When Louisville and Kentucky square off in December, it will mark a new chapter in one of the biggest rivalries in sports. With Kenny Payne, a former Cardinal who spent ten seasons as John Calipari’s right-hand man in Lexington, now at the helm of his alma mater, are we in for a kinder, gentler Cats vs. Cards? For at least 364 days of the year, both coaches say yes. Payne appeared on Jon Rothstein’s podcast yesterday and shared a story Calipari told him shortly after he accepted the Louisville job.
“The first thing I have to tell you, this is funny, Cal was speaking to someone and he called me after he did a speech and he said, ‘Kenny, I have to tell you what I said to this group.