Fire Pope right now! Why wait?

[blackcat714]

Yeah, fire Mitch too.

Oh, wait.

They should not have let that loser retire he should have been fired

 

[JimboBBN]

Pope is in over his head and shouldn't be the coach at Kentucky...

HOWEVER, that 17 million dollar buyout if they fire him right now gives pause. Most on here don't care because they don't have to pay it. Finding a Coach worth his salt to replace Pope AFTER firing a guy 3 games into his third season who has been above average (not great by any means) with back to back tournament appearances and a sweet 16 sets a dangerous precedent. Try telling the new guy, you have 2 years to hang a banner or you're out, good luck and gods speed.

And if Pope messes around and gets this squad to the sweet 16 he triggers another year added to his contract and the buyout stays the same. It's still going to be 13 million after this season if he doesn't make the sweet 16. Mitch handcuffed the athletic department. 37 million to buyout Stoops, Stein is on the low end of pay for SEC coaches, 17 million to buyout Pope, figure at least 10-12 million to buyout a decent coach to replace Pope, plus another 30 million minimum 5 year contract for the new coach. Rome is burning. Unless you get some boosters who REALLY want Pope gone and are willing to write some large checks to make it happen, he isn't getting fired anytime soon. And we are just going to have to endure whatever this crap show is.

I don't think it will be considered much. We are not asking two win a title in year two. How about starting smaller, like not getting down 17 plus points in 25 percent of your games.

 

[36bfM@$NJ9HtEy#]

I suppose common sense is a good enough reason. We are 3 games into the season, nobody gets fired this early into a season. Boosters paid for Pope to have this roster and they paid a lot. Let that investment breath for more than 2 weeks. Get control of your emotions. In a few months the picture will be more clear.

So give him through the Louisville game. But what more does anyone need to judge whether he's going to be successful, beyond that? There will have been plenty of time enough to see if something unexpectedly changes by then.

 

[Resignmarkpope]

I don't really care if Pope is a good man or not. He's paid to coach and recruit and he's failing. Pitino is not a good man but he killed it here. Some act like they want a boy scout leader.

Give 2 about him being nice!

 

[Resignmarkpope]

Like I posted in another thread, the only thing that gives us a chance not to have to start over for players from square one, is bringing someone in mid-year, who can build relationships with the players and recruits he wants to keep, a few months before end of season. Otherwise, if Batt waits to fire Pope until after the season ends, and then does a hiring SEARCH, everyone committed to returning or coming in as a player, will immediately test the portal (or decommit), because they won't know who is going to be their next coach.

And yeah, that means not hiring a "successful" head coach.

But I sure wouldn't mind gambling on a Will Stein type of assistant basketball coach, and making the play to get him before 2026 ends.

IU, Virginia, and a blowout to Louisville should do it! Batt will have him out by February!

 

[kfwa]

my hope is if the season tanks, Pope walks away and sacrifices his buyout knowing he didn't earn it. He'll inform Batt by mid February and it will be announced immediately at the end of the regular season giving Batt time to grab the early coaching candidates.

Kentucky gave him his shot, he tried, but came up short.

An honorable man would walk away. Maybe ask for $5m as a negotiated settlement regardless of post coaching employment.