In 2001, Rick Pitino was all set to go to the University of Michigan as their head coach. He even signed an agreement to be their coach. Tom Jurich was persistent and offered a lot of money and power. Rick's wife pushed him hard to take the Louisville job because they did not know anyone at in Michigan and she loved Kentucky.
This was an interesting quote from an article in 2013
But he did listen ....
Just say WHAT IF he goes to Ann Arbor:
-We don't hate him, we actually cheer for him secret
-Tubby's struggles add more pressure on him every single year w/ Rick up north
-Louisville does not join the Big East and gets a B+/C+ level coach
-By 2005-06 Rupp Rafters would be lit up with wanting Rick back to Kentucky
-When Tubby leaves, Rick probably gets the first call to be head coach and probably takes it because there is not much hatred for him
-The YUM Center is not built because UofL is not a huge draw without Rick.
-Likewise, UofL does not join the ACC
-The Sypher/Katina/Bowen scandals probably never happen? (Sypher maybe..but if he's up north do they do that?)
-We probably think Cal is a cheater and we don't get to see him flourish as the master marketer he is at a small program like Memphis. Who is to say we don't see Cal at another blue blood?
-Louisville is not even really a hated rival like they are now, we just view them as Little Brother in the AAC that we play once a year in that old Freedom Hall
And then today, we are celebrating and bragging about our legendary coach who we will all say is better than Coach K. With the resources/brand of Kentucky back in his pocket, he is probably recruiting at an elite level (Not Calipari level though) and we are running through the SEC.
But like all What ifs...that's what they are...it is crazy to think how him picking Michigan could've changed the course of 2 programs.
This was an interesting quote from an article in 2013
"I said to her, 'You don't understand, the (former) Kentucky coach can't coach at Louisville. You're just not getting it.' She said, 'It's one game every year, and every other year you have to visit. What's the big deal?' I said, 'It's a big deal. We don't want to do that. We'll be miserable. You don't want to put yourself in that situation.'
But he did listen ....
Just say WHAT IF he goes to Ann Arbor:
-We don't hate him, we actually cheer for him secret
-Tubby's struggles add more pressure on him every single year w/ Rick up north
-Louisville does not join the Big East and gets a B+/C+ level coach
-By 2005-06 Rupp Rafters would be lit up with wanting Rick back to Kentucky
-When Tubby leaves, Rick probably gets the first call to be head coach and probably takes it because there is not much hatred for him
-The YUM Center is not built because UofL is not a huge draw without Rick.
-Likewise, UofL does not join the ACC
-The Sypher/Katina/Bowen scandals probably never happen? (Sypher maybe..but if he's up north do they do that?)
-We probably think Cal is a cheater and we don't get to see him flourish as the master marketer he is at a small program like Memphis. Who is to say we don't see Cal at another blue blood?
-Louisville is not even really a hated rival like they are now, we just view them as Little Brother in the AAC that we play once a year in that old Freedom Hall
And then today, we are celebrating and bragging about our legendary coach who we will all say is better than Coach K. With the resources/brand of Kentucky back in his pocket, he is probably recruiting at an elite level (Not Calipari level though) and we are running through the SEC.
But like all What ifs...that's what they are...it is crazy to think how him picking Michigan could've changed the course of 2 programs.