He's a master communicator, just like Rick Pitino. As long as we're stuck with Gomer Pope we will never see our players play consistently hard.
This is why they play hard for Hurley
- Thread starter Son_Of_Saul
- Start date
I really like the clip last year when he was leaving an opponents arena with a loss, this one fan was heckling him & he looks at the fan & says "2 rings baldy"
like, I guess he thinks he has soooooo much hair. 
Absolutely could not stand this guy. When we were in the coaching search I didn't even want him. But after watching him and seeing so many clips like this you can't help but admit he's a damn good coach. I like em now but still hate UConn
Dan Hurley is the last of a dying breed!!!!
If you’re a basketball player you just know that when you are facing a monster everyday. The other monsters ain’t so scary.
Now watching Pope and this new football staff be super soft on these players, we will never win anything. Idk if anyone’s noticed but looks like all of our football coaches are the cool young coaching staff and they are probably more soft than Pope.
If you’re a basketball player you just know that when you are facing a monster everyday. The other monsters ain’t so scary.
Now watching Pope and this new football staff be super soft on these players, we will never win anything. Idk if anyone’s noticed but looks like all of our football coaches are the cool young coaching staff and they are probably more soft than Pope.
Players want to play for him. Guys only want to play for Poop because of money.
I don't understand why Mitch thought Pope's personality would get it done here.I really like the clip last year when he was leaving an opponents arena with a loss, this one fan was heckling him & he looks at the fan & says "2 rings baldy"
He's not built for this.
Mitch knew he wouldn’t turn him down. Much the same with BCG.
I gotta admit...I love hurley, PAUSE, ..... I hate uconn. When he went at that referee... I hate crooked refs....they help duke and that was him saying we won anyway beetch.
I like him so much I really dont care if uconn wins their 7th title this year. They lucked into an amazing coach, good for them, whatever. We have bad leadership and we are one hire away from being indiana.
We aren't indiana now, not close. But they had a Bad AThletic Director too...and they made multiple bad hires.
If we make one more bad hire, yep...we will be there. Its hard to keep my Fandom when we are losing due to obvious corruption. Corruption is the only thing that explains such bad hires and an AD retiring and UK adding on more $ millions free money for no reason.
I still hope Pope miraculously wins more than 25 games which he has never ever ever done ...and I have to eat a ton of crow. I would be enthralled.
But at this point, its more likely, he gets fired after year 3 or god forbid year 4. It doesn't even matter because our new AD is part of the new "good Ole boys" and is a mitch clone...and we make some other stupid hire and I have to indeed become a uconn fan or some crap to enjoy basketball again.
I like him so much I really dont care if uconn wins their 7th title this year. They lucked into an amazing coach, good for them, whatever. We have bad leadership and we are one hire away from being indiana.
We aren't indiana now, not close. But they had a Bad AThletic Director too...and they made multiple bad hires.
If we make one more bad hire, yep...we will be there. Its hard to keep my Fandom when we are losing due to obvious corruption. Corruption is the only thing that explains such bad hires and an AD retiring and UK adding on more $ millions free money for no reason.
I still hope Pope miraculously wins more than 25 games which he has never ever ever done ...and I have to eat a ton of crow. I would be enthralled.
But at this point, its more likely, he gets fired after year 3 or god forbid year 4. It doesn't even matter because our new AD is part of the new "good Ole boys" and is a mitch clone...and we make some other stupid hire and I have to indeed become a uconn fan or some crap to enjoy basketball again.
Bump that fool, he’s not a Rhodes Scholar and his chocolate chip cookies suck ***.
Pope has a better record in his first 2 years than Hurley had at UConn. He’ll hit his stride. Smart guy. Takes time to build a program. Started with zip. Also time to catch some good luck. Like his personality better than Hurley. Hard worker and he cares.
Not to nitpick but pope was only a Rhodes scholar candidate.
…just like he should’ve just been a UK head coach candidate.
Not only that but Pope is a Mitch guy and kisses his rear whenever he gets a chance.
Only the cool kids do
Hell, JQ played more chess than he did hoops in Lexington. Oh the memories.Bud…you might wanna pay attention. Stein looks anything but soft and passive.
This is exactly why he jumped right to Pope as option 3. Mitch has a massive ego and he was butthurt as hell being turned down by Hurley and especially his buddy Drew. He couldn’t take being turned down a third time.
As for Hurley, I love the guy. I’d kill to have him here. Not only for the winning but I love his attitude too. I’m beyond sick of these sissy *** coaches we’ve had to deal with.
Mitch wanted a yes man that he could control after years of no relationship with Cal.
And there are idiots on here who would rather have Pope than Hurley, because Dan is an ***--hole.
You know, and I know, dang well that those people who don't want Hurley here because he's an a-hole, would turn on heel and praise him especially if we made the final four with him as head coach.Then he retired. He did want a yes man, that is correct, but the fact that he retired 2 years later shows it was an extremely selfish decision on his part.
