Question for the old farts

[anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y]

I was 9 when Coach Rupp's career ended. It wasn't too far off from the end of Tubby's tenure. Fans were disenchanted and wanted him gone but the man was the all time winngest coach in NCAA history. His funeral coverage was shown live on all the local television stations.

 

[musrat59]

I am 70 and that is the first time that I have heard that Rupp was offered the Duke job. I am in no way saying it didn't happen, though.

 

[mjj_2K]

Originally posted by Sawnee Cat:
We say Coach Rupp was slowing down and he was but Rupp as an old man won the SEC Championship the last five years of his career. Five straight.

At that time, It was a well known fact that Coach Rupp had to leave at age 70 as the state had the rule for state employees. The head coach at UK was a state employee. But like a lot of older people he wanted to leave when he wanted to leave and he thought he had a few more years left as a coach. But no waiver was given and Coach Rupp understood but he still wanted to go to work somewhere as he expressed that to Cawood in an interview.

His 69-70 team lost 2 games. One win away from a Final Four. His 70-71 team lost 6 games, lost in the Sweet 16 and his last team, 71-72 lost 7 games. The last being in the Regional Finals, Elite Eight. One win away from a Final Four. Joe B's first team lost 8 games and his second team lost 13 games. The next year Joe B went to the Final Four.

Rupp was definitely slowing down as the game was changing. He liked a fast game and with Coaches like Babe McCarthy and Dean Smith the games would soon become stall ball. He hated stall ball.

As you review history, Coach Rupp's leaving worked out for the best. The program was still a solid program and was built on a solid foundation. Coach Hall kept us at the top of the SEC, won a title and recruited some of the all time greats to UK. The biggest testimony to the greatness of Adolph Rupp is the current state of our program. He did not build a program on sand. He built it on solid rock.

If you have never heard Rupp's Farewell Speech and you are a UK fan I would recommend you getting a copy and listening. It may have been the greatest Farewell Speech since Lou Gehrig.

This post was edited on 2/23 2:10 PM by Sawnee Cat

I think this is pretty much all true, and I'm not old enough to directly remember any of it, but from my understanding, the Issel/Casey/Pratt recruiting class that allowed for Rupp to more or less end on a high note was mainly the work of Joe B (as where the classes that followed, with guys like Tom Parker and Jim Andrews). And the fact is, it was blatantly obvious by the late 60's that UK needed to integrate quickly, or fade, and Rupp, at his age, was not really the man to do it. Regardless of his personal views on race, Rupp was just too old, and just had too much history, for him to be the driving force in integrating the program. He was not a "young" 70. His age clearly showed.

I agree that it worked out for the best. Joe B wasn't perfect, but he took what Rupp had built, modernized it, and made it national as the sport was expanding, which was not an easy transition at all (just look at UCLA post-Wooden, and IU post-Knight).

This post was edited on 2/24 9:43 AM by mj2k10

 

[Calsarmy]

I was old enough to remember. There was a law about having to retire at 70. That law would have been reworked if the University had wanted it to be so, but they didnt.

They wanted new blood and Joe was the guy. Joe had already left for St Louis and the University promised him if he came back they would give him the job with Rupp left. He came back as we know and Rupp was retired.

I was at a luncheon thing a few years later and Rupp was the speaker. Guy could be funny as hell when he wanted to be. Someone in the crowd asked him about why he retired and how it happened. Rupp says he retired due to illness. And there was this silence. Then Rupp says "Yep the University was damn sick and tired of me" True story.

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

Originally posted by Calsarmy:
I was old enough to remember. There was a law about having to retire at 70. That law would have been reworked if the University had wanted it to be so, but they didnt.

They wanted new blood and Joe was the guy. Joe had already left for St Louis and the University promised him if he came back they would give him the job with Rupp left. He came back as we know and Rupp was retired.

I was at a luncheon thing a few years later and Rupp was the speaker. Guy could be funny as hell when he wanted to be. Someone in the crowd asked him about why he retired and how it happened. Rupp says he retired due to illness. And there was this silence. Then Rupp says "Yep the University was damn sick and tired of me" True story.

Good post. Thanks.

 

[John Henry]

Originally posted by Calsarmy:
I was old enough to remember. There was a law about having to retire at 70. That law would have been reworked if the University had wanted it to be so, but they didnt.

They wanted new blood and Joe was the guy. Joe had already left for St Louis and the University promised him if he came back they would give him the job with Rupp left. He came back as we know and Rupp was retired.

I was at a luncheon thing a few years later and Rupp was the speaker. Guy could be funny as hell when he wanted to be. Someone in the crowd asked him about why he retired and how it happened. Rupp says he retired due to illness. And there was this silence. Then Rupp says "Yep the University was damn sick and tired of me" True story.

