WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:02.399 It's Stick Gabriel taking a little bit of time off, 2 00:00:02.439 --> 00:00:05.040 so we thought we would replace some of the best 3 00:00:05.080 --> 00:00:08.240 interviews from over the last several months. Please enjoy the 4 00:00:08.279 --> 00:00:11.960 best of the Big Blue Insider Gus. 5 00:00:12.359 --> 00:00:14.880 I cannot wait any longer this will you please join 6 00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:17.280 me in a little cast cast one two three, Cats, 7 00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:19.640 please come on, stand up and let's go. 8 00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:23.600 I need your help here. Can we do this? Please? 9 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:27.839 One two three, See hey gee us. 10 00:00:28.039 --> 00:00:34.079 Touts, gouts tuts. I love it. Let's go again. 11 00:00:39.159 --> 00:00:48.079 See thank you, guys, thank you. That's good. That's good. 12 00:00:50.920 --> 00:00:53.280 He couldn't wait, could he. That's the new head coach. 13 00:00:53.320 --> 00:00:57.000 And you saw him and heard him on Sunday in 14 00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:00.079 one of the most amazing spectacles. And that's what it 15 00:00:59.880 --> 00:01:03.719 was really in the history of Kentucky basketball. Welcome to 16 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:05.920 the Big Bloe and Sider. Dick Gabriel with you Tuesday 17 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:09.040 abbreviated edition of our show. We'll go for about forty 18 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:12.159 five minutes because there's a big baseball game coming up 19 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:16.239 six forty five pregame, seven o'clock, first pitch, Kentucky and 20 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:19.840 Louisville over in the Derby City. Remember this game last 21 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:24.439 year was canceled because of the tragic shooting in downtown 22 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:29.599 Louisville and this year's game in election, it was rained out, postponed, 23 00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:33.599 but they have not yet rescheduled it, and it doesn't 24 00:01:33.640 --> 00:01:36.840 look as though they will. So tonight, Kentucky Louisville, we'll 25 00:01:36.840 --> 00:01:39.079 have it for you right here. Coming up Darren's pregame 26 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:41.840 at six forty five, first pitch a little bit after 27 00:01:41.879 --> 00:01:46.159 seven o'clock, we're gonna talk just basically all about Mark 28 00:01:46.200 --> 00:01:49.680 Pope and Kentucky basketball and this abbreviated show. We'll talk 29 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:52.879 spring football tomorrow. I hope you got a chance to 30 00:01:52.959 --> 00:01:55.400 go and watch them work out. If not, and I 31 00:01:55.480 --> 00:01:58.840 understand that there wasn't a big crowd. You know, I 32 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:02.680 don't know what I saw, quite frankly, but I did 33 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:06.760 see a quarterback, Brock Vandergriff, who can use his feet, 34 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:09.000 as he said when he has to. 35 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:10.439 But throws the ball. 36 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:12.840 Well, we're going to talk to John Hale of the 37 00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:16.240 Herald Leader tomorrow on the show, get his take on it. 38 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:19.240 And we're also going to talk tomorrow with Sean Woods, 39 00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:24.360 the Unforgettable Wildcat, who was there Sunday when Mark Pope 40 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:27.319 was introduced. But tonight we'll hear from a lot of 41 00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:30.159 former Wildcats who were there, and as you know, that 42 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:34.960 was one of the keys to this entire successful appearance 43 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:38.520 on Sunday for the Big Blue Nation, all the former 44 00:02:38.599 --> 00:02:41.680 players who showed up and a tip of the Big 45 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:45.319 Blue insider Captain Nathan Schwacke of UK Sports Marketing and 46 00:02:45.400 --> 00:02:48.439 his entire team. I mean, it took a lot of 47 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:51.240 people to pull this off. You know how big the 48 00:02:51.319 --> 00:02:55.599 crowd was, right about twenty thousand, it's an estimated crow 49 00:02:55.759 --> 00:03:01.759 twenty thousand and five something. The entire arena was jammed, 50 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:03.680 as you know, the points to the point where they 51 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:06.039 had to turn away anywhere from three to five thousand people. 52 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:10.240 And you know, there were some seats on the floor 53 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:14.639 for boosters and media, but for the most part the 54 00:03:14.680 --> 00:03:18.599 floor seats were not there. But still an unbelievable crowd, 55 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:25.240 and it clearly clearly underscored the fact that there was 56 00:03:25.400 --> 00:03:29.039 just a massive disconnect with John Caliperry. And I'm not 57 00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:33.199 knocking the guy, you know again, the first five or 58 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:36.240 six years he was here. That was one of the 59 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:40.560 most impressive runs in college basketball and modern history. It 60 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:44.360 really was, with a championship and all the final four 61 00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:47.840 runs plus the Elite eight his first season, and of 62 00:03:47.879 --> 00:03:49.719 course that was a year they should have gone to 63 00:03:49.719 --> 00:03:52.319 the final four, could have won the national title. I 64 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:54.400 think they were the best team in the country, but 65 00:03:54.439 --> 00:03:57.800 they blew it, and they blew other opportunities under Cali Perry. 66 00:03:57.919 --> 00:03:59.599 Some of it his fault, some of it not. We 67 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:02.199 all know you go through the odd number of years, 68 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:05.080 those are the ones that jump out the easiest to me. 69 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:07.560 Twenty fifteen, we know what happened there. 