What Makes You a UK Fan?

[Random UK Fan]

For me; I grew up in Lexington, graduated from UK, so I was surrounded by it all of my adolescent life, and went to all of the games as a college student. It's pretty simple for me . . . I was grown in it. We have a lot of fans who have never even stepped foot in the state. Also, which is the first UK team you became interested in. It was the Bowie/Turpin team were my first memories of fandom.

What's your story?

 

[Wall2Boogie]

It's in my DNA since I came out the nutsack

 

[_Rooster]

Started about 1956 with my Papaw taking me to every UL and UK game he could. Then I started listening to WHAS with the whole family crowded around the radio as the players raced right to left or left to right across our radio dial. Loved me some Cawood.

 

[Clive Gollings]

My dad married a UK fan. She was a die hard fan. She had my uncle mail VCR tapes to our house and it was an event in our household. Everyone gather around we're watching UK basketball tonight.

 

[arenk]

I became a UK fan when I picked up Rupp's Runts beating a highly ranked Vandy team 105-90 in Nashville in 1966. I lived in Ohio most of my life, but decided that night that I wanted to go to UK and have been an avid UK fan for the past 50 years.

For me; I grew up in Lexington, graduated from UK, so I was surrounded by it all of my adolescent life, and went to all of the games as a college student. It's pretty simple for me . . . I was grown in it. We have a lot of fans who have never even stepped foot in the state. Also, which is the first UK team you became interested in. It was the Bowie/Turpin team were my first memories of fandom.

What's your story?

 

[Cindog28]

My parents were heading home from Garrard Co. KY and this large snow storm hit (1975) on the ride back to Frankfort. My mother's water broke in Lexington. I was born at UK (Albert B. Chandler Memorial) Hospital.

I've been a faithful fan for the last 40 years! (including a UK tattoo on my calf)

 

[UKvisitor_rivals101449]

Wonder if any posters here admit they are Trolls in this thread?

 

[David Rice]

My father. Watching the '98 team helped.

 

[Bkocats]

I just am....no real story to it

 

[mhroe1984]

Although I'm a WKU alum, I'm from Nicholasville and being from the Lexington area just immerses you in everