Kentucky to Hire Mark Pope LOL

[freescooter]

“Can be”? Someone just posted that they want to “beat the AD to death” and multiple posters are threatening violence on one another. You have to laud their fandom but some of them are downright frightening.

Have you ever been to rural Kentucky? If so you’d understand.

 

[freescooter]

Here is a guy who built a program at a low mid-major, then at a low major (not exactly sure how to classify BYU over the past few years) who now goes to a power school. I actually think it makes sense to hire a guy like that. We’ll see how it works out. If they give him a couple of years, I suspect he will build a pretty solid program. Year1 will likely be rough though.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

I really wanted to come in here all scolding-like, wondering about karma gods taking notes on the needless pigpile of flat-out dishing after our team's epic success.

We got validation & relief that our principled guy didn't just say, "Nope" to a reported record-setting pay package, but that the full staff is returning and the already stated ambition is going for 3.

So what's the point of going hard at UK? Is it necessary. Now?

Granted, I'm the guy walking around Kentucky's largest metro in UConn wear, and I'd like to stay safe. I can remember going to Yankee Stadium and muting my enthusiasm for the Red Sox, and even more so bringing a young Suffolk County townie to an Islanders-Rangers game at the Garden and telling him as we walked in that wasn't allowed to cheer. He was uncomprehending & unhappy, until he got stoned in the stairwells after the first period, and got a better feel for the home crowd...but still didn't want to return.

I'm glad I pushed myself to stick around for page 2, because I liked these 3 posts...

No one wants to go in and clean up after Cal.

A simple, realistic take, that made me briefly consider my own bad jokes. Maybe something about Kenny Payne doing a reverse Pitino and going from Louisville to UK; or the possibility that Pope could one-up Pitino by promising recruits multiple wives instead of "escorts," (which @NowInStorrs has already gotten close to); or even wanting to shift things away from creating ill will between UConn & UK and instead just trashing Squid because there we have some history. Master of fact, I hear that he summoned the proud history of Razorback basketball when he was introduced in Fayetteville by mentioning Nolan Richardson's "40 minutes of hell," and chuckled that he could relate because he'd just finished up "40 minutes of March Madness." Whomp whomp.

Half ass search. Did they even meet with Seth Greenberg??

This was the one that got a literal LOL out of me. Maybe there was some fun to be had here.

Its hysterical how some (although not all) are also trying to rationalize that they don't want Hurley anymore because he is obviously an idiot for turning down UK and the bag. Some quotes from RR board:

"Frankly, if we walk away without Hurley after a $100 million offer that he REJECTED...I'd just call it a win and a dodged bullet. He's a freakin idiot to reject that. End of story!"

"Just reading that it is incredibly hard to absorb. $100 million (if accurate) is a absurd amount of money. Literally obscene.
I wasn't terribly interested in Hurley as I thought he would be a terrible fit for UK. But, for him to turn down that kind of money is a red flag IMO."

"He's a (rhymes with cluck)"

"If Hurley really rejected that kind of money cuz he wants to stay in Connecticut where they care more about the womens team then that’s his call but he clearly wasn’t the man for the job"

Okay, this could relieve some of the guilt in laughing at others' misfortunes.

By page 3, I flipped back to thinking it's not really my business. I'm sure there are some good posts that I won't see. I'm not sure I'll miss them.

I do kind of wonder if there was video of smoke from a Lexington chimney after the announcement that Kentucky got their Pope, and if so, what color. Whomp whomp redux.

 

[Travelman6]

I kind of feel sorry for Mark Pope. Even though he has potential, he’ll never get the time to prove it. That fan base can be vicious.

Vicious is putting it lightly. They make Philly and Raider fans look like saints. They are stalkers, make threats and can be violent.

 

[bendm]

I think pope is gonna be really good for them.
Unfortunately. Offense wins championships and pope turned a bunch of Mormons into a top 14 offense this year. Will be a lot easier to do with 5* recruits and elite transfers.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

I think pope is gonna be really good for them.
Unfortunately. Offense wins championships and pope turned a bunch of Mormons into a top 14 offense this year. Will be a lot easier to do with 5* recruits and elite transfers.

