You guys know the Rudy movie right? Well what are our own inspiring "Rudy"/walk-on stories?

[Estil]

So I've been watching the classic sports movie Rudy while I'm typing this and I was just wondering if our own team has our own inspiring "Rudy"/walk-on stories? Shoot I even like to call our walk-ons "Rudy's"! (yes I know the real-life Rudy story didn't happen quite like the movie but that's not the point; incidentally I think it was actually much harder for him to get admitted into Notre Dame than to get on the football team).

I remember when I first seriously followed UK in high school (starting with 1996 season) and soon after my dream was to go to UK, which I indeed did with BA's in history and political science (class of 2003; b-ball centennial!). And I remember this one guy, Steve Masiello who was called at the time "human victory cigar". Now I don't know if he really exactly counts as a true "Rudy" player though...he did play all four years after all (1997-2000)...and on top of that he won a championship in 1998 and just barely missed another the year before. And since then he has become a head coach for Manhattan (since 2011).

Well that's just one example but any of our own players you think were most inspiring/Rudy-like? After all, just like how Rudy wouldn't take anything less than playing for the Irish, I'm sure there were players who could've had a fine starter sort of career at "some other school" but their dream was to play for the finest college basketball team in the country and would settle for no less.

 

[awf]

How about the Mills kid. He played when RP was here.......He came in and hit some bigly shots in the tournament.

 

[CELTICAT]

Todd Svoboda shot like 100% from 3, and looked more like a jobber on Saturday morning wrestling than a Kentucky basketball player. No finer example than that.

 

[Estil]

He too not only played all four years but he played quite regularly in his last two years...geez what a lucky stiff he and Wayne Turner were...they got to play on two championship teams and just barely missed a third in between...did you guys know Wayne Turner became a Globetrotter?

But what about all those guys who only got to play one or two games or so...but they had to bust their balls off in practice just to even have a chance to wear our jersey. I mean, isn't that (at least traditionally) what most every little boy dreams of when they first pick up a basketball...to be a Wildcat? And I think there's only been what, 300-400ish who made that dream come true?

 

[ukwazoo]

Rudy only played 2 snaps and had a sack. Only dressed for 1 game. Don't know that anyone compares to that at any school.

 

[Nuke99m]

I guess we are talking about walk-ons that ended up contributing while at UK.
Ravi Moss and Junior Braddy are on the list. Coury and Krebs were also walk-ons that did something at UK.

 

[Estil]

Todd Svoboda shot like 100% from 3, and looked more like a jobber on Saturday morning wrestling than a Kentucky basketball player. No finer example than that.

Oh yes, now we're truly getting into Rudy territory:

http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/statistics/Players/Svoboda_Todd.html

Just like how Rudy had to first prove himself academically at the local Holy Cross (BTW that is not the same Holy Cross as in the Holy Cross Crusaders), Todd had to first prove himself at much smaller Northern Kentucky and then because he got good enough grades and/or athletic skill, he managed to qualify for a transfer. He only played 13 games and scored just 24 points, but by God he helped hoist a giant Final Four banner (1993) and got to play on the same bench as Monster Mash for Pete's sake!

Now I'm really miffed by all those people who leave our games early in a blow-out...don't they want to see our Rudy's in the last couple minutes or so get a chance to make a basket?

 

[Estil]

Rudy only played 2 snaps and had a sack. Only dressed for 1 game. Don't know that anyone compares to that at any school.

And how many of us here got to play just one game for UK?

*crickets chirping*

Bottom line is, even if you only take the court for just one game, you are noneoftheless always and forever a Wildcat.

 

[Estil]

I guess we are talking about walk-ons that ended up contributing while at UK.
Ravi Moss and Junior Braddy are on the list. Coury and Krebs were also walk-ons that did something at UK.

Even if it was just one or two games...if they had an inspiring story behind getting there I wanna know about it. After all, look at your local HS players...what percentage of them get to play at any level of college ball (well D1 anyway)?

 

[StubbornPenny]

if we're talking "walk on to contributor," it's got to be Mills. Not only did he go from a joke to a real player, he hit one of the biggest shots for UK to help beat Duke in the NCAAs.

Didn't Ravi Moss go from walk on to real contributor as well?

 

[Cawood86]

Cameron Mills. Hit the shot heard round the Commonwealth against Duke. Gotta be him.
Also hit a bignore one in the title game from the corner. Can't think of another walk-on who has done that.

 

[~Keyser Soze~]

That time SKJ said, NO F'N WAY after Willis' dunk.

 

[Aike]

Harold Dennis has an amazing story for our football team.

