ADVERTISEMENT

Best Day as UK Fan

thedahc

thedahc

Sophomore
Aug 3, 2006
1,038
2,035
113
What was your best day as a UK fan? Please ignore the urge to say "When Cal leaves" that's not the intent of this thread. I really just want to know what things crystalized your fandom.

For me I have a few that were positive and impactful on my fandom:
-The 1996 win over Syracuse, I was little and that 96 team are my first real memories of UK Basketball
-The 1998 comeback win over Duke (I went to church and we were down a lot and then came home and saw that we won!)
-The 2012 tournament win over Louisville

There are so many, but I tried to limit to just a few.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CatFanInIlliniLand and BlueBomb
Probably 1975 win over Indiana in the Elite Eight.

I was a college sophomore in Ft. Lauderdale on spring break with some of my basketball teammates. Watched the game, and we were all delirious with excitement when the Cats won, especially since Indiana was by far the most hated UK rival in those days.

Went out to one of those huge early disco-type clubs in Ft. Lauderdale and, still full of adrenaline, introduced myself to a tall blonde woman who I found out was a cheerleader for the Florida Gators basketball team. Yadda Yadda, fast forward, we got married and had a daughter.

Some other contenders, but that day/night has to be in the conversation, all things considered.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Son_Of_Saul, Catfan2226, kywildcat41035 and 16 others
MdWIldcat55 said:
Probably 1975 win over Indiana in the Elite Eight.

I was a college sophomore in Ft. Lauderdale on spring break with some of my basketball teammates. Watched the game, and we were all delirious with excitement when the Cats won, especially since Indiana was by far the most hated UK rival in those days.

Went out to one of those huge early disco-type clubs in Ft. Lauderdale and, still full of adrenaline, introduced myself to a tall blonde woman who I found out was a cheerleader for the Florida Gators basketball team. Yadda Yadda, fast forward, we got married and had a daughter.

Some other contenders, but that day/night has to be in the conversation, all things considered.
Click to expand...
That’s an awesome story! Cool as hell.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Son_Of_Saul, kywildcat41035, Jnealuk75 and 2 others
MdWIldcat55 said:
Probably 1975 win over Indiana in the Elite Eight.

I was a college sophomore in Ft. Lauderdale on spring break with some of my basketball teammates. Watched the game, and we were all delirious with excitement when the Cats won, especially since Indiana was by far the most hated UK rival in those days.

Went out to one of those huge early disco-type clubs in Ft. Lauderdale and, still full of adrenaline, introduced myself to a tall blonde woman who I found out was a cheerleader for the Florida Gators basketball team. Yadda Yadda, fast forward, we got married and had a daughter.

Some other contenders, but that day/night has to be in the conversation, all things considered.
Click to expand...
I was going to post something, but nothing can beat this. Congrats, you won the internet today.

Great stuff.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kywildcat41035, Cowtown Cat, CoachBrownfield and 2 others
MdWIldcat55 said:
Probably 1975 win over Indiana in the Elite Eight.

I was a college sophomore in Ft. Lauderdale on spring break with some of my basketball teammates. Watched the game, and we were all delirious with excitement when the Cats won, especially since Indiana was by far the most hated UK rival in those days.

Went out to one of those huge early disco-type clubs in Ft. Lauderdale and, still full of adrenaline, introduced myself to a tall blonde woman who I found out was a cheerleader for the Florida Gators basketball team. Yadda Yadda, fast forward, we got married and had a daughter.

Some other contenders, but that day/night has to be in the conversation, all things considered.
Click to expand...

This is amazing. 👏
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cowtown Cat and MdWIldcat55
75 I lived in Indiana,78 I still lived in Indiana great times both nights.
98 in St Pete went with my dad and ten cousins,my wife said my step mother told her at half time it's going to be a long drive back to Kentucky.LOL
 
  • Like
Reactions: JDHoss
1st Place: 1978 title game
2nd Place: 1998 E8 against Duke.

I probably could reverse those on another day of the week.
 
I was a diehard fan long before this, but this one still stands out to me.

DEC. 9, 1978 – KENTUCKY 67, KANSAS 66 (OT)​

Trailing 66-60 with :30 seconds left in overtime, Kentucky staged a frantic comeback. After a Dwight Anderson putback and pair of free throws, the Wildcats stole the ball and Kyle Macy made a 15-foot jumper with :04 left to tie the game at 66-66. Then, Kansas star Darnell Valentine, who scored a game-high 27 points, called a timeout that the Jayhawks didn't have, resulting in a technical foul. Macy sank the game-winning free throw to complete the thrilling, come-from-behind victory.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: JHannibalSmith, Catfan2226, Cowtown Cat and 5 others
KFuqua said:
I was a diehard fan long before this, but this one still stands out to me.

