Why are we like we are?

[Basscat1987]

I’m in the mid 30s bunch as far as age of fan group goes. First memory I have of watching a game was the Umass game where they beat us in 95 our championship year. Why do we care so much about it? How did this all start? Other programs have rich traditions but I don’t feel like they care like we do. Why is there so many of us? Why do we have big crowds at every road game and dominate nuetral site games. How did that happen? Why do we live and die with every play throughout the season, keep up with recruiting non stop in the offseason, fill rupp arena every year for the first practice. Watch tape of the games, and watch the good games over and over 5 or 6 or 7 or maybe 10 times in the span of a month. Why is there so many die hard Kentucky fans? How did this happen? And I wouldn’t wanna live another kind of life

 

[MegaBlue05]

For, me it’s a birthright.

I was born on a Sunday in the fall. I sat in Commonwealth in my mother’s womb the day before watching a UK football loss.

I came home from the hospital in blue and white from head to toe. My crib was painted blue and white.

My first complete sentence was “U ofL go to hell” (Thanks, dad!)

We had a dog named Skywalker after Kenny, not Luke.

The 92 Duke game was the only time I’ve seen my father cry.

So, I was just born this way. Lol

 

[B.B.H.]

I’m in the mid 30s bunch as far as age of fan group goes. First memory I have of watching a game was the Umass game where they beat us in 95 our championship year. Why do we care so much about it? How did this all start? Other programs have rich traditions but I don’t feel like they care like we do. Why is there so many of us? Why do we have big crowds at every road game and dominate nuetral site games. How did that happen? Why do we live and die with every play throughout the season, keep up with recruiting non stop in the offseason, fill rupp arena every year for the first practice. Watch tape of the games, and watch the good games over and over 5 or 6 or 7 or maybe 10 times in the span of a month. Why is there so many die hard Kentucky fans? How did this happen? And I wouldn’t wanna live another kind of life

I’d recommend watching the History of the SEC Basketball docuseries on ESPN+. Covers this quite well. Short answer, we live in a mostly rural state with too many hills for football. We don’t have professional teams and Rupp was kicking everyone’s tail in dominant fashion.

 

[DerekMcPwn]

They don’t think it be like it is but it do

 

[NerlensCat]

Because it is the only thing people from the bluegrass can point to and say, “We are the Best!”

Yes, we have Bourbon, but that is a subjective thing. We have factual statistics on our side with basketball. So, we hold that honor very dearly almost combatively near to our hearts.

 

[Myotis]

Because it is the only thing people from the bluegrass can point to and say, “We are the Best!”

Yes, we have Bourbon, but that is a subjective thing. We have factual statistics on our side with basketball. So, we hold that honor very dearly almost combatively near to our hearts.

Well, we have the longest cave in the world, too.

 

[Skyguyb27]

For, me it’s a birthright.

I was born on a Sunday in the fall. I sat in Commonwealth in my mother’s womb the day before watching a UK football loss.

I came home from the hospital in blue and white from head to toe. My crib was painted blue and white.

My first complete sentence was “U ofL go to hell” (Thanks, dad!)

We had a dog named Skywalker after Kenny, not Luke.

The 92 Duke game was the only time I’ve seen my father cry.

So, I was just born this way. Lol

I held my newborn daughter on Jan 16, 2018 in the OB ward and watched UK play SC. Gotta start them out right.


That may be the only game I didn’t care if UK won or not at the end of it. (I always want them to win). What a dream come true holding the next generation of Cat fans.

 

[JonathanW]

It's a combination of things.
Success is probably #1. More than just success, is continued success across generations. So many UK fans grew up watching (or even listened to) games with their parents or grandparents when the team was one-of if not the-best program. So you may have those fond memories w/ those no longer with you. It's much easier to grow and hold on to fans with a successful team.
Also, Kentucky is one of the states with no professional teams (at least not at the top level of a sport). So what else do we have. And, it adds state/regional pride.
Kentucky is a state with only 2 "major" or P5 schools, one of which is an urban city school, so UK has less competition for fans (for example Kansas has K St).

 

[NerlensCat]

Well, we have the longest cave in the world, too.

No 1 in spelunking🎉🍾. I am embarrassed to say that I took a spelunking class in College. I am slightly claustrophobic. So, that was a difficult thing to have everyone turn off their headlamps for 1 minute when we barely had 18 inches of clearance😬.

 

[JonathanW]

Well, we have the longest cave in the world, too.

