Octavious Oxendine: No beef with basketball team, Kentucky is "all-around school"

ZGeogheganKSR

It was around this time last year that a slip of the tongue from Kentucky men’s basketball head coach John Calipari sparked an offseason controversy. The Hall of Famer declared the Wildcats a “basketball school”, which didn’t exactly sit well within the football program, which has soared to unexpected heights since Mark Stoops took over as head coach over a decade ago.

It was an unnecessary talking point during a slow point in the news cycle, which incidentally pitted the fan base against each other for a couple of weeks. Of course, Kentucky is going to be considered a “basketball school” above all else — they have eight national championships and the second-most wins of all time. But at the same time, if we’re objectively judging the two programs from their performances over the last few years, the football team has produced a better run.

Regardless, the tiff wasn’t exactly a positive reflection on UK Athletics. National headlines were made. But to Calipari and Stoops’ credit, they publicly squashed whatever “beef” had been made soon after. It became a forgotten talking point throughout the season and has remained that way. But one reporter at this week’s SEC Media Days in Nashville wanted to double-check that everything is, in fact, all buddy-buddy.

Kentucky football senior defensive lineman Octavious Oxendine, who graduated from North Hardin High School in Radcliff, KY, was the lucky recipient of that awkward question. He was asked what the relationship is like between the two teams and if it’s considered a rivalry. Oxendine gave a well-thought-out answer, pointing to the success of so many other UK teams on campus as part of his response.

“I feel there’s no type of rivalry there at all just because we always keep with the basketball guys. I was telling a reporter earlier today, those are my guys. Shout out to my guys. Canada earlier at Drake’s house. They had a fantastic time playing basketball up there. And that recruiting class we just got in basketball, like they’re the guys,” Oxendine said on Wednesday.

“We’re doing good on both sides right now. I feel like we’re an all-around good sports school. We’ve always been top 20 all around. Tennis, volleyball. Anything we do in sports at Kentucky, I feel like we’re top of the line.”

When pressed with a follow-up on whether or not he considers Kentucky to be a “football school”, Oxendine gave another respectful answer, once again recognizing the success of several UK sports programs.

“I feel like all-around school, like I just said. We’re top 20. You guys can probably pull it up somewhere,” Oxendine added. “Our soccer team is always good. Volleyball just won the national championship a couple years ago. Basketball team just did the same, as well, the women’s (with the SEC Championship).

“I mean, we’re all-around. We’re all-around kicking butt at UK.“