Will Mark Pope Walk Away On His Own Accord?

[Farsight Clone]

If we have a terrible season and we somehow match or worse than the 9-16 Cal team, Mitch won't fire Pope.

Do you think Pope will walk away on his own accord? Or do you think he will want to be here next year?

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

absolutely not

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

No coach is gonna so that. Despite the flowery language and ties to the school, he has money on the line. This is a business and stepping down would be leaving big money on the table and his next job would be a major step down in quality. Don’t even consider the possibility of this, coz it would be a complete shock.

 

[Farsight Clone]

I don't think he will either. I know a lot of fans think he would for the "love of the program". It would be a major shock if he did though.

 

[Btoddisabish]

Cal could at least point to his incoming recruits when he was going 9-16

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

Cal could at least point to his incoming recruits when he was going 9-16

is that a yes or a no

 

[KyKevin]

Did Stoops step down
He's $35,000,000 richer, and laughing all the way to the bank. Mark Pope is a smart man, and loves Kentucky, I'm sure he thinks he will turn this s.hit around. And I sure hope he does. This would be a real fun forum if that happens
And that is a 2nd NO

 

[Anon1679859502]

I wish he would but like most coaches, he will want to try turn it around

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Did Stoops step down
He's $35,000,000 richer, and laughing all the way to the bank. Mark Pope is a smart man, and loves Kentucky, I'm sure he thinks he will turn this s.hit around. And I sure hope he does. This would be a real fun forum if that happens
And that is a 2nd NO

I hope he does too. I hope someone pulls up my posts in two months, after a final four, and says look how stupid these Kentucky fans were. I’ve lost all hope that’s in the cards

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

Did Stoops step down
He's $35,000,000 richer, and laughing all the way to the bank. Mark Pope is a smart man, and loves Kentucky, I'm sure he thinks he will turn this s.hit around. And I sure hope he does. This would be a real fun forum if that happens
And that is a 2nd NO

you know you don't get any of that money, right?

 

[Catlogic1552]

Nope, not even after year four. And I think he’ll get that.

 

[RoyKent]

No chance. Show me examples of coaches (or anyone) who walked away from millions with nothing lined up to replace it.

 

[megablue]

There is no way of knowing now, but It may simply depend on how hot it gets in the kitchen. People handle pressure differently.
I am hoping the team begins to show improvement, goes on a winning run against the teams it should handle and recruiting begins to shape up.
I am not sure that advancing beyond the Sweet Sixteen, winning the SEC or winning the SEC tournament can happen this year.
One of those would be a mark of improvement over last year. Regressing will not sit well with BBN, unless recruiting is very promising.

 

[Cats4321]

He could if he and his family are miserable in this situation. His family has looked very concerned several times this year. It's still unlikely though. It's probably more likely that Mitch offers him a life time contract after the season.

 

[UKortho]

Hell no. He knows his next job is at Utah Community College.

 

[BigRedMachineBigBlueNation]

The problem is not Pope. If Pope is fired or walk aways we still have Barnhart as AD.

 

[wccat]

He won't. In addition to the $$$, it's about quitting. No true coach is gonna just quit after one bad year and as a previous poster said, even after year 4. Unfortunately Ditch Mitch is never going to want to fire him.

 

[MegaBlue05]

No.

Only a fool would leave all that money kn the table. I don’t give a damn how much I claim to love a place, if the place I love entered a legally binding agreement to pay me millions of dollars, they’re holding up their end of the deal and they’re welcome to pay me to go away if I fail to produce the desired results.

Not a single one of you would walk away from millions of dollars because you love UK basketball. Anyone who says otherwise is either a liar or a fool.

 

[AJG-15]

Let’s start by saying that I am still hoping that there is some success and coaching left in Mark Pope that can turn the boat around. Unlikely, but i am hoping he will try …


now to the OP question, absolutely YES. Pope says he loves Kentucky and the well being of program matters to him. If he gets to the conclusion that he cannot be successful at Kentucky , the way he defined it, and said he understand the task , I would say he will walk way….