DEC. 9, 1978 – KENTUCKY 67, KANSAS 66 (OT)​

Trailing 66-60 with :30 seconds left in overtime, Kentucky staged a frantic comeback. After a Dwight Anderson putback and pair of free throws, the Wildcats stole the ball and Kyle Macy made a 15-foot jumper with :04 left to tie the game at 66-66. Then, Kansas star Darnell Valentine, who scored a game-high 27 points, called a timeout that the Jayhawks didn't have, resulting in a technical foul. Macy sank the game-winning free throw to complete the thrilling, come-from-behind victory.
Click to expand...

I was in college and was walking around campus with a radio trying to find a good spot to listen because my reception was so bad. I actually missed the end of the game due to the poor reception and had to wait for what seemed like an eternity to find out that we had won.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: kywildcat41035 and Cowtown Cat
I’ve been fortunate to witness 4 of our title wins.

‘78 being the first. I loved it but didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have. I was young enough to think it was the first of many.

I loved ‘12 more because I had gotten old enough to realize how hard it is to win.

But I enjoy everything about UK basketball. Traveling around the country and the world now.

The SEC tourney every year.

UK taking over whatever city it’s in.

It’s just great to be a UK fan. It’s a lifetime of moments. 👍
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Catfan2226, Montana81 and jameslee32
Count me in for '98 vs. Duke.

I will never forget the string of amazing euphoric gatherings on Euclid after each one of those wins in '98.

After the Duke game, in particular, I ended up taking a particularly frisky coed back to my apartment.

Damn it was a good day.

980401LexFanMjra8A.jpg
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Catfan2226, kywildcat41035, Cowtown Cat and 2 others
April 1, 1996.

I was there at the Meadowlands that night. I had really good seats. I knew the drought was going to end. I was in my third year at UK, and was only 3 when the Goose was Golden.

I had worked a job while a student to save money to go to NYC. I knew it was our destiny. With under a minute to go and Pope sank those big free throws that gave more breathing room, I had to sit down and collect myself. One of my best buddies who grew up loving the Cats sat down and put his arm around my shoulder. He said, “I understand man… I really do.” We stood up and hugged and stood there to see the finish.

Following the game I got to go down by the court when nets were cut. The catharsis I saw from BBN from years of disappointment fading to joy was a sight to behold. I hugged Sky and he had tears in his eyes and was cheering like the rest of us. Kenny was my favorite player growing up… and I was hugging him as nets were cut. That is something I’ll never forget.

That was the night. Many great ones as a fan… but that was the one!

The Harrison shot to beat Michigan in 2014 while being courtside with my best buddy in life was up there too!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: JHannibalSmith, Catfan2226, kywildcat41035 and 3 others
The day I met Bill Keightley (Mr. Wildcat). It was at a pep rally in downtown Houston at the Hilton during the Gillispie years. UK was playing at the University of Houston that night and I was at the Hilton waiting for the team to come out. The first person out to visit the fans was Mr. Wildcat and I got to shake his hand and talk to him for just a moment. He was very cordial and seemed to be genuinely happy to be out there with the fans.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Catfan2226, kywildcat41035, Cowtown Cat and 1 other person
My dad got to tickets to the 98 final four from a buddy in Ohio whose daughter decided to get married that weekend. We knew in January we were going but UK did not look like a final four caliber team.

Well, they became one. Then they got down 17 to Duke (after being down like 12-15 points for a solid 20-25 minutes. My dad was cussing angry, and I started getting upset. I still believed we could do it, with a childlike naivety, whereas my dad had given up.

Fast forward all the way to the closing horn, and we (me, my mom, my dad) were all hugging and like literally screaming and yelling for joy. Our Silky terrier started attacking us we went so crazy. We shook the whole house jumping and whooping.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Catfan2226, kywildcat41035 and Cowtown Cat
1970 Mideast Semis against Notre Dame in Columbus. Cats rally from a 5 point halftime deficit with a 61 point 2nd half to win 109-99. Issel led the way with 44 to overcome an incredible 52 point effort from Austin Carr.

1975 Mideast finals against IU. Maybe the most satisfying win ever, given how much I hated RMK.

1998 comeback against Dook with Tubby outcoaching Coach Rodent down the stretch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pygmy Sasquatch, fabcat and TeoJ
I would say the whole season as a fan in 1996. A very close second is when we came back from a massive deficit against LSU. A close third is when Pitino was hired as UK coach. A lot of people had very good feelings about the success of the program on that day. If Rick stays at UK all this time does he end up as greatest coach ever of any program?
 
  • Like
Reactions: kywildcat41035
Basketball: Winning the 1996 NCAA championship and afterwards partying at the corner of Woodland and Euclid until the wee hours of the morning.