Right, this is almost word for word for what he said. There was talk about trying to get a wavier to the "rule" or law and some of the ex players rallied behind him to support that effort. I think Dan Issel may have been one of them. But UK wanted a change and that wasn't going to happen.

Has there ever been an after dinner speaker better than Adolph Rupp? I haven't seen him/her yet. He had a wit like none other and he was extremely intelligent. His IQ was off the chart and he could discuss the classics, military history and strategy with the elites. I often listen to his comments on tape and never tire of them.

His interview after the Texas Western game tells me the man he was. It was all complimentary to Texas Western. No sour grapes, no excuses.

 

[Indyadolph]

Right, this is almost word for word for what he said. There was talk about trying to get a wavier to the "rule" or law and some of the ex players rallied behind him to support that effort. I think Dan Issel may have been one of them. But UK wanted a change and that wasn't going to happen.

Sawnee Cat is correct. There was this meeting with the Rupp Camp (supporters) and UK's Board of Regents (or whatever they were called). Dr. Otis Singletary was present. For you young guns, that would be UK President Otis Singletary, and the Rupp Camp brought along Colonel Sanders, who at the time would've been 81 or 82, and propped him up in a chair. The reason being: "Look, people, look! Look, Dr. Singletary! Look how alert Col. Sanders is....and he's 82 years old!"
Maybe Issel was part of this group??......I can't remember. But I do, in fact, remembering reading this years ago. These people were, in fact, trying to get a waiver to the "70-year old" mandatory retirement rule (law).

 

[uky8unc5]

Calsarmy nailed it. I'll add: Joe B was responsible for recruiting the Super Kittens. For him to carry the Flag with Coach Rupp disgruntled, Joe B deserves an arena named after him too.

Addendum: Coach Rupp was best friends with my Aunt/Uncle. (Vacationed with him, etc.) So I got to meet him up close at his farm in Bourbon County once. Also I got to be around Joe B through his family (his Mom and cousins). I'd prefer a day with Joe over Coach Rupp any day of the week. Coach Rupp will always be our greatest coach. Joe will always be our greatest gentleman.

 

[wkycatfan7]

Originally posted by Sawnee Cat:

His interview after the Texas Western game tells me the man he was. It was all complimentary to Texas Western. No sour grapes, no excuses.

I've heard this audio, and it should be played on ESPN, include it in a 30 for 30 or something. Very gracious, not the Klansman that he is now portrayed as.

 

[John Henry]

Originally posted by YouKay:


I was in high school at the time and we were season ticket holders. It was pretty controversial as I recall. Rupp had some powerful supporters in town and on the UK Board of Trustees who did not want him to retire. He refused to even talk about it until he was forced to. His health was declining and his recruiting fell off. His last team was downright terrible, and were actually booed at the Coliseum. (Though he did recruit Kevin Grevey, Mike Flynn, Jimmy Dan Conner, and Bob Guyette as his last group and they went on to be national runner-ups in 1975.) At that point most fans were ready for him to go. It was especially concerning that Indiana, UNC, and Louisville had younger coaches who were getting the nationally known recruits away from UK. But there was a fair amount of skepticism about Joe B. Hall as his successor.

I do not recall Coach Rupp's team being booed in the Coliseum but if it happened it speaks volumes as to his genius. His last team won the SEC Championship, in fact his last five teams won the SEC Championship. So some UK fans booed the SEC champions. Wow.

If UK fans were booing Coach Rupp that was opposite of what the SEC schools were doing. I lived in Florida and attended Rupp's last game in Gainesville. The moment he came out of the locker room the entire gym (Alligator Alley was a gym) erupted in a standing applause and cheering. That had never happened at a UK game I had previously attended there. Every SEC school had a special program honoring him as he went to each school for the last time. Coach Rupp singled out Mississippi State and the fact he was deeply touched by their applause. No school was hated more than Mississippi State by UK fans during the 50's and early 60's. . This is the school that had placed a dead skunk under the UK bench and had nailed the UK locker room door shut before the game. It was the school that rang cow bells from the opening tip throughout the entire game. Constant aggravating noise. It was also the school that hung a funeral wreath on the goal in Memorial Coliseum, the ultimate insult.

But UK was certainly ready for a change and I am not surprised to hear the UK fans booed Rupp. I just don't remember it. The rest of the league realized just how much Rupp meant to basketball, something probably lost by those fans close to him who wanted new blood.

 

[EvilMD]

I'm almost 50. It was 20-something years ago that a Duke fan told me about them trying to get Rupp to come there. I thought it was common knowledge by now.

