Rick Pitino to attend Vanderbilt-Kentucky football game

By ADAM ZAGORIA

Rick Pitino’s basketball season hasn’t begun yet, so he’s making a cameo on the football sidelines.

The Naismith Hall of Fame coach, now in his second season at St. John’s, will be on the sidelines for Saturday’s SEC clash between Vanderbilt and Kentucky, he told ZAGSBLOG before later Tweeting it. Vanderbilt, of course, is coming off a monumental home upset of then-No. 1 Alabama last Saturday.

Pitino is not expected at Kentucky’s “Big Blue Madness” on Friday because St. John’s has practice.

Yes, I will be flying in for the UK/Vandy game on Sat. I'll be on the sidelines helping Coach Stoops 😉

— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) October 8, 2024

Pitino, 72, led Kentucky to NCAA championships in 1996 and ’98 and coached current Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope. Pitino endorsed the hiring of Pope last spring after former Kentucky coach John Calipari left for Arkansas.

Some close to the Kentucky program were interested in potentially bringing Pitino back for a second tenure, but he would have had to leave St. John’s after just one season and was not entirely comfortable with that. Plus, he was a strong supporter of Pope’s once he became the choice.

NO FILTER @cutler18 FUN!! Mark Pope LIVE media day to start. Plus @geneabell NO FILTER on UK sports! HOFer Hal McCoy on new Reds skipper Terry Francona! @AdamZagoria NO FILTER FUN talking some hoops!!!https://t.co/RUdfW1dETE

— ESPN Radio Lexington (@ESPNRadioLex) October 8, 2024

Pitino said St. John’s and Kentucky will play a home-and-home during the next two seasons, with the 2025-26 game at Rupp Arena to honor the 30th anniversary of the ’96 championship team, and the 2026-27 game at Madison Square Garden.

(AP Photo/John Reed)

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