Calipari walked away without costing the university a penny…. i Am assuming Pope will do the same if the he gets to that point.


I hope we don’t have to and he will figure things out….so far , doesnt look good but he is a smart guy so there is that hope…

 

[wccat]

No.

Only a fool would leave all that money kn the table. I don’t give a damn how much I claim to love a place, if the place I love entered a legally binding agreement to pay me millions of dollars, they’re holding up their end of the deal and they’re welcome to pay me to go away if I fail to produce the desired results.

Not a single one of you would walk away from millions of dollars because you love UK basketball. Anyone who says otherwise is either a liar or a fool.

And to follow up on this, you have to believe Pope thinks he can turn it around so why would he walk away.

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

Cal could at least point to his incoming recruits when he was going 9-16

As well as his previous accomplishments.

 

[TFCat11]

Whether it’s the end of this season or next, I believe it’s best for everyone involved if he pulled the trigger, and that’s how I voted.

If nothing else, his recruiting will be his ultimate demise, and it’s going to be next to impossible to get any major portal pieces now, and the HS ranks are dead and stinking.

The craziest part… All of this is happening right in the thick of the NIL era where cash is king, and he still can’t even buy a 5 star commitment or a 1st option transfer, at least one that doesn’t have a near season ending injury coming in!

If I wasn’t alive to see it for myself, I would never have believed it!

Absolutely wild!

 

[TFCat11]

For those of you who are insisting, there’s no way he leaves without getting fired, are not considering the context here. Yes, there’s a lot of $$$ on the line, but firing Pope would tarnish his legacy at UK, and that means more to Pope than squeezing the university for a few more dollars.

How about a resignation AND some severance pay for the road? Anyone else think that might be the optimal solution?

 

[BlueSince92]

Cal could at least point to his incoming recruits when he was going 9-16

Riiiiiight. The ones that lost to Saint Peters.

 

[theBlues]

Has any coach of a major problem ever coached 2 years into their contract and then said "I'm not good enough to be successful so I quit."? Why would Pope be the first in history? I'd really like somebody to give a real answer to the 2nd question. (I already know the answer to the first question.)

 

[Argonaut]

Pope isn’t the good Christian man you think he is if he decides to run it back knowing that he and his family will be utterly miserable next year. He’ll be a lame duck. Think he gets $20 million to work with in the transfer portal this year? Heck no! Think he gets any big time recruits to come in next year? Currently we’re at a big fat 0. He either brings back the losers we have currently on the team or he starts over due to all the losers leaving.

None of these possibilities lead to anything but the most miserable year in Kentucky basketball in our lifetime. No hope, no possibilities of a better tomorrow, none! And if Pope decides he’s willing to sacrifice all that for more money, then I don’t care if he’s a former player. I’ll never treat him as one of our own again.

 

[theBlues]

Pope isn’t the good Christian man you think he is if he decides to run it back knowing that he and his family will be utterly miserable next year.

If it turns out that way and that makes him a bad Christian...couldn't he then repent and ask for forgiveness and be a good Christian again?

 

[tls]

You are not born a great coach ... Kentucky is a bad place for OJT but that's where we're at. We don't know how much drive MP has to succeed but good or bad, we're going to find out.

 

[BigBlueGuru]

I believe if next year is the same as this year then yes he would walk away or work something out with the university to be a GM or another position.

 

[Argonaut]

If it turns out that way and that makes him a bad Christian...couldn't he then repent and ask for forgiveness and be a good Christian again?

Knowing you suck. Knowing you already have millions of dollars already and are set for life. Knowing you and your family are going to be miserable. And despite all that you want more. Damn right I’m questioning your morals, especially if you make that part of your personality.

 

[KYFOSSIL]

Yeah

Cal could at least point to his incoming recruits when he was going 9-16

Yeah....that makes it better. Mark already has 9 wins.. Im not justifying thisxseason and Im very disappointed in ot so far but you can't minimize Cal's failure.

 

[theBlues]

Knowing you suck. Knowing you already have millions of dollars already and are set for life. Knowing you and your family are going to be miserable. And despite all that you want more. Damn right I’m questioning your morals, especially if you make that part of your personality.

