This video really made me question Pope as a serious coach.
- Thread starter UKortho
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I'm in a pissed off pessimistic mood tonight so I apologize if this is inappropriate to ask. But is him being an outspoken Mormon hurting us?
It’s a good question. It’s probably hard for him to connect to the typical “alpha” type player. Like John Wall, etc. he seems to go after nice/good hearted kids imo only.
How is this any different than Bruce Pearl with orange painted chest? And a lot on here wanted Pearl as the coach.
Pearl had more than earned his stripes,
Pearl’s players respected/feared him, and Pearl didn’t paint himself orange to try to impress his players or donors. Pearl showed up at the women’s game painted orange in part because he wanted to have a little fun, because he was comfortable in his own smart-azz skin, and in part to show he was not a threat to all things Pat Summit.
Pope’s self-directed video reeks of desperation and insecurity in the position of leader. I think Mark Pope is a good person. But Mark Pope the UK head coach needs to grow a pair really fast.
Sam’s is running a special on aluminum foil. Them cia waves is gettin to you boys.
I agree ... plus what appears to be an adherence to Mormon teachings regarding positivity and anger management, while certainly admirable and laudable in the overall life context, MAY affect his attractiveness to and interest in prospective roster candidates. I do not pretend to know, of course, and do not fully-subscribe to the "nice guys finish last" mantra ... but can you be too nice ??
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Is he THAT outspoken about being Mormon? I feel like people here talk about Pope's faith more than Pope does.
Secondarily, Kevin Young is Mormon and got one of the best recruits in the class.
I've insinuated this in my posts. Players just don't want to hear it. They're all about getting on campus (or another one) and messing with the girls, showing off their cars, hyping their brand. They've been told all their life how awesome they are.
No, this just just another dump on KY thread and the desperate PLOD is piling on any negativity that they can find. They are always looking to find ways to gut Pope.
He will be coach next year. The year after and the year after. It must be miserable to hate Kentucky so bad they have to attack his religion.
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So Kevin Young (known Mormon) can recruit Dybantsa, but Pope is too Mormon to get a guy like that. Got it.
Is it just the Mormon's that are too nice? If Pope were Catholic or Baptist--do you find those religions recruit better? Are they more likely to take on the non-good hearted kids?
You're a good poster, I typically respect your takes. But this is just such a ridiculous take.
Yes. It is a new religion that was specifically founded on white supremacy. I like Pope, I do. I don’t see him as white sup, but the Mormon thing is actually an insidious, unseen hindrance to what he’s trying to do here. He’s a good guy, maybe even a great guy. Folks will deny that this could have any relevance. It does.
The location here is relevant. Kentucky is conservative, but not at all in a Mormon way. As for Dybantsa, he’s getting paid a ton out there and I think certain distractions being against the rules were a big part of the sacrificial aspect of it. He’s probably had to actively stay away from certain things while in HS, go take a look at his Dad. Dude doesn’t play that stuff. They wanted to put AJ in a bubble for 8 months and I can’t argue against it being a good decision.
Kevin Young is the great-great-great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, the founder of BYU.
He was the highest-paid assistant coach in the NBA, having coached in the NBA finals and the NBA All-Star game.
I do not know what his temperament and coaching styles are like at practice or on the sideline, but his NBA experience is certainly a recruiting plus.
Mormons strive to be committed to faith and family. It appears he was drawn to BYU from the NBA for that reason. That is quite honorable.
Nobody here knows how devout CMP is and how his faith affects his coaching style, but it is fair to simply wonder whether most top recruits gravitate to him ?? Certainly, some do and will. Questioning the possible origins of his coaching personality and style is not a condemnation of his religious beliefs in any way, shape or form. Clearly, faith and family should ALWAYS come first. Kevin Young left the NBA for that reason, it seems.
It's very, very early, but some people here just wonder whether Pope's style and demeanor are best-suited for the PRESSURE of coaching at UK.
Fwiw ... Mark Pope is not the first Mormon to coach at Kentucky. Mike Leach comes to mind and I think, but am not 100% sure, some of the other coaches under Hal Mumme, like Claude Bassett, were Mormons. GO MORMONS !! GO CATS !!
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Pope: been caught on camera multiple times during games using obscenities at referees referring to calls as ********
Pope: had blood present on his body from breaking furniture in the locker room at Ole Miss just last season
Pope: confirmed to have players running wind sprints in practice for failure to hustle in games
Pope: said to not be as nice behind the scenes as he is with media. This was said by both Jeff Goodman and Kam Williams’s father on the Loyal BBN Fan Show just a few days ago
Pope: drinks Diet Coke at almost every press conference. This is a big no-no to Mormons.
Pope: huge Taylor Swift fan. Go read her lyrics and don’t have your children present
What we have done here is ignored a whole lot of obvious clues that this isn’t Ned Flanders. Pope seems to have a somewhat liberal slant on Mormonism, which is very different than what some of you are thinking. Pope seems closer to Brandon Flowers than Brigham Young.
Ultimately, it’s his own business anyway
I have no issues with this and can’t see any recruit being bother we bu when millions of dollars are in front of you.
This thread is a bunch of NONSENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I get this is what message boards are for and it’s definitely a topic for message boards but I also think it’s nonsense. Most parents want their child mentored by wholesome people.
Great stuff ... thanks for the post.
It’s goofy but it was also years ago. Not sure why it’s coming up again.
Young got an open checkbook from his mentor the owner of the Utah Jazz. 20 times what CMP had when he was at BYU
Now these losers are acting like Pope did it in some UK head coaching capacity and not 12 years ago for the celebration of the 96 championship team that he couldn’t attend.
John needs to take him to a side room and tell him the business. Seriously. John knows what’s up with these kids now days. Pope needs to get with the times.
I mean that’s if you want certain players that is. Maybe there’s a huge portion of the fan base that is ok with the current trajectory.
edit: even if you go look at Big Blue Madness. I feel like when John came out he was looking at Pope like you cornball. Maybe I over analyze things… either way I feel like John loves BBN and Pope but he still had that look like this joker…
What complete and utter BS. Right up there with fake moon landings and flat earth hysteria. No crisis today? Then make one.
What’s another lie to the UK/Pope bashing bunch? Just one more thang.
If you’re a cornball be a cornball and own that ****. Never be fake or try to be something you aren’t.
You know what's not getting to any of us?
Winning.
You don’t have to be fake or try to be anybody else. Just don’t make our whole program be cornball.
Too late, we have a cornball fanbase who is into corny fake virtue signaling nonsense like “playing for the name on the front instead of the back.” That’s why you see “he gets it” so much. A third of the fanbase wants half the roster the be the Eastern Kentucky All Stars. Don’t get me started on how triggered Drake had many in the fanbase.
Regardless of wherever the players are from I just want to see some fire. Hell somebody get in a fight once in awhile. Let’s gets some pump going lol. Really tho I want to see a little trash talk
Honestly, some fighting and trash talking would just be the next thing everyone complains about if we lost. We just need to string a big win or two together, so that we can all move back to being reasonable.
We lost two early games and called “year.” I specifically posted a list of coaching candidates after the last loss and got so angry that I said we can’t come back. There comes a point though where you cool off and look at things reasonably. Way too early for the tombstone.
It annoys me when people say it's about losing 2 games. No it's about not competing at all and playing so poorly that guys like Mashburn and Issel are calling players out.