Man nothing personal I mean that you’re a good guy I have no doubts. But this is such a bad take I can’t understand if you’re actually serious or just so sold by Mitch and that propaganda that you can’t understand what you’re looking at.
you do realize Hurley Built St. Benedict in to a national powerhouse before he ever stepped foot in college right? He coached pros before he got there. And he won conference titles and actually produced LONG before he got to UConn.
Mark had never won anything. He’s a low-mid coach who’s been doing this a long time and isn’t any good. He’s got the UK brand, he’s got all the resources he could ask for, he’s got it all. And he cannot even recruit one national top recruit. He’s a bad roster manager too. And he’s NOT young. And he’s got millions to Cheat legally and STILL cannot win or recruit.
There is zero similarity in them. Beyond years at the program, show me more similarities. You won’t find any and years at UK and UConn is a false equivalence. This is also NIL it does NOT take time when you’re UK and a 10 year record. Hurley never had that. Why do people keep saying this?
Mark is too soft, too weak, and simply not good enough to win at this level. Look at the coaches winninf(Hurley) they stellar opposites from Mark.
Uconns coach is just a dorky douche. He lucked in a good class and won two championships off of it. His prior coaching records were pretty awful
"Come cheer for me at UConn like all my other bandwagon UConn fans, Kentucky bandwagon fans. You only like kentucky when Kentucky is good come on. I'll let you rub my nipples." Danny Hurley
I recognize much of what you say and love your old school UK passion. Hey I’m not sure if Mark is the guy but 2 years riddled with injuries isn’t enough time… at least with me. I’m going to stick with him for a bit. Nobody cares as much he does or works harder and wants it more. He’s a UK Nat Champ. People stumble but learn and improve. Many learn more from their missteps. I think his recent moves reflect those lessons. I just don’t give up on good people. This is a huge job and he started with nothing.
I think you and the other negs have based your online reps on him failing and can’t let him breathe.
And the ones with the derogatory name calling and insults show their lack of self worth. No need for that particularly toward a former NC UK player -who surely wouldn’t do it to anyone- and brought a title and great memories to all UK fans. Those aren’t deep UK fans that resort to that crap.
Time will tell but he needs a fair shot time wise. I’m excited to see what next year brings and don’t care what others have to say. I’ve been a devoted UK for decades. Been through many ups and downs. Always viewed UK as a big soap opera with lots of drama. Will get through it like we always do. No pain no gain.
Screw Hurley and the horse he rode in on. I don't like him, don't want him and, if he's dumb enough to turn down what we offered him to coach here 2 years ago...he's not smart enough to coach here. Honestly, it was a moment when two fools met. One for offering that much and the other for turning it down. But then again, he doesn't have to deal with some of our fans. Maybe he was right.
Bud have you watched any of the YouTube clips?
Haven’t seen any of the coaches with any kind of intensity towards practice. I did hear a couple of yea baby that’s what I’m talking abouts lol. Excited about the football season but just like basketball we have to expect the worse.
Spring practices aren’t exactly the most intense environments. You should expect the worst in football because of the schedule and the lack of a 2 deep roster. Stein and Pope are nothing alike.
The people that praise Pope are non-competitive and more concerned with having a 1) nice guy 2) good Christian 3) on of our own…than a stone cold killer that wins basketball games.And there are idiots on here who would rather have Pope than Hurley, because Dan is an ***--hole.
Good lord. I don’t even know where to start. So I won’t. Stick to soccer or something. Sheesh.
He seems to be doing just fine, so maybe one of the fools wasn’t such a fool after all.
Rambo remembers who used to be obsessed with Catphight
hate to imagine how many names you got on here.Ill take Lloyd or May over him. He's a prick that turned down stupid money to come here. I haven't forgotten that and he reminds us all the time that hes a prick.
At least you’re not bitter about it
Like being the tallest midget during these timesHeck, I'm one of the least bitter posters on here!
Communication, trust, leadership, loyalty, culture, empowerment - he does it all really well. Communication is a big part of it, key to any good leader. And hell yeah, you need moxy to coach this fanbase. I honestly think he would have been the perfect fit here stylistically, because this crazy fan base would have his back (as long as he won, which he would have). The guy knows how to rally a team and a fanbase.
This is one of the things that worried/worries me about Pope. So many of the great coaches are incredible communicators/motivators. They are often dynamic personalities who are the types that can both relate to and motivate players. I absolutely love Mark Pope both as a person and a former player here. But I'm not sure he is the personality type for this job. I love smart geeky/quirky people. I consider myself one and honestly, we're a pretty great hang. We'll know all the best restaurants in town, great indie bands you've never heard of, what film festivals to go to, etc... But you wouldn't want us coaching your college basketball team. Just not a good fit for that world.