How would we rank Kentucky's "legacy" as a state, our birth-rites, our symbols?
Just off the top of my head, I'm thinking:
1- thoroughbred horse racing
2- college basketball (mostly UK)
3- bourbon
4-Mamouth Cave
5-home of the Corvette
6-Lincoln's birthplace

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

I am what I must be.

 

[NerlensCat]

How would we rank Kentucky's "legacy" as a state, our birth-rites, our symbols?
Just off the top of my head, I'm thinking:
1- thoroughbred horse racing
2- college basketball (mostly UK)
3- bourbon
4-Mamouth Cave
5-home of the Corvette
6-Lincoln's birthplace

I grew up in the western part of the state. So, maybe I am less enamored with horse racing as those in the central part of the state. But, basketball has to be no1 for me.

Do we really dominate the horse racing business like we have basketball?

 

[Myotis]

How would we rank Kentucky's "legacy" as a state, our birth-rites, our symbols?
Just off the top of my head, I'm thinking:
1- thoroughbred horse racing
2- college basketball (mostly UK)
3- bourbon
4-Mamouth Cave
5-home of the Corvette
6-Lincoln's birthplace

Also the home of the Kentucky Three-Day Event every April at the Horse Park, one of only about six five-star TDE's in the world.

For those unaware, a Three Day Event is basically a triathlon for horse and rider. Dressage, Cross-Country and Stadium Jumping. Cross Country Day is always the last Saturday in April, with around 30K fans lining the apx. six mile course with between 30 and 35 massive jumps. WELL worth going to see, it's an amazing and very photogenic spectacle.

 

[B.B.H.]

I grew up in the western part of the state. So, maybe I am less enamored with horse racing as those in the central part of the state. But, basketball has to be no1 for me.

Do we really dominate the horse racing business like we have basketball?

Yeah I think Kentucky basketball is far ahead of horse racing for most Kentuckians these days. Horse racing is still a massive deal but I don’t think it compares to UK basketball in state

 

[Myotis]

Besides Mammoth, Kentucky has 14 more caves among the 100 longest in the US, including Fisher Ridge at #5 (134 miles) and Whigpistle at #14 (41 miles).

 

[RunninRichie]

No pro sports teams. Same reason Alabama football is so big in Alabama. Also, I feel like it's pride. You're born here, and you can choose to root for UK. It's part of being a Kentuckian, I feel.

 

[BC_Wader]

Pretty simple. My whole Family was a UK fan so naturally I was going to become one. Earliest I can remember was watching the 78 Title game and Dad going bananas at the tv. The passion of the BBN is unmatched compared to all other schools. Sure those schools have passionate fans, but the BBN is on a whole other level.

 

[NerlensCat]

I almost forgot the beautiful women. That is a fact as well. I know there are men on the team, but cheerleading is probably our most dominant sport. Go Cats!!!

 

[BC_Wader]

Besides Mammoth, Kentucky has 14 more caves among the 100 longest in the US, including Fisher Ridge at #5 (134 miles) and Whigpistle at #14 (41 miles).

Whigpistle 🤣
What a name. Sounds like a band name or a Thouroughbred horse. It has a ring to it.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Because we are ****ing awesome.

 

[triadaz]

It's in the earth
It's in the air
It's in the water

Can't explain it to people not from Kentucky.
It transcends class race gender etc

 

[Myotis]

It's in the earth
It's in the air
It's in the water

Can't explain it to people not from Kentucky.
It transcends class race gender etc

Bowling Green - Everly Brothers

 

[NerlensCat]

Bowling Green - Everly Brothers

You my friend are a plethora of information😊

 

[MdWIldcat55]

How would we rank Kentucky's "legacy" as a state, our birth-rites, our symbols?
Just off the top of my head, I'm thinking:
1- thoroughbred horse racing
2- college basketball (mostly UK)
3- bourbon
4-Mamouth Cave
5-home of the Corvette
6-Lincoln's birthplace

Add KFC and Daniel Boone. Home of the Corvette is a bit of a stretch since they'd been building them for 30 years, including all the classics, before moving to Kentucky.

A quick story about KFC...I found myself in Baghdad in 2003 in a civilian capacity. I had a Shiite Iraqi fixer and translator working with me and a colleague. One day he agreed to go out and get us all some food to bring back the the Al Hambra hotel where we were staying. "I can get us Kentucky," he said. What's that? Turns out their name for any take-out chicken of any kind was "Kentucky." Not KFC or anything. Just "Kentucky." I doubt he knew it was a state. I later heard that term used elsewhere in the Middle East.

Also, took this in Pakistan a month after 9/11. KFC is definitely the symbol of Kentucky around much of the world.

