Mark Pope just gave Big Blue Nation hope

Mark Pope hit the press conference out of the park.

Former Kentucky basketball player and new head coach Mark Pope was animated during his announcement / Sam Upshaw Jr./Courier Journal / USA

Big Blue Nation already knew Mark Pope as he was a member of the 1996 National Championship team, but today, he was introduced as the University of Kentucky's next head basketball coach.

Pope and his teammates on the 1996 National Championship team came in on a bus as they did after winning the natty, and Pope was the last to come off the bus holding the trophy. The roar this brought from the crowd would have made you think the Wildcats hit a game-winner against Louisville.

The introductory press conference started with Mitch Barnhart giving some different folks thanks and then got the crowd fired up. After this, he let Coach Pope give his speech, and all of the Big Blue Nation was ready to run through a brick wall.

Pope started off by talking about his family, and time after time, he got the crowd on its feet. He talked about what he learned from playing at Kentucky and how he has used these lessons his entire life.

He then talked about how he plans to recruit using a mix of super-talented five-star players but also have some guys stick around and play for four years.

Kentucky signee Travis Perry was in attendance, and based on his reaction, it's hard to think he is going anywhere.

Big Blue Nation was shocked when Barnhart hired Pope, but after we saw every seat filled in Rupp Arena for a press conference, it's safe to say the people of Kentucky are bought in for the future.