Mark Pope wasn’t scheduled to coach a football game Saturday, but he still found himself in the middle of Kentucky’s biggest football weekend of the season. Right outside the William T. Young Library on the University of Kentucky’s campus, less than a five-minute drive from Kroger Field, Pope made a live appearance during the first hour of the Paul Finebaum Show on SEC Network.The third-year head coach discussed the NCAA eligibility mess and media madness while also being serenaded by the crowd with a birthday song.
Eligibility Mess:
Pope was asked about the SEC’s handling of the eligibility situation surrounding players from the 2022 recruiting class, and he relayed that he is actually proud of the SEC President for putting his foot down and taking charge.
“We’re dealing with uncertainty all around,” Pope said. “Everybody’s guessing, doing the best they can and being competitive as they possibly can, trying to find every legal means to make their roster and team as competitive as possible. What’s been so encouraging to me over the last two weeks is that we haven’t actually been the beneficiaries of it; it has hurt us a little bit, but for the first time, we’ve seen the president stand up and empower Greg (Sankey) to be bold and actually get us to a place where there’s clarity. I’m super proud of Greg. I think what he’s done is he’s shown that the SEC actually has the authority to make decisions that everybody is going to have to live by. That’s what every player, coach, and fan in America is asking for.”
Media Madness:
For the first time, the Kentucky men’s basketball program is holding ‘Media Madness,’ an event where media members run drills and scrimmage alongside the players. Following the event, players will, in return, ask media members questions, instead of the traditional vice versa, and that is something that Pope emphasized he is most excited for, as there is also a lesson involved.
“Our guys and staff get to ask questions,” Pope said. “I actually want our players to understand that there’s more that goes into this media process than just showing up and eating the hot dog and asking a question. There’s real work that goes into this.”
Media Madness is set for Thursday, Sept. 17, and the Cats Coverage staff will be there in attendance (and hopefully balling out), so make sure to check us out on social media to see behind-the-scenes coverage of the event.
Mark Pope’s Birthday:
Finally, on Sept. 11, Pope celebrated his 54th birthday.
Big Blue Nation celebrated by singing the head coach ‘happy birthday’ before he went on set, showcasing the deep knowledge embedded in one of the most passionate fanbases that college sports has to offer.
Whether discussing the SEC’s ever-changing eligibility landscape, preparing for his first Media Madness, or celebrating his 54th birthday with Big Blue Nation, Pope’s appearance showed the many sides of the coach and person that he is. Even on a weekend centered around football, Pope once again found a way to connect with the program, its fans, and the people who cover it.
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