by Dave Mackall , Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Why?

For one thing, Calipari played two seasons at Clarion, and he's giving the NCAA Division II school a chance for some recognition.

For another, the Clarion athletics department can add to its financial coffers ? Division II and III schools generally get between $5,000 to $15,000 for such an exhibition.

"It was a big day for our school," Slippery Rock coach Kevin Reynolds said of the Rock's exhibition game Sunday, a 75-64 loss at Pitt. "We need these types of games because they help our whole athletic department. The guarantee isn't like you get at the Division I level, but the amount is still a lot to us."

Reynolds is right. Major-college programs may pay upward of $70,000 to low-to-mid-major Division I opponents for visiting, said Indiana (Pa.) coach Joe Lombardi, a former Pitt assistant.

IUP will visit ACC schools Georgia Tech, Maryland and Wake Forest for exhibition games this month, and the total payoff will be significant for the Crimson Hawks' cash-strapped athletics department.

"It's a very rewarding opportunity," Lombardi said. "It allows you to put some scholarship money back into the tin. Most Division II schools are underfunded."

Lombardi said exhibitions against the big boys are getting tougher to come by.

"Most Division I programs have gone to playing one (closed) scrimmage against other Division Is and one exhibition against a non-Division I school," Lombardi said.

Lombardi said he also enjoys the games for the way his players respond.

"You do it as a reward to your players for their hard work," he said. "You can imagine the thrill they get by playing in places like the Comcast Center at the University of Maryland."

Or Petersen Events Center, where Slippery Rock met Pitt yesterday.

"Playing these games exposes your weaknesses early on," Lombardi said. "When you find things out in November, you have a lot of time to build on that knowledge and improve in those areas as you get ready for your regular season."

Lombardi said the games can be used to bolster recruiting efforts and have been gaining in popularity since 2004. That's when the NCAA ruled that Division I schools can no longer compete against non-collegiate competition - teams such as Marathon Oil and Athletes in Action.

And since then, the Clarions of the world have been getting golden opportunities.

"Coach Calipari has always been loyal to his alma mater," Clarion coach Ron Righter said. "And playing in front of 20,000-plus fans (at Rupp Arena) will certainly get our guys' attention."

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