KSR video on swing in emotions on Pope hire
- Thread starter mcwildcats04
- Start date
How anyone, at any point, could think the Pope hire was "awful", is beyond me. The guy is a proven winner at places you shouldn't have lots of success at, and he knows what the assignment is.
Coach Pope is our guy. Damn glad he's come home.
I told someone after the Oakland game I thought UK should fire Cal and hire Pope. And when they said “Really?” I said “I don’t know I think I’m having a nervous breakdown.”
So I understand the swing in emotions.
So I understand the swing in emotions.
Man, I remember this place immediately after the Pope hire. And I KNOW some of you have the posts saved. That's how RRs rolls. Gonna be some crow connoisseurs around here one day, lol.
I was disappointed when I first heard it. My first thought was that Mitch panicked.
Pitino totally changed my mind.
Pitino totally changed my mind.
I don't care, as long as he wins, and I think he will.
I wigged out, but I think a lot of us did because we didn't know much about him. I remember Cal bringing Pope's UV team in and some fans talking about how they'd like to have him as coach someday, but I think a lot of us wanted him to have more experience first.
Going to bed that night not knowing anything versus waking up and seeing the mountain of information on Pope's play style really softened things and lowered our fanbase's collective hackles. I don't think Pitino's message and the realization that giving Pope a chance could bring back one of the most hated AND beloved Kentucky coaches hurt, either. If anyone knew what kind of competitor Pope is, and what he's capable of, it's Coach P – a man who permanently etched himself into Kentucky basketball lore.
Going to bed that night not knowing anything versus waking up and seeing the mountain of information on Pope's play style really softened things and lowered our fanbase's collective hackles. I don't think Pitino's message and the realization that giving Pope a chance could bring back one of the most hated AND beloved Kentucky coaches hurt, either. If anyone knew what kind of competitor Pope is, and what he's capable of, it's Coach P – a man who permanently etched himself into Kentucky basketball lore.
I was upset about the Pope hire until I heard him talk for a while. He is the antithesis of Cal in almost every way. I had been excited we might hire Scott Drew, but that wouldn't have been on the same spectrum of excitement as this.
I will own up to being less than enthused the night it was revealed. With that said, he won me over with his Rupp arena debut and I’ve been high on him and this team ever since.
I was for sure thinking it was a rushed hire but I was really really disliking the Drew possibility. What got me more than anything was seeing how much it meant to Pope and naturally being a big fan from his playing days.
He might end up struggling some or he might kill it immediately(looked closer to this option last night) but for me it’s more about who he is and what it means to him. Couldn’t have been a better hire for me now.
His personality and love for the school outweighs all of Donovan, Mrs. Hurley and Oats coaching. Plus we have the bonus of if successful, Pope will retire before he ever considers leaving for another school.
He might end up struggling some or he might kill it immediately(looked closer to this option last night) but for me it’s more about who he is and what it means to him. Couldn’t have been a better hire for me now.
His personality and love for the school outweighs all of Donovan, Mrs. Hurley and Oats coaching. Plus we have the bonus of if successful, Pope will retire before he ever considers leaving for another school.
We all thought Mitch rushed the hire. We were all convinced we were in on Hurley, Drew, whatever. Now we know the full story about who was offered, who was contacted, who was forbidden from being hired, etc. Mitch handled it like a champ. And I say that as someone who criticizes him plenty.
We're fans. We rushed to judgement. In 24 hrs Coach Pope shut everyone up and brought the fanbase back together. Damn it feels good for everyone to be on the same page and pulling in the same direction. Whatever our ceiling is, is there any doubt this is going to be one fun ass season?
Mark Pope is our guy. He gets it. I hope like hell he succeeds wildly here.
We're fans. We rushed to judgement. In 24 hrs Coach Pope shut everyone up and brought the fanbase back together. Damn it feels good for everyone to be on the same page and pulling in the same direction. Whatever our ceiling is, is there any doubt this is going to be one fun ass season?
Mark Pope is our guy. He gets it. I hope like hell he succeeds wildly here.
Honestly, on paper, it was a terrible hire. Pope has never coached at a P5 school, never won a conference championship or even a single tournament game. On paper, Billy Gillispie had a better resumé when he got the job 17 years ago.
