I’m sure if one of them had accepted the job, they would have gotten a pretty good reception but I’m not sure it would have been as good as today.
Would Hurley or Drew have gotten the same reception?
- Thread starter mdlUK.1
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Maybe same size but not near as heartfelt.
Yes to Hurley, no to Drew.
No shot at Pope but if you bring in a 2x defending champion, he'd have had them lined up from Airport to Rupp. It would've been like Saban going to Alabama part 2.
No shot at Pope but if you bring in a 2x defending champion, he'd have had them lined up from Airport to Rupp. It would've been like Saban going to Alabama part 2.
I don’t think so
Maybe 8-10k
Not as…well pumped up
Maybe 8-10k
Not as…well pumped up
Hurley probably would but I am convinced the right man for the job is here. Love the passion and energy Pope has for this job. My full support is with him.
Maybe close but that was different today. Homecoming element makes it different and better without a doubt.
No. Donovan would have gotten similar energy, and maybe similar numbers because he was an assistant coach here, has won two championships, and has been wanted to come back for over 15 years.
I don’t think either one of those would have gotten nearly the same reaction. The emotion for Pope wouldn’t be there for someone never connected to the program.
Hurley was a nobody before 2023 in college basketball. Still kind of a nobody until he proves that he’s not a flash in the pan and can win consistently. He only had 2 NCAA tournament wins prior. Ollie also won a championship at UConn his second year and was subsequently run out of town a few years later. They found reasons to get rid of him.
There was definitely a lot of…exhaustion in the program, with the fans, due to a certain someone. Honestly, we had a virus in the program absolutely doing everything he could to siphon off every last drop of life to fuel his own ego. Today would have been big, no matter what, for that reason.
I doubt it would have been this big though. This was one of our own coming home. So it was a collective sigh of relief, a celebration of a new coach, and also a home coming.
I doubt it would have been this big though. This was one of our own coming home. So it was a collective sigh of relief, a celebration of a new coach, and also a home coming.
If you listened, he said he would get players that fit his SYSTEM. Sometimes that’s a burger boy, sometimes that’s a 4 year guy.
I’ve yet to see you be positive, is there a reason for that?
Once you get two, especially back to back it no longer matters if you are otherwise "a flash in the pan".
Dude is pretty much a lock for the Hall regardless and probably will never want for opportunities even if the wheels come clean off.
Drew probably not quite as big but Hurley would have been every bit as big if not more. Anyone saying no is kidding themselves.
I doubt the coach of ESPN university would get a very big crowd in Rupp.
I was so anti on this hire, but after hearing him speak, I'm 10000% in!!
Hurley, Wright, Stevens, or Donovan would have drawn the same crowd or near enough.
Drew would have been a step down.
None could have matched the energy in that building today. That was +/- 25,000 people who would have fought each other over who gets to take a bullet for one man.
Drew would have been a step down.
None could have matched the energy in that building today. That was +/- 25,000 people who would have fought each other over who gets to take a bullet for one man.
Nope can guarantee it wouldn't have been like that. For me and my wife who were there we would have just watched on tv instead of making the drive.
I'd say going 12-0 over the past 2 NCAA tournaments and winning each NCAA game by over 14ppg is not a flash in the pan. I'm sorry but you are talking with your heart and not head here.
I'm not mad Pope is hired. I think he can succeed but you talked about "still kind of a nobody until he proves he's not a flash in the pan that can win consistently" and we just hired a guy who has never won a single NCAA Tournament game.
Someone asked the question, I answered with a realistic and honest take. Now onto the Pope Era.
Him being an ex player definitely helped especially with old players showing up . I’m not sure how many of them would have showed up for those two . Maybe they show up because they were so relieved that Cal was gone but I doubt it .
Pope said all the right things that I’m not sure Drew would have said . Hurley maybe since he’s currently a back to back champ
Pope said all the right things that I’m not sure Drew would have said . Hurley maybe since he’s currently a back to back champ
I disagree, I think one of the reasons the fan base was so energized is because Pope is the anti Cal. Where Cal was a hired gun, Pope won a title playing here and loved the program and the state. I think Hurley would have been viewed as a better version of Cal.
This one has extra juice because of who Mark is. Heck, he even got Rick a huge ovation. Personally, I'm glad the fans in general are welcoming Rick back again.
Yes there is a reason for it. I feel like this was a bad hire. I’m sorry but I do. I am just as big of a fan as you and everyone else of ky basketball. I love pope and I love the hoopla around his hiring. I love how optimistic everyone is. But I think we will be looking for a new coach again in 3-4 years.
This just doesn’t feel like a hire that improves the program. Pope inspires the Kentucky fanbase like no other, but I don’t think he will be able to attract talent. I have no doubt that he will work his ass off and I know what it means to him. Ultimately I feel the same as many did on the first day, Mitch has put him in a bad spot. The only difference is I’m not gonna fall for the nostalgia and the hope.
Everyone deserves the right to change their mind when new evidence is presented and I’m anxious to see his first roster followed by his first recruiting cycle. He is an excellent game coach. Just show me your roster
You’ve decided to be negative because we hired someone else other than the one you wanted. You decided to be negative and he just signed his contract today with no players yet. Idk, sounds more like you’re trying to push an agenda.
If you watched the press conference today and aren’t excited, there’s nothing more I can say besides, wow.
Nope. None of the candidates named could better reignite the fanbase than Pope did today.
I agree. I answered the exact same as you before seeing your post. Pope won the press conference but he has to win a lot more than that before he is a success.
We should be excited why not. But reality will set in in late November when we face Duke and Cooper Flagg and we better have some good players ready to go or this great feeling could go south in a hurry.
I would have been glad to have a new coach, but I wouldn't have made the drive for Hurley nor Drew.
can't speak for anyone else but I wouldn't have drove 2 hours to see Hurley or Drew.
UConn can’t get 1/4 of that number for a championship celebration. A former player who was the captain of one of the all time greatest teams and who was a very popular player is the reason for the large number today.
Short answer... no. I drove from Ashland today for this. I wouldn't have done that for either of the above mentioned. I wouldn't even have done it for Donovan. The heart of BBN showed up today. Good times are ahead.