 

[UKGrad93]

if we're talking "walk on to contributor," it's got to be Mills. Not only did he go from a joke to a real player, he hit one of the biggest shots for UK to help beat Duke in the NCAAs.

Didn't Ravi Moss go from walk on to real contributor as well?

Ravi Moss nearly walked onto the football team as a wide receiver.

 

[Estil]

Actually I was thinking more of those guys who only played one or two games or so..but had a really inspiring story on how they overcame all the odds to get to suit up and play for the finest college basketball team in the land...just like Rudy did for the finest college football team in the land at least at that time (sure Bear Bryant's Alabama might've had something to say about that but I digress).

 

[UKUGA]

Jay Bayless

http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/statistics/Players/Bayless_Jay.html

 

[KyCatFan]

Svoboda had the best Rudy moment of all Rudy moments. He played only in 13 games in his 1 year for a total of 38 minutes. That was the year of the infamous intentionally missed free throw where Allan Houston clearly crossed the free throw line before the ball touched the rim. Tennessee rebounded the miss, scored, and they were fouled to win the game by 1.

We followed that 1 point loss with a beat down of epic proportions in the rematch. We ended up winning that one by 61, but it wasn't the big story. What made that game special was big Todd Svoboda scoring 4 points. Normally 4 points scored by a rarely used walk on would be of little consequence, but those 4 points were different. Those points allowed Svoboda to outscore Tennessee's all time leading scorer Allan Houston 4 to 3. Hard to top that moment for a seldom used walk on.

 

[Estil]

Jay Bayless

http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/statistics/Players/Bayless_Jay.html

And his story is...?

 

[Estil]

Any other Rudy stories involving our teams?

 

[Swimcat20]

I was not a good athlete. I was always the last one picked for any game. But in the pool I was a very different.. I had no offers from any schools other than Division III and a Florida Junior college. I didn't have the money or the SAT scores for academic money at a division III school. I went to the UK swimming team as a preferred walk on. They put me on serious weight training and the times came down. Other guys quit or transferred and money came open. By sophomore year I was one of 200 students at UK on athletic scholarship. The only one from my high school class playing Division I sports. I loved every minute of it. I love UK. It's my spiritual home. It made me the man I am today.

 

[Gromcat]

I was not a good athlete. I was always the last one picked for any game. But in the pool I was a very different.. I had no offers from any schools other than Division III and a Florida Junior college. I didn't have the money or the SAT scores for academic money at a division III school. I went to the UK swimming team as a preferred walk on. They put me on serious weight training and the times came down. Other guys quit or transferred and money came open. By sophomore year I was one of 200 students at UK on athletic scholarship. The only one from my high school class playing Division I sports. I loved every minute of it. I love UK. It's my spiritual home. It made me the man I am today.

I’m currently getting enrolled at UK for graduate school. It wasn’t intended other than a pipe dream years ago. I’ve worked my way back and UK was a serious option that fit like a glove. As a former 10th grade high school dropout, getting to this point definitely feels like UK is a spiritual home. I know exactly what you’re saying.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Harold Dennis has an amazing story for our football team.

Good guy. Amazing story.

 

[JPScott]

Rudy only played 2 snaps and had a sack. Only dressed for 1 game. Don't know that anyone compares to that at any school.

Here's one.

 

[BlueWhite21]

Actually I was thinking more of those guys who only played one or two games or so..but had a really inspiring story on how they overcame all the odds to get to suit up and play for the finest college basketball team in the land...just like Rudy did for the finest college football team in the land at least at that time (sure Bear Bryant's Alabama might've had something to say about that but I digress).

Well Rudy is a movie based loosely on a true story. It’s not gonna be that easy to find somebody who just all sudden got a chance like Rudy. I love Rudy btw, but guys like Todd Svoboda is as close as you will find when it comes to basketball. Although Svoboda was all time leading scorer at NKU and Pitino probably didn’t really want him to begin with. He did outscore Allan Houston one time 4-3 lol. Massiello is a jerk. I used to love when Steve got in the game until I learned what a piece of shit he was. He’d always come back out and sign autographs after the games 😂. And then he’d act like he hated doing it so bad. 😂.

 

[BlueWhite21]

Svoboda had the best Rudy moment of all Rudy moments. He played only in 13 games in his 1 year for a total of 38 minutes. That was the year of the infamous intentionally missed free throw where Allan Houston clearly crossed the free throw line before the ball touched the rim. Tennessee rebounded the miss, scored, and they were fouled to win the game by 1.