But in this case there’s a lot that we couldn’t see on paper. None of us had ever looked at his offensive schemes. We didn’t know his personality, passion, or handling of the media. And we had no idea yet of his ability to recruit to a blue blood, which thus far, he seems to be killing.
With every bit of seriousness, I don’t know if Mitch had a better grasp of these things when he made the hire or if it’s one of those blind squirrel finding a nut kind of things.
But in this case there’s a lot that we couldn’t see on paper. None of us had ever looked at his offensive schemes. We didn’t know his personality, passion, or handling of the media. And we had no idea yet of his ability to recruit to a blue blood, which thus far, he seems to be killing.
With every bit of seriousness, I don’t know if Mitch had a better grasp of these things when he made the hire or if it’s one of those blind squirrel finding a nut kind of things.
He wasn’t an awful hire. The problem was we had our sight set on much bigger proven fish (in Drew and Hurley) so it felt like Mitch was panicking and settled. So naturally fans were a bit upset. But Pope seemingly gets it. Now he just has to prove he can win at a high level.
Pope was in the Big12. Thats definitely a P5 conference.
Yeah, I'll admit I was disappointed at first and very skeptical. But, I pretty much followed the timeline in that video exactly. Once I started hearing the analytical angle in the video that was referenced and others chimed in, I started to get on board. And I was fully on board after listening to Pope's speech at that introductory presser at Rupp. Just seeing his energy and passion come through, it felt like the right hire at that time. High-risk high-reward type of hire but I feel a lot better now that we are more likely to experience the high-reward part of that.
Pitino didn’t for me, Pope did. His introduction sold me a bit. I was a least willing to give it a shot with him. So far (minus the B/W debacle) so good.
nice video, it didn't look great at first but once I saw the video and digging deeper, it felt like the perfect fit. And Pope has made all the right moves so far. I just hope the fans give him some rope cause I'm sure this first year will have some ups and downs. But I'm sure we'll get fire Pope after first unexpected loss
I had a weird night after I got out of a late movie and found Pope was our coach when I hadn’t known he was a candidate. I thought the people happy with the hire had gone insane.
But 14 hours later the video game offense clip and Rick’s statement had done it for me. I was there and shed some tears at that press conference. When he hoisted that trophy it was so loud you could feel it in your spleen.
At this point Mark Pope is O Captain My Captain for life if he sticks around. I hope he wins every game he ever plays. But here is a guy who will always be straining beyond himself to try to win. Try desperately to win for the sake of all that has come before. And that’s all I really need.
But 14 hours later the video game offense clip and Rick’s statement had done it for me. I was there and shed some tears at that press conference. When he hoisted that trophy it was so loud you could feel it in your spleen.
At this point Mark Pope is O Captain My Captain for life if he sticks around. I hope he wins every game he ever plays. But here is a guy who will always be straining beyond himself to try to win. Try desperately to win for the sake of all that has come before. And that’s all I really need.
To be honest I was pretty pumped when it was announced. Talk about bringing the passion back to the program!
I was saying that I would take Pope as a replacement either during the season or in a previous season. I was happy he was hired from the start.
I was less than exited but not angry about it. Last 5 years or so made me want a change of just about any sort. Not knowing enough about Pope's coaching style and record just made me think that this was going to be more like an interim hire until the smoke settled. I am still while optimistic a bit cautious and am not setting my sights high. If we can shoot similarly in the next few games the way we shot last night, my expectations will rise.
I was one of the guys who melted down and pouted like a little child. I thought it was a pie-in-the-sky hire at the time.
I was drunk that Thursday night and melted down. Pope has said and done everything right so far though and and UK elevates coaches so I expect him to do well here.
From a HR perspective, I still think Mitch went a bit weak on the resume. If Pope won a title at Arizona in 97 or was on uclas 95 title team all of you would have killed Mitch. Like for real tried to take him out. Based purely on coaching experience, results and coaching resume.
From a HR perspective, I still think Mitch went a bit weak on the resume. If Pope won a title at Arizona in 97 or was on uclas 95 title team all of you would have killed Mitch. Like for real tried to take him out. Based purely on coaching experience, results and coaching resume.
