When the news broke about Pope, I was about an inch away from the ledge. I felt like I was ready to step away. I was so furious I could see straight. Now that I’ve had some time to reflect, I gotta say, there are some aspects of the hire that I don’t hate. But there are also some feelings that are the same.
First of all, I bear absolutely no ill will towards Mark. He took what is probably his dream job and you can’t fault the guy for that. He will be Kentucky first and he truly understands the fans as opposed to Cal. His style of play does look like a lot of fun and I’m really glad the boosters are stepping up to provide NIL support. He should be given EVERY opportunity to succeed and that’s a huge part of it. I also think he’s an incredibly intelligent guy and he may just figure this out.
That said, I still feel it was the wrong hire. It’s a gargantuan risk that didn’t need to be taken when a week could have very well landed Billy Donovan. And even then, other proven coaches were available that should have been called first. I still fathom what Mitch was thinking and I feel like this hire was a betrayal to the fans. Even if Mark kills it, I STILL do not agree with the hire. It could end great, terrible or somewhere in between. Even if it turns out well, Mitch shouldn’t be praised for winning at roulette. I now believe that he is worse at his job than Cal was at his.
However, and most importantly, my support for this team is unwavering. I will be cheering my head off for Pope and whoever he puts on the floor. If he shows he can put a contender out there, I’m with him for the long-haul. If three years go by and it’s been terrible, you’ve got to cut him loose. If it’s somewhere in between; top 20ish teams, sweet 16, but not really a threat; give him the length of his contract and move on if it doesn’t get better. But here in 2024, he needs our support. He deserves to feel the love from the fans so by God, let’s give it to him.
I may not be Catholic. But I’m behind this Pope. Let’s roll.
First of all, I bear absolutely no ill will towards Mark. He took what is probably his dream job and you can’t fault the guy for that. He will be Kentucky first and he truly understands the fans as opposed to Cal. His style of play does look like a lot of fun and I’m really glad the boosters are stepping up to provide NIL support. He should be given EVERY opportunity to succeed and that’s a huge part of it. I also think he’s an incredibly intelligent guy and he may just figure this out.
That said, I still feel it was the wrong hire. It’s a gargantuan risk that didn’t need to be taken when a week could have very well landed Billy Donovan. And even then, other proven coaches were available that should have been called first. I still fathom what Mitch was thinking and I feel like this hire was a betrayal to the fans. Even if Mark kills it, I STILL do not agree with the hire. It could end great, terrible or somewhere in between. Even if it turns out well, Mitch shouldn’t be praised for winning at roulette. I now believe that he is worse at his job than Cal was at his.
However, and most importantly, my support for this team is unwavering. I will be cheering my head off for Pope and whoever he puts on the floor. If he shows he can put a contender out there, I’m with him for the long-haul. If three years go by and it’s been terrible, you’ve got to cut him loose. If it’s somewhere in between; top 20ish teams, sweet 16, but not really a threat; give him the length of his contract and move on if it doesn’t get better. But here in 2024, he needs our support. He deserves to feel the love from the fans so by God, let’s give it to him.
I may not be Catholic. But I’m behind this Pope. Let’s roll.
