How many knew Rupp accepted the Duke job after he retired?

[VaxxedObamaCat]

How many of you ever heard the story that Adolph Rupp was offered and hired by Duke after being forced to retire in 1972?

The deal was that his son Herky would be his assistant and then take over the head coaching job.

After he accepted the job, Herky said they lost their farm manager. Rupp’s Farm was a major source of income for his family. In August before the season, when it was time for Rupp to move to Duke, he called and said he couldn’t come because he had to find a farm manager. That was his priority.

I’m reading Alan Cutler’s book and this is the first time I’ve ever heard that story.

 

[J_Dee]

It's mentioned briefly in Russell Rice's Adolph Rupp: Kentucky's Basketball Baron.

 

[bbncal02]

I’m not familiar with that. All I can say is thank God for the farm.

 

[CB3UK]

Wow. I did not know that. Thank God for that farm manager.

 

[drcats2013]

If this is true, how in the HELL have I never heard of this before?

 

[docholiday51]

Yes, I have heard the story, Rupp was also an executive with an ABA team for a short time (maybe Memphis?)

 

[gojvc]

Yes, I have heard the story, Rupp was also an executive with an ABA team for a short time (maybe Memphis?)

And the Colonels in some capacity.

 

[J_Dee]

If you've never read this, you should. It's the definitive Rupp biography.

 

[HICATFAN]

Learn something new every day !!!

AlohaCat

 

[BlueBomb]

Well, that’s disappointing.

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

That's seriously crazy to think about and consider how that maybe changes some things.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

8 yrs later K took over.

 

[RunninRichie]

How many of you ever heard the story that Adolph Rupp was offered and hired by Duke after being forced to retire in 1972?

The deal was that his son Herky would be his assistant and then take over the head coaching job.

After he accepted the job, Herky said they lost their farm manager. Rupp’s Farm was a major source of income for his family. In August before the season, when it was time for Rupp to move to Duke, he called and said he couldn’t come because he had to find a farm manager. That was his priority.

I’m reading Alan Cutler’s book and this is the first time I’ve ever heard that story.

Duke has always tried to copy UK since the beginning of time. Coach K tried his best to emulate the kentucky program.

 

[1977 Cat]

Yes, I have heard the story, Rupp was also an executive with an ABA team for a short time (maybe Memphis?)

Think it was in Indianapolis.

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

Think it was in Indianapolis.

Memphis.

 

[FurdTerguson]

He was a cantankerous old man. Tried to undermine Joe B behind the scenes.

 

[SaltyCat22]

Maybe if he took the job it would have worked out better, gave him something to look forward to and prolonged his life…as he died just a few years later. Maybe CrazyZooSki would have went a different path.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

Yes, I have heard the story, Rupp was also an executive with an ABA team for a short time (maybe Memphis?)

The TAMs, Based in Memphis (Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi)

The story of Rupp and Duke has been known for many years. Rupp wanted to stay active and UK said no. Under Kentucky state law he had to retire at age 70. So Duke offered.,

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

Did Herky coach anywhere?

Obviously the Bill Foster era doesn't happen if this hire was finalized. Not sure what it would have done for Coach K's path. You'd have to think that Rupp probably coaches 3-4 years and then his son takes over. It very could have messed with K's path in 1980.

Some farm manager's decisions completely altered the course of history of two programs LOL

 

[FurdTerguson]

The TAMs, Based in Memphis (Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi)

The story of Rupp and Duke has been known for many years. Rupp wanted to stay active and UK said no. Under Kentucky state law he had to retire at age 70. So Duke offered.,

I wondered where they got Tams from. I thought a team was a French hat or something like that.

Edit: I looked it up and a tam actually IS a hat much like a beret.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

Did Herky coach anywhere?

Obviously the Bill Foster era doesn't happen if this hire was finalized. Not sure what it would have done for Coach K's path. You'd have to think that Rupp probably coaches 3-4 years and then his son takes over. It very could have messed with K's path in 1980.

Some farm manager's decisions completely altered the course of history. of two programs LOL

If I recall Herky may have coached high school ball in Lexington at Lafayette. He was not very good and I think he realized coaching was not going to be his occupation in life. In those days the LaFayette Generals were a powerhouse in Kentucky high school sports.

 

[Rockford]

Yeah, I knew it.

I was alive then.

As a teen ager I had heard about it. Probably read about it in Sports Illustrated.

 

[JonathanW]

Did Herky coach anywhere?

Obviously the Bill Foster era doesn't happen if this hire was finalized. Not sure what it would have done for Coach K's path. You'd have to think that Rupp probably coaches 3-4 years and then his son takes over. It very could have messed with K's path in 1980.

Some farm manager's decisions completely altered the course of history. of two programs LOL

It's crazy that a team that was just what 3 years removed from losing in the championship game and was a historical top 10 program, hired a coach from a mid-major military school with a losing record.

And 7-8 years later, he is who I wanted instead of Pitino or Carrlesimo or Olson to take over at UK.

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

It's crazy that a team that was just what 3 years removed from losing in the championship game and was a historical top 10 program, hired a coach from a mid-major military school with a losing record.

And 7-8 years later, he is who I wanted instead of Pitino or Carrlesimo or Olson to take over at UK.

We obviously hate Coach K and Duke but the following run is absolutely insane.

1986 National Runner-up
1988 Final Four
1989 Final Four
1990 National Runner-up
1991 National Champs
1992 National Champs
1994 National Runner-up

That is crazy.