 

[JPFisher]

My dad would smack the batteries outta the remote if Tubby's Cats played poorly enough. Then he started taking me to watch football games because that was a better alternative to Tubby ball, somehow.

Now I get a nervous knee and yell at the team for not grabbing rebounds while I stuff snacks down my throat on the couch. America is a beautiful thing.

But seriously, it's passion that's passed down to us. Kentuckians take history seriously, and our basketball program has a history unlike any other. Kids like myself grow up with a ball and a simple makeshift hoop and imagine taking the game winning shot for Kentucky. We throw football with family at Thanksgiving, and in knocking grandma tf out, imagine scooping and scoring for the Cats against Florida.

Without having one of the most celebrated and historied programs in college sports, we don't have that passion. There's nothing to defend, nothing to reminisce, nothing to really cheer for or strive for... Nothing.

We are the way we are because of people like Rupp, Bear, Brooks, Hall, Pitino, Cal, Mitchell, and those who played for them.

We might not always have the best team, but we know what having the best feels like, and we know the rush of celebrating a hard-fought win. That's why we cheer. It matters to the young men and women representing our Commonwealth and because dammit, my dad woulda cheered like crazy for these guys.

At least that's my poorly-organized take on it.

 

[jeffky]

My father had season tickets started taking me to memorial when I was five . Dan issel Mike Pratt Stan key Mike casey hollenbach team

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

I’m not crying. You’re crying.

 

[runt#69]

I was originally born in Nashville. Mom was from Corbin. A true Kentucky beauty and the best mother I could have ever had. Same for Dad, he was originally from Indiana, his whole side of the family was from there, so growing up in the seventies meant coming to grips with him and my older brother Bob, us three being the hardcore Kentucky fans in the midst of Hoosier red. Dad followed Kentucky basketball when Rupp began. He was connected and knew Coach Rupp, knew the athletic program, followed the team religiously for many years, our whole life, in fact.

So I was fortunate to have been "born into" BBN.

The first season I remember is that 74 - 75 season. I was so little, but vividly remember games that season. Kentucky basketball constitutes the earliest of my childhood memories. And so many growing up.

Grew up shooting free throws like Kyle Macy ( didn't we all ?) Hit them like him, too. Netted the Nashville freshman basketball tournament in 84, Madison High won the city tourney that year with them fouling me at the end of the games, and me drilling free throws to cement each victory.

I didn't even start. LOL

So much to think of in all the intervening years, so many UK games (football and basketball) we went to and followed the teams closely.

Poppa passed in 96, he got to see that title team as his last team.
Mom passed 2 years ago, they both got the best seats in the stands now.

In 2017, I moved from Hendersonville, TN to Madisonville KY. Stayed there for 7 years, and just a few months ago moved to Morganfield after moving to ARIZONA (could only stay there for six months). Came back to be with my fiancée, having to deal with some major health issues, but Kentucky is just HOME TO ME. So I am happy to be back here, even though I had to come back from Arizona sooner than anticipated. I'm very happy to be back, and more importantly, my Kentucky woman is still here with me. She made it thru the emergency surgeries and the critical time. It's back to some stability now.

Some things, some PLACES, are just what makes home .... HOME.

Go Big Blue !

 

[Soupbean]

My father had season tickets started taking me to memorial when I was five . Dan issel Mike Pratt Stan key Mike casey hollenbach team

Yeah thats the team where I started too. Dad took us to Memorial and you could just feel the magic of the program. I dont remember being told anythin or taught anything you just kind of absorbed that it was special and something imortant to everybody. It really was a religous type thing where it wasnt just that you and your family felt that way but everybody, so part of it too is that factor where its something we share together and want to protect and carry on together for the next generation.

 

[anonymous_2011]

We have nothing else. No pro teams to rally behind in any sport. Nothing else to give us pride in our state outside the derby. Basketball was the one thing we could look at with pride in the state of KY.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

 

[katwest]

I grew up in western Kentucky, my dad was a very good basketball player in high school and he was a big fan of Kentucky basketball. So naturally as a kid I remember listening to Cawood calling out names like Dampier, Issel, Casey, Pratt and Stamper along with Jim Andrew’s. That’s about the time I started watching and knowing what was going on. It didn’t take me long to know that the three things that mattered in Kentucky, were Christianity, Coal mining and Kentucky basketball.

 

[AirRaid08]

Vey cool topic OP. I have thought about that often and back in my late 20's started to pen an outline for a book (Study) I had thought about on this very subject. Never got around to finishing it and don't even know where my draft copies are. Life moved on.

