(As told to site editor, David Scott:)

With all the talent evaluations currently going on during these recruiting periods, I think we, as coaches, start to get so caught up in the process  that we forget why it is we’re all in the game in the first place.

It is, and always has been, about the kids.

I was reminded of that on Thursday night when I went back to Memphis to visit Antonio Burks, who was shot earlier this week and is in critical condition at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis. He’s been through three surgeries since Monday night and he might need a fourth. He is improving but he still has some battling ahead of him.

Even so, when myself and friends Ken Bennett and Walter Edge stood by Antonio’s bedside each of us couldn’t help but think this is just another setback for a kid who has spent his life overcoming them. He will persevere, we all agreed.

A walk-on at Memphis who wound up winning the Conference USA Player of the Year award as a senior, Antonio is a kid who had a hard life during his early years. Ken literally took Antonio out of harm’s way one particular night in Memphis.

Anotnio was the first college graduate in his family and he is like a son to me. I’ve always had a soft spot for him. He’s one of those kids who wasn’t born on third base – he was born outside the stadium and he had to work his way in. But he did that and more and wound up being drafted in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft. He’s been playing professionally ever since.

On Monday night he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and we again have an urban tragedy on our hands and no good answers as to why these senseless crimes continue.

I prayed the Rosary for Antonio by his bedside and than I kissed his head and squeezed his hand.

“We’ve got your room all set for when you visit Ellen and me in Lexington,” I said to him. “You’ll love it down there.”

He gave my hand a squeeze.

I knew it was Antonio’s way of telling me he wasn’t done overcoming setbacks.

(For video of Coach Cal at the hospital on Thursday night, click here.)

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SITE UPDATE:

Now on to some much less important matters. Our first 12 hours of CoachCal.com were absolutley incredible and I can not get over the positive response we have been receiving from all corners of Wildcat Nation.

We did have some bugaboos and our web team is hard at work fixing those issues.

1. Folks who were having trouble logging in should be able to gain access at this point and if not, it will be very soon. We will be responding to each inquiry that was made and we appreciate your understanding.

2. Other folks ran into issues with the size selector for some t-shirts and we are resolving that as well. You too will receive responses to your emails and we will make sure you get the size you desire.

We will continue to update you on issues and rest assured, everyone will be able to access all our great content at whatever level you enrolled. I apologize for any inconveniences and thank you for your patience and understanding. This is a huge undertaking and one that needs to be massaged and tweaked.

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Check back around midday eastern time this afternoon for some further details on what we foresee this site being and some of the faces behind the scenes that are bringing it to you.

Go Big Blue!