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

Originally posted by uky8unc5:
Calsarmy nailed it. I'll add: Joe B was responsible for recruiting the Super Kittens. For him to carry the Flag with Coach Rupp disgruntled, Joe B deserves an arena named after him too.

Addendum: Coach Rupp was best friends with my Aunt/Uncle. (Vacationed with him, etc.) So I got to meet him up close at his farm in Bourbon County once. Also I got to be around Joe B through his family (his Mom and cousins). I'd prefer a day with Joe over Coach Rupp any day of the week. Coach Rupp will always be our greatest coach. Joe will always be our greatest gentleman.

Joe B. Hall is all class. Plus he married well.

 

[Bigbluecaleb]

this is pretty much as I remember it as well MdWildcat . . . GBB

 

[gamalielkid]

I was at the game Jason! It was a great game to watch. Pistol was open and dangerous as soon as he crossed the mid court line. People need to know that he took over half of LSU's shots in many, many games - but he was sure fun to watch. I can remember people giving him hell for playing for his "daddy", Coach Rupp told him he could come play for his "Uncle Adolph" anytime he wanted!

Go Big Blue!

 

[JPScott]

Originally posted by wkycatfan:

I've heard this audio, and it should be played on ESPN, include it in a 30 for 30 or something. Very gracious, not the Klansman that he is now portrayed as.

If you read the various media outlets, they portray Rupp as someone who was stunned at the Texas Western loss, shocked and at a loss for words. They also try to paint this as a watershed event, which finally led Rupp to recognize the need to recruit black players. (Of course that completely ignores the fact that Rupp HAD been recruiting black players for a number of years prior to the game vs. Texas Western).

Given the way the media has tried to portray it, it's very interesting to actually hear Rupp being interviewed after the game. Hardly the shattered person the media tries to make him out to be. By the end of the interview Rupp was even joking with Claude Sullivan about helping him broadcast Cincinnati Reds games during the upcoming baseball season.

Audio Link and Transcript of Claude Sullivan interview with Rupp after 1966 National Championship game

 

[gamalielkid]

Sawnnee Cat, I was a student at UK and attended every home game. I never remember Coach Rupp being booed. He got standing ovations and when he walked onto the coliseum floor the school band would yell " Hello Adolph" and he would waive and the student section took it up and went wild. The team had a few boos when it didn't play particularly well - that happens everywhere. But I can assure you that Coach Ruppl was treated like a god by the student body - which he was to us!

I remember watching and listening to the away games when Coach Rupp retired - and you were correct. Every school made a big deal of his farewell tour thru the SEC. I was very lucky to see Coach Rupp retire at Kentucky. The 69-70 Cats were a great team and were screwed out of a National Title in Columbus - I was at that game as well. The officials made sure we lost that game in my opinion. If people will go back and watch films we took some rough calls and no calls from Jacksonville that night. Dan Issel was intentionally fouled. His last foul when he ran over the guard happened because this little guard would run up in front of Dan, it happened not once, not twice but three times before Dan "fouled" the guy. Dan, the Kentucky bench and the fans from UK went crazy over the call. This was intentional as could be and the officials did nothing about it. If the game was called fairly UK would have easily won - Jacksonsville was bigger, but UK was much better!

I was setting on a row in front of one of the corner scoreboards. My friend and I were almost thrown out of the Arena because we were banging on the scoreboards during the last 10 minutes of the game from our unhappiness with the officiating. That was another game that race was an issue - at least from our perspective. Big 10 arena in Columbus, Ohio and Kentucky was playing a tall predominately black team in Jacksonville. They had Artis Gilmore and Pimbrook Burrows. Many UK shots were pinned against the glass - which was goal tending - not one was called the entire night! Our corner seats gave us excellent views of those goal tends.

Kentucky was given the "shaft" many nights in the NCAA's in the 60's and 70's in particular - I will always believe it was somewhat racially motivated. Even though Coach Rupp, which has been proven over and over, was not prejudiced against black players. Coach Rupp and Kentucky had to endure great disadvantages because we were in the SEC. People talk about how our league made it easy for us - well it is almost the opposite! Kentucky couldn't recruit black players because of the other conference schools. When you think of Jackie Robinson in baseball, this was what it was like for Kentucky to have black basketball players. The kids were threatened and the team was threatened. Many people still don't realize that Kentucky played in a couple of NCAA tournaments as the SEC runner up team. Mississippi State, coached by legendary Babe McCarthy won the league a few times, but Mississippi schools were forbid by their state legislatures from playing in the tournament because they would have to play teams with blacks on them.

These are some facts many here do not know or remember, but they are true!

Go Big Blue!

 

[John Henry]

Thank you JPScott.