But, I often think about it especially when I travel to away games or tournaments. Basketball or football, and I see throngs of Kentucky fans everywhere. Gives me a weird sense of peace as if I belong to a larger group. I may not know any of them, but I feel like I do. Random interactions that led to conversations, memories and a few drinks always prove it.

When I go on vacation and wear Kentucky gear, i'm almost always stopped by fans from other schools who remark on our fandom.

It's probably differnt for allot of us on how we became fans. But those deep feelings and emotions we get about our teams are most likely explained away by a combination of tribalisim in that humans are inherently social creatures with an innate desire to belong to a group.

Shared experiences with other fans or even the players who don't know most of personally. We connect to them for they are trying to win games, we want them to win said games thus we relate and share that experince on some level. Sense of belonging, part of our identity, etc.

Like the movie Fever Pitch (One of my Favorites) in how Jimmy Fallon's character was a die-hard Red Sox fan. They showed allot of the same things in that movie, but I've always thought of Kentucky sports the same way. I'm better than I used to be, but ALL of my family and friends and socail circles revolve around Kentucky sports. And I would not have it any other way.

 

[Wonky]

I held my newborn daughter on Jan 16, 2018 in the OB ward and watched UK play SC. Gotta start them out right.


That may be the only game I didn’t care if UK won or not at the end of it. (I always want them to win). What a dream come true holding the next generation of Cat fans.

My son was born exactly one year later on 1/16/19! We watched Herro and co. punk Auburn on the road from our OB room at UK hospital.

 

[CalipariCapo]

I just turned 30. My mom sent me a picture the other day of me as a child (couldn’t have been more than 3 years old) I was sitting in the living room of my grandparents house (shag carpet, wood paneling on the walls, and the old wooden tv set). I had the remote in my hand sitting about 3 ft from the tv. Naturally I was watching a Kentucky basketball game 😂. It’s my favorite picture ever. I didn’t know my dad growing up but my grandparents were big Kentucky fans. I looked at my grandpa as a father figure so he and I would watch college basketball from sun up to sun down. Never once missed a Kentucky basketball game. Blue runs through my veins and I feel a strong sense of pride when I think about my Wildcats!

 

[blue cincy]

The Baron of the Bluegrass started it all. Get some really good national guys with some really good Eastern Kentucky guys and make teams that could dominate. He did it so good for so long that he built 2 solid generations of crazy UK fans back in times when that was needed. Those fans had little fans of their own and from day one started telling us the stories of UK lore. Then the next generation and the next. Add to it some really good years in the 70s / 90s 2000s. I have 3 kids, I am a crazed fan like most, of my 3 kids, I have one (only 1) that cares about sports and UK. My brother has 2 and only 1 cares at all and my sister has 2 and I am not sure if either of them care about UK much. I have cousins that have been in Michigan all their life (born and raised) from my fathers sisters, they are mostly UK fans as well. My brother and one cousin (michigan State guy), talk each and every UK game and most Michigan State Games, he married one of my cousins. It is like the whole Kevin Bacon movie thing. UK fans upon UK fans over the last almost century now, 1930 - 2030 is only about 5 years away. The Baron started coaching UK in 1930.

 

[UKortho]

I’m in the mid 30s bunch as far as age of fan group goes. First memory I have of watching a game was the Umass game where they beat us in 95 our championship year. Why do we care so much about it? How did this all start? Other programs have rich traditions but I don’t feel like they care like we do. Why is there so many of us? Why do we have big crowds at every road game and dominate nuetral site games. How did that happen? Why do we live and die with every play throughout the season, keep up with recruiting non stop in the offseason, fill rupp arena every year for the first practice. Watch tape of the games, and watch the good games over and over 5 or 6 or 7 or maybe 10 times in the span of a month. Why is there so many die hard Kentucky fans? How did this happen? And I wouldn’t wanna live another kind of life

Why do “we” make irrational statements before and during a game

 

[CELTICAT]

Lots of good answers here but for me it’s the deep family ties. It’s getting a Cats Pause subscription from your mamaw, or a pair of Converse Denim’s for your 12th birthday. It’s going to Roundie’s in Hopkinsville with your grandpa and listening to the old timers talk about it. It’s jumping up and down in the living room hugging your parents after beating Duke in the elite eight. It’s taking your mom to what ends up being her final game at Rupp, and sitting on the same row with her favorite player (Derek Anderson). It’s taking your own child to Rupp for the very first time It’s spending four hours a week huddled around the tv or radio, living and dying on every shot and free throw.

We care so much because it’s special, and the older you get, the more you realize how important and meaningful the time spent with it has been.