I wonder how it feels to be like Pelphrey

[mdlUK.1]

I can't imagine. You're a UK fan your whole life. You play for UK and become part of one of the most beloved teams. And suddenly, your on the opposing bench, trying to beat your old team.

I know he is doing what he can to win but I just don't know if I could do it.

 

[akaukswoosh]

Fine with me. Now Pitino leaving UK and then taking the job at despised UL is another story.

 

[BoulderCat_rivals187983]

I imagine a very good assistant's salary and overall life helps soften the blow.

I'd love to see Cal bring him on board, but I don't know if they have any real friendship. Plus I think Billy would be reluctant to let him go. Perhaps if Billy leaves UF at some point. Either way I suspect he's plenty happy making much more as a top assistant than he would as an HC at some mid-major.

 

[PanzerV_rivals]

And having to go back to Eddie Munster with your tail between your legs.

 

[JohnBlue]

It's a job. Basketball has and continues to be good to him. I doubt he feels bad about what he is doing.

 

[Rage of the Elderly]

Florida writes his checks. It is how his family eats. End of story. He has been a Gator twice as long as he was a Wildcat player. He would have celebrating with Florida if they had won.

 

[buster3.0]

In assistant coaching, it's not about what school you coach for. That is irrelevant. It's about who you work for. You pick your job based on the coach. He has worked for Billy D a long time, and Billy D did hire him back after JP's failed HC gig. I imagine they both have a lot of loyalty to each other. JP will never be an assistant for any other coach, even if it is a Kentucky job.

 

[SemperFiCat]

Pel is quite happy at Florida. His family and Donovan's are very close.

 

[fla.cat]

He had a storybook career. He is beloved through KY. He had a chance at being the man....most don't get that. He lives in a great climate. He has a 6 figure income with tons of perks. He has little stress. He loves basketball and is working around that. He can play golf 12 months of the year. His kids will get free rides to a highly rated public university.
IT FEELS VERY VERY GREAT TO BE LIKE PELPHREY.

 

[mdlUK.1]

I guess I wasn't clear enough since most of you missed my point. I wasn't knocking Pel, he was just an example. What I meant was what would it be like for a die hard fan, like most of us on here. How would YOU feel?

I'm sure that if i had gone into coaching and ended up facing the Cats', I'd have mixed feelings.

 

[Louis_Skunt]

How do you think Wayne Turner feels on the bench, wayyyy down the bench, at UL? The guy is a UK legend and he's the water boy for UL.

 

[Lob2Davis]

Originally posted by mdlUK.1:
I can't imagine. You're a UK fan your whole life. You play for UK and become part of one of the most beloved teams. And suddenly, your on the opposing bench, trying to beat your old team.

I know he is doing what he can to win but I just don't know if I could do it.

It's a job, man. And a pretty darn good one. I'm sure he's very happy to have a well-paying gig with a coach he's known for 20 plus years on a team that's got two titles in the last 10 years and coming off a Final Four run. Fans can let their emotions rule them but Pelphrey is a professional.

 

[Raroyder]

I still don't understand how anyone from Paintsville can have that accent of his.

 

[martycat1]

I don't think I could do it. I would have to go out of conference.

 

[JasonS.]

It's not exactly sudden. He played at UK for four years. He's been coaching against us for going on 20.

 

[katkraze]

pel banked millions from his arkansas gig, even though it was a disaster. Now, he's making big money for an easy asst job at florida.

 

[NavyCat88]

#1 "Ya gotta earn." - Tony Soprano
#2 Players turned coaches are "in the business." They have to be "company men" and their job depends upon it.
#3 My sense is past-athletes don't have the same type of passion that fans in the stands do. Sure, take out the employment equation, and I'm certain most, if not all, past UK BB players want the Big Blue to win....but I find athletes to be more circumspect than the hard-core, fire-breathing fans.

GBB!

 

[LostinIndiana]

Interesting tidbit about what Pelphrey gets paid. He is still getting paid from the buyout from Arkansas to the toon of six hundred thousand a year. So he is doing okay. His base salary at UF is two hundred thousand a year and pays him as much as Mike Davis at Texas Southern and is just under what Jeff Nuebauer is paid at EKU. Money wise is just as well off there as being a head coach at a smaller school and having to deal with all of the headaches.

This post was edited on 3/13 7:12 PM by LostinIndiana

 

[unclear63]

Good coach working for a man he respects and is loyal to. Playing for his home state school and then coaching against then is part of the career path he chose and it has been very good to him. I'm pretty sure that he would be very happy beating the Cat's. In his old age he will have plenty of time to think back on how many times his old school whipped his team. Remember his school beat us three times last year, I have no doubt that he enjoyed all three wins against us.