70 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:11.639 I put that on Cali Perry as much as the 71 00:04:11.719 --> 00:04:15.159 missed call on the shot clock violation, but he did 72 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:18.560 not make in game adjustments he should have. Twenty seventeen, 73 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:21.319 if Derek May doesn't hit that jumper for North Carolina, 74 00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:25.279 Kentucky goes to the final four. We're maybe not talking 75 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:30.319 about Mark Pope at Kentucky twenty nineteen, they missed going 76 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:33.959 to the Final four because they lose to Auburn, a 77 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:36.959 team they led by ten points at halftime. It goes 78 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:39.720 to the final four that year, we may not be 79 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:42.839 talking about Mark Pope. And I do agree with Cali Perry. 80 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:44.639 I don't know he so easily says we would have 81 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:46.160 won it in the COVID year. 82 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:49.120 That's easy to say. A lot of teams could have 83 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:49.480 said that. 84 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:51.199 There were a lot of really good teams that year, 85 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:54.360 but I do believe that was a final four team 86 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:59.000 with Richards and Quickly and Tyree s maxwe because they 87 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:02.920 were playing so well at tournament time and had all 88 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:08.879 those future NBA players. So that's just how fragile this 89 00:05:08.959 --> 00:05:12.399 thing can be. But it worked out. I think for Calipari, 90 00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:15.759 I think he'll do very well at Arkansas, and every 91 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:18.800 time he does something good, somebody back here is going well, 92 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:22.240 you see, you know, but Pope's going to get off 93 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:26.079 to a good start. He'll do well here. I think 94 00:05:26.120 --> 00:05:29.920 his teams will make deep runs in the postseason simply 95 00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:34.000 because he has and will have better players than he 96 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:37.240 had at first Utah Valley State. 97 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:40.600 And bring him young. Now why is he here? Well, 98 00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:43.079 Mitch barnardt spoke to the crowd, but. 99 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:46.519 He also after the news conference spoke to the media 100 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:50.040 about the fact that and I was told again there 101 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:54.399 was interest from Billy Donovan, but not interest in dropping 102 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:57.319 what he was doing to pursue the job right away. 103 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:02.199 And I was told Kentucky basically couldn't wait. Barnard talked 104 00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:04.920 about the fact that he didn't wait because he had 105 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:06.800 a guy that he really liked right in front of him. 106 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:08.480 Oh, I think there's a lot of raaided. 107 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:10.000 Number One, I felt coped with Mark. 108 00:06:10.360 --> 00:06:13.279 I mean, let's not we're diminishing if we sit here 109 00:06:13.279 --> 00:06:14.480 and say, why didn't I wait. 110 00:06:14.920 --> 00:06:17.199 I didn't feel like I needed to. I was comfortable 111 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:17.720 with who. 112 00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:20.519 I had, I liked it. I knew where I wanted 113 00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:20.720 to go. 114 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:22.279 I had a couple of two or three thoughts at 115 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:26.000 the beginning. It played out. There's no mystery that we 116 00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:28.680 talked to someone first, and Mark knew that. I said, 117 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:31.519 this is why it's going to work. And I was 118 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:34.879 copable with our process, our research, the people I was 119 00:06:34.920 --> 00:06:38.480 talking to, and I felt like I was ready to go. 120 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:41.959 So let's go, and let's go was basically the theme 121 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:45.759 of that news conference as we mentioned the former players 122 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:48.839 coming back and the trophy being held Aloft and the 123 00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:53.240 spotlight on the banner. That was a nice touch, and 124 00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:56.959 Barnard talked about the fact that he had kind of 125 00:06:57.040 --> 00:06:59.519 kept an eye on Mark Pope throughout the year. And look, 126 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:03.800 if you're miss Barnard and you're struggling with your head coach, 127 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:06.519 you got to have that list in your pocket, don't you. 128 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:09.800 I mean every ad. You know that every ad should 129 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:12.680 have a plan for really all of his coaches if 130 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:13.879 any of them leave. 131 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:16.720 You got to be ready. You got to do your homework. 132 00:07:16.759 --> 00:07:17.759 You got to do your research. 133 00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:19.959 And he knew about Mark Pope, and in fact, he 134 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:22.639 had met Mark Pope, but he had also been keeping 135 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:24.879 an eye on him, and he kind of liked the 136 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:25.879 vibe that he brought. 