Penny Hardaway has been an OK basketball coach through six seasons with the Memphis Tigers, but his program is nationally relevant only in its ability to generate embarrassing headlines.

The middling hoops product no longer justifies the off-court turmoil — the latest of which includes four members of Hardaway’s staff dismissed just before the start of preseason practice and the university confirming the existence of an anonymous letter alleging major violations, which has been turned over to the NCAA.

The next coach of this program may not be able to rally the fans, bring in top-notch players or reach 20 wins the way beloved Memphian and NBA legend Hardaway has. But it’s about time to find out. It’s not a Holy Grail quest to find a coach who can approximate Hardaway’s bottom line — two NCAA Tournament bids and one win in those six seasons — while also not keeping the lights on at NCAA Enforcement.

This program has a championship heritage with legendary players and teams in the not-so-distant past. Scandal is part of that heritage, too, but that was back when people cared about NCAA scandals. It sometimes feels like Hardaway is trying to create optimal conditions for a sequel to “Blue Chips,” the delightfully tacky 1994 movie featuring Nick Nolte as a compromised hoops coach, Hardaway as a bought recruit and Ed “Al Bundy” O’Neill as an investigative reporter.

It’s been a steady stream of investigations, eligibility questions and suspensions for Memphis since Hardaway replaced Tubby Smith, whose two-season average of 20.0 wins wasn’t far behind Hardaway’s (22.2), and whose integrity was never an issue in his 31-year head coaching career.

Academic improprieties are the worst of what has been alleged. In this era of player empowerment and investment, programs that try to shortcut education are declaring they see these “student-athletes” as nothing more than a means to an end.

Even with all the player movement going on, and with NIL giving them an approved financial cut, emphasizing and fostering academic pursuits should be as important as ever for college athletics programs. Those that don’t conduct business as such should be called on it.

Some will call that naïve. No one can argue NIL and professional sports money will be lifetime money for more than a fraction of college athletes.

Academic violations involving multiple Memphis players are alleged in the anonymous letter, which has been viewed by The Athletic. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported in February that Malcolm Dandridge was withheld from five games because of academic circumstances. The paper reported in March that men’s basketball academic advisor Leslie Brooks was fired the day before the school announced Dandridge would miss games.

It’s always possible a situation like this, if true, happens independently of the people who oversee a program. But that doesn’t absolve them of all responsibility.

And this is just the latest of many issues for Hardaway’s program, dating back to an 18-month investigation into the recruitment of James Wiseman. There’s been nothing terribly damning outside of the academics allegations. But the pattern is pretty clear at this point for a program that has employed at least 41 people — 17 in coaching or operations — since Hardaway was hired in 2018, according to The Daily Memphian.

The allegations in the letter include two improper payments. One of those, for $60,000 to a prospect, was alleged to have happened in 2022. Is it possible Hardaway didn’t realize that at that point you could take a few simple steps and legally pay a prospect through a third party? The overall sloppiness here, regardless of the veracity of that particular allegation, brings another major Tennessee sports coach to mind.

Jeremy Pruitt presumably learned how to conduct under-the-table business discreetly and professionally at various elite college football programs, then got to Tennessee and did all but hand out hundreds with stickers of his face on them. Pruitt, who would have been defended at all costs by UT if he were winning big, was instead fired for cause in 2021. As Memphis starts a new era with Ed Scott as athletic director, Pruitt’s demise comes to mind.

Hardaway, whose contract runs through 2027-28, has been an OK coach. He’ll always be a Memphis legend. Maybe his seventh team, with a virtually all-new roster and coaching staff, could find the magic for a third NCAA bid.

But it would be better for Memphis if this is someone else’s first team, even if that means an interim someone. The Tennessee administration turned a mess into an opportunity, and it worked out pretty well for them.

(Photo: Aric Becker/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — In late June, the quietest time on the NFL calendar, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach started receiving text message after text message while on a family vacation. Questions raced through his mind.

