the all the tumult and the high fives and the joy going around. The Tigers gathered for one celebratory team picture and that was pretty much that.

But the announcements came at the direct request of Memphis coach John Calipari. In the moment of victory, happiness breaking out all around him, he thought about an ailing Memphis fan. Not a rich and powerful Memphis fan, not someone who could help him in any way.

Just a regular fan. Calipari wanted him to be in the team picture.

"Can you imagine that?" Stewart said. "Not many people know that side of him."

So as Calipari prepares to lead his team into today's game against Nevada, it might be useful to hear from three Memphians -- three ordinary Memphians -- who will be pulling for him today.

One of them, Stewart, couldn't make it to the floor for the photo. The others -- Barbara Bowling and Cheryl Cleaves -- both did.

"Ellen Calipari came and got me out of my seat," Bowling said. "She told me John wanted me with him."

Bowling, 74, is best known in Memphis basketball circles as one of the twins. She and Nancy Helms met decades ago, at the bubble gum plant where they both worked, and became inseparable. They lived in houses next door to each other. They arranged to have phone numbers and license plates one digit apart. They attended night school together. At Memphis, of course.

"We went to all the road games," Bowling said, "or as many as we could."

They planned to go to the Maui Invitational this year. Not long before the trip, Nancy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Within weeks, she was dead.

"I decided to go on the trip anyway," Bowling said. "On his own, without anyone asking, John arranged for a little memorial service."

Calipari had everyone over to his hotel after the Georgia Tech loss. He got a room, ordered some food. At a certain point, he asked everyone to hold hands and say a prayer. Those who were there said it was impossibly sweet.

"It's not a big story at all," Bowling said, "it's just a small story. But it was the kind of thing John does that endears him to the little people like me."

Stewart would describe himself the same way, as one of the little people, a former advertising guy with a local radio station. He's not even certain how Calipari became aware of his struggle with cancer. The next thing you know, Calipari asked him to sit behind the bench during Memphis Madness.

"After that, he'd see me at Gibson's Donuts," Stewart said. "He'd always stop and talk."

These days, Stewart requires dialysis twice a week and chemo once a week. He doesn't get over to Gibson's as much as he once did. But a few weeks ago, a friend bumped into Calipari at the shop.

"John said he'd have to come see me sometime," Stewart said. "My friend told him that I was home right then. An hour later, Calipari was at my door. When he walked in, I about fell out."

Calipari stayed for half an hour. The people closest to Calipari say he does things like this all the time. If you're a friend, he'll do anything for you. And Charlie Cleaves was a tremendous friend.

"Charlie was a friend to everyone," said Cheryl Cleaves, his wife. "He could talk to paupers and presidents."

Charlie owned the Seventh Inning, a memorabilia store and restaurant on Walnut Grove. He was another of the little guys.

"John came in all the time," Cheryl said.

Like so many of John's friends, nobody knows exactly why the relationship worked. The two men just hit it off. John would stop and have coffee. Charlie, 58, would keep him posted on all the local scuttlebutt.

"He was easy to be with," Calipari said. "How do you define that? I don't know. He was easy to be with."

On Feb. 13, Charlie ran out to get some supplies. When he got back to the shop, he called an employee to help him carry the stuff in. By the time the employee got to the back -- a matter of seconds -- Charlie was collapsed on the floor.

"They never were able to revive him," Cheryl said. "He had his Memphis jacket on."

A day later, the Tigers played Tulsa on the road.

"Ellen Calipari called to ask if I wanted to watch the game at their house," Cheryl said. "I told her we were going to open up the shop for friends and watch the game together like we always did. So Ellen asked if she could come, too. She came to that game and the Gonzaga game."

Calipari spoke at Charlie's funeral. He asked the whole team to join him on stage. He talked about friendship and character and the importance of a giving heart.

"It was emotional," Cheryl said. "I don't know how I would have made it these last few weeks without John and the basketball community."

So it didn't necessarily surprise Cheryl when Ellen Calipari beckoned her out of the stands after the C-USA title game. But when she was asked to join the picture?

"Oh, no," she said. "I don't take photographs."

She did that day, though, along with Barbara Bowling and the players and the big, shiny trophy. Someday, years from now, fans might wonder who the two older women are in the championship picture.

Calipari doesn't much care.

"I want a thousand people to understand we wouldn't have gotten here without them," he said. "Those two women, just like David Stewart, they're part of the team."

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

[doublehoya]

memphis -- how hard will it be to get tickets for visiting fans?

Thanks for the info.

[Elvado]

John Calipari may be verycharming and have agood heart, but his record as a coach is one of cheating, probation and broken promises.

Look at his antics in the Bobby Martin recruiting at Pitt
Look at his record at UMass--got out one step ahead of the sheriff
Check his academic numbers at Memphis--disgraceful

He is a snake oil salesman making his living on the back of kids who don't get degrees.

I'm happy we play this year. It's always fun to watch a school with integrity whip up on the likes of Mermphis. Let's not forget you guys once employed Dana "5th Amendment" Kirk as well.

[idhoya]

BTW, is Penny still in the league? i know he's still on the knicks payroll, but is he in the league? Watched Blue Chips last night and marvelled at his skills.

[uofmemphis]

doublehoya said:

memphis -- how hard will it be to get tickets for visiting fans?

Thanks for the info.

it will be a HARD sell-out...GTown will get their allotment of 100 tickets.

but do what i did for our game with UT last year...i called their ticket office and told em i was a UT fan in need of a seat, i gave em a big go vols and they found me 2 upper deck tickets...little did they know i showed up in my blue.

@fedexforum season tickets go first, we sold 15,000 last year...then the rest go to Tiger Club members...IF any are left after that, they go onsale to the public.

it will be one TOUGH ticket to find.

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

[uofmemphis]

vadie said:

John Calipari may be verycharming and have agood heart, but his record as a coach is one of cheating, probation and broken promises.

Look at his antics in the Bobby Martin recruiting at Pitt
Look at his record at UMass--got out one step ahead of the sheriff
Check his academic numbers at Memphis--disgraceful

He is a snake oil salesman making his living on the back of kids who don't get degrees.

I'm happy we play this year. It's always fun to watch a school with integrity whip up on the likes of Mermphis. Let's not forget you guys once employed Dana "5th Amendment" Kirk as well.

uhhh...what disgraceful numbers are those???

under Calipari we have gone from 10% grad rate to an 80% grad rate in under 7 years...that's right 80% grad rate.

i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/gomemphistigers1/Picture1-5.png

ONCE AGAIN: NO remote posting of images. See your first post above. Thank you for your expected cooperation.

in every way there is, i totally disagree with you.

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

[BigMike]

Calipari hasn't done anything worse than Calhoun, Coach K and many other coaches do all the time - not sure what your problem is with him. GREAT game - my only wish was that it was in DC.

[Elvado]

Nice stats: How many of his "students" never made senior year?

How can he have had only 15 seniors in 7 years?

How is Dajuan Wagner's degree program going?

Is Camby supplying the bling?

Please: he is a good coach but a bad man.

[Jack]

Memphis dude- Might want to refrain from posting all those pictures- it's not really something we do around here.

Calipari is among the worst slimeballs in college hoops and he is the reason no respectable conference would have Memphis. That said, the team should be pretty good- nobody benefits more from the NBA age limit than Memphis, with a roster full of guys who have no interest in being in college but with lots of talent. It will be fun to see the Hoyas beat them.