137 00:07:26.199 --> 00:07:27.920 We've got a chance of meet a couple of times 138 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:32.240 in reunions and things like that, But when you talk 139 00:07:32.279 --> 00:07:35.519 to him, do you get a real feel for his 140 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:36.720 love for this institution? 141 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:39.000 And I don't think there was anything. 142 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:42.079 More important at a time in our journey to finding 143 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:47.240 somebody had understood this commonwealth, this fan base, and our 144 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:51.079 program and what we needed. And he checked when I 145 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:54.959 said checked the boxes, when the conversations, he checked every box. 146 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:57.759 It was he knew exactly what we needed and he 147 00:07:57.839 --> 00:08:00.759 knew exactly the pathway that he needed to get it done. 148 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:04.399 Checked every box is the new one of the newest 149 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:08.040 expressions that we're all over using now. But that's okay 150 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:12.399 because in this particular instance, you gotta have a list 151 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:15.480 like that. You gotta have a guy checking boxes and 152 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:18.680 didn't it seem like and he was well prepared. The 153 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:23.240 guy's a Rhodes Scholar candidate. But Mark Pope knew exactly 154 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:27.199 if I may use another overused metaphor, which buttons to 155 00:08:27.319 --> 00:08:31.680 push when he stood on stage, and one of them, 156 00:08:31.720 --> 00:08:36.840 of course, was right away talking about something that rub 157 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:40.279 Kentucky fans the wrong way from day one now was 158 00:08:40.360 --> 00:08:43.279 Cali Perry's declaration, we don't care about winning the SEC. 159 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:46.480 We don't care about when in the SEC tournament, although 160 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:48.639 for a while there they owned it. He wanted six times, 161 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:53.519 but you talk about not reading the room, and he 162 00:08:53.559 --> 00:08:55.840 tried to play catch up towards the end when his 163 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:58.480 team was eliminated. This past year, I feel so bad 164 00:08:58.519 --> 00:09:01.279 for the fans, which he should said that after the 165 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:03.600 NCAA tournament as well, but when it came to the SEC, 166 00:09:04.840 --> 00:09:09.600 he finally recognized the fact the fans spend their hard 167 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:11.720 earned money. And he had mentioned it once or twice before, 168 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:14.600 but he really hit it hard this year. Pupe hitted 169 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:16.399 hard on Sunday. 170 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:30.720 We're here to win banners in Nashville because you guys 171 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:31.480 turn out. 172 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:34.360 In Nashville like nobody else in that matters. 173 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:44.720 And we are here. 174 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:47.720 Our job here, our assignment is to go win banners 175 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:50.039 in the final four, win national champions. 176 00:09:50.039 --> 00:09:59.799 That's our job, and. 177 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:01.639 There's no reason you can't do both. 178 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:06.679 Again, Calipari's teams did that, So Mark Pope's teams did that, 179 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:10.240 and he will see to it. He'll do the best 180 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:13.840 he can to see that they do it now. He 181 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:19.279 also nodded toward tradition and literally nodded toward his former 182 00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:24.879 teammates and peers the former players about what it means 183 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:29.200 to wear the Kentucky uniform and a lot of guys 184 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:33.679 you know who have played under Calipari, they do, I 185 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:39.039 really truly believe respect that. But Pope, that's an element 186 00:10:39.080 --> 00:10:41.879 of this, of this change over. The Pope hit pretty 187 00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:46.080 hard the tradition and what it takes to where the 188 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:48.879 UK jersey and to have that honor. 189 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:51.879 You know what all these players know that all of 190 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:55.919 our future players are going to learn really quick, okay. 191 00:10:56.080 --> 00:11:01.720 Is that they are not doing those jerseys a favor 192 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:16.200 by letting the jerseys clothe them. Our guys will know quickly, 193 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:19.039 and it's hard not to know. It will be one 194 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:23.120 of the great honors of their life to put that jersey. 195 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:28.600 On and you better believe the crowd loved that one, 196 00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:32.279 so did the former players. That brings us, though, to 197 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:37.840 the guys who are going to wear that jersey. And 198 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:41.039 the guy, of course everybody wondered about, was Read Shepherd 199 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:43.759 and this was a bit of a faux pas here. 200 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:47.080 By Pope and Cameron. 201 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:50.559 Most told me later that this was quite by accident, 202 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:52.679 but it turned into a thing, didn't it. 203 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:56.679 I believe these players man our job as coaches as 204 00:11:56.720 --> 00:12:07.960 we get to be shepherds. 