It was so nice listening to that voice one more time. When I was a student attending games about half of the us had transistor radios and would rush out of the coliseum to listen to Coach Rupp. That was often the highlight of the game, especially after a great win.

 

[WildCatForever69]

the player Issel ran over was Vaughn Wedking..It was a terrible call..Mark Soderberg had to come in and play Center..and It is Pembrooke Burrows..

Originally posted by gamalielkid:
Sawnnee Cat, I was a student at UK and attended every home game. I never remember Coach Rupp being booed. He got standing ovations and when he walked onto the coliseum floor the school band would yell " Hello Adolph" and he would waive and the student section took it up and went wild. The team had a few boos when it didn't play particularly well - that happens everywhere. But I can assure you that Coach Ruppl was treated like a god by the student body - which he was to us!

I remember watching and listening to the away games when Coach Rupp retired - and you were correct. Every school made a big deal of his farewell tour thru the SEC. I was very lucky to see Coach Rupp retire at Kentucky. The 69-70 Cats were a great team and were screwed out of a National Title in Columbus - I was at that game as well. The officials made sure we lost that game in my opinion. If people will go back and watch films we took some rough calls and no calls from Jacksonville that night. Dan Issel was intentionally fouled. His last foul when he ran over the guard happened because this little guard would run up in front of Dan, it happened not once, not twice but three times before Dan "fouled" the guy. Dan, the Kentucky bench and the fans from UK went crazy over the call. This was intentional as could be and the officials did nothing about it. If the game was called fairly UK would have easily won - Jacksonsville was bigger, but UK was much better!

I was setting on a row in front of one of the corner scoreboards. My friend and I were almost thrown out of the Arena because we were banging on the scoreboards during the last 10 minutes of the game from our unhappiness with the officiating. That was another game that race was an issue - at least from our perspective. Big 10 arena in Columbus, Ohio and Kentucky was playing a tall predominately black team in Jacksonville. They had Artis Gilmore and Pimbrook Burrows. Many UK shots were pinned against the glass - which was goal tending - not one was called the entire night! Our corner seats gave us excellent views of those goal tends.

Kentucky was given the "shaft" many nights in the NCAA's in the 60's and 70's in particular - I will always believe it was somewhat racially motivated. Even though Coach Rupp, which has been proven over and over, was not prejudiced against black players. Coach Rupp and Kentucky had to endure great disadvantages because we were in the SEC. People talk about how our league made it easy for us - well it is almost the opposite! Kentucky couldn't recruit black players because of the other conference schools. When you think of Jackie Robinson in baseball, this was what it was like for Kentucky to have black basketball players. The kids were threatened and the team was threatened. Many people still don't realize that Kentucky played in a couple of NCAA tournaments as the SEC runner up team. Mississippi State, coached by legendary Babe McCarthy won the league a few times, but Mississippi schools were forbid by their state legislatures from playing in the tournament because they would have to play teams with blacks on them.

These are some facts many here do not know or remember, but they are true!

Go Big Blue!

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

Originally posted by gamalielkid:
Sawnnee Cat, I was a student at UK and attended every home game. I never remember Coach Rupp being booed. He got standing ovations and when he walked onto the coliseum floor the school band would yell " Hello Adolph" and he would waive and the student section took it up and went wild. The team had a few boos when it didn't play particularly well - that happens everywhere. But I can assure you that Coach Ruppl was treated like a god by the student body - which he was to us!

I remember watching and listening to the away games when Coach Rupp retired - and you were correct. Every school made a big deal of his farewell tour thru the SEC. I was very lucky to see Coach Rupp retire at Kentucky. The 69-70 Cats were a great team and were screwed out of a National Title in Columbus - I was at that game as well. The officials made sure we lost that game in my opinion. If people will go back and watch films we took some rough calls and no calls from Jacksonville that night. Dan Issel was intentionally fouled. His last foul when he ran over the guard happened because this little guard would run up in front of Dan, it happened not once, not twice but three times before Dan "fouled" the guy. Dan, the Kentucky bench and the fans from UK went crazy over the call. This was intentional as could be and the officials did nothing about it. If the game was called fairly UK would have easily won - Jacksonsville was bigger, but UK was much better!

I was setting on a row in front of one of the corner scoreboards. My friend and I were almost thrown out of the Arena because we were banging on the scoreboards during the last 10 minutes of the game from our unhappiness with the officiating. That was another game that race was an issue - at least from our perspective. Big 10 arena in Columbus, Ohio and Kentucky was playing a tall predominately black team in Jacksonville. They had Artis Gilmore and Pimbrook Burrows. Many UK shots were pinned against the glass - which was goal tending - not one was called the entire night! Our corner seats gave us excellent views of those goal tends.

