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Pope’s Buyout is 25 MILLION

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wildcatsincebirth

All-Conference
Dec 12, 2010
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Bravo Mitch. Really great work you’ve done again. From Billy G, to Joker, to cal’s lifetime deal, to Kyra elzy, to stoop’s ’due in 30 days’ massive buyout, to hiring a guy with 0 conference titles and 0 ncaa tourney wins to be the HEAD COACH OF KENTUCKY BASKETBALL, to signing over all our NIL to JMI and being the only program doing it that way while they try to restrict the endorsement deals elite recruits can get. By the way we currently have zero recruits for next year and it’s January.

youve really outdone yourself and we all really appreciate you.
 
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BlueBlood96Cat

BlueBlood96Cat

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Jan 5, 2022
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wildcatsincebirth said:
Bravo Mitch. Really great work you’ve done again. From Billy G, to Joker, to cal’s lifetime deal, to Kyra elzy, to stoop’s ’due in 30 days’ massive buyout, to hiring a guy with 0 conference titles and 0 ncaa tourney wins to be the HEAD COACH OF KENTUCKY BASKETBALL, to signing over all our NIL to JMI and being the only program doing it that way while they try to restrict the endorsement deals elite recruits can get. By the way we currently have zero recruits for next year and it’s January.

youve really outdone yourself and we all really appreciate you.
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Pope will take a million a year for 25 years I’m sure.
 
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Goingfor9

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2003
15,739
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BlueBlood96Cat said:
Exactly. Since when was 25 million a lot in a multi billion dollar industry.
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I think they offer to pay him for next season if he goes on his own. If we have to fire and pay that dude 25 million BBN will never forgive him. If he stays another year and has one similar he will be vilified. Pope is in a bad position. I don’t think he will make it to next year. The entire perception of the program is extremely negative right now.
 
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Snarks

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Jan 31, 2005
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Goingfor9 said:
I think they offer to pay him for next season if he goes on his own. If we have to fire and pay that dude 25 million BBN will never forgive him. If he stays another year and has one similar he will be vilified. Pope is in a bad position. I don’t think he will make it to next year. The entire perception of the program is extremely negative right now.
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Why would he take 5 when he’s owed 25? People thought Stoops would settle for less money too.
 
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FitchandMurray29

All-Conference
Dec 11, 2021
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For the people, here is Pope’s buyout to my knowledge:

-75% of remaining contract to be paid monthly(not the lump sum Stoops nonsense)
-he has 3 original years left, due to Mitch being an idiot he added the provision for the automatic extension if Pope made the Sweet 16 so there are still 4 years left
-2026: 5.5M
2027: 5.75M
2028: 6M
2029: 6.25 M
Total: 23.5 M left on his deal. 75% is 17.625M
-Pope does have a duty mitigate with offset language. Example if he gets a 2M coaching job of some sort for 2026, it would lessen the amount we’d owe him in 2026 from 4.125M(75% of 5.5M) to 2.125M

In short the buyout is worse due to that 2029 year being added for that sweet 16 last year.

Due to monthly payments and Pope’s duty to mitigate, it isn’t out of the question…perhaps as soon as this offseason.

With duty to mitigate included in the buyout provisions, I would expect a negotiated buyout at the time. Perfect example of this is James Franklin having a massive buyout at Penn St but due to this provision, he accepted a very reduced number for no offset. Pope won’t get a great job so he won’t be as accommodating for that reason like Franklin was.

