Cal's Pre-Game Pep Talk

[stevem]

should go something like this:

"Guys, this is the last time we'll ever lace it up together as a team...as brothers tested by battle....the last time many of you will ever wear the royal blue and white of Kentucky. This is a game a 100 years in the making.... as the ghosts of generations past and the hopes and aspirations of this generation of UK fans rides on your shoulders. Whatever happens here tonight will be talked about for decades to come.

But I don't want you to focus on any of that right now. I want you to turn and take a long look at your team-mates....look them deep in their eyes, for in the many years to come you will undoubtedly see each other again. But I want you to remember this look.....this night....here and now. Tonight represents one of the greatest moments you will ever experience. It's what all of you have worked for your entire life. This is your destiny....you were meant to be here...at this time; this moment...at this place. You have earned this.... with your brothers.

You have been bestowed with tremendous god-given talent. For this one game I don't want you to worry about anything...not Kansas, not the officiating...not even me yelling at you. I want you to go out there and play with all your god-given ability... for your brothers....play this one game like their lives are held in the balance.

Play lthis one game ike it's the last game of your life.

Play this one game in celebration of your love of each other; play it for your moms and dads and those that have sacrificed so that you could be here... at this place.... tonight.

For this one game, play for everything god has given you.

For this one game.... play for glory.

It has been the greatest joy of my life to have coached you guys through this season. I love each of you as sons. You have earned the right to be called "Champions". This is your time. This is your night. Remember this evening well, for in the twilight of your own lives you will reflect on this moment...remember this look deep into each other's eyes. Have no fear...gather all your courage.... for this is the moment you've been waiting for; the moment god intended for you.

Go out there and seize it.

[dukeblows]

Damn man, that was beautiful.

[littleblue]

Brilliant! Now everyone should know why I recommend Stevem as the next AD at Kentucky!

I would only add one line: "Tonight, men, you become immortal."

[Riley]

#th_clap# #th_clap# #th_clap# #th_clap# #th_clap#

[ruppsrunt]

stevem--that is awesome prose--

VICTORY is the ONLY choice!!

PVO

rr

[bluefinger]

I love it!! That's awesome!!!

[wildcatdon]

Just add,stay out of foul trouble and make your free throws...lol

[TomahawkChop10]

Apr 2, 2012 14:14:32 GMT -5 @katman said:

Yep, that was damn good.

I can only imagine what Calipari will say to his team, there may be a little extra pre game word prep but I imagine its all about how he loves the guys and this team and how he is proud of them.

I see the team as the ones giving the pep talk to themselves, they get it. Its been a joy to be a fan this year (Sans last week worrying about UL) I think this team will leave everything out there tonight. As long as they give everything they have, they will be champions.

Great post Steve

Knowing Calipari, and having heard him talk about this many times before, I bet he treats this just like its any other regular season game. He will have that dry erase board covered in the exact same things he has written up there before the games all year. He will talk about a couple of their tendencies and their matchups. He will finish by pointing to the top right hand corner of that dry erase board and say those 4 things he writes up there. I can't remember them exactly right now, but he'll say something like: "40% FG, +10 assists/turnovers, +15 rebounding, that's a W. All right? Let's go." He has said those exact words to finish his pre-game preparation for them every game this year and I would be surprised if he changes it now.

However -- if it is halftime, and we are losing or playing poorly, throw it all out the window. Then I can see him urging them on with the kinds of things that stevem has written. At that point, it's balls to the wall. He says that he never likes to say those kinds of things, because he doesn't want to create highs and lows throughout the season, because whether you win or lose, you have built up the game so much that you come out flat and play poorly for the next 2 or 3 games. But obviously, that doesn't apply to the final game. Get er done Cal, we're all rooting for you.

[fiddling]

Apr 2, 2012 16:35:07 GMT -5 TomahawkChop10 said:

Apr 2, 2012 14:14:32 GMT -5 @katman said:

Yep, that was damn good.

I can only imagine what Calipari will say to his team, there may be a little extra pre game word prep but I imagine its all about how he loves the guys and this team and how he is proud of them.

I see the team as the ones giving the pep talk to themselves, they get it. Its been a joy to be a fan this year (Sans last week worrying about UL) I think this team will leave everything out there tonight. As long as they give everything they have, they will be champions.

Great post Steve

Knowing Calipari, and having heard him talk about this many times before, I bet he treats this just like its any other regular season game. He will have that dry erase board covered in the exact same things he has written up there before the games all year. He will talk about a couple of their tendencies and their matchups. He will finish by pointing to the top right hand corner of that dry erase board and say those 4 things he writes up there. I can't remember them exactly right now, but he'll say something like: "40% FG, +10 assists/turnovers, +15 rebounding, that's a W. All right? Let's go." He has said those exact words to finish his pre-game preparation for them every game this year and I would be surprised if he changes it now.

However -- if it is halftime, and we are losing or playing poorly, throw it all out the window. Then I can see him urging them on with the kinds of things that stevem has written. At that point, it's balls to the wall. He says that he never likes to say those kinds of things, because he doesn't want to create highs and lows throughout the season, because whether you win or lose, you have built up the game so much that you come out flat and play poorly for the next 2 or 3 games. But obviously, that doesn't apply to the final game. Get er done Cal, we're all rooting for you.

Yeah, I would expect him to hang pretty tight to his normal routine.