Rick Pitino released a statement on Thursday apologizing to Louisville fans and ensuring them that he will remain on as head coach of the Cardinals.
“First, above all, I’m sorry we all have to endure the pain of these allegations. I so appreciate your support and friendships,” Pitino said. “I will not resign and let you down. Someday I will walk away in celebration of many memorable years but that time is not now. I do not fight these accusations by others but rather turn the other cheek. Couldn’t do it at 33, but at 63 it’s the wise thing to do.”
“Let’s let the investigators do their job and we will play basketball.”
On Tuesday, the scandal involving the Louisville basketball program erupted once again thanks to a report from Outside The Lines that all-but confirmed everything that self-proclaimed madam Katina Powell was saying in her book.
That opened up an entirely new avenue for conversation. Specifically, whether or not Rick Pitino will survive this as Louisville head coach.
When the book was first released, I was convinced that Pitino would survive it. The school wasn’t going to fire him without evidence that he knew about what was alleged, and I couldn’t imagine him consciously deciding to resign. With this latest report, however, I’m far less confident that he’ll survive, but it sounds like, at the least, he’ll last through the 2015-16 season.