“We’ve got hope with Pope:” Businesses, former players share excitement of new UK hire

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Mark Pope’s hiring has had fans and former players talking all Friday long.

It all comes after what’s been a whirlwind of a week for Kentucky Basketball.

“Whether they wanted Cal back or not, everybody including Mitch Barnhart thought we had a coach…and then all of a sudden we didn’t,” said Cameron Mills, who played guard for UK from 1994 to 1998.

Many of those who followed the frenzy weren’t put at ease when Mark Pope emerged as a top candidate.

“I was surprised on Sunday night when that all was breaking – and I was equally surprised Thursday evening,” said former WKYT Sports Director Rob Bromley.

But initial hesitation transformed into hype as Pope’s hire sank in for Big Blue Nation.

“I’m ecstatic, man. I’m an old school Cats fan,” said Rick Paynter, owner of The Kentucky Shop. “I was at the ‘97 championship when we lost, even met Mark Pope at the ‘97 Championship when I was 12″

It’s also gotten businesses to find some fun ways to back the new Big Blue head coach. Rick Paynter and The Kentucky Shop are riding the wave of excitement with new shirts that read “We’ve got hope with Pope!” flying off the shelves.

“It’s been a crazy day, we’ve sold several thousand,” Paynter said. “So, we’ve got to go over and print some now.”

Pope wasn’t the highest scoring player, but former teammate Mills says he was among the hungriest.

“We hated him, because he outworked us all. He made us all look bad,” Mills said. “He’s the guy that will run through the wall first and then you can go through it easily, that’s who he is.”

“You could tell how much he wanted to be here,” Bromley said. “How much he enjoyed being a Wildcat, and I think that’s an important thing. You really got to want this job.”

Now that he’s coming back to Lexington, Mills says his fellow Untouchables from 1996 are behind him all the way.

“This is a meat grinder, and you have to handle it,” said Mills. “Mark Pope is ready to handle that meat grinder because he is one of the mentally toughest people I’ve ever been around.”

Pope’s introductory press conference is open to the public and is set for 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Rupp Arena.

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