Kentucky was given the "shaft" many nights in the NCAA's in the 60's and 70's in particular - I will always believe it was somewhat racially motivated. Even though Coach Rupp, which has been proven over and over, was not prejudiced against black players. Coach Rupp and Kentucky had to endure great disadvantages because we were in the SEC. People talk about how our league made it easy for us - well it is almost the opposite! Kentucky couldn't recruit black players because of the other conference schools. When you think of Jackie Robinson in baseball, this was what it was like for Kentucky to have black basketball players. The kids were threatened and the team was threatened. Many people still don't realize that Kentucky played in a couple of NCAA tournaments as the SEC runner up team. Mississippi State, coached by legendary Babe McCarthy won the league a few times, but Mississippi schools were forbid by their state legislatures from playing in the tournament because they would have to play teams with blacks on them.

These are some facts many here do not know or remember, but they are true!

Go Big Blue!

gamalielkid, what a fantastic post. Geeze you should set down all your experiences. You write a good story. I loved it.

 

[1977 Cat]

Gamaliel, loved reading your stories. Coach Rupp used to come in to the training room at Shively to let R. D. Wilson work on his foot. If your were sitting on the table he wanted, he would tell you to move. I was in awe regardless. He got my table many times. Were their other Monroe Countians at UK in 1970?
This post was edited on 2/24 4:28 PM by 1977 Cat

 

[blubo]

Re: Question for the old farts
ram1955 posted on 2/23/2015...
I was about 12-13 when he retired. There was much discussion in the news about 70 being the mandatory retirement age and that it would not be waived. I hated seeing him go, but was more concerned about the team than the coach. The first Hall team I remember was led by Jim Andrews. They got beat in the tournament by iu.

I also remember the night he died. Dec 7, 1977 I think. If I'm not mistaken, the Cats were playing Kansas.
###################

he died december 10, 1977, a bitter cold snowy day. the cats won at kansas that day. bittersweet day that day, but more sweet than bitter, it was also the day my future uk graduate was born.

 

[John Henry]

Originally posted by gamalielkid:
Sawnnee Cat, I was a student at UK and attended every home game. I never remember Coach Rupp being booed. He got standing ovations and when he walked onto the coliseum floor the school band would yell " Hello Adolph" and he would waive and the student section took it up and went wild. The team had a few boos when it didn't play particularly well - that happens everywhere. But I can assure you that Coach Ruppl was treated like a god by the student body - which he was to us!

I remember watching and listening to the away games when Coach Rupp retired - and you were correct. Every school made a big deal of his farewell tour thru the SEC. I was very lucky to see Coach Rupp retire at Kentucky. The 69-70 Cats were a great team and were screwed out of a National Title in Columbus - I was at that game as well. The officials made sure we lost that game in my opinion. If people will go back and watch films we took some rough calls and no calls from Jacksonville that night. Dan Issel was intentionally fouled. His last foul when he ran over the guard happened because this little guard would run up in front of Dan, it happened not once, not twice but three times before Dan "fouled" the guy. Dan, the Kentucky bench and the fans from UK went crazy over the call. This was intentional as could be and the officials did nothing about it. If the game was called fairly UK would have easily won - Jacksonsville was bigger, but UK was much better!

I was setting on a row in front of one of the corner scoreboards. My friend and I were almost thrown out of the Arena because we were banging on the scoreboards during the last 10 minutes of the game from our unhappiness with the officiating. That was another game that race was an issue - at least from our perspective. Big 10 arena in Columbus, Ohio and Kentucky was playing a tall predominately black team in Jacksonville. They had Artis Gilmore and Pimbrook Burrows. Many UK shots were pinned against the glass - which was goal tending - not one was called the entire night! Our corner seats gave us excellent views of those goal tends.

Kentucky was given the "shaft" many nights in the NCAA's in the 60's and 70's in particular - I will always believe it was somewhat racially motivated. Even though Coach Rupp, which has been proven over and over, was not prejudiced against black players. Coach Rupp and Kentucky had to endure great disadvantages because we were in the SEC. People talk about how our league made it easy for us - well it is almost the opposite! Kentucky couldn't recruit black players because of the other conference schools. When you think of Jackie Robinson in baseball, this was what it was like for Kentucky to have black basketball players. The kids were threatened and the team was threatened. Many people still don't realize that Kentucky played in a couple of NCAA tournaments as the SEC runner up team. Mississippi State, coached by legendary Babe McCarthy won the league a few times, but Mississippi schools were forbid by their state legislatures from playing in the tournament because they would have to play teams with blacks on them.

These are some facts many here do not know or remember, but they are true!

Go Big Blue!

