It was revealed in April that Rick Pitino donated to Kentucky football’s NIL fund. It wasn’t just chump change.
In an interview with Matt Jones on the KSR Pregame Show, Pitino said he donated $15,000 to Kentucky football’s NIL efforts. Pitino talked about his new friendship with Mark Stoops and Eddie Grann and how excited he is for tonight’s game against Vanderbilt.
“I donated. Well, I don’t want to say what I donated, but I donated a lot of money,” Pitino said. “I donated $15,000. Mark Stoops came over and was kind enough to come. Eddie Gran is a good friend of mine. They came over to play golf with me. We played against Wingfoot. We had a great time. Love Mark Stoops.”
Pitino said he originally planned to just come cheer on Stoops, Grand and the Football Cats this weekend, but was able to change his practice schedule to accommodate the trip to Big Blue Madness. Now that the big announcement is over, he can focus on tonight’s football game.
“I hope they win because they won’t be out for a while,” Pitino said of his soccer team. “I’m a huge Mark Stoops fan. What he did with Kentucky football was said to be impossible, but he did it. I watched the Ole Miss game. Great. Georgie’s game was great too, and I hope they realize that tonight.”
“I love Kentucky fans. I want the football team to do their best and go home with smiles on their faces tonight.”
you heard the man’s voice. Let’s kick some ass.
Rick Pitino makes surprise appearance at Big Blue Madness
For those of you in a pinch, Pitino last night told the world he came out with his former players at the end of Mark Pope’s first Big Blue Madness as Kentucky’s head coach. It shocked me. He told Jones today that he never expected to speak, but Pope gave him no choice when he handed him the microphone.
“I was inches away from crying out of my eyes. It was very emotional for me because I was backstage with all the players and I was really happy to see them, going through a very difficult time. Even Todd Svoboda, who went through it, met everyone afterward. It was very, very emotional for me. And I got more emotional when I went out.”
“I never thought I’d be giving a speech, and I obviously never thought I’d get that kind of praise. But it was one of the best nights of my life. So I was really impressed.”