TBD if he’s going to be able to get those guys at the rate UK fans will demand. He’s never so much as attempted to recruit the level of player he’ll be expected to land now. I’m sure he’ll get some based on the Kentucky brand and NIL, but TBD how consistently.

 

[HooperScooper]

Will be a lot easier to do with 5* recruits and elite transfers.

Or maybe not. Maybe the 5* recruits won't listen to him. He's not used to coaching players like that.

 

[bendm]

TBD if he’s going to be able to get those guys at the rate UK fans will demand. He’s never so much as attempted to recruit the level of player he’ll be expected to land now. I’m sure he’ll get some based on the Kentucky brand and NIL, but TBD how consistently.

My point was the caliber of player is guaranteed to be better than what he had at byu and they were still a top 15 O their first Year in the big12.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

My point was the caliber of player is guaranteed to be better than what he had at byu and they were still a top 15 O their first Year in the big12.

I do tend to think he’ll do alright there and put a good offense on the court. Cal had great offenses though. I’m a bit more uncertain whether he’ll put a great team on the court or just more good ones. Unfortunately for him, good teams are going to get him fired in a few years if that’s what he does. We shall see.

 

[CL82]

I wouldn’t go that far!

I would. They are, and I say this without the least bit of hyperbole, bat sh.i.t crazy down there.

 

[CL82]

has hurley said no yet?

Post this down on the Kentucky board, or better yet, post a rumor that Hurley has agreed to go next year and Pope is just an interim hire.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Post this down on the Kentucky board, or better yet, post a rumor that Hurley has agreed to go next year and Pope is just an interim hire.

CL, I think the Kentucky fan base can be enough of a circus act on their own. I doubt they need any coaxing.

 

[Travelman6]

I was just over at their board for 30, seem to be coming around on the guy by and large and want to give him a shot.

 

[AntG168]

I was just over at their board for 30, seem to be coming around on the guy by and large and want to give him a shot.

They have no choice lmao

 

[CL82]

CL, I think the Kentucky fan base can be enough of a circus act on their own. I doubt they need any coaxing.

True, but that doesn't make it any less entertaining. If you even sneeze down there you're likely to draw a half dozen angry (but entertaining) responses:

"@$&! you, you carpetbagging Yankee bastard!!!!"

 

[jostar1]

 

[HuskyHawk]

It’s honestly a good hire, but that delusional fanbase is going to HATE IT.

He’s a guys that will actually will with better talent.

 

[NJHusky]

I do tend to think he’ll do alright there and put a good offense on the court. Cal had great offenses though. I’m a bit more uncertain whether he’ll put a great team on the court or just more good ones. Unfortunately for him, good teams are going to get him fired in a few years if that’s what he does. We shall see.

he got his bag…either way he’s set

 

[kobe]

Post this down on the Kentucky board, or better yet, post a rumor that Hurley has agreed to go next year and Pope is just an interim hire.

i'm willing to venture into pretty murky waters but even i will never start posting over there.

 

[ChrisA]

Just spent some time reading the Kentucky basketball forum and it’s hilarious how they are saying they never wanted Hurley. He was a piece of you know what.
Of course that is all after he said no thank you.
They wanted him badly and when he said no, they sit there and trash him and say how bad a coach he is.
All they’re doing is calling UConn cheaters.
If you want an interesting read go over there and you will laugh very hard.

 

[Travelman6]

Just spent some time reading the Kentucky basketball forum and it’s hilarious how they are saying they never wanted Hurley. He was a piece of you know what.
Of course that is all after he said no thank you.
They wanted him badly and when he said no, they sit there and trash him and say how bad a coach he is.
All they’re doing is calling UConn cheaters.
If you want an interesting read go over there and you will laugh very hard.

On rivals? I didn't see anyone stating they never wanted Hurley.

 

[UConnSwag11]

On rivals? I didn't see anyone stating they never wanted Hurley.

It’s there and it’s all over twitter

 

[Travelman6]

It’s there and it’s all over twitter

I didn't check Twitter but don't use it either but I'll try to find it on rivals...