Former Louisville head coach Rick Pitino was on with Terry Meiners is today to speak about his termination, as well as Jurich’s termination.
Shout out to Jason Riley for basically transcribing the interview via twitter.
Rick Pitino, who's in Tampa, tells @terrymeiners he has never met Postel "in my life. … He has not been connected w/ the athletic program"
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
"He's a nice man and this is not him speaking. … It's a couple board members," Grissom included.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino: To disparage Jurich like this you are taking the opposite of North Carolina, "sabotaging basketball and sabotaging the appeal."
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
"The people behind this aren't U of L fans. … You are breaking apart the community, you are breaking apart the fan base."
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino: "This is a blueprint on how not to do things."
"You don't disparage and demean this athletic director. … He's not a bully."
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino: "It hurts us going forward with our appeal. I guess I should stop saying us." https://t.co/ZeQEV6Fblx
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino: No assistant coaches have been indicted. "The facts aren't out. They rushed to judgement. They killed my dreams."
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
"It's not about me, it's about the program, the towns, the university, the fans and what they deserve."
"Outsiders" are doing this, Grissom— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino repeatedly has said U of L is doing the opposite of what UNC did. They stayed together and fought NCAA — and won.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino: "This is a witch hunt of epic proportions on (Jurich) and his family."
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino said he was "so pumped up about the team this year," as excited as he has been in 40 plus years.
Ha
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino said he was asked to leave university and went to speak with team. They locked his office door. "This isn't the U of L I have known"
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Was Jurich asked to get rid of Pitino? Jurich asked him to come to a board meeting. Highly evident he had no supporters by the time he left
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino told staffers every day to follow rules, unfortunately "one" of the coaches didn't follow that and he will pay for his actions.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino says after Katina Powell scandal, he told staffers 4-5 a week to abide by all rules. "Everybody knew it"
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino says Jordan Fair he needs to accept responsibility for his behavior. "He did the wrong thing by stepping in that room" in Las Vegas
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino said he is "totally innocent" and was described in federal complaint to generate headlines.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino said Postel wouldn't know if Jurich was or was not compliant.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino takes ownership for mistakenly hiring two people, presumably McGee and Fair. https://t.co/36lmne46KZ
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Smrt mention. Take a drink and then turn yourself in to police.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino says a statue of Jurich needs to be built.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino: "I want to coach my basketball team. If they want to bring me back tomorrow, I'll be back tomorrow"
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino said he is rooting for David Padgett and team. "Unbelievable group. One of the best groups I've ever seen."
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino said two hours after being locked out of his office, he was in Miami.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
"Things happen in life but you need to stick together," Pitino said. "You don't separate everybody. You stay together."
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino: "I leave the university with my head high knowing … I gave it my all."
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino tells @terrymeiners he should be allowed to coach until the facts come out.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino keeps saying "we." Promises @terrymeiners he will stop. Getting his personal belongings from office shipped to him.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino says he will root for "all the coaches at U of L." Hopes basketball team wins the title. "Praying they go on and have great years"
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
.@terrymeiners finishes by saying he'll talk again soon with Pitino and Pitino says that it is unlikely he will do another radio interview.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Going back through this Pitino interview to check on what exactly he said about Smrt. Really interesting his thoughts on UNC fighting NCAA
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino on Smrt: "We walked in last time with Chuck Smrt, didn’t know any of the people on the committee, didn’t do our research …
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
… "we walked into that taking probation taking all these sanctions, limited scholarships and everything else, how did we fare? …
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
… "We did the opposite of what North Carolina did didn’t we? How did we fare?
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino said he met with board of trustees about six weeks ago. Says a board member tried to "humiliate him" and Pitino ignored him
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino said he vetted Jordan Fair & everyone spoke "extremely high" on him. "He has to speak up on that matter and not hide behind lawyers"
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Pitino: "You don't send Chuck Smrt around to speak to assistant coaches around there to find out" if the program is compliant.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Are you willing to walk away with no money? Pitino says that is out of his hands. He has a contract and attorneys are taking care of that.
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 25, 2017
Or, you can listen to the full interview below:
AUDIO: Rick Pitino on his firing, UofL's Tom Jurich "smear", Coach 1, severance $, David Grissom agenda, Cards fans https://t.co/HHzNSGdbRu pic.twitter.com/uflWdIXBoX
— Terry Meiners (@terrymeiners) October 25, 2017
