BTI's Rants and Ramblings: Friday Summer Fan Stories

by: Bryan1306/17/16

Every Friday from now until football season, I give this post up to you. You give me your favorite, most memorable, funniest, saddest, whatever story related to UK athletics. It doesn’t have to be any minimum length although the person who send me a 1-sentence post probably will not make it. But I just want the story that you always tell your friends or means the most to you. You don’t have to use your name. Just send it to me at [email protected]. I am an avid Kentucky fan and alumnus having a BA, MS, and Ed.D from the university. I have lots of great stories about UK athletics but the one I want to share here involves my grandmother Jane Wall who passed away several years ago. She taught dance, ballot, and baton in Hopkinsville Ky. for many years. She took a group of young girls (The Walletts) to Lexington to perform during half time of a UK basketball game. Apparently Coach Rupp was not pleased with the teams first half performance because the team came out early to warm up for the second half. The players stood along the baseline waiting for the girls to complete their performance. Coach Rupp came out and told my grandmother to have the girls leave the floor so the team could warm up. My grandmother told Coach Rupp " No, we were told we had 5 minutes and the girls are going to get their 5 minutes". Coach Rupp and the team stood there and allowed the girls to finish their performance. As the girls ran off the floor my grandmother then approached Coach Rupp and thanked him and then proceeded to ask for his autograph to bring back to her grandson who was a big fan (me). I have framed that autograph along with a picture of Coach Rupp and still cherish it after all these years! -Russ Wall

Hello, you wanted the most memorable, funniest UK fan stories. Even though it's embarrassing, here's mine. Thanks!

Since 1996 my college roommates and I get together to attend the SEC Basketball Tournament ever year. As you can imagine I have enough stories to write a book but this is one of my favorites. In 2012 we traveled to New Orleans for the tournament. One night we have reservations at a very nice steakhouse for dinner. While waiting at the bar for our table Coach Cal and his staff walk in. I get up enough liquid courage to introduce myself. I approach Cal and say " Coach my name is Chris, I live in Winchester and I appreciate everything you do". Cal thanks me and says enjoy your dinner. We are seated at our table and the cocktails begin to flow as we celebrate being in New Orleans and that amazing 2012 team. Later in the night I decide it's time to visit the restroom. I'm standing at the urinal and Coach Cal walks up. I completely freeze and ponder whether or not I should say anything. After a few seconds of awkward silence which seemed like an eternity I say to Cal "Coach my name is Chris, I live in Winchester and I appreciate everything you do". Cal looks at me and says "I know Chris you already told me that". I look at Cal like a deer in the headlights and say "Go Cats" before bolting out of the restroom. Needless to say it's the first time I've left the restroom without washing my hands.

-Chris