Football: Watching UK beat #1 LSU in 2007 with my dad. He loves football (former coach and player) and had suffered years of pain being a UK football fan. His smile after that game was priceless.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Catfan2226 and CaptainBoogerBuns
I’m a young guy. When I was just getting interested in sports like 7th-8th grade I watched Patrick sparks hit the 3 to force OT against Michigan State and been a UK fan ever since, and I’ve always loved football so being a UK football fan was natural even if it was painful.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RecruitingInsiderLUL
2010 Draft Day. Beat day in UK sports history.

Jokes aside: I was too young to fully appreciate (although I watched every game) 96-98 szns. So to mention things that haven’t been said like the Harrison’s tournament run or Knight vs OSU, 2012 title ….I’ll go Prince vs UNC, Meeks 54 game, being up 40+ to 7 at half vs UCLA.

Football: 2007 LSU and the UF streak breaker, and UF/LSU games Levi’s’ first season where the stadium noise was unreal causing all the false starts
 
  • Like
Reactions: kywildcat41035
thedahc said:
What was your best day as a UK fan? Please ignore the urge to say "When Cal leaves" that's not the intent of this thread. I really just want to know what things crystalized your fandom.

For me I have a few that were positive and impactful on my fandom:
-The 1996 win over Syracuse, I was little and that 96 team are my first real memories of UK Basketball
-The 1998 comeback win over Duke (I went to church and we were down a lot and then came home and saw that we won!)
-The 2012 tournament win over Louisville

There are so many, but I tried to limit to just a few.
Click to expand...
Well $hit. You shot my answer down right off the bat.

Let me think about my SECOND BEST DAY as a UK fan......
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: UKNothinButNet, kywildcat41035 and St.PatterSoN-54-
KFuqua said:
I was a diehard fan long before this, but this one still stands out to me.

DEC. 9, 1978 – KENTUCKY 67, KANSAS 66 (OT)​

Trailing 66-60 with :30 seconds left in overtime, Kentucky staged a frantic comeback. After a Dwight Anderson putback and pair of free throws, the Wildcats stole the ball and Kyle Macy made a 15-foot jumper with :04 left to tie the game at 66-66. Then, Kansas star Darnell Valentine, who scored a game-high 27 points, called a timeout that the Jayhawks didn't have, resulting in a technical foul. Macy sank the game-winning free throw to complete the thrilling, come-from-behind victory.
Click to expand...
I was there. Half the arena left early.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KFuqua
In the same boat as Tf2217. I was a kid in NY, no college ball interest inside the family whatsoever, but that Sparks game made me a UK fan. I still remember those replays zooming in on his toe over and over again. Cheers TF!
 
Best memory for me: 2012 National Championship game. I loved the teams in the late 90s, but watched those championships on TV. Being there in New Orleans that entire weekend was a dream come for me. Was 27 years old on that trip and man we lived it up!

Honorable mention: Being down 16 at half, and down ten in the last four minutes against Louisville in Freedom Hall (I believe it was December 2004?). Patrick Sparks gets fouled on a three point shot, knocks down all three to win the game.

Best very recent memory in Rupp: CATS were down 13ish early to Alabama in the first half in the 21-22 season, and then made a torrid run back. Kellan Grady went off, ended with 25. But there was one play when he wasn't even looking for the pass. The ball hit his butt and surprised him, he picked it right up and shot the three from the wing. Bang! Rupp was pretty loud that day.

Gosh I love UK basketball. Looking forward to this season and every season!
 
  • Like
Reactions: thedahc
MdWIldcat55 said:
Probably 1975 win over Indiana in the Elite Eight.

I was a college sophomore in Ft. Lauderdale on spring break with some of my basketball teammates. Watched the game, and we were all delirious with excitement when the Cats won, especially since Indiana was by far the most hated UK rival in those days.

Went out to one of those huge early disco-type clubs in Ft. Lauderdale and, still full of adrenaline, introduced myself to a tall blonde woman who I found out was a cheerleader for the Florida Gators basketball team. Yadda Yadda, fast forward, we got married and had a daughter.

Some other contenders, but that day/night has to be in the conversation, all things considered.
Click to expand...
Great post.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

FurdTerguson

First years have been pretty special for UK coaches

Replies
12
Views
1K
Rupp Rafters - Basketball Forum
bcox13
bcox13
K

Fan Day

Replies
7
Views
1K
Wildcat Lair - Football Forum
BBN-N-AZ
B
Old_Red

Fan Day Impressions

Replies
2
Views
1K
Wildcat Lair - Football Forum
Old_Red
Old_Red
Jeff Drummond

Football UK Football Fan Day - Aug. 3

Replies
25
Views
2K
The House of Blue
tiffincatfan79
tiffincatfan79
Jeff Drummond

Football ***** UK Football Fan Day Open Practice Notes *****

Replies
134
Views
8K
The House of Blue
Tskware
T
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest posts

ADVERTISEMENT
Top Bottom
Back