Coach Mark Pope took a selfie with the Scott family while UK freshman guard Collin Chandler did a photobomb in the background. (Mark Pope Photo)
Bob Scott and his wife, Caroline, have always liked Mark Pope and said even before he became Kentucky’s new basketball coach that UK’s 1996 national championship team was always one of their favorite teams.
However, after what happened Saturday, Pope even moved up another notch on their all-time favorite list.
“We were in Lexington to get our youngest enrolled for college (at Bluegrass Community and Technical College) and were almost ready to head home when we decided to stop for lunch at Local Taco which is close to Memorial Coliseum,” Bob Scott said. “Wouldn’t you know it that coach Pope was there with his wife, Collin Chandler and another young lady.
“It was packed and near the end of the lunch hour. I went back to snag a table and looked to my left and there was Mark at a table of about 10. People were talking to him and taking pictures with him. I thought it might have been a party he was with but it was just Mark being Mark.”
He held the table while his wife placed order for him, his youngest son and her.
“I saw Pope as I was coming back. Then I saw his wife and saw Collin Chandler. I could tell he was getting ready to leave and I said, ‘Coach Pope.’ He turned around and acted like he knew me,” she said. “He walked over to us, introduced himself and shook hands. I told him we were so glad to have him here.”
She asked if she could take a picture of him with her youngest son Zach. Pope said he would “do one better” and take a selfie with them. That’s when she asked if her husband could join them. We got lined up for a selfie but the lighting was not good so he was turning us around. He took several pictures to make sure he got a good shot but the lighting was not great no matter what he tried.”
He introduced the Scotts to his wife, Lee Anne, and Chandler. They told him they were at his introductory press conference at Rupp Arena with about 20,000 other UK fans.
“I said it took me back to 1996 when I was in college (at UK),” Caroline said. “I told his wife it (the press conference) will be one of the great UK moments in my life and she said, ‘I cried six times and get goose bumps talking about it.’ She was so genuine. There’s nothing put on about her.”
The Scotts, who live in Shelbyville, told Pope they did not want to bother him.
“He said Big Blue Nation is what it is all about and it’s an honor to meet fans,” Bob said. “It was all genuine and nothing was put on with him. We told Collin we were looking forward to watching him play, too. I told him he was probably learning that we UK fans are a bunch of psychos.”
Their oldest son, Luke, is a senior at UK and will graduate in the fall and go into the military. He did not get to the restaurant with his girlfriend in time to see Pope.
“He just barely missed Pope and parked in the spot where Pope had been parked,” Bob said.
Caroline and Bob Scott, who have both done radio and TV work in the Louisville area for about 20 years, felt the Pope encounter was a blessing.
“We all had some very serious health conditions and could have died , God delivered and we are doing great. It was just a special thing to see him,” Bob said. “He’s a great coach with a phenomenal family. We are blessed to have met them and I really think this team will be better than some people think. Just give him (Pope) time because he really is a special person.”
