To start, I’m a lifer. I was born in 84 so my first memories are watching Mash and the Unforgettables while my entire extended family leapt for joy, then crumbled to our knees, and after standing outside crying on the front lawn while my dad smoked a cigarette in disbelief. In short, I LOVE this program like all of you all.
This is the plan:
If it fails, we took a chance on a HOF coach and a beloved UK player. **shrug**
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Can you imagine John Calipari’s face when he realized Rick Pitino took his job and has a better and more experienced roster than Cal’s freshmen? Cal can beat Rick with a dominant roster. He ain’t beating Rick when Rick has better talent. Rick will coach circles around him, we all know this.
If not Rick, then just Pope with all that NIL. Forget all these guys that don’t want to be here. Give it to the guy who wants to be here more than anyone and would fight their a** off for this program.
This is the plan:
- Give Rick Pitino 4mil to finish his career here on a 3 year contract.
- Hire Mark Pope as Associate Head Coach with the promise of taking over after Pitino is done.
- Pitino stays on in some capacity - Ambassador, Associate AD, whatever
- We offered 12mil to Hurley. Instead, use the remaining 8 for NIL. That’s 1mil you could give to an entire rotation. I don’t know much about NIL, but I’m pretty sure local biz pays the majority of the UK coach salary, in theory that should be able to go to NIL.
- You have a literal GOAT of the sport as your head coach.
- You have a chance to win a title immediately.
- You reconnect one of the most beloved coaches in the history of our school back with the program. Perfect time now that Cal’s gone.
- Pitino gets a chance at redemption, a chance to reconcile his mistakes.
- You’re prepping a beloved player, and champion, to become our next head coach. He learns coaching from a GOAT, gets help building relationships, etc.
- Nobody will coach harder and care more about this program than Mark Pope as head coach. NOBODY.
- Pope has something to prove. He’s hungry. Donovan has been through it, he’s approaching 60. He’s already won titles. Is the passion and drive still there? Is it for Pearl (60+).
- Pope is just as accomplished as Golden. Had a good year in one of the best conferences. Golden had a good year in one of the best conferences.
- Pope coached a team into the top 20 in a tough bball conference with a third of the talent he would have here.
- Pope is young, would stay here for the long haul if successful.
- Would give us a much better shot at getting Shep to stay, which could domino Thiero and others to stay with him, especially with crazy NIL to spend.
- Succeeding with him would be far more fun than with anyone else.
- He’s a class act and would rep our university well.
If it fails, we took a chance on a HOF coach and a beloved UK player. **shrug**
Last comment:
Can you imagine John Calipari’s face when he realized Rick Pitino took his job and has a better and more experienced roster than Cal’s freshmen? Cal can beat Rick with a dominant roster. He ain’t beating Rick when Rick has better talent. Rick will coach circles around him, we all know this.
If not Rick, then just Pope with all that NIL. Forget all these guys that don’t want to be here. Give it to the guy who wants to be here more than anyone and would fight their a** off for this program.