I think 12 mill over 4 years(3 mill a year paid monthly) with no offset would be a fair and clean separation for each side….thanks Mitch ughh
 
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wildcatsincebirth

All-Conference
Dec 12, 2010
1,967
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FitchandMurray29 said:
For the people, here is Pope’s buyout to my knowledge:

-75% of remaining contract to be paid monthly(not the lump sum Stoops nonsense)
-he has 3 original years left, due to Mitch being an idiot he added the provision for the automatic extension if Pope made the Sweet 16 so there are still 4 years left
-2026: 5.5M
2027: 5.75M
2028: 6M
2029: 6.25 M
Total: 23.5 M left on his deal. 75% is 17.625M
-Pope does have a duty mitigate with offset language. Example if he gets a 2M coaching job of some sort for 2026, it would lessen the amount we’d owe him in 2026 from 4.125M(75% of 5.5M) to 2.125M

In short the buyout is worse due to that 2029 year being added for that sweet 16 last year.

Due to monthly payments and Pope’s duty to mitigate, it isn’t out of the question…perhaps as soon as this offseason.

With duty to mitigate included in the buyout provisions, I would expect a negotiated buyout at the time. Perfect example of this is James Franklin having a massive buyout at Penn St but due to this provision, he accepted a very reduced number for no offset. Pope won’t get a great job so he won’t be as accommodating for that reason like Franklin was.

I think 12 mill over 4 years(3 mill a year paid monthly) with no offset would be a fair and clean separation for each side….thanks Mitch ughh
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Mitch is never going to do this. It’s just not gonna happen.
 
I’m The Village Idiot

I’m The Village Idiot

All-American
Jul 30, 2024
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FitchandMurray29 said:
For the people, here is Pope’s buyout to my knowledge:

-75% of remaining contract to be paid monthly(not the lump sum Stoops nonsense)
-he has 3 original years left, due to Mitch being an idiot he added the provision for the automatic extension if Pope made the Sweet 16 so there are still 4 years left
-2026: 5.5M
2027: 5.75M
2028: 6M
2029: 6.25 M
Total: 23.5 M left on his deal. 75% is 17.625M
-Pope does have a duty mitigate with offset language. Example if he gets a 2M coaching job of some sort for 2026, it would lessen the amount we’d owe him in 2026 from 4.125M(75% of 5.5M) to 2.125M

In short the buyout is worse due to that 2029 year being added for that sweet 16 last year.

Due to monthly payments and Pope’s duty to mitigate, it isn’t out of the question…perhaps as soon as this offseason.

With duty to mitigate included in the buyout provisions, I would expect a negotiated buyout at the time. Perfect example of this is James Franklin having a massive buyout at Penn St but due to this provision, he accepted a very reduced number for no offset. Pope won’t get a great job so he won’t be as accommodating for that reason like Franklin was.

I think 12 mill over 4 years(3 mill a year paid monthly) with no offset would be a fair and clean separation for each side….thanks Mitch ughh
Click to expand...
That actually sounds more manageable than I thought. Maybe at least if we miss the tournament, a coaching change actually is possible THIS year you think?
 
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Anon1759768907

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Oct 6, 2025
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I’m The Village Idiot said:
That actually sounds more manageable than I thought. Maybe at least if we miss the tournament, a coaching change actually is possible THIS year you think?
Click to expand...
please GIF
 
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chimchim

chimchim

Freshman
Jan 7, 2026
48
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If Pope really loves UK as much as he says he does then he should step down at the end of the year. Or tomorrow. Whichever. You'd think the other old players would be on him to get out.
 
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FitchandMurray29

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I’m The Village Idiot said:
That actually sounds more manageable than I thought. Maybe at least if we miss the tournament, a coaching change actually is possible THIS year you
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AT MOST we’d be paying Pope 4.125 million for 2026 if we fire him. How hard is it to find that money!?

Well thankfully our Gatorade passing out crew alone of Jasper, Trent, Andrija, Braydon, Reese tonight is probably collecting about 4.125 mill.
 
