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

Although Kentucky caput manager Mark Pope seemed to instantly regret his caller vow to assistance money instrumentality question to the Wildcats' archetypal circular crippled successful the NCAA Division I men's hoops tournament, helium inactive made bully connected the promise.

Kentucky is scheduled to play Troy successful Milwaukee successful the archetypal circular connected Friday. During a caller variation of his call-in vigor show, Pope volunteered to assistance screen substance costs for Kentucky fans who were consenting to thrust from Lexington, Kentucky to Wisconsin.

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Mar 20, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA;  Kentucky Wildcats caput manager Mark Pope looks connected during NCAA Tournament First Round Practice astatine Fiserv Forum. (Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images)

"It’s lone a 7-hour drive, truthful if you’re having occupation with state money, deed maine up. Let’s get each of (Big Blue Nation) BBN retired there," Pope said connected Monday. "I’m not gonna archer you however to deed maine up, due to the fact that I’m tense astir however galore radical are astir to deed maine up. I had this ridiculous conception 1 nighttime aft a crippled to bargain everybody that was near successful the arena crystal cream. It outgo maine a small spot much than I anticipated, but it’s each successful the family, baby. It’s family. Let’s go."

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Pope aboriginal shared a connection from a Kentucky pupil named Jack who requested wealth for gas, and perchance a summons to the game. The pupil said helium traveled to Florida for outpouring break, but promised helium would beryllium capable to get successful Milwaukee successful clip for extremity off.

Mar 20, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA;  Kentucky Wildcats caput manager Mark Pope speaks during an NCAA Tournament First Round Practice property league astatine Fiserv Forum. (Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images)

"It conscionable went from state wealth to a ticket!" Pope responded. "Listen, Jack, here’s the deal. I’m gonna effort and deed you back, man. I’m doing my best, okay? I emotion it. BBN, man, it is the top blessing successful the satellite to beryllium capable to beryllium a portion of BBN. There’s obscurity similar it. I emotion it."

Screenshots aboriginal surfaced connected societal media, showing an email speech betwixt Pope's enforcement adjunct and the student.

The email featured immoderate parameters, including verification that the traveling enactment did not see immoderate precocious school-aged individuals. The connection besides asked for Venmo information.

"Hi Jack! Coach Pope would emotion to instrumentality attraction of your state money! For this to happen, we would request you to nonstop america impervious that you person tickets to the game! At that point, we tin nonstop you the level complaint state money," the email read. "Please verify that determination is nary 1 successful your enactment that is wrong the recruitable property (9th-12th grade)."

Kentucky’s caput manager Mark Pope code the assemblage earlier the NCAA Tournament Selection Show wrong Rupp Arena Sunday night. March 16, 2025. (Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Another email offered the pupil a acquisition card.

"We volition person a $100 Visa acquisition paper present astatine our bureau for you to prime up. Let maine cognize what time and clip you volition beryllium capable to travel get it," the follow-up email read.

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Pope coached Kentucky to a 22-11 regular play grounds during his archetypal twelvemonth astatine the helm.

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