Throwback Thursday: College GameDay at Rupp Arena

by:Mrs. Tyler Thompson01/18/18

@MrsTylerKSR

On Saturday, College GameDay will be live from Rupp Arena for the seventh time. In the spirit of Throwback Thursday, let’s look back at some of the best GameDay memories at Rupp over the years.

2010: The year we filled up Rupp

https://youtu.be/0atqCl5addw

Kentucky’s first College GameDay appearance of the John Calipari Era was by far the best, with a record 22,144 fans coming out for the morning taping. The energy in the building reflected the excitement around the program at the time and watching the video still gives me chills.

The cast back then? Rece Davis, Jay Bilas (who still had some hair), Digger Phelps, and Hubert Davis. You have to love Davis’ face when the crowd boos a segment about Rick Pitino:

It was so fun Digger Phelps even danced!


2013: The Harlem Shake/NIT Year

Remember the Harlem Shake? College GameDay capitalized on the fad for their trip to Rupp in 2013:

The Harlem Shake is still dumb.

GameDay was an emotional one that year, as it took place only a few weeks after Nerlens Noel tore his ACL. Kentucky desperately needed a win over Missouri to stay in NCAA Tournament contention and they got it, but losses to Arkansas and Georgia and a quarterfinal loss to Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament sealed their NIT fate. Watching the recap of GameDay is still depressing:


2014: Digger’s last year

I can’t find anything interesting about the 2014 GameDay at Rupp other than it was Digger Phelps’ final year on the panel. Kentucky lost to Florida that year 69-59.


2017: John Wall makes an appearance

Last year, GameDay came to Rupp for the Kansas game, which both Jay Williams and special guest John Wall picked Kentucky to win. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.


2018: ?

We’ll find out Saturday. If you’re interested in going, the show starts at 11 a.m. Admission is free and doors open at 9 a.m. Get in there.

[mobile_ad]

Discuss This Article

Comments have moved.

Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.

KSBoard

2024-03-28