John Calipari discusses importance of encouraging his players to vote

Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari has received criticism this week after he posted a picture on social media of his team holding absentee ballot request forms after discussing the importance of voting in the upcoming November election.

In his press conference to help welcome new assistant coach Bruiser Flint and discuss the departures of Kenny Payne and DeWayne Peevy, Calipari addressed the backlash he’s received from the public.

“I knew it would bring both [good and bad reactions] but I’m not — I don’t see it,” Cal stated. “I may ask Eric (Lindsey, UK Basketball SID) and Eric would protect me if I’m really getting bashed, but the whole point of it is, to teach someone to vote. And you’re talking now 12 votes. It’s more of their action than they’re going to make some sort of big difference. We said you vote with someone who believes what you believe. That’s how you vote. You listen to the facts, and you listen to what they’re saying, and you vote for them.”

“So if someone was disappointed and someone thinks I was the worst human being, if they ask me that, I would say, I agree, can we move on? If someone came back and said, ‘Oh man, Cal, that’s the greatest thing,’ I’d say, great, let’s move on. But it’s me teaching my team and there are times I’ll do things that I know aren’t the most popular, but what’s right isn’t always popular and what’s popular isn’t always right. I’m just trying to do what I think is right.”

Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or Independent, go vote for the candidates you feel would best lead.