Mark Pope Signed Autographs Until Rupp Arena Emptied

Since the day Mark Pope was hired to be the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, he’s shared an inclusive message with Big Blue Nation. He is one of us.

“It is the greatest honor that I will ever have in my professional or this family career to be able to come back here and do this with you,” Pope said at his introductory press conference. “The difference between Kentucky and every other program in the country is that this is not my team. It is our team.”

He’s not taking for granted the opportunity to sit in the seat reserved for the Kentucky head basketball coach. He’s soaking in every single second of it. That was on display Saturday night after the Wildcats downed Bucknell 100-72, his second win on the job.

As is tradition for all Kentucky basketball coaches in recent memory, the head coach speaks with the Voice of the Wildcats after the game on the Rupp Arena floor. Before Tom Leach could ask a question, he was providing play-by-play as Pope launched t-shirts into the crowd.

“He’s loosening up his arm always going deep with that one, way up there, halfway up the section 14,” Leach narrated. “Oh, going across the body to Section 13.”

After a few laughs were exchanged, the two spoke for about ten minutes to the Kentucky fans gathered in the stands and across Big Blue Nation on the UK Sports Network. Once the conversation concluded, Pope stuck around to meet with every fan in the stands.

John Calipari was cordial throughout his career, catching basketballs thrown from the stands to sign autographs. Mark Pope handled it a little differently. They set up a table for fans to walk across the Rupp Arena court and Pope signed autographs for every fan that wanted one.

A really cool moment as Mark Pope lets fans line up and get autographs after the post game remarks 💙💙 pic.twitter.com/zD0fGzPfeN

— Dylan Ballard (@DylanBallard_UK) November 10, 2024

At one point, Koby Brea joined his head coach on the court. Mark Pope did not cut out early. He stayed until the Rupp Arena stands were completely empty.

The arena is about empty and Mark Pope is truly staying for the very last person who wants an autograph following his post game radio interview.

This man gets it. pic.twitter.com/3jydrI5Sam

— Tres Terrell (@TerrellTres) November 10, 2024

Mark Pope meant what he said and he’s enjoying every minute of it, even if it takes a few more minutes of his Saturday night. This is our program. He’s one of us.

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