Was there breaking NFL news? Did a member of the Chiefs organization need his attention? Did something happen to one of the players?

Once he looked at what several people sent him, Veach’s reaction was similar to so many around the world: Travis Kelce was on stage with Taylor Swift.

Across the Atlantic Ocean, at London’s Wembley Stadium, Kelce made a surprise appearance as a performer during one of Swift’s mega concerts. More than 90,000 people screamed, cheered and pointed their smartphones at the stage to record Kelce’s every move alongside Swift, the pop superstar artist he’s been dating for more than a year.

“He’s a showman,” Veach said of Kelce. “He has just a natural gift of being able to perform in front of people. Obviously, we get the most benefit when he’s doing it on Sundays.

“It’s funny because when you see those clips with him on tour with Taylor, it looks as if he was a part of that show for months. But it was that one day, and he just looks natural. It’s a gift he has.”

Those few minutes on stage with the world’s biggest pop artist proved to be the apex moment for Kelce’s epic summer, a packed offseason unlike any before during his 12-year career as a Chiefs tight end.

Donning a black tuxedo and top hat, Kelce flashed his charming smile, executed a perfect heel click and carried Swift, who acted asleep, to a red couch. The concert’s transition from one song to “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” the hit from Swift’s most recent album “The Tortured Poets Department,” included Kelce, alongside two dancers, waking her up to change into a different costume before performing the song.

Kelce’s final act was an easy one. He gazed at Swift and provided some comedy by putting a blush brush on his cheeks and doing an uptempo tap dance reminiscent of actor Jim Carrey in the movie “Dumb and Dumber.”

WE HAVE A CLOSE UP NOW pic.twitter.com/BUnSTn5a4k

— line 🌙 (@nessianxx) June 23, 2024

Of course, performing with Swift was Kelce’s idea.

“She found the perfect part of the show for me to come in,” Kelce said in the season finale of “New Heights,” the podcast he hosts with his brother, Jason. “It’s such a fun, playful part of the show. It was the perfect time for me to go up there and just be a ham and have some fun and try to get everybody excited for the rest of the show. It was awesome.

“That moment was pretty jarring. I was just like, ‘Oh s—!’ You don’t realize how big that damn stage is. I didn’t disappoint Taylor. That’s all that really matters.”

Kelce has many more ideas of what he can do in the entertainment industry once his NFL career ends, too.

This offseason showed that Kelce plans to remain a significant part of American pop culture, perhaps becoming an even bigger celebrity long after he enters the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He gallivanted from one event to the next, from one part-time TV job to the next and remained an encouraging, energizing presence at many stops on Swift’s worldwide “Eras Tour.”

Veach and many others within the Chiefs organization realize Kelce, in perhaps the final phase of his NFL career, is becoming a perfect crossover athlete, following former football stars such as Michael Strahan, Carl Weathers and Dwayne Johnson — also known in pro wrestling circles as The Rock.

“A lot of people tense up around a large group of people with eyes on them, and some people just thrive in that environment,” Veach said. “He’s one of those guys where the more eyes he has on him, the more he lights up. It’s cool and fun to see. He’s just got that gift to relate to people and make people smile.”

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In early June, Kelce needed a few seconds to decide which was his favorite experience away from the football field up to that point. He then thought of his many trips to Los Angeles.

“I would say getting a little more comfortable in front of the camera, doing some things in the acting world,” Kelce said. “That’s been some fun that I’ve had, so look out for that coming up soon.”

Kelce wants to become a full-fledged actor one day, and his first opportunity to play a character on camera began in the spring. Actress/comedian Niecy Nash-Betts revealed in early May that Kelce would be guest starring alongside her in “Grotesquerie,” an FX horror and drama TV show. Kelce’s role in the show has remained a mystery. In the trailer, Kelce is on screen for less than two seconds, his character wearing a gold wedding ring. The show is set to premiere Sept. 25 ahead of the Chiefs’ third game of the season.

