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Do you guys remember when Mark Pope had the BYU student section take off their anti-Texas shirts?

RunninRichie

RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
28,936
69,607
113
Pope doesn't have the personality to coach here. He's not fit for big boy D1 athletics. Everyone called it too, the night he was hired, everyone said the same, he doesn't have the dog in him, how is he going to recruit? He got off the bus with the 1996 trophy and some youtube video on his offense was shared. And everyone forgot what the rational side of their brain was telling them.
 
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Son_Of_Saul

Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
45,431
99,706
113
RunninRichie said:
Pope doesn't have the personality to coach here. He's not fit for big boy D1 athletics. Everyone called it too, the night he was hired, everyone said the same, he doesn't have the dog in him, how is he going to recruit? He got off the bus with the 1996 trophy and some youtube video on his offense was shared. And everyone forgot what the rational side of their brain was telling them.
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And now the godfather, Rick Pitino himself, just schooled him in recruiting 101 at the ripe old age of 73.

Pope looks like a complete fool.
 
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kywildcat1021979

kywildcat1021979

Heisman
Jan 10, 2015
19,174
32,662
62
MidseasonTweak said:
I was too young to appreciate the 1996 team, but I watched highlights. Pope was a really good player all things considered. Pitino said he busted his *** in terms of effort.

I just don't understand why none of that stuck with Pope the coach.
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He wasn't mentored by Pitino when he began coaching Mark Fox was his mentor this is where the problem lies....
 
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ChocoChicken

All-Conference
Apr 6, 2026
388
1,119
93
deplion said:
He's Kenny Payne part two.

Nice guy. Could probably be a decent Assistant Coach, but . . .

Completely unqualified to coach any power five conference school, let alone the bluest of the blue bloods.
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I don’t think he would make a very good assistant coach considering how poor his recruiting is. Like watching video and taking notes for the head coach? Sure. Being in the same room as 18-24 year olds? I’m pretty sure there are sex offenders who might make these guys less uncomfortable, pardon my absurd comparison. That’s how strange CMP is.
 
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Tri-Countycat

Tri-Countycat

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
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Mark Hill, Jeff Sheppard, Cameron Mills and whomever else pushed this hire needs to hear it from BBN. JP Blevins was on the commitee but I know he was 100% against it. This was a bit of a product of the portal also, it was the first year and no one knew how fast it was gonna move and Mitch panicked. They didn’t interview enough people. Hurley, and Drew and then a bunch of unofficial hiring back door phone calls wasn’t enough.
 
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Tri-Countycat

Tri-Countycat

All-Conference
Jul 1, 2025
1,712
4,212
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ChocoChicken said:
I don’t think he would make a very good assistant coach considering how poor his recruiting is. Like watching video and taking notes for the head coach? Sure. Being in the same room as 18-24 year olds? I’m pretty sure there are sex offenders who might make these guys less uncomfortable, pardon my absurd comparison. That’s how strange CMP is.
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People in Lexington compare him to an unmarried youth pastor. I thought that was a damning description.
 
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VC99

Senior
Sep 16, 2025
246
575
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Son_Of_Saul said:
Because they read: "Horns Down?"


I knew this guy was a colossal loser back then.

How in the hell did we let this weirdo near the program?
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Anddddd this is why you don't hire former players. We've got fans calling our national championship winning players colossal losers and weirdos. Hopefully the administration learns from this and does not repeat this.
 
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2

20MRoster

All-Conference
Nov 16, 2018
1,295
2,574
108
Tri-Countycat said:
Mark Hill, Jeff Sheppard, Cameron Mills and whomever else pushed this hire needs to hear it from BBN. JP Blevins was on the commitee but I know he was 100% against it. This was a bit of a product of the portal also, it was the first year and no one knew how fast it was gonna move and Mitch panicked. They didn’t interview enough people. Hurley, and Drew and then a bunch of unofficial hiring back door phone calls wasn’t enough.
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Jeff was still smart enough to make sure his son stayed far away from Pope and helped guide him to land in the best professional situation a KY kid can dream of.
 
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Cats4321

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2025
915
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kywildcat1021979 said:
He wasn't mentored by Pitino when he began coaching Mark Fox was his mentor this is where the problem lies....
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Pope immediately hiring Fox should have been a major red flag. Pope was more interested in hiring his old friend than actually winning here.

I know he wants to win at Kentucky, but he doesn't have the mentality to do whatever it takes and I don't think he can develop that mentality.
 
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gtown965

All-Conference
Feb 12, 2026
473
1,330
93
VC99 said:
Anddddd this is why you don't hire former players. We've got fans calling our national championship winning players colossal losers and weirdos. Hopefully the administration learns from this and does not repeat this.
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Duke hired former player Jon Scheyer. Purdue hired former player Matt Painter.
 
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megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
15,993
16,353
113
Playing for Kentucky and coaching at Kentucky are two vastly different things. Playing here is not a qualifier to coach here. It is that simple and always has been.
 
U

Ukbrassowtipin

Heisman
Aug 12, 2011
82,261
90,196
113
I dont really care about this, its just getting more angry to be angry at something.

Im more concerned that he can only run one offense and if he can't run it hes completely unable to adjust
 
TFCat11

TFCat11

Heisman
Mar 25, 2019
6,194
11,354
108
kywildcat1021979 said:
I hate Cal with a passion, but do you think he would've just moved over and let Pitino have a recruit like Pope just did.... What a pu$$y of a move. Please remove this guy from Rupp's seat he's an embarrassment.
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Here’s the way I see it… Pitino threw Pope a bone when he had Zuby Ejiofor “stand down”, and allow JQ to not look like a total doofus on the basketball court, and in return, he took Freeman in exchange, without Freeman ever stepping foot on St. Johns campus, I mind you 😂
 
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