Pitino has publicly said of all the players he’s coached Mark Pope stood out to him more than any other. He was a transfer but made him a captain because he just defined leadership. That’s high praise. Rick has seen many.
Opposite of what Cal would have said now. I went back and watched Cals press conference. He said a lot of the same thing Pope did. Championships, banners and gold standard. Returning to glory. People were just as excited. This job has a 10 year shelf life. Calipari wasn’t even close to the same person we hired back then. He was beaten down and changed course.
I was/am a bit concerned. He is unproven and doesn’t have any tournament success to speak of. He had little to no history of securing high profile talent and recruits, little to no success in the post season, and was taking over a team that had zero returnees with very little time to put a squad together.
I will say I feel much better about him based on the few months he has been here. He came in and appears to have put together a team capable of making some noise. He understands the expectations here and seems hungry to make a name for himself as a coach. Excited to see what he does the next few years.
I will say I feel much better about him based on the few months he has been here. He came in and appears to have put together a team capable of making some noise. He understands the expectations here and seems hungry to make a name for himself as a coach. Excited to see what he does the next few years.
You never saw one negative word about the hire from me . I was just so ecstatic to get rid of the Cal dog & pony show and his dark cloud buyout. I was going to be happy with anyone!
I said I would complain that night, and then get on board after I woke up in the morning. As we see everyday, people can turn off their brain and rationalize whatever they want. And I'm happy to do that for my Kentucky wildcats. So far it is not necessary.
I, like many, was a bit shocked when the hire was announced. That video tells a familiar story. I started researching Pope before the posted "video game offense" clip came out, but that one helped. My only post at that time was on 12 April, in reply to the Mitch (Barnhart) on KSR now thread when I said:
"Mitch sounds tired. He has obviously been working this hire, non-stop and was likely up all night getting it done with Coach Pope. He obviously got what he thinks we need. And, if we are being truthful, this is what we were asking for in so many ways. A guy who can coach, a guy who understands UK and the culture and passion we have. The NIL support is there now unlike before. I hope he "wins the press conference" and everyone gets behind him. Supporting Coach Pope here!
Glad I posted what I did instead of the bewilderment the day before
"Mitch sounds tired. He has obviously been working this hire, non-stop and was likely up all night getting it done with Coach Pope. He obviously got what he thinks we need. And, if we are being truthful, this is what we were asking for in so many ways. A guy who can coach, a guy who understands UK and the culture and passion we have. The NIL support is there now unlike before. I hope he "wins the press conference" and everyone gets behind him. Supporting Coach Pope here!
Glad I posted what I did instead of the bewilderment the day before
I remember the evening it was leaked that he had accepted the position, and I looked at my Wife and said, “This has to be some kind of a joke!”
I was pissed! And nothing personal about Pope, but like others have already stated, on paper, it was a WTF hire. But once the Rupp event happened and Coach put together a diamond of a staff, and they started landing the current team, and recruiting where Cal left off, I wouldn’t want anyone else at the Helm of the UK program, including Hurley, Donovan, or whoever!
I believe when it’s all said and done, Coach Pope will go down as the greatest coach to ever hold the HC position at UK, and yes, I’m talking about passing Rupp!
I was pissed! And nothing personal about Pope, but like others have already stated, on paper, it was a WTF hire. But once the Rupp event happened and Coach put together a diamond of a staff, and they started landing the current team, and recruiting where Cal left off, I wouldn’t want anyone else at the Helm of the UK program, including Hurley, Donovan, or whoever!
I believe when it’s all said and done, Coach Pope will go down as the greatest coach to ever hold the HC position at UK, and yes, I’m talking about passing Rupp!
Same. Now I love it. Wasn't mad at Pope. Felt like Barnhart didnt do his job and panic hired.
I honestly think your position is the same as almost any fan who was upset about the hire…it was far more about their perception of Barnhart than Pope.
There was pent up frustration due to the contracts for Cal and Stoops…
I agree that Pope has done an amazing job winning the fan base. If the team continues to perform like the first exhibition (not the win or margin of victory, but the effort, teamwork, etc), he will win not only the fanbase but plenty of games as well.
Video is misleading. Only a minority of KY fans were disappointed in Pope hire. However, they were the most vocal. That’s to be expected on a message board and not a thing wrong with opposing views.
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