We followed that 1 point loss with a beat down of epic proportions in the rematch. We ended up winning that one by 61, but it wasn't the big story. What made that game special was big Todd Svoboda scoring 4 points. Normally 4 points scored by a rarely used walk on would be of little consequence, but those 4 points were different. Those points allowed Svoboda to outscore Tennessee's all time leading scorer Allan Houston 4 to 3. Hard to top that moment for a seldom used walk on.

I’m sorry I said pretty much everything this guy had done said. I didn’t read the whole board. Sorry about that.

 

[JonathanW]

Cameron Mills. Hit the shot heard round the Commonwealth against Duke. Gotta be him.
Also hit a bignore one in the title game from the corner. Can't think of another walk-on who has done that.

Mills hit the bigger single shot. But Moss may have been better.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Who's the kid that gave up his track scholarship 17 times? That oughta count for somethin'

 

[Estil]

Who's the kid that gave up his track scholarship 17 times? That oughta count for somethin'

How is that even possible?

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

Cameron Mills

 

[cats2010]

Cameron Mills. Hit the shot heard round the Commonwealth against Duke. Gotta be him.
Also hit a bignore one in the title game from the corner. Can't think of another walk-on who has done that.

Have a picture framed and hanging in my basement of this shot autographed by mills himself.

 

[Sparky285]

Brennan Canada has 25 today against Auburn.

They change his name to Brennan America in the movie adaptation.

 

[Estil]

Just to give you an idea of just how long the odds are of being a Cat...(and correct me if I'm wrong JPScott), I live in the 3rd Region (Daviess/Hancock/Breckinridge/Grayson/Muhlenberg counties) and from that entire 3rd Region, only twelve UK players came from there. And in the 9th District where I was from, there were four from Owensboro High (Bobby Watson, Bill Bibb, Randy Embry, Cliff Hagan), one from Daviess County High (Larry Miller), and of course Rex Chapman from Apollo (my aunt was one of his classmates believe it or not!!).

So think of all the many hundreds of players that have come and gone from each of those schools, no doubt many of them dreaming and hoping to play for UK...and in my entire five county region, 90 years since Rupp started (1931)...only 12 from that region played for the Big Blue.

 

[CatsIndy2010]

Its a shame that we don't develop our own state players to compete with those that actually make the roster. I mean, there must be a lot of competing amongst parents of athletes and coaches and what not in this state. Kinda makes me think it hurts our chances in the long run of making the roster at UK. But I do know, for example, Chris Lofton could've been a big contributor but for some reason he went elsewhere.

My fav rudy style player is Ravi Moss. A walk-on, who started and contributed.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Who's the kid that gave up his track scholarship 17 times? That oughta count for somethin'

EJ Floreal! Yeah, I remember him giving up his scholly about 32 times.

 

[megablue]

Junior Brady and Ravi Moss were both mini-Rudys !!

 

[yoshukai]

So I've been watching the classic sports movie Rudy while I'm typing this and I was just wondering if our own team has our own inspiring "Rudy"/walk-on stories? Shoot I even like to call our walk-ons "Rudy's"! (yes I know the real-life Rudy story didn't happen quite like the movie but that's not the point; incidentally I think it was actually much harder for him to get admitted into Notre Dame than to get on the football team).

I remember when I first seriously followed UK in high school (starting with 1996 season) and soon after my dream was to go to UK, which I indeed did with BA's in history and political science (class of 2003; b-ball centennial!). And I remember this one guy, Steve Masiello who was called at the time "human victory cigar". Now I don't know if he really exactly counts as a true "Rudy" player though...he did play all four years after all (1997-2000)...and on top of that he won a championship in 1998 and just barely missed another the year before. And since then he has become a head coach for Manhattan (since 2011).

Well that's just one example but any of our own players you think were most inspiring/Rudy-like? After all, just like how Rudy wouldn't take anything less than playing for the Irish, I'm sure there were players who could've had a fine starter sort of career at "some other school" but their dream was to play for the finest college basketball team in the country and would settle for no less.

Rudy was basically fiction from what I understand.

 

[Estil]

I thought I'd bring this back up as I was just thinking, were any of our Rudys indeed, like that groundskeeper said, "five feet nothing", "a hundred nothing"? For a walk-on Rudy to be a grown man and less than six feet tall to play college basketball on it's biggest stage...

 

[jeffky]

Chris gettlefinger the greatest walk on ever at Kentucky. Everytime I hear of a walk on I think of him first .

 

[anonymous_2011]

Tony Davis. A young geeky looking kid from Chicago. Has a unibrow. Not highly recruited but under the tutelage of John Calipari gets a break at UK.

 

[Kybluedude]

Jared Polson contributed as a walk on.

Also I think Anthony Epps came as a walk on.