If you're wondering why Pope doesn't land recruits

BookofMormon

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2026
869
1,150
93
I present you evidence per picture number 2. What is he doing? This is all about as anti-cool as it gets. Is he holding up an Ipad in pic 3?? A Nigeria basketball?

 

UKGrad24

All-American
Apr 2, 2024
3,058
7,627
100
He is one weird dude.
He's awkward, he's standoffish behind the scenes where it matters, and he's someone we would have roasted non stop if he was coaching indiana.

Mark isn't just strange. He's a sham who was propped up for Barnhart to have his control and access back. It was never about anything else. The issue became the checks and regulations barnhart thought would allow a fraudulent hire to prosper didn't happen. Now barnhart is gone, and his stain remains. This won't last much longer.
 
Jul 6, 2025
2,636
7,198
113
I love pope the person but it's beyond obvious hes just corny af. Its so bad we had dudes in that bag that just took less money to be somewhere else. That's brutal.

He was protected as long as Mitch was here. His contract even has a higher buyout as long as Mitch was ad. Imo this year is do or die for him because his protection is done.
 
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L.O.D.

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2024
1,305
1,689
77
I cant stand CMP - but I very much respect Mark Pope the man. He comes of weird because he's a good person - when it comes to coaches thats tough to find an for a reason good guys dont make good coaches . I want Pope gone yesterday AS COACH - im not going to roast the man on a personal level because of it.
 
Aug 12, 2026
347
581
93
I cant stand CMP - but I very much respect Mark Pope the man. He comes of weird because he's a good person - when it comes to coaches thats tough to find an for a reason good guys dont make good coaches . I want Pope gone yesterday AS COACH - im not going to roast the man on a personal level because of it.
And that's what makes the situation difficult. I want to absolutely drag him as a coach but then that steps into dragging him as a man and it's Mitch's fault. You can't blame Pope for taking the job. I would have also. But he's not the man for the job and I hope there's a way to respectfully part ways or maybe even find him a different position under the new coach.
 

BigBlue1992

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2011
2,024
3,752
81
He's awkward, he's standoffish behind the scenes where it matters, and he's someone we would have roasted non stop if he was coaching indiana.

Mark isn't just strange. He's a sham who was propped up for Barnhart to have his control and access back. It was never about anything else. The issue became the checks and regulations barnhart thought would allow a fraudulent hire to prosper didn't happen. Now barnhart is gone, and his stain remains. This won't last much longer.
Preach it brother!

I think the swim or tennis scandal (whatever sport it was) played a big role in it too. I don’t think Barnhart knew what would come of it and of course wound up being nothing. He knew Pope wouldn’t care if we had to play our games outside, he’d take the job regardless.

But yeah it was totally all about himself (Barnhart) getting control back. That’s why he allowed Stoops to hang around so long. He was a puppet for him. It’s never been about wins and losses to him and it shows.

Hopefully here in about 6-7 months someone new will be leading us.
 

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
13,124
20,507
113
He's awkward, he's standoffish behind the scenes where it matters, and he's someone we would have roasted non stop if he was coaching indiana.

Mark isn't just strange. He's a sham who was propped up for Barnhart to have his control and access back. It was never about anything else. The issue became the checks and regulations barnhart thought would allow a fraudulent hire to prosper didn't happen. Now barnhart is gone, and his stain remains. This won't last much longer.
Keep attacking him, you've found your calling.
 

NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
13,124
20,507
113
And that's what makes the situation difficult. I want to absolutely drag him as a coach but then that steps into dragging him as a man and it's Mitch's fault. You can't blame Pope for taking the job. I would have also. But he's not the man for the job and I hope there's a way to respectfully part ways or maybe even find him a different position under the new coach.
In other words, tearing someone down is the only way you know to get attention and get your way.
 
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Wunky

Heisman
Jan 16, 2021
4,449
18,546
78
He's awkward, he's standoffish behind the scenes where it matters, and he's someone we would have roasted non stop if he was coaching indiana.

Mark isn't just strange. He's a sham who was propped up for Barnhart to have his control and access back. It was never about anything else. The issue became the checks and regulations barnhart thought would allow a fraudulent hire to prosper didn't happen. Now barnhart is gone, and his stain remains. This won't last much longer.

This about sums it up, unfortunately.
 

FitchandMurray29

All-American
Dec 11, 2021
2,818
5,983
61
His pictures at all of his official visits are the same thing:
-iPad/phone for family still in Africa
-Nigeria call out
-show off jewelry
-have pics with coaches
-have pic with same guy(I assume guardian)
 
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UKortho

Heisman
Oct 13, 2015
5,230
10,200
77
It looks cringe. But everything Pope does is just cringe. The pic on the beach, the floppy hat fishing, him saying “MFers” loud enough that the press could here him/ but doesn’t have one alpha gene in him. Say it direct during the press conference. The stupid antics during the initial press conference, the strange video of him doing the C A T S chant. He can’t format sentences after some losses. He is not a good recruiter. Kids think he is weird AF. Overpay/ that’s his game plan. He should hire a real GM- fire Fox- and take some classes on not being a pushover.

if he was at Louisville this board would have a field day.
 

UKortho

Heisman
Oct 13, 2015
5,230
10,200
77
I’m not sure why they have a pic of a player putting a necklace on him. Also the clinging on the back kinda flagged in my head as weird af. If this was Crean at IU doing the exact same thing this group would be absolutely brutal.
100%. The day he is gone he will be ridiculed here.
 
Aug 12, 2026
347
581
93
In other words, tearing someone down is the only way you know to get attention and get your way.
Naaa I think I said what I was trying to say. No other words needed unless you want to twist what I said. And if you use other words then that's not what I said at all. Come on now...lol.

I didn't tear the man down. And if you feel like I did Pope is a fifty year old man. Actually he's older. So he will be ok. He needs to start winning. Nobody's tearing Pope down. And if they are tearing his coaching up he deserves it.
 

BookofMormon

All-Conference
Mar 27, 2026
869
1,150
93
I cant stand CMP - but I very much respect Mark Pope the man. He comes of weird because he's a good person - when it comes to coaches thats tough to find an for a reason good guys dont make good coaches . I want Pope gone yesterday AS COACH - im not going to roast the man on a personal level because of it.
A great guy, probably a lot like Michael Scott from The Office. Lot's of weird dad jokes and probably a funny guy in his own way, just wonder if it resonates from a high leadership position.
 
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