Wow, gamaliekid, thank you for bringing back those memories. That is how I remember games when Rupp was our coach. The students did love him and the "Hello Adolph" became a tradition with all eyes on Coach waiting for his wave to the student body.

You make an excellent point about UK having to bear great disadvantages because we were in the SEC. Remember what was going on in those days at Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana. It was on TV every night and the entire nation started hating the South. This certainly influenced sports and I know UK was a marked team when they went up against Jacksonville. Also recall Al McGuire went off on Kentucky when he was coach at Marquette, ranting on and on about UK, insinuating we were a racist school. He later apologized but what was done was done.

A side note on Penbrooke Burrows. He became the first black officer on the Florida Highway Patrol. One of my close friends was pulled over by Penbrook, speeding through Waldo, Florida. He said the trooper approached his car and all he could see was his knees. He may be the tallest State Trooper in history.
This post was edited on 2/24 4:56 PM by Sawnee Cat

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

I would love to have a talk session with gamalielkid and Sawnee Cat. Hell there ain't no telling how the media could keep up with the lies.

I have two friends in Jacksonville, FL that I would like to include in this conversation. Oh my gosh we need to record it!

 

[gamalielkid]

Not many Joe. I had a distant cousin, a member of the Ryherd family, who lived on Alexandria Road in south west part of the county who attended UK. I think Tom Evans from Turkey Neck bend area may have been at UK around that time period as well. We were few and far between. Most of the local kids went to Western and a few to Campbellsville and Lindsey Wilson.

I really enjoyed your days on the football field Joe. I was at Athens when you guys shellacked Georgia 33-0. It was great year to be a Cat fan. Both football and basketball in the top 5. It can be done and I hope to be able to see it again. I believe Coach Stoops may get it done. Would appreciate your input on the state of the football program. I only know what I read here on this board now.

One last thing, I will always remember the Baylor game, as I'm sure you do - you guys must have melted in that heat! Thanks for representing the county and our state. All the county and Tompkinsville are very proud to claim you!

Go Big Blue!

P.S. I was friends with Dr. Bushong's son Bill. Did his brother John play at UK too? I know Bill did. I have a lot of great memories and stories from the 64th district and the old 16th region. Hard to believe it has been so many years ago.

 

[docholiday51]

Originally posted by gamalielkid:
Sawnnee Cat, I was a student at UK and attended every home game. I never remember Coach Rupp being booed. He got standing ovations and when he walked onto the coliseum floor the school band would yell " Hello Adolph" and he would waive and the student section took it up and went wild. The team had a few boos when it didn't play particularly well - that happens everywhere. But I can assure you that Coach Ruppl was treated like a god by the student body - which he was to us!

I remember watching and listening to the away games when Coach Rupp retired - and you were correct. Every school made a big deal of his farewell tour thru the SEC. I was very lucky to see Coach Rupp retire at Kentucky. The 69-70 Cats were a great team and were screwed out of a National Title in Columbus - I was at that game as well. The officials made sure we lost that game in my opinion. If people will go back and watch films we took some rough calls and no calls from Jacksonville that night. Dan Issel was intentionally fouled. His last foul when he ran over the guard happened because this little guard would run up in front of Dan, it happened not once, not twice but three times before Dan "fouled" the guy. Dan, the Kentucky bench and the fans from UK went crazy over the call. This was intentional as could be and the officials did nothing about it. If the game was called fairly UK would have easily won - Jacksonsville was bigger, but UK was much better!

I was setting on a row in front of one of the corner scoreboards. My friend and I were almost thrown out of the Arena because we were banging on the scoreboards during the last 10 minutes of the game from our unhappiness with the officiating. That was another game that race was an issue - at least from our perspective. Big 10 arena in Columbus, Ohio and Kentucky was playing a tall predominately black team in Jacksonville. They had Artis Gilmore and Pimbrook Burrows. Many UK shots were pinned against the glass - which was goal tending - not one was called the entire night! Our corner seats gave us excellent views of those goal tends.

Kentucky was given the "shaft" many nights in the NCAA's in the 60's and 70's in particular - I will always believe it was somewhat racially motivated. Even though Coach Rupp, which has been proven over and over, was not prejudiced against black players. Coach Rupp and Kentucky had to endure great disadvantages because we were in the SEC. People talk about how our league made it easy for us - well it is almost the opposite! Kentucky couldn't recruit black players because of the other conference schools. When you think of Jackie Robinson in baseball, this was what it was like for Kentucky to have black basketball players. The kids were threatened and the team was threatened. Many people still don't realize that Kentucky played in a couple of NCAA tournaments as the SEC runner up team. Mississippi State, coached by legendary Babe McCarthy won the league a few times, but Mississippi schools were forbid by their state legislatures from playing in the tournament because they would have to play teams with blacks on them.