205 00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:33.240 H Like I said, it was accidental, but it gave 206 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:36.840 the Shepherds the family. Jeff was standing there. I don't 207 00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:42.039 believe Reid was there one more chance to realize if 208 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:45.000 they didn't already, just how much this fan base appreciated Read. 209 00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:47.759 But I hate to say it, but it's my understanding 210 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:50.679 that Reid will leave. And there's been a lot of speculation. 211 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:54.879 I think most people expect him to, but it's my 212 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:59.440 understanding that he will leave, Which brings us to another topic, 213 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:05.200 and that is the roster transfers. Aaron Bradshaw leaving DJ 214 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:08.320 Wagner in the portal. A lot of people are in 215 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:12.440 the portal, but people are coming in and earlier today, 216 00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:18.480 Colin Chandler committed de committed to Brigham Young committed to 217 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:25.320 Kentucky Big Guard. They call him a late bloomer, good size, apparently, 218 00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:28.960 good scoring ability. It's been on a mission trip for 219 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:31.679 two years, so it may take him a little while 220 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:37.159 to acclimate. But Travis Branham had something on Twitter earlier 221 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:40.639 today for two four to seven Sports and other people 222 00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:44.159 had it as well that this guy has been released 223 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:47.480 from his NLI and is heading for UK. So he 224 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:53.840 is officially Mark Pope's first recruit. Ugo made an announcement 225 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:57.519 earlier today announcing to no surprise that he will declare 226 00:13:57.559 --> 00:14:00.759 for the NBA Draft. But you got to scratch your 227 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:02.639 head when he talks about how he wants to show 228 00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:07.840 the NBA his scoring ability. When we come back former 229 00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:11.279 Wildcats talking about the hire of Mark Pope, we're listening 230 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:13.320 to the Best of the Big Blue Insider. More to 231 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:17.679 come here on six thirty WLAP. It's Dick Gabriel. Welcome 232 00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:20.639 back to the Best of the Big Blue Insider. Tonight, 233 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:23.519 we're looking back on the news conference you heard the 234 00:14:23.559 --> 00:14:27.039 coaches shows last night. Kenny Brooks was great, I thought, 235 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:30.159 with Darren Heddrick, Nick Menngeone talking about his team, and 236 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:33.279 of course Mark Pope talking to Tom Leech. But after 237 00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:35.919 the news conference was over, a lot of the former 238 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:38.120 players hung around. They were asked to hang around, and 239 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:42.120 they did, and we talked to several of them. It 240 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:44.200 was great to talk to a lot of them, and 241 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:48.000 they said similar things. Tony Delk talked about why he 242 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:50.720 believed his former teammate was the right man for the job. 243 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:53.919 You know, it's a great recessor for a great guy, 244 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:56.559 and it's a remarkable. It's remarkable for us to walk 245 00:14:56.600 --> 00:14:59.759 in and just see twenty four twenty plus thousand people 246 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:02.120 in here and just how much they love and enthusia 247 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:05.039 asked about basketball. So I'm I mean, it doesn't get 248 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:06.480 any better than this. When we say we have the 249 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:08.919 best fan base, I truly believe that and have believed 250 00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:09.159 that for. 251 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:09.960 Many many years. 252 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:12.919 The right guy definitely right guy, you know, not just 253 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:16.279 because it's my god. I think he understands the landscape 254 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:19.759 of basketball, what it takes to win here, and the expectations. 255 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:22.399 So when you have that in mind, you know you're 256 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:24.360 not gonna be able to sleep a lot of nights, 257 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:26.519 but you're thinking about what can I do to help 258 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:28.320 us be the best, seen me compete and get to 259 00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:31.240 a final four, try to win the national championship. So 260 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:33.720 it's it's worked though, But he has the right people 261 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:36.000 ahund him. He's gonna hire good staff, he's going to 262 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:38.759 schedule well, and with the support of the fan base here, 263 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:40.639 I think it's gonna happen. 264 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:42.759 Tony got a big round of applause when he put 265 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:46.080 his image up on the big screen. Also Richie Farmer, 266 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:48.039 who was like a lot of us, he was really 267 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:51.279 surprised when he heard the name Mark Pulpe because you'd 268 00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:56.559 heard Hurley and Billy Donovan and other names, but Mark Pulpe, 269 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:58.000 that was kind of a sudden. 