Well, that would make every unsuccessful coach that didn't resign and claimed to be a Christian a bad one. I was just wondering why it only applies to Pope...

 

[UKJenning]

Pope thinks he’s the smartest person in the room and probably is most of the time. I‘m starting to see some arrogance from him. Like the way he answers Tom Leach.

I think Pope is too arrogant to walk away! Never thought I would say that, but when you’re under pressure your true colors show. His are starting to show!

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Pope isn’t the good Christian man you think he is if he decides to run it back knowing that he and his family will be utterly miserable next year. He’ll be a lame duck. Think he gets $20 million to work with in the transfer portal this year? Heck no! Think he gets any big time recruits to come in next year? Currently we’re at a big fat 0. He either brings back the losers we have currently on the team or he starts over due to all the losers leaving.

None of these possibilities lead to anything but the most miserable year in Kentucky basketball in our lifetime. No hope, no possibilities of a better tomorrow, none! And if Pope decides he’s willing to sacrifice all that for more money, then I don’t care if he’s a former player. I’ll never treat him as one of our own again.

1.) Christianity and Mormonism are different religions.

2.) His religion has nothing do with this.

3.) If you’re ever gonna say, “So and so isn’t a Christian if they do _____”, my first thought is you better back that up with a chapter and a verse coz that’s not something to handle liberally.

Matthew 7:1-2:
Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

^ All I’m saying let’s wield this topic with heaviness it deserves. Coach has stunk on the court and the critique should stay there.

 

[Argonaut]

Well, that would make every unsuccessful coach that didn't resign and claimed to be a Christian a bad one. I was just wondering why it only applies to Pope...

Dabo Sweeny makes religion part of his personality too. Also hires his friends and family who shouldn’t even sniff those jobs and is currently driving Clemson into the gutter while collecting millions. Sure he’s won a couple championships, but knowing you suck and keep your buddies and family on when you should be changing something while throwing on that super religious personality of his has made me question his morality.

Don’t make your religion part of your personality if you don’t want other people to start questioning it, imo.

 

[kfwa]

if he tanks next year, I predict he will walk away

its not happening this year , no way, no how. He is going to want a chance to correct this.

 

[theKybluedude]

I think he turns it around. Good things happen for good people. Firmly believe that.
Just got his whole team together.
I’ll hang in and give him time.
He’ll figure it out.

 

[Argonaut]

if he tanks next year, I predict he will walk away

its not happening this year , no way, no how. He is going to want a chance to correct this.

I don’t know how he thinks he can change things. No game-changing recruits are coming in. Either he brings back most of the losers we currently have on the team or he replaces the whole team and has to start back on square 1. Neither seem like a recipe for success.

Oh, and I bet a million dollars he doesn’t hire a GM or make any staff changes in the offseason.

 

[NociHTTP]

Let’s start by saying that I am still hoping that there is some success and coaching left in Mark Pope that can turn the boat around. Unlikely, but i am hoping he will try …


now to the OP question, absolutely YES. Pope says he loves Kentucky and the well being of program matters to him. If he gets to the conclusion that he cannot be successful at Kentucky , the way he defined it, and said he understand the task , I would say he will walk way….

Calipari walked away without costing the university a penny…. i Am assuming Pope will do the same if the he gets to that point.


I hope we don’t have to and he will figure things out….so far , doesnt look good but he is a smart guy so there is that hope…

At least you seem sincere and pulling for him. There are some here just BEGGING for the guy to leave, or saying they hope he gets things turned around because, you know, they're gonna have to give him a spanking or something. The guy should be getting full support from UK fans, and he's getting nowhere near that.

 

[NociHTTP]

For those of you who are insisting, there’s no way he leaves without getting fired, are not considering the context here. Yes, there’s a lot of $$$ on the line, but firing Pope would tarnish his legacy at UK, and that means more to Pope than squeezing the university for a few more dollars.

How about a resignation AND some severance pay for the road? Anyone else think that might be the optimal solution?

Just can't help yourself, can you? Stop trashing him or undermining his 'legacy'.