Connect with us

Sports

Kentucky coach Mark Pope makes good on promise to help cover fans' gas money for trip to NCAA tournament game

Published

on

Kentucky coach Mark Pope makes good on promise to help cover fans' gas money for trip to NCAA tournament game

Although Kentucky head coach Mark Pope seemed to instantly regret his recent vow to help fund fan travel to the Wildcats’ first round game in the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, he still made good on the promise.

Kentucky is scheduled to play Troy in Milwaukee in the first round on Friday. During a recent edition of his call-in radio show, Pope volunteered to help cover fuel costs for Kentucky fans who were willing to drive from Lexington, Kentucky to Wisconsin.

Mar 20, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA;  Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope looks on during NCAA Tournament First Round Practice at Fiserv Forum. (Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images)

“It’s only a 7-hour drive, so if you’re having trouble with gas money, hit me up. Let’s get all of (Big Blue Nation) BBN out there,” Pope said on Monday. “I’m not gonna tell you how to hit me up, because I’m nervous about how many people are about to hit me up. I had this ridiculous notion one night after a game to buy everybody that was left in the arena ice cream. It cost me a little bit more than I anticipated, but it’s all in the family, baby. It’s family. Let’s go.”

Advertisement

DUKE GREAT SETH CURRY PRAISES COOPER FLAGG AHEAD OF NCAA TOURNAMENT: ‘WISE BEYOND HIS YEARS’

Pope later shared a message from a Kentucky student named Jack who requested money for gas, and possibly a ticket to the game. The student said he traveled to Florida for spring break, but promised he would be able to arrive in Milwaukee in time for tip off.

Mark Pope speaks

Mar 20, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA;  Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope speaks during an NCAA Tournament First Round Practice press conference at Fiserv Forum. (Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images)

“It just went from gas money to a ticket!” Pope responded. “Listen, Jack, here’s the deal. I’m gonna try and hit you back, man. I’m doing my best, okay? I love it. BBN, man, it is the greatest blessing in the world to be able to be a part of BBN. There’s nowhere like it. I love it.”

Screenshots later surfaced on social media, showing an email exchange between Pope’s executive assistant and the student.

The email featured some parameters, including verification that the traveling party did not include any high school-aged individuals. The message also asked for Venmo information.

Advertisement

“Hi Jack! Coach Pope would love to take care of your gas money! For this to happen, we would need you to send us proof that you have tickets to the game! At that point, we can send you the flat rate gas money,” the email read. “Please verify that there is no one in your party that is within the recruitable age (9th-12th grade).”

Mark Pope coaches

Kentucky’s head coach Mark Pope address the crowd before the NCAA Tournament Selection Show inside Rupp Arena Sunday night. March 16, 2025. (Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Another email offered the student a gift card.

“We will have a $100 Visa gift card here at our office for you to pick up. Let me know what day and time you will be able to come get it,” the follow-up email read.

Pope coached Kentucky to a 22-11 regular season record during his first year at the helm.

Advertisement

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sports

Eagles' Jalen Hurts skipping Trump visit as teammate spends time with him at golf course

Published

on

Eagles' Jalen Hurts skipping Trump visit as teammate spends time with him at golf course

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts reportedly made a decision on whether he would attend the team’s Super Bowl celebration at the White House with President Donald Trump on Monday.

Hurts will not attend due to “scheduling conflicts,” Fox News confirmed.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts speaks to the media after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Feb. 9, 2025. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

Advertisement

The word of Hurts’ decision came hours before the celebration was set to take place. Hurts raised eyebrows last week when he dodged a question on the red carpet for the Time100 Gala about attending the celebration.

Hurts didn’t give a glowing review of the president’s decision to attend Super Bowl LIX, which saw Philadelphia defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22.

“He’s welcome to do what he wants,” Hurts said in February.

NFL NETWORK’S KYLE BRANDT SLAMS MEDIA OVER SHEDEUR SANDERS DRAFT COVERAGE

Jalen Hurts looks on

Honoree Jalen Hurts attends the Time100 Gala, celebrating the 100 most influential people in the world, at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2025, in New York.  (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Meanwhile, running back Saquon Barkley was seen with Trump at his golf course in New Jersey on Sunday. He rode back to Washington on Air Force One with the president.

Advertisement

Barkley pushed back on the criticism he received on social media for his interactions with Trump.

“lol some people are really upset cause I played golfed and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT,” Barkley wrote on X. “Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand. Just golfed with Obama not too long ago… and look forward to finishing my round with Trump ! Now ya get out my mentions with all this politics and have amazing day.”

Saquon Barkley and Trump

President Donald Trump talks to Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley before boarding Air Force One at Morristown Municipal Airport, Sunday, April 27, 2025, in New Jersey. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Eagles team owner Jeffrey Lurie and head coach Nick Sirianni have both expressed their excitement to head to the White House.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Sports

Prep talk: Venice baseball is 21-1 and rising in City Section

Published

on

Prep talk: Venice baseball is 21-1 and rising in City Section

With a 12-2 win over Loyola on Saturday, Venice’s baseball team improved to 21-1 and is positioning itself for a high seeding in the City Section Open Division playoffs.

While the winner of the West Valley League, either Birmingham or El Camino Real, is the likely No. 1 seed, Venice has a good argument to be right behind. The Gondoliers are 14-0 in the Western League and own wins over Valley Mission League leader Sun Valley Poly and have a win over El Segundo, which is 17-6-1.

Coach Kevin Brockway has a senior-dominated team that includes Noel Moreno, who is 8-1 with an 0.58 ERA. Sophomore Jace Lindblom is 5-0 and senior Canon King is 6-0. Having three quality pitchers is a must to win a City Open Division title.

King leads the team in hitting with 30 hits. Venice has six games left on its regular-season schedule, with matchups against San Fernando and San Pedro set to be the toughest.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Shilo Sanders joins Bucs after he falls completely out of NFL Draft

Published

on

Shilo Sanders joins Bucs after he falls completely out of NFL Draft

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Shedeur Sanders was not the only person in Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders’ household to have a significant fall during the NFL Draft over the weekend.

Shilo Sanders, the defensive back who also played for the Colorado Buffaloes, failed to be selected at all. He was a bit of a long shot to be drafted, and experts predicted he would become an undrafted free agent once the event wrapped up on Saturday.

Colorado Buffaloes safety Shilo Sanders (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

Advertisement

Sanders did find a time after the seven rounds finished. He signed a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will now embark on a quest to make the 53-man roster before summer is over.

He said on Saturday afternoon that he needed to fire his father as his agent.

“Dad was our agent, but that hasn’t been working out too good,” he said during a Twitch livestream. “So today I had to sign with an agent. So, we’re going to see what happens.”

SHEDEUR SANDERS PRANK CALL CONTROVERSY YIELDS STUNNING DEVELOPMENT

Shilo Sanders and the ref

Colorado Buffaloes safety Shilo Sanders (Dylan Widger-Imagn Images)

Sanders transferred to Colorado once his father took over as the head coach of the Buffaloes. He initially went to South Carolina.

Advertisement

He played in 21 games for Colorado between the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He had 137 tackles, one interception and one sack during his career. The lone interception was returned for a touchdown.

Sanders making the roster will be a tough journey.

Shilo Sanders looks on

Colorado Buffaloes safety Shilo Sanders (Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)

Tampa Bay selected cornerbacks Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish in the draft. The team already has Zyon McCollum, Jamel Dean, Josh Hayes, Tyreek Funderburk and Bryce Hall as corners; Antoine Winfield Jr., Christian Izien, Kaevon Merriweather and Marcus Banks are listed as safeties.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Trending