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Kentucky fan reveals threat of being detained for not giving up sign trolling John Calipari

On3 imageby: Andrew Graham01/11/23AndrewEdGraham
Albany v Kentucky
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 22: A general view of the Kentucky Wildcats game against the Albany Great Danes at Rupp Arena on November 22, 2021 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The sign was not subtle, nor was the effort to remove it from Rupp Arena on Tuesday night as Kentucky lost to South Carolina, 71-68, in a game that marks a new low for this Kentucky team. But the message wasn’t crude or obscene or even overtly hostile.

It read, simply: “Please go to Texas,” a clear reference to the open head coaching job there and the view from many in the Kentucky fan base that things have run their course for John Calipari in Lexington. Compounding it all? The way the fan was apparently removed from the arena.

The person who was kicked out shared their side of the events with Dylan Ballard, explaining that they were initially just told to put the sign away by Kentucky event staff.

“At first the blue coat just told me to put it away, so I did. Then he came back up and said security was making him take it. I said I’d just leave instead. He still tried to take it. I said I’m not giving it to you, and got escorted. When I was walking up the stairs, I held it up and that’s when he physically grabbed me and yelled at me that I need to put it down or I’m going to be detained by security. Then I got escorted out by him, a higher security guy, and two officers,” the person, unidentified, wrote to Ballard in a text message.

This person apparently also came to a Kentucky game earlier in the season with a sign that showed the first names of all the starters — an obvious show of support.

“UK fan just got thrown [out] of the arena for having this sign,” shared KSR’s Matt Jones about the Kentucky fan’s sign.

Although it was unclear if Calipari himself saw the sign begging him to leave as fans remain frustrated with his recent performance, the moment highlights just how public the frustration is surrounding this year’s Wildcats team. The moment was highlighted extra as Kentucky struggled to find any momentum throughout the first half against a 7-8 South Carolina squad.