In April, Kelce began taping episodes of his new game show, “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?,” a spinoff of the popular game show “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” As the show’s host, Kelce was alongside adult contestants who relied on a group of celebrities — instead of fifth-grade students — to help them answer 11 questions on a range of subjects to win a $100,000 prize. The first of the show’s 20 episodes is set to premiere Oct. 16 on Amazon Prime Video.

The TV opportunities for Kelce have increased since last year, when he hosted “Saturday Night Live,” the long-running NBC comedy show he adored as a child. Much of that episode, from the opening monologue to appearing in several sketches, showcased Kelce’s gregarious personality and comedic timing, so much that movie and TV producers were impressed and intrigued.

Kelce also shared on his podcast that he wants to follow former players like Tom Brady, Troy Aikman and Tony Romo in becoming a color commentator for NFL games after he retires.

“I love playing in the NFL,” Kelce said in June. “This will always be my main focus. But outside of that, football ends for everybody, so (I’m) kind of dipping my toes in the water and seeing what (I) like in different areas and different career fields.

“I think the offseason is the best chance you can get to try and explore that and set yourself up for (life) after football.”

Two days after the NFL Draft, Kelce, who will turn 35 in October, gave the first indication that he could retire after the 2025 season.

He entered the Chiefs training facility and signed a new two-year contract with the team, making him the highest-paid tight end for the first time in his career. Minutes after signing, Kelce became emotional, almost near tears, when he recorded a video thanking fans while informing them of his continued partnership with the Chiefs.

“I really can’t put a timeframe on (retirement),” Kelce said. “Obviously, I know there’s opportunities outside of football for me. You have to keep in perspective that I’m still a little kid when I come into this building, man.

“I love coming to work every single day. I’m going to do it until the wheels fall off. Hopefully, that doesn’t happen anytime soon. I can definitely understand that it’s toward the end of the road (more) than it is the beginning of it.”

Kelce’s offseason essentially began with him in Philadelphia in early March to watch Jason, a six-time All-Pro and future Hall of Famer who helped the Eagles win the franchise’s only Super Bowl in 2018, retire from the NFL. Despite wearing sunglasses, Kelce could be seen crying throughout his brother’s emotional 41-minute speech.

“We did almost everything together — competed, fought, laughed, cried and learned from each other,” Jason, 36, said of his younger brother. “There is no chance I’d be here without the bond Travis and I share. It made me stronger, tougher, smarter and taught me the values of cooperation, loyalty, patience and understanding.”

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‘Those two, it was just insane’: Jason and Travis Kelce’s college days at Cincinnati

A few weeks later, the brothers hosted a live episode of their podcast at the University of Cincinnati, their alma mater. The event at Fifth Third Arena attracted more than 12,500 fans and ended with a surprise commencement ceremony as the school’s president and athletic director gave each brother his diploma. Kelce accepted his diploma while chugging a beer, which produced roaring cheers.

He did a similar celebration in May, chugging a beer off a replica of the Vince Lombardi Trophy while on stage during Kelce Jam, his annual musical festival in Kansas City that featured hip-hop artists such as Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz.

Another much-anticipated moment for Kelce came when the Chiefs returned to the White House to celebrate their second consecutive Super Bowl victory. The year before, Kelce made the crowd laugh when he approached the lectern, saying just seven words — “So, I’ve been waiting for this moment …” — before he was gently pushed back by quarterback Patrick Mahomes while photographers snapped shots of President Joe Biden with a red No. 46 jersey with his last name stitched on the back.

This year, though, Biden welcomed Kelce to the microphone for another joke.

“My fellow Americans … it’s nice to see you all yet again,” Kelce started, leading everyone in the crowd to laugh, including Biden. “I’m not going to lie, President Biden. They told me if I came up here, I’d get tased, so I’m gonna go back to my spot, all right?”

Travis Kelce: “I’m not gonna lie, President Biden, they told me if I came up here I’d get tased, so I’m gonna go back to my spot.”