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2

20MRoster

Senior
Nov 16, 2018
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wildcatsincebirth said:
Bravo Mitch. Really great work you’ve done again. From Billy G, to Joker, to cal’s lifetime deal, to Kyra elzy, to stoop’s ’due in 30 days’ massive buyout, to hiring a guy with 0 conference titles and 0 ncaa tourney wins to be the HEAD COACH OF KENTUCKY BASKETBALL, to signing over all our NIL to JMI and being the only program doing it that way while they try to restrict the endorsement deals elite recruits can get. By the way we currently have zero recruits for next year and it’s January.

youve really outdone yourself and we all really appreciate you.
Click to expand...
That "due in 30 days" kills me. I'm in the process of negotiating a deal with a business partner that will be worth about $300k on signing and ~ $1.2M over the course of 10 years, and the negotiation range is between 60-90 days for payment. Each payment will be around the $300k range when they happen. And this mutha fxxker agrees to a net 30 payment term for freaking 10s of millions of $$. He just has no clue!
 
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Vek96

Vek96

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Jul 4, 2025
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wildcatsincebirth said:
Bravo Mitch. Really great work you’ve done again. From Billy G, to Joker, to cal’s lifetime deal, to Kyra elzy, to stoop’s ’due in 30 days’ massive buyout, to hiring a guy with 0 conference titles and 0 ncaa tourney wins to be the HEAD COACH OF KENTUCKY BASKETBALL, to signing over all our NIL to JMI and being the only program doing it that way while they try to restrict the endorsement deals elite recruits can get. By the way we currently have zero recruits for next year and it’s January.

youve really outdone yourself and we all really appreciate you.
Click to expand...
Hard to argue. Still not sure how Barnhart has his job.
 
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wildcatsincebirth

All-Conference
Dec 12, 2010
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Smeegs said:
Perhaps when you also just obligated yourself to pay your fired football coach a $38 million buyout?

There has to be some limit to how much money Mitch is allowed to keep extravagantly wasting.
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Apparently not, the BOT and Eli seem to be fine with how athletics is being managed. We did make the national title game in volleyball, what more could anyone want?
 
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Snarks

All-American
Jan 31, 2005
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Smeegs said:
Perhaps when you also just obligated yourself to pay your fired football coach a $38 million buyout?

There has to be some limit to how much money Mitch is allowed to keep extravagantly wasting.
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Not to mention he got lucky Cal left otherwise that would be an extra $30mil.

counting that Barney has made over $90mil in bad contract decisions.
 
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TTTblue24

All-Conference
Feb 1, 2004
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Don’t forget that incredible JMI deal as well Mitch has us in, making winning decisions for years……the Barnhart way.
 
dynastydreamuk

dynastydreamuk

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2010
1,726
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wildcatsincebirth said:
Bravo Mitch. Really great work you’ve done again. From Billy G, to Joker, to cal’s lifetime deal, to Kyra elzy, to stoop’s ’due in 30 days’ massive buyout, to hiring a guy with 0 conference titles and 0 ncaa tourney wins to be the HEAD COACH OF KENTUCKY BASKETBALL, to signing over all our NIL to JMI and being the only program doing it that way while they try to restrict the endorsement deals elite recruits can get. By the way we currently have zero recruits for next year and it’s January.

youve really outdone yourself and we all really appreciate you.
Click to expand...
You hit all the points, quoting you just to bump this post. I try to tell evwry Kentucky fan i meet too because many casual fans just don't know.

If you can be this bad as an AD and keep your job making good money I should have picked that as my profession lol.

Buy out closer to 17 mil...would have been less if mitch didn't give a stupid one year extension for a sweet 16 AT KENTUCKY, the program thats been to more sweet 16s than any program.
 
C

CatPride1964

Redshirt
Jan 7, 2026
30
37
18
FitchandMurray29 said:
For the people, here is Pope’s buyout to my knowledge:

-75% of remaining contract to be paid monthly(not the lump sum Stoops nonsense)
-he has 3 original years left, due to Mitch being an idiot he added the provision for the automatic extension if Pope made the Sweet 16 so there are still 4 years left
-2026: 5.5M
2027: 5.75M
2028: 6M
2029: 6.25 M
Total: 23.5 M left on his deal. 75% is 17.625M
-Pope does have a duty mitigate with offset language. Example if he gets a 2M coaching job of some sort for 2026, it would lessen the amount we’d owe him in 2026 from 4.125M(75% of 5.5M) to 2.125M

In short the buyout is worse due to that 2029 year being added for that sweet 16 last year.