These are some facts many here do not know or remember, but they are true!

Go Big Blue!

A very good post,I remember those days and the J-ville game well(I think Vaughn Wedeking was the guards name)The younger fans really can't get the feel for what is was like during that time(hell we were there and I'm not sure we got a true sense of how things really happened) your post tells it well

I remember going to Gamaliel to play a football game my junior year,we needed a win for a conference championship.We were down 20-0 at the half,but a couple of the Gamaliel players sobered up(not kidding) during the second half and we won 22-20.If you see this post please tell the board this was an average day in 8 man football.

 

[1977 Cat]

Very kind words from you (just wiped a tear from my eyes , and proud of it) but Bills brother played at Western. See Bill on occasion but not enough. E-mail me at [email protected]. Would love to talk about the Rupp Years!

Originally posted by gamalielkid:
Not many Joe. I had a distant cousin, a member of the Ryherd family, who lived on Alexandria Road in south west part of the county who attended UK. I think Tom Evans from Turkey Neck bend area may have been at UK around that time period as well. We were few and far between. Most of the local kids went to Western and a few to Campbellsville and Lindsey Wilson.

I really enjoyed your days on the football field Joe. I was at Athens when you guys shellacked Georgia 33-0. It was great year to be a Cat fan. Both football and basketball in the top 5. It can be done and I hope to be able to see it again. I believe Coach Stoops may get it done. Would appreciate your input on the state of the football program. I only know what I read here on this board now.

One last thing, I will always remember the Baylor game, as I'm sure you do - you guys must have melted in that heat! Thanks for representing the county and our state. All the county and Tompkinsville are very proud to claim you!

Go Big Blue!

P.S. I was friends with Dr. Bushong's son Bill. Did his brother John play at UK too? I know Bill did. I have a lot of great memories and stories from the 64th district and the old 16th region. Hard to believe it has been so many years ago.

 

[fla.cat]

Wildcatdorever69.......Hey I think I know you a bit. I was the tall track manager and often worked in Coach Whalen's office across from Rupps office in Memorial. I too had a "city nickname"....I was "Fulton".
Were you the sorta frizzy haired guy, it was short but like Art Garfunkel, or the real dark haired guy?
We had a few passing conversations, when Rupp was leaving for the day and he and I spoke a few times.
Rupp was interestd in talking about Jim Green, an all american sprinter during that time.

 

[MychalG]

I have no comment on the thread topic but I do have a message for the OP..

I just turned 58 yrs old and by no means do I consider myself an "old fart"..I have forgotten more about any subject than you will ever know and that includes UK BB history. I also have a crisp Benjamin that says I could kick your punk *** up and down any alley of your choice. Any one of you posters who start thread topics, referring to older men/ladies as "old farts", "old-timers" and "greybeards" can all kiss my backside..I don't take too kindly to being referred to as such and I am sure others feel the same..

 

[bluehue]

Just remember, all of us old farts at one time were young poots just like you, lol.

This post was edited on 2/25 7:18 AM by kirblueie

This post was edited on 2/25 7:23 AM by kirblueie

 

[gakat3]

Originally posted by gamalielkid:
Coach Rupp was adored by the student body and the people of rural Kentucky. However, Coach Hall did a lot better than most on here seem to remember. It was Coach Hall that recruited the "super kittens" - that is one of the reason's Coach Rupp didn't want to leave. Coach Hall's first teams were loaded and had a great chance to win it all, but for the bad break of having to play John Wooden in his last game, he would have the title in 1975. Officiating was the difference. Coach Wooden walked out to mid court screaming at the officials as UK was winning with less than 10 minutes to go. He should have had technical fouls called at a minimum. No one said anything, because it was Wooden's last game and in California for the National Championship. Kentucky's players and coaches seemed rattled after that and the officials were certainly intimidated.

When the kittens were freshmen the Coliseum would fill to capacity for their games, which were played before the varsity game. One fourth of the people would go home in the second half of the varsity game. The kittens went 25-0 if I remember correctly and blew out everyone, while the varsity struggled that year. I was a student and we will never know for sure, but supposedly the kittens beat the varsity regularly and Rupp wouldn't allow them to keep score of those scrimmages.

Coach Rupp was starting to suffer from his diabetes and its many sub issues like early dementia in my opinion. But he could still keep an audience in awe with his stories. Coach Rupp was "retired" because of Kentucky's retirement age law. Some people tried to get the law changed, but the legislature never took it up. Coach Hall was Rupp's top assistant and briefly accepted the St. Louis head coaching job. Coach Rupp met with Coach Hall and the athletic department agreed that Coach Hall would take the job when Rupp retired. Coach Rupp just wasn't ready to go and it was a shame, because some of his image was tarnished, but most of the people quickly forgave Coach Rupp and understood his situation. A lot of people aren't ready to retire when the time comes.