270 00:15:57.720 --> 00:16:00.320 Thing nobody had ever even mentioned. And so I was like, 271 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:02.799 do what And then I started to think about it. 272 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:04.960 And I started to think about it because I know Mark, 273 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:07.840 and I know how intelligent he is, and I know 274 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:10.320 what a good coach he is, and I know where 275 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:12.679 he come from. I know who coached him and who 276 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:15.360 changed his life, and so I know the kind. 277 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:17.679 Of makeup that he has, that he's a hard worker, 278 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:18.080 that his. 279 00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:21.960 Teams, that he instills that same principles, those same principles 280 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:24.679 in his teams, and it just started to make a 281 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:26.200 lot of sense, and I thought, you know what. 282 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:31.039 I'm in. I'm in, you know. So it took about twelve. 283 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:33.559 Hours, but then I was like, that makes so much sense. 284 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:36.399 And then I started to think, Man, this Barnhart guy, 285 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:37.159 he's pretty good. 286 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:41.799 The knock on mark, obviously is his postseason record hadn't 287 00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:44.440 been that great around here of late, but you feel 288 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:48.159 like without the limitations that he finished at his other 289 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:50.879 two stops, he's got a much better shot in the postseason. 290 00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:51.039 Now. 291 00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:54.759 Well, I think so, you know, I think that there's 292 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:59.159 no secret that, you know, recruiting at BYU and some 293 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:02.320 of the the things that they have to sign, you know, 294 00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:04.519 in order to play there, and the oaths and the 295 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:07.319 bowels and things. I mean, it makes it a lot 296 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:10.240 more difficult to get the kind of players that a 297 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:14.039 lot of guys like to go after. But I think 298 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:17.000 he was he was smart and talking about today that 299 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:19.920 he's gonna, you know, make sure that he recruits kids 300 00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:22.640 that fit his style and fits into what he's trying 301 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:24.880 to do here, and I think that makes a whole 302 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:25.400 lot of sense. 303 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:28.200 I talk to Derek Anderson, who's quite active on social 304 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:31.559 media and I asked him about the initial negative response 305 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:32.319 to Mark Pope. 306 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:34.720 Well, I told everybody, nobody started at the same place 307 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:36.720 they they came in and nobody came. 308 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:37.480 In here and just was winning. 309 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:40.599 Gregutino didn't win, Nobody had won a cows first championship 310 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:43.559 was here, So why are we putting pressure on this guy? 311 00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:45.480 And then everybody say, you know what, You're right, Let's wait, 312 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:47.039 let's wait to see him. And that's how we had 313 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:49.039 to just wait. But what happened was people got to 314 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:51.200 a point and a lot of it wasn't even our fans, 315 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:53.720 so I take that with a great and soot, but 316 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:55.480 some of our fans. I had to remind him, like, hey, 317 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:58.240 give him a chance because he's one of us. You know, 318 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:00.000 you don't tear down one of us. You let him 319 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:01.720 to grow and develop, and if he doesn't do his job, 320 00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:03.559 then let that be known. But you always want to 321 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:05.400 support one of us. And I think that was the 322 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:07.920 point that I kept putting my message across him, and 323 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:09.960 I think they're starting to turn the circle down and 324 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.160 see it and give him a chance. 325 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:12.400 That's all I care about. 326 00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:14.200 Just give our guy a chance and see how he does. 327 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:17.240 Winning at Utah Valley and then bringing me on with 328 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:21.400 some certain limitations there. There are very few limitations here. 329 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:23.880 As you know, that's. 330 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.559 Gonna matter big. 331 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:25.599 It's come out of big. 332 00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:27.400 But he said he wants to give guys who knows that, 333 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:29.440 and he said that as honest to his statement, I 334 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:31.000 want to get some guys who know what they're doing. 335 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:32.119 And he doesn't know everything. 