Mark Pope has been clear from day one: losses at Kentucky are not just losses, they are “devastating.” After the 96-88 rivalry loss to Louisville, a game where the Cats were down by 20, he was asked how he personally copes with the psychological fallout of such a public failure.
His answer was graphic, honest, and perhaps the most relatable thing a Kentucky coach has said in years. It was the exact emotion the fanbase was feeling.
“It is incredibly, massively painful. It’s haunting. It sits in your gut. It makes you want to vomit in your mouth. all those totally natural reactions,” Pope said.
That’s the kind of raw, unfiltered emotion Big Blue Nation has been desperate for. It’s not spin. It’s not an excuse. It’s a confession. But Pope, a coach who lives in the “constructive” space, immediately pivoted from the pain to the plan. He explained that his team, and he himself, must rush through the “five stages of grief,” which he called “absolutely real in athletics,” because they don’t have time to wallow.
“A setback is… It’s either going to be a setback forever, or you’re going to turn it into the pivotal moment in your growth. And really, you get to write that story,” Pope explained. “It doesn’t change outside of sports. In your life, it’s exactly the same way.”
He described the loss as a “pivotal life-changing moment” that the team now has the power to define.
“It’s our job to understand the gift we have in life and in sport to move on and rewrite the story. We always get to rewrite the story, and that’s our job now… pain actually turns into something positive.”
He said his only focus is to “get to constructive.” For a fanbase that is sick, haunted, and frustrated, hearing the coach admit he feels the same way and has a plan to fix it is the first step. Now he must actually do it.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion
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