Duke approached Coach Rupp and it was rumored he verbally had accepted the job. Supposedly Ester,(Coach Rupp's Wife) told Adolph she was moving from Lexington and he should do more farming. The rest is history.

Coach Rupp was one of if not the greatest teller of stories ever. His radio shows were classics with his stories. If you can imagine Caywood Ledford and him discussing basketball and life. R.I.P. Coach Rupp and Caywood - you are and will always be Kentucky Basketball for those born before 1950.

Go Big Blue!

You are so right about wooden cheaters last game. He proved he was a low class guy and got away with it. The press never made an issue but many of us know.

 

[Poetax]

Originally posted by MdWIldcat55:
I wasn't all that old when Rupp left so I'm sure it was more complicated than I recall. But my memory is that people were sad that it ended on a somewhat acrimonious note, with Rupp wanting to hang on longer and the powers-that-be forcing him out. Interestingly, my father and uncles who all loved Rupp weren't on his side in that power struggle; the feeling was it was time for him to go.

There was no controversy that I recall about Joe B. taking the job. It was never opened up to consider anyone outside the UK community.

I know looking back on it, people recall there was lots of unrest with Joe B. from the beginning, but I don't remember that. Rupp's last couple teams had underperformed in the tournament. Hall's first couple teams didn't do much, but his third team sprung a terrific upset on Indiana and went to the final game. After that, fans could feel things were building to 1978, even after a disappointment in 1977.

Don't forget Gale Catlett thought he was going to get that job too. Upset him so bad he left for UC.

 

[jratchfo]

Informative thread from our UK elders. Even you Bert

 

[DCFseattle]

i have a question for the old farts as well.

how come i can't get on your lawn? you're not using it, so what's it hurt?

 

[1977 Cat]

Enjoy history so back to the top.

 

[56gregory7]

I also recall Harry was ready to retire a year or two before Rupp, Cliff had been offered the AD job put would not take the AD job with that age 70 mandatory retirement looming. Cliff didn't want to be the one who oversaw Rupp's exit. So Harry oversaw the termination of Rupp, then Harry left, and Cliff came in and it was done. I do believe Rupp had a Radio show Joe's first year or two tho. Anyways that's some of what I remember.

 

[WildCatForever69]

Originally posted by 1977 Cat:
Gamaliel, loved reading your stories. Coach Rupp used to come in to the training room at Shively to let R. D. Wilson work on his foot. If your were sitting on the table he wanted, he would tell you to move. I was in awe regardless. He got my table many times. Were their other Monroe Countians at UK in 1970?

This post was edited on 2/24 4:28 PM by 1977 Cat

I worked under Roy Don Wilson at football I moved to Basketball after about 2 weeks

 

[WildCatForever69]

I was the Dark haired guy..Coach Rupp could not remember my name He called me Louisville becausenI was from Louisville..Great Times ..I remember Press Whelan.well Jim Green from Eminence is a good friend of mine..
This post was edited on 2/25 6:41 PM by WildCatForever69

 

[lawrencekash]

Interesting reading all these comments. I knew the Rupp family through my father's two years as assistant team Dr in the 40's. Not really a position because he had to do some work in the medical field to repay the Army for Med school after he was wounded and sent back from France after only 4 days of combat duty. Rupp was not one to be very sociable and to a 7 yr old sleeping back of the bench I was terrified of him. He also was not good with names and mostly would just say "hey you". I can vaguely remember him asking others what is "that players name?" After the Texas Western game he turned to my father and spoke in very complimentary terms about the other team and its players. The recording of his post game interview is pretty much the same. (we were guests of the Rupp family at Cole Fieldhouse)

 

[KyCattransplant]

I heard about the Duke offer.............Hall took the St Louis job, I think one or two years before Rupp's retirement, however he some UK officals convinced him to stay at UK. Rupp had hired Gale Catlett as an assistant and from what I heard wanted Catlett to replace him, not Hall....Of course Hall got the job and Catlett went to Cincinnati and then on to WV.

 

[WildCatForever69]

Originally posted by fla.cat:
Wildcatdorever69.......Hey I think I know you a bit. I was the tall track manager and often worked in Coach Whalen's office across from Rupps office in Memorial. I too had a "city nickname"....I was "Fulton".
Were you the sorta frizzy haired guy, it was short but like Art Garfunkel, or the real dark haired guy?
We had a few passing conversations, when Rupp was leaving for the day and he and I spoke a few times.
Rupp was interestd in talking about Jim Green, an all american sprinter during that time.

see my answer above