 

[BlueWhite21]

I know about this story as well. The thing is that Duke wasn't that great of a program back then. We didn't despise them yet. It's still interesting though when you look back in hindsight and all you can think about is how crazy that seems now with Duke -UK history. As for Herky he no doubt knows basketball but I don't think he had that personality or drive to want to coach and be great at it like his father did. He had been around it all his life so he probably loved the game but just not enough to wanna do it everyday. That's just my 2 cents. Also all the ACC looks down on UK and Rupp so much but they was the one who hired the man, or attempted to.

 

[littlecreek]

I wondered where they got Tams from. I thought a team was a French hat or something like that.

Edit: I looked it up and a tam actually IS a hat much like a beret.

T-Tennessee, A-Arkansas, M-Mississippi(or Memphis) I remember reading this in a book called Loose Balls. It’s about the ABA.

 

[FurdTerguson]

T-Tennessee, A-Arkansas, M-Mississippi(or Memphis) I remember reading this in a book called Loose Balls. It’s about the ABA.

Oh I believe you. I'm just saying all those years I thought it was odd they named themselves after a beret. Like maybe that's what the musicians in Memphis all wore or something. Kind of like I thought the tricolor M on the Expos cap said elb for a long time.

 

[littlecreek]

When

Oh I believe you. I'm just saying all those years I thought it was odd they named themselves after a beret. Like maybe that's what the musicians in Memphis all wore or something. Kind of like I thought the tricolor M on the Expos cap said elb for a long time.

When I started collecting baseball cards in the mid 70s I thought the elb looking M was a Canadian word for Expos.

 

[the stat man]

I had heard the story several years ago. Rupps health wasn’t the greatest then either but he was extremely unhappy that he was forced to retire. Had he not lost
The farm manager he would have been the coach at Dook that fall sadly.

 

[U Go UK]

Yep. My grandfather in Georgetown raised registered cattle with Rupp. Partners and friends in the cattle business

 

[DreadLox]

I had heard the story several years ago. Rupps health wasn’t the greatest then either but he was extremely unhappy that he was forced to retire. Had he not lost
The farm manager he would have been the coach at Dook that fall sadly.

I vaguely remember Rupp toward the end being chair-bound from a foot infection that wouldn't heal. (Diabetes?) Didn't Rupp coach a month or so in the pros?

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

T-Tennessee, A-Arkansas, M-Mississippi(or Memphis) I remember reading this in a book called Loose Balls. It’s about the ABA.

I love that book. Pure hilarity. Kentucky Colonels owner's dog used to sit at the owner's table when the league was making decisions. LOL

There's the story of Marvin "Soulman" Barnes who was at the airport and didn't understand time zones.

"Because the flight was scheduled to arrive (Central Time) before its departure time (Eastern Time), Barnes famously said, "I ain't getting in no damn time machine." He rented a car instead.

 

[UKLone]

Just goes to show it wasn’t just coach K behind the success of Duke.

 

[littlecreek]

I love that book. Pure hilarity. Kentucky Colonels owner's dog used to sit at the owner's table when the league was making decisions. LOL

There's the story of Marvin "Soulman" Barnes who was at the airport and didn't understand time zones.

"Because the flight was scheduled to arrive (Central Time) before its departure time (Eastern Time), Barnes famously said, "I ain't getting in no damn time machine." He rented a car instead.

Yep, it was a very interesting book. I barely remember the Colonels but I remember people were upset with John Y. Brown because he didn’t join the NBA with the Colonels, instead he took the buy out.

 

[TS1955]

Did Herky coach anywhere?

Obviously the Bill Foster era doesn't happen if this hire was finalized. Not sure what it would have done for Coach K's path. You'd have to think that Rupp probably coaches 3-4 years and then his son takes over. It very could have messed with K's path in 1980.

Some farm manager's decisions completely altered the course of history of two programs LOL

Not to mention it could have completely changed the narrative of the 1978 championship game.

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

Yep, it was a very interesting book. I barely remember the Colonels but I remember people were upset with John Y. Brown because he didn’t join the NBA with the Colonels, instead he took the buy out.

If I'm not mistaken, I think the Chicago Bulls were blocking our inclusion so they could get Artis Gilmore.

 

[SWEc/o95]

Just goes to show it wasn’t just coach K behind the success of Duke.

Bubis and Foster were pretty good coaches. Four Final Fours between them, 5 ACC regular season titles and 6 ACC tournament titles. Obviously K got them to the next level but they were not an average basketball school by no means. I think they were one of 8 schools with 1000 wins when Foster took over.

 

[michaeluk26]

I've seen it talked about on this board multiple times. I'm surprised some didn't know about that honestly.

 

[Soupbean]

He was a cantankerous old man. Tried to undermine Joe B behind the scenes.

I dont know if he undermined him, but he wasnt Joe's biggest supporter. That wasnt necessarily because he didnt like Joe B, it was because Gale Catlett was Rupp's guy and he wanted him to get the job, but he ended up coaching at West Virginia.

 

[michaeluk26]

If I recall Herky may have coached high school ball in Lexington at Lafayette. He was not very good and I think he realized coaching was not going to be his occupation in life. In those days the LaFayette Generals were a powerhouse in Kentucky high school sports.

Really? Granted I'm not a Lexington native but it seems since I've been in high school, graduated in 02, to now they have sucked at everything. Frederick Douglass is new and they seem to be good at everything.