It's interesting to look back on the coaches that have come and gone, when you realize EVERY coach (and let's leave Rupp out of this conversation) has endured varying degrees of love and hate from the fans.
Hall takes over for Rupp. He was revered, then shown the door after fan frustration became untenable, then became one of the most beloved figures in the school's history.
Sutton was a huge hit with the fans in the beginning. And then, of course, there was the drinking and the "Kentucky Shame" SI cover. Now, he'll forever be associated with Kentucky's darkest period.
Pitino then arrives. No coach was loved more. And no coach was hated more when he misread Kentucky fans' loyalty and took the UofL job.
Tubby followed and received plenty of love and hate while he was here. But in the end, most of us agreed: Good man, bad coach. Glad he's gone.
BCG arrives. He had a short honeymoon and then became a laughingstock. No love there. Never was.
Cal arrives and quickly earns loyalty and adoration. No way this one ends bad, right? Wrong. Now, we not only want him gone, we can't stand the dude.
The bottom line is that as a fanbase, we have a universal distaste for almost all of our past coaches. And the funny thing is that most deserve it:
Hall, not so much.
Sutton, well of course.
Pitino, damn right.
Tubby, well that's complicated.
BCG, duh.
Cal, sorry, but yes. He dislikes us so...
Hall takes over for Rupp. He was revered, then shown the door after fan frustration became untenable, then became one of the most beloved figures in the school's history.
Sutton was a huge hit with the fans in the beginning. And then, of course, there was the drinking and the "Kentucky Shame" SI cover. Now, he'll forever be associated with Kentucky's darkest period.
Pitino then arrives. No coach was loved more. And no coach was hated more when he misread Kentucky fans' loyalty and took the UofL job.
Tubby followed and received plenty of love and hate while he was here. But in the end, most of us agreed: Good man, bad coach. Glad he's gone.
BCG arrives. He had a short honeymoon and then became a laughingstock. No love there. Never was.
Cal arrives and quickly earns loyalty and adoration. No way this one ends bad, right? Wrong. Now, we not only want him gone, we can't stand the dude.
The bottom line is that as a fanbase, we have a universal distaste for almost all of our past coaches. And the funny thing is that most deserve it:
Hall, not so much.
Sutton, well of course.
Pitino, damn right.
Tubby, well that's complicated.
BCG, duh.
Cal, sorry, but yes. He dislikes us so...