The Chiefs are at the White House.

🎥 @AriMeirov pic.twitter.com/aZQa5yHeb8

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 31, 2024

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The 10-minute ceremony ended with the team presenting Biden with the gift of a Chiefs helmet, which Kelce encouraged him to put on. Biden obliged, much to the surprise of the players, who responded with loud cheers and laughter.

A week later, Kelce was back in the Cleveland area, his hometown, winning the home run derby, hitting 11 dingers, in a celebrity softball game hosted by Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku. Afterward, Njoku called Kelce one of the nicest people he’s ever met.

“I’d like to say my father (Ed) would slap me silly if I was any other way,” Kelce said, grinning. “Sometimes you’ve got to straighten up and do the right things. Over the course of my life, I’ve found that being kind and being genuine is the right way to live. My mom (Donna) and dad are the reason I’m always just a friendly guy.”

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Any new details about Kelce’s relationship with Swift are significant for fans of both. Kelce, understandably, has not revealed very much to protect their privacy.

But even Kelce knows most people these days are eager to talk to him about Swift as much as his football exploits. In June, after one of the Chiefs’ minicamp practices, a reporter asked a follow-up question — “What do you like cooking together?” — after Swift posted a short video of them together in the kitchen.

“That’s a good question,” Kelce said, smiling. After a brief pause, he continued: “You know, I respect that question. But I’m going to keep that one to myself because I thoroughly enjoy cooking with her. It’s something I’d rather just keep personal.”

Four minutes later, once his news conference ended, Kelce answered the reporter’s question, doing so in a comedic fashion just before he left the podium.

“Taylor makes a great pop tart and cinnamon roll,” he said.

Kelce traveled more than he ever had before. He promoted and was filmed in national commercial (Subway) after national commercial (Garage Beer) after national commercial (Accelerator Active Energy). He and Jason appeared in Lake Tahoe to compete in the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament with fans flocking to their group.

Kelce also flew to Europe several times — London, Dublin and many other cities — to attend as many of Swift’s concerts as possible, each time being more stunned by the number of people wearing his Chiefs jersey.

Kelce danced and sang along to Swift’s songs next to celebrities, including Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks and Hugh Grant.

Even Jason and Travis get starstruck in the VIP tent @SimpliSafe pic.twitter.com/MaoKVAryGi

— New Heights (@newheightshow) July 3, 2024

“I think it’s great for him,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of Kelce on the first episode of “Scoop City,” The Athletic’s podcast. “He can handle it. He probably loves it, up to a point. I think there’s a great escape for him. I said that about Taylor, too. She comes to the game and she can kind of escape having to be the show. Travis can do that. When he goes to her concerts, she’s the star.

“He’s an outgoing guy. He comes into a room, he’s gonna light that room up. Everybody’s his best friend. Until you prove him wrong, everybody’s a friend. It’s not something that he can’t handle.”

A byproduct of Kelce’s crammed itinerary was changing his usual training routine. Wherever Kelce was, one of his three personal trainers — Alex Skacel, Andrew Spruill and Laurence Justin Ng — usually was with him.

“I’m doing some things different,” Kelce said, although he and his trainers declined to share details. “I’ve got guys all over the place.”

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Last season was the first time since 2015 that Kelce didn’t finish with at least 1,000 receiving yards. Part of the reason was he played through two nagging injuries, a hyperextended right knee and a low ankle sprain. His production declined over the second half of the season as his ability to evade defenders or break tackles decreased.

But in the Chiefs’ four-game postseason run, after a week of rest in the regular-season finale, Kelce elevated his game, making 32 receptions for 355 yards and three touchdowns.

“The biggest thing was getting my body right,” Kelce said of working with his trainers this offseason. “Last year was pretty taxing. I’ve had more snaps than a lot of guys, if not every (tight end) in the NFL over the past five, six years. I’m very (proud) of that, but I know it has taken a toll on my body.