Due to monthly payments and Pope’s duty to mitigate, it isn’t out of the question…perhaps as soon as this offseason.

With duty to mitigate included in the buyout provisions, I would expect a negotiated buyout at the time. Perfect example of this is James Franklin having a massive buyout at Penn St but due to this provision, he accepted a very reduced number for no offset. Pope won’t get a great job so he won’t be as accommodating for that reason like Franklin was.

I think 12 mill over 4 years(3 mill a year paid monthly) with no offset would be a fair and clean separation for each side….thanks Mitch ughh
Click to expand...
and people will still say he’s a “nice guy” and loves Kentucky. This man knew full well what the coaching job at Kentucky would be like so the nice **** goes out the window. He’s about as nice as a car salesman is. He fleeced Kentucky for millions and now we are stuck with him. If he really loved Kentucky, he’d walk away by year 3 at the very least. He may love Kentucky but many don’t love pope. If the trend continues, he will be hated here. He would seriously be one of my favorite cats if he just said one day “listen, I’m not the right fit. I love this program so I made the decision to move on”. Like just admit it man. You’re a terrible fit here and everyone knows.
 
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K_TIME

K_TIME

Heisman
Jan 2, 2003
18,268
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It was originally a 5 year 5M per year deal....but the genius Mitch put in contract one his Mitch specials...a one year auto extension if UK were to reach sweet 16....so last year auto extended a full year....and added an extra season to the buyout...

What a major buffoon.
 
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PastorofMuppets82

Senior
Mar 4, 2025
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Mark Pope in the locker room trying to get everyone to get along. Best part of that movie is when the team convinced Jackie Moon to let one of the players run the X's and O's. They actually started winning then.

1767888573872.png

"ELE! Everybody love everybody!"
 
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HappyBlue

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Dec 1, 2025
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K_TIME said:
It was originally a 5 year 5M per year deal....but the genius Mitch put in contract one his Mitch specials...a one year auto extension if UK were to reach sweet 16....so last year auto extended a full year....and added an extra season to the buyout...

What a major buffoon.
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Yeah I don't understand the sweet 16 clause. At UK reaching a sweet sixteen should not be a reward. I mean what's next are we going to start hanging sweet sixteen banners like UT does? :ROFLMAO:
 
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Goingfor9

All-Conference
Jan 27, 2003
15,739
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Snarks said:
Why would he take 5 when he’s owed 25? People thought Stoops would settle for less money too.
Click to expand...

Yeah well if pope ends up fired and it looks like it’s for the money he will be vilified and unwelcome back in Lex. Right now he will have some grace due to Barney hiring a guy ill prepared. Stoops accomplished something. He had some good seasons. There used to be a time coaches saved face by leaving. And let me say this. I haven’t seen popes contract buy i seriously doubt his buyout is 25 mil after year two. We could pay him 5 mil a year (his salary) until the end of his contact and that’s 15 mil. So the 25 mil number is total bs at this point
 
W

wccat

All-American
Apr 8, 2009
4,515
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wildcatsincebirth said:
Bravo Mitch. Really great work you’ve done again. From Billy G, to Joker, to cal’s lifetime deal, to Kyra elzy, to stoop’s ’due in 30 days’ massive buyout, to hiring a guy with 0 conference titles and 0 ncaa tourney wins to be the HEAD COACH OF KENTUCKY BASKETBALL, to signing over all our NIL to JMI and being the only program doing it that way while they try to restrict the endorsement deals elite recruits can get. By the way we currently have zero recruits for next year and it’s January.

youve really outdone yourself and we all really appreciate you.
Click to expand...
We can't have Mitch making the next coaching hire.
 
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