John Calipari proves once again he will always be one of us -- no matter where he's coaching

Coach Cal traded out the blue for red in his intraconference move from Kentucky to Arkansas, getting used to life in Fayetteville now a full season removed from his departure and entering year two. It all worked out for the best — Razorback fans are thrilled with John Calipari and Big Blue Nation feels the same way about Mark Pope. You rarely get win-wins in hostile breakups, but that’s where we are with the Hall of Famer at this stage.

And our old friend sure isn’t doing anything to ramp the animosity back up, at least until the Wildcats make the return trip to Bud Walton Arena on January 31.

Even in Coach Cal’s Rupp Arena debut on the opposing bench, he walked in holding a rolled-up program in honor of Joe B. Hall. Then Pope revealed that Calipari told him, “Don’t you ruin my program, man. That’s the best program in all of basketball.” He may be doing his job leading an SEC foe — and doing it well, might I add — but his heart will always be in Lexington bleeding blue.

Calipari continued the trend of small gestures and nods to his Wildcats with another post, taking a trip down memory lane with John Wall. He was brought a newspaper at an event in Little Rock, one from his time in Lexington while coaching the recently retired superstar guard. As he did best in the blue and white, Wall was flexing in a big win for the Cats.

“CATS FLEX THEIR MUSCLE,” the headline reads next to Wall’s massive cover photo.

Take a closer look, though, and you’ll see a caption that couldn’t be better given the current circumstances.

“UK will move to No. 1 in polls after 101-70 dismantling of Arkansas,” it reads.

Wall had 16 points, seven assists, three rebounds, three steals and two blocks in that blowout win inside Rupp Arena. The Cats moved to 19-0 with that victory and looked every bit the best team in college basketball. It was one of many magical moments in a magical year for a program that desperately needed a reset.

No one could have pressed that button better than Coach Cal at the time.

“In Little Rock today and someone showed me this newspaper of (John Wall)! Such a great picture and memory,” Calipari wrote on social media.

In Little Rock today and someone showed me this newspaper of @JohnWall! Such a great picture and memory. pic.twitter.com/OpJpcs88U8

— John Calipari (@CoachCalArk) September 11, 2025

Indeed it was, Coach. Indeed it was.

The 2025-26 season set to begin means we’re one year closer to Calipari’s retirement and welcomed return to Rupp Arena, where his name will deservedly hang in the rafters forever. He’s the enemy for now, but one day, he’ll be celebrated the way an all-time legend should be back home.