“It was just making sure my body was getting that rest and that ability to train harder and be able to withstand an entire 17- to 20-game season.”

.@tkelce is back in the lab🔥

(via larrylegend85/IG) pic.twitter.com/y3ZsHrMkPW

— NFL (@NFL) April 4, 2024

Swift has supported Kelce by sometimes training alongside him. One of Kelce’s favorite moments from the offseason came in July, days before training camp began, when he and Swift went on a double date in Amsterdam with Mahomes and his wife, Brittany.

“Honestly, to me, he’s the same guy,” Mahomes said of Kelce. “It’s a huge platform and everyone in the world can see it, deservedly so because of how great Taylor is, but it’s still Travis. I think that’s what makes it so cool, even though it’s such a big thing for the world.

“We were just having fun and enjoying a dinner just like anyone else would. That’s what makes it so great. We don’t make it more than what it is; it’s just friendship, fellowship and enjoying everyone’s success.”

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One part of Kelce’s summer remained the same, though: It ended with him returning to Missouri Western State in St. Joseph, Mo., to report to Chiefs training camp, another month living in a dormitory inside Scanlon Hall, which houses first-year students during the school year.

“This is my sanctuary, baby; St. Joe, Year 12,” Kelce said with a smile. “That means I’ve spent just about an entire year in my life up here in the dorms, man. Everybody may see that as pretty grueling, but I enjoy it, man.”

In the past month, Kelce has reminded everyone on the team why he is the league’s best tight end and did his best to quash any suggestion that his offseason activities would be a distraction to the Chiefs. He never missed a practice during camp in hopes of ensuring he has a more productive season than in 2023. Whether in one-on-one drills or the fast-paced team periods, Kelce demonstrated his skills as one of the league’s smoothest route runners and pass catchers.

After each practice, Kelce spent an extra few minutes working on his blocking techniques against a blocking sled. When backup players went through their repetitions, Kelce often spent time talking plays over with Mahomes or sharing his insight with rookie tight end Jared Wiley. When emotions among some players became overheated, Kelce showed his leadership skills, including correctly criticizing defensive end George Karlaftis for de-cleating receiver Kadarius Toney during a non-padded practice.

“He has a unique way of leading and still having that kid quality on the field where he can joke with guys,” Reid said of Kelce. “He gets when to be a goofball and when to crank it up and be serious.”

At the start of camp, Kelce continued one of his traditions. He shaved off his beard, leaving just a thick, walrus-like mustache to resemble Reid. But Mahomes shared that Kelce’s haircut was not the same as last year. Instead of a buzzcut, Kelce has let his hair grow throughout camp because of a request from Swift.

Travis saw my niece, wearing a Taylor @Chiefs shirt, threw his glove, missed, pointed at her, and threw again. And I was completely unhinged and lost my mind. Clyde signed the boys stuff. @tkelce and @Clydro_22 the best thank you!! You made training camp so fun #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/1ebBZ8n8zm

— Becky Hardin (@cookierookiebec) July 26, 2024

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This summer, Kelce made one concession to Reid: He agreed to take fewer repetitions in practice during camp to help ensure he wouldn’t be overworked before Sept. 5, the Chiefs’ season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. Even with fewer reps, Kelce still found time to display his joyful, creative playstyle. Sometimes the ball didn’t stay in his hands long after he made a reception, instead pitching a perfect lateral to a teammate, such as wide receiver Marquise Brown, running back Isiah Pacheco or fellow tight end Noah Gray.

Each practice for Kelce ended the same, with him smiling, his body and red jersey drenched in sweat.

“He actually gets mad when (the coaches) take him out,” Mahomes said of Kelce. “He has all the right in the world to kind of be on the sideline because he knows all the (plays). He doesn’t necessarily need the reps, but he loves working.

“It makes my job easier as a leader to push other guys because I can just say, ‘Look at the Hall of Famer who’s out here practicing harder than anybody.’ He enjoys the process of being great.”

