Thousands of Kentucky fans welcome Mark Pope home to Rupp Arena — and turn the page on John Calipari
Only one side of the arena was prepared for spectators, according to arena authorities. However, by 4:04 p.m., 26 minutes before to the start of the festivities, the arena’s open side was packed. The end zones of the upper arena were also filling.
Thousands more were still attempting to enter, according to footage taken outside Rupp Arena at the same time. A curtained barrier that had been erected to protect the side of the arena that was not to be used was pulled down as UK supporters continued to pour in.
Rupp Arena appeared nearly full, with around 20,545 people inside when Pope, the former Kentucky big man and current former BYU head coach, arrived on a van with
The new head of the UK stood and shook his head when Pope took the stage to speak to the audience. He mouthed the phrase “unbelievable” repeatedly. It was all of that.
The Big Blue Nation published a statement on the day that Kentucky officially announced John Calipari’s replacement as the Wildcats men’s basketball coach.
The UK supporters enthusiastically embraced this new chapter in Kentucky basketball history by packing Rupp to capacity, no less on short notice, for what was more of a rally than a press conference. Lukasz Obrzut, an ex-Cat who rode into the arena with Pope, stated, “I have seen a lot of things with Kentucky basketball.” “I am not sure whether I have ever seen anything like this before.”