336 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:34.400 And that's a good coach who says I don't know everything, 337 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:36.440 but I want to get better, and I think Mark 338 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.039 is gonna do that. 339 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:40.200 You're listening to the Best of the Big Blue Insider. 340 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:44.960 More to come here on six thirty w LAP. It's 341 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:47.559 Dick Gabriel. Welcome back to the Best of the Big 342 00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:51.079 Blue Insider. Read here in the garage once again, because 343 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:52.920 he'd rather come to the garage than do it over 344 00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:54.440 the phone. Cameron Mills, it. 345 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:56.160 Sounds better than it does. 346 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:59.200 I love a sad as promised this though you're listening 347 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:02.000 early on the show, hanging on for me to be on. 348 00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:06.799 You never know well and Dad, yeah, thank you, My mom, 349 00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:08.799 my dad, my wife. Those might be the three that 350 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:10.720 are that are anxious about this promise. 351 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:15.000 Everybody else takes it in stride, which just stops listening 352 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:15.680 one the other. 353 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:19.680 Well, Cameron agreed to come on, We've kind of waited. 354 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:22.599 I didn't talk to you immediately after, which hurt my feelings. 355 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:25.599 A Sunday press conference, Well, I knew you were being pulled. 356 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:27.039 In a lot of It was a lot of new done, 357 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:30.480 a lot of new non uh big blue insider directions. 358 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:32.079 There you go, which is again why I was upset 359 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:35.279 that where's my man, where's my buddy, Where's I don't 360 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:35.920 know these people. 361 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:38.000 Plus this was the best day to get you in 362 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.519 the garage. 363 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:41.319 Yes, except I've got conference calls and such this afternoon, 364 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:41.720 but whatever. 365 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:47.000 AnyWho, you are so happy I talked to you when 366 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:50.599 the name first came up. Yeah, tell everybody about how 367 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:54.119 you discovered that the deal was done because the name 368 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:57.279 popped up as you and your wife were getting ready to. 369 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:57.960 Turn Friday night. 370 00:19:58.079 --> 00:20:01.920 Yeah, yeah, Friday night. No, actually is that afternoon? The 371 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:04.319 name popped up and I sent it to a mutual 372 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:06.920 friend of ours who's in the who's in the business 373 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:12.519 or the industry as we say, and which the entertainment industry, 374 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:15.480 the one that's currently getting to go downhill real fast? 375 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:21.640 Because he did he go Anyway, I digest so I 376 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:24.599 think I think that was a family guy thing. Anyway, 377 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:27.680 so I felt, So let's back up real quick, real quick. 378 00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:30.960 Remember how I found out cal Perry was leaving from 379 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:33.880 a Delta Gate agent. Oh, that's a Delta Gate agent. 380 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:37.759 Monday morning that cal was leaving. He is at five 381 00:20:37.880 --> 00:20:40.440 five o'clock, five or fifteen in the morning, and the 382 00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:42.240 Delta Gate agents like, boy, can you believe it. 383 00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:44.359 I'm like, what's the fly canceled? Is it delayed? 384 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:46.440 He's like, no, no, cal Perry. I'm like, what about him? 385 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:49.200 He said he's leaving. I'm like, oh, okay. I had 386 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:51.519 no idea, and so even said, well, I didn't think 387 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:53.200 i'd be telling you this. I don't have any kind 388 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:55.519 of inside insight in of is. I don't have a 389 00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:59.680 sources I don't have I mean now, but I didn't before. 390 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:03.240 But I found out the same way everyone else found out. 391 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:05.640 I saw coach coach Pope, which that's good to take 392 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:09.319 some getting used to. Some coach Pope names pop up. 393 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:12.759 I mailed a mutual mail texted a mutual friend of ours. 394 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:17.240 They said their response was, that's just his agent trying 395 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:19.519 to get his name out there, you know, to get 396 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:23.880 any more money. Which my response was, yeah, but his 397 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:26.599 agent wouldn't lie, would he. I mean, my point is 398 00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:31.039 he's in the conversation, Barnhart is considering him. And then 399 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:33.359 from that point I saw his name a couple more times, 400 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:36.039 started kind of still thinking that as a long shot. 401 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:37.480