You guys know the Rudy movie right? Well what are our own inspiring "Rudy"/walk-on stories?
- Thread starter Estil
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Side note:
The real Rudy is a massive jerk. I've spent years working around the people of his hometown, and no one there likes him. He also had to settle with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a pump and dump scheme.
Joe Montana said 99% of the movie was fraudulent and that the team never turned in their jerseys.
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Ravi Moss is inspiring. It's a story of what it means to grow up in Kentucky and end up starting for the team. As a senior he contributed big time.
That movie sucked. Hoosiers--now that's more like it
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What are their stories more specifically? I don't reckon any of them were five feet-nothing, a hundred-nothing?
That's about a team, not an individual. But yeah, isn't it awesome that in KY such Hoosiers-like stories are still possible? I think Breckinridge County in 1994 or 1995 was one of the best known examples? You know, a really tiny school somehow coming out of nowhere and winning the whole thing?
I’d like to see more live for Junior Braddy. Played here from 1989-93 as a walk-on. Made a few big shots and was a solid bench contributor on our 1992 and 1993 teams.
Braddy wasn’t from Kentucky but really embraced his time as a Wildcat.
He wrote the following poem while he was at UK (credit to Jon Scott’s site):
Chance of a Lifetime, by Junior Braddy
Every child in America dreams of of becoming someone famous or just doing something special that sets you apart from the rest of the world. It is impossible not to dream. Every time we go to sleep at night or just daydream in class, we enter another world where no goal or achievement is impossible. Most of us wake up, but a select few dream on until one day they realize that their dream has come true.
Fifteen people share the same dream, with each person striving to make that dream come true, but knowing that with one mishap or twist of fate you can be rudely awakened never to dream that dream again. But with determination and hard work we can dream on, unitl truly we become one of the select few on this earth.
We have the chance of a lifetime. And I believe that we can do it. Not by might, or by power, but by faith. And I do believe.
Braddy wasn’t from Kentucky but really embraced his time as a Wildcat.
He wrote the following poem while he was at UK (credit to Jon Scott’s site):
Chance of a Lifetime, by Junior Braddy
Every child in America dreams of of becoming someone famous or just doing something special that sets you apart from the rest of the world. It is impossible not to dream. Every time we go to sleep at night or just daydream in class, we enter another world where no goal or achievement is impossible. Most of us wake up, but a select few dream on until one day they realize that their dream has come true.
Fifteen people share the same dream, with each person striving to make that dream come true, but knowing that with one mishap or twist of fate you can be rudely awakened never to dream that dream again. But with determination and hard work we can dream on, unitl truly we become one of the select few on this earth.
We have the chance of a lifetime. And I believe that we can do it. Not by might, or by power, but by faith. And I do believe.
Jarrod Polson against Maryland in the season opener of the 2012-13 season is about as close as it gets imo. Not exactly what the OP was looking for, but this was his junior season. In his first 2 years at UK, he scored 7 points total and never more than 2 in a game. He plays against Maryland and goes for 10, including 2 free throws at the end to stretch the lead to 3. Here are highlights...Dicky V knew it too:
Here is an article from NBC Sports about the night, including the following quote, "This story, at face value, is terrific and the kind of thing a movie script can be based on. Polson, a former walk-on, takes center-stage for a team and a program known for churning out lottery picks, particularly at his position. A dream come true, right? Someone get Disney on the phone."
https://www.nbcsports.com/college-b...rmations-and-one-walk-ons-unforgettable-night
I wish I could find the picture, but his sister took a picture of his dad on his hands and knees in front of the TV as his dream of watching his son play for UK in a big game came true.
Here is an article from NBC Sports about the night, including the following quote, "This story, at face value, is terrific and the kind of thing a movie script can be based on. Polson, a former walk-on, takes center-stage for a team and a program known for churning out lottery picks, particularly at his position. A dream come true, right? Someone get Disney on the phone."
https://www.nbcsports.com/college-b...rmations-and-one-walk-ons-unforgettable-night
I wish I could find the picture, but his sister took a picture of his dad on his hands and knees in front of the TV as his dream of watching his son play for UK in a big game came true.
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Many times I had to suit up for a tourney game for Pitino at the last minute because there wasn’t anyone else he could call. I kept waking up though 🫤
I have NEVER left a game early because of that reason. Love it.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?
Being called a WILDCAT...it makes my hair on the back of my neck stand up. WOW! What an honor and privilege to be called a Wildcat. And what about that first game where you walk into Rupp Arena for the first time and feel that tradition and history every where. What an experience!!!!!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.
I can't believe you guys haven't mentioned Brad Calipari yet. Hard working kid from a blue collar family outside of Pittsburgh. Works so hard he gets "earned not given" tattooed on his chest as a constant reminder of how much work he needed to put in to get where he was. Wasn't much of a player, but he studied hard and was able to get a role as an assistant coach after his playing career was over.
Does Scott Padgett qualify for any Rudy points?
IIRC, he was off the team mowing grass at some point and ended up with a ring.
IIRC, he was off the team mowing grass at some point and ended up with a ring.
Absolutely not worthy of an over dramatized movie. The media always slobbers over Notre Dame so no actual surprise.
That was a big difference between Pitino and Cal and kinda what we see with Pope. If you can play, you're gonna see the floor. Mills could shoot and Pitino found a niche for him in the lineup. Under Cal, Mills would have been put in with enough time to walk the ball up the court and hold it till the clock runs out.
You really can't compare football and basketball like that. They only played 11 regular season game, so a contribution in one game would make a big difference.
Yeah from the tiny town of Tollesboro, Ky. I think after UK he ran into bad times and wound up on the streets of Lexington. Haven’t heard about in years.
I wonder how many HS seniors got to play in the Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena AND got to play for UK right afterwards?
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