Great article in SI on Pope

[TCurtis75]

This is a great article on Pope in SI today. Well worth the read even if it was written by Forde.

Big Blue Heaven: Mark Pope’s Quest to Give Kentucky Basketball Back to the Fans

The new Wildcats coach and former player brings humility, for the first time since the Tubby Smith era, and a sense of communal ownership.

www.si.com

 

[Katexas]

That was great. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Fox2monk]

Awesome read, thank you. I really pray that coach Pope crushes it. I want him to be remembered here not only for his play, but for his coaching too. I want him to be responsible for multiple banners. You can tell he really loves it here.

 

[BarefootBeach]

Yes, great article 👏, thank you

 

[Deli owl]

Breakdown? I won't click SI

 

[BlueBomb]

"Re-enter humility, for the first time since the Tubby Smith era."

You think?

 

[BBNinSC]

This is the most anticipated start to a season for me ever and I’ve been around for a few.

 

[STL_Cat]

There is little doubt that Forde hated Cal more than he hated Kentucky. Not surprised he's taking some backhanded jabs at Cal here. I'm good with it.

 

[BlueSince92]

Not gonna claim some Fall allergies didn’t help but this part made me cry:

“You can hire somebody that’s going to go up there and you’re going to hand them a jersey and they’re going to do a photo shoot and throw [the jersey] in the corner,” Pope told Barnhart. “But when we do this press conference, I’m going to bring my own jersey, and it’s got blood and sweat and tears on it from the national championship season. And that’s the difference between me and anybody else for this job.”

 

[NociHTTP]

This is the most anticipated start to a season for me ever and I’ve been around for a few.

The Pitino years were for me.

 

[Fox2monk]

Breakdown? I won't click SI

I feel you there, didn’t really want too. He talks about his time and why he came and his background with Mark Fox getting into coaching. Then returning the favor to Fox now. References his wife, kids, and his life at Kentucky and Med School. Decided he wasn’t fit to be a surgeon and really missed basketball. Talked about why he loved Pitino and how they both eat and breath work and getting better on the court. Basically a love letter to the university and fans in other parts.

 

[Fox2monk]

Not gonna claim some Fall allergies didn’t help but this part made me cry:

“You can hire somebody that’s going to go up there and you’re going to hand them a jersey and they’re going to do a photo shoot and throw [the jersey] in the corner,” Pope told Barnhart. “But when we do this press conference, I’m going to bring my own jersey, and it’s got blood and sweat and tears on it from the national championship season. And that’s the difference between me and anybody else for this job.”

That was an amazing quote, what a way to sell yourself for the job.

 

[chroix]

“You can hire somebody that’s going to go up there and you’re going to hand them a jersey and they’re going to do a photo shoot and throw [the jersey] in the corner,” Pope told Barnhart. “But when we do this press conference, I’m going to bring my own jersey, and it’s got blood and sweat and tears on it from the national championship season. And that’s the difference between me and anybody else for this job.”

Reposting this again because there has never been a better quote.

 

[Bkocats]

There is little doubt that Forde hated Cal more than he hated Kentucky. Not surprised he's taking some backhanded jabs at Cal here. I'm good with it.

Took a couple at Pitino too
Honestly made me laugh lol

 

[travisbickle]

Had just copied the link to post. Really great summary of how the fans had grown weary of Cal and the passion Pope has for UK. Can’t wait for the season to start.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Great freaking story, even for Forde.

Cal was more about himself and the players than the program. We were ready for this change.

 

[littlecreek]

I will have to hand it to Forde, that was one of the best articles about Kentucky basketball that I have ever read. He described it perfectly of how we feel about it.