Calipari calls audible as football dominates discussion on Facebook show
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Coffee with Cal
University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari is hosting a weekly show on Facebook Live called “Coffee with Cal” in which he interviews influential individuals from the worlds of sports, media, politics and beyond. The shows are designed to benefit COVID-19 relief and draw attention to the Black Lives Matter movement. Click below to read the Herald-Leader’s stories recapping previous shows.
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With Mike Tomlin as guest, the Kentucky football connection to the Pittsburgh Steelers got a workout on Monday’s episode of the “Coffee With Cal” Facebook show.
Tomlin, the Steelers’ coach since 2007, spoke highly of second-year running back Benny Snell.
“Benny is a tough-minded kid,” Tomlin told host (and UK basketball coach) John Calipari, who grew up as a Steelers fan. “He is a competitor. I think that’s the thing that attracted me to him. Doing it for your Wildcats. I watched that guy tote that load and beat the Gators.”
The Steelers picked Snell in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Heading into his second season, Snell can continue a path toward being “a big-time guy for us,” Tomlin said.
The UK-Steelers connection also includes linebacker Bud Dupree, a first-round pick in 2015. Tomlin recalled coming to Lexington for Dupree’s “pro day” workout.
Dupree “is just coming into his own as a pro,” the Steelers’ coach said.
Tomlin likened Lynn Bowden, a third-round pick of the Las Vegas Raiders this year, to a former UK standout.
“Top-flight athlete,” Tomlin said. “Reminds me a lot of Randall Cobb.”
Like Cobb, Bowden is a versatile athlete that can help a team in multiple ways, the Steelers’ coach said. “It doesn’t matter how you put the ball in their hands, they’re tough (to) tackle. … That trait won’t leave (Bowden). He’s going to be a tough tackle on Sundays.”
Calipari saluted how Bowden led Kentucky, as if by force of will as well as on-the-field contributions, to a winning record last season.
“They had a good team,” Calipari said. “But he dragged (the team). There was a spirit about his will to win. I think it transferred. I don’t know (for sure), but Randall Cobb was exactly the same way.”
‘Bad and sassy’
Tomlin and Calipari likened Steelers fans to Kentucky fans. Both always expect dominance.
Calipari, who grew up in the Pittsburgh area, noted the fan reaction when the Steelers’ lost quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a season-ending elbow injury in Week 2.
Using sarcasm, he said, “They’re very understanding when you lose one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the game.”
To which, Tomlin laughed and said of fans in general, “Never mind labor pains, they just want you to deliver the baby.”
Then, Tomlin added, “That’s our job, Cal. To spoil these fans. To get them bad and sassy. And I love that. I appreciate the atmosphere that expectations bring.”
No fans?
The coronavirus pandemic makes it possible that sports will resume with no fans in the stands.
Tomlin said he was intrigued by how that possibility could impact a football game. For instance, the defense as well as the offense will clearly hear a quarterback call an audible.
Then there’s how fans can create a charged atmosphere on, say, a critical third-and-goal situation.
“I’m really interested in the emotional in those significant moments,” he said. “And seeing and feeling what that means.”
2020-21
Calipari pointed out that Kentucky will basically have a new team in the 2020-21 season.
“My worry right now … is I have one player returning from last year,” he said.
This made Tomlin laugh.
“You love that challenge,” the Steelers’ coach said.
Calipari acknowledged that he did welcome that seemingly annual challenge. The UK coach said he would put an emphasis on building mental toughness and physical readiness (weight lifting, proper diet) rather than playing style when the players return to campus.
The SEC recently said players can return June 8. Medical testing will take up the first three days, Calipari said, then the next two weeks will be devoted to conditioning.
Tomlin found the Steelers’ virtual team meetings wanting.
“You don’t get the feeling you get when you’re teaching somebody,” he said. “You’re sitting in the room with them, and you feel their body language. (You sense) ‘Yeah, that guy gets it.’”
Heisman-lacking
When Calipari asked Tomlin to size up the AFC North race for 2020, the Steelers’ coach said, “We’re in for a fight, man. We’re the only team in the division without a Heisman-winning quarterback.”
A smile crossed Tomlin’s face.
“We’re going to roll our sleeves up and do what we do, man …,” he said. “We fully expect to be in the thick of it because that’s our task.”
This story was originally published May 25, 2020 at 2:26 PM.