GO DEEPER

Chiefs 53-man roster projection: Questions remain at running back, cornerback

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(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos: Gareth Cattermole / TAS24, Courtney Culbreath, Andrew Harnik / Getty Images)

ATLANTA — Whit Merrifield has had enough of control-challenged pitchers hitting batters with pitches.

The veteran infielder became the latest in a string of Atlanta Braves players hit by fastballs when he was plunked in the back of his head Tuesday by Colorado Rockies rookie Jeff Criswell, and Merrifield said Major League Baseball needs to do something about the situation before someone is seriously injured — or worse.

“Where the game’s at right now, it’s just ridiculous,” said Merrifield, who was hit by a 94.5 mph pitch in the seventh inning of the Braves’ 3-0 win, leaving a welt just behind his left ear at the top of his neck. “I hate where the game’s at right now with that.”

Merrifield, a player rep on the MLB Competition Committee, shouted at Criswell while being attended to on the field, and again as he was walking off with a Braves trainer. Merrifield passed concussion protocol tests but was on his way to a CT scan after the game to rule out internal injuries.

He was hit by a 1-0 fastball after Criswell missed way inside with a first-pitch slider.

Braves Travis d’Arnaud and Austin Riley were hit by up-and-in fastballs in consecutive games Aug. 18-19 against the Los Angeles Angels. D’Arnaud missed five games with a forearm contusion and Riley landed on the injured list with a broken hand that’s expected to sideline him for six to eight weeks.

Michael Harris II left an Aug. 25 game after being hit in the hand by a fastball from Nationals rookie DJ Herz leading off the first inning and left the game a few innings later. X-rays and an MRI showed no fracture and he returned to the lineup two days later.

“We lost Riley, we almost lost Mike, we almost lost d’Arnaud in a span of two or three weeks,” Merrifield said. “The way pitchers are throwing now, there’s no regard for throwing up and in. The guys are throwing as hard as they can, they don’t care where the ball goes. And it’s just … it’s bulls—-.”

Merrifield wasn’t done venting.

Not even close.

“You can’t hit a guy anymore (in retaliation),” he said. “There’s no fear that, ‘Oh, if I hit this guy, our guy’s going to get hit.’ That’s not in the game anymore. Pitchers don’t have to hit anymore, so they don’t have to stand in the box. And the teams are bringing pitchers up that don’t know where the hell the ball is going. They throw 100 miles an hour, so it’s, ‘Alright, we’ll see if he can get the guys out. Just set up down the middle and throw as hard as you can.’ And it’s bulls—, and it’s driving me nuts.”

He said something needs to be done, and he will do what he can to help get the situation addressed.

“I’m on the Rules Committee, and we’ve got a call (Wednesday),” he said, “and it’s going to be a long conversation on what we’ve got to do to make pitchers think about … I just took 95 right off the head. I’m very lucky that it got me in a good spot, and I’ve got to go get a CAT scan. I’m out of the game, he gets to stay in to pitch, I’m probably not going to be able to play tomorrow.”

Criswell, 25, was making his seventh MLB relief appearance. He pitched 1 2/3 innings Tuesday and was charged with one hit, one run and three walks with one strikeout. He threw just 23 strikes in 41 pitches.

“No repercussion on his part, and I mean, without being overly dramatic, that was my life on the line right there,” Merrifield said. “So, I’m sick of it, it’s happening way too much. I watched Taylor Ward get hit in the face last year and have to get reconstructive surgery. Justin Turner got hit in the face last year. It’s happening at an exponential rate. Guys are getting hit in the hand, Mookie Betts broke a bone in his hand this year. It’s just ridiculous, and it has to be fixed. Or, God forbid, something terrible’s going to happen.

“If this hits me in a different spot, I mean … it’s just pathetic. It’s frankly pathetic, that some of the pitchers that we’re running out there don’t know where the ball’s going, at the major-league level. It’s got to be fixed. It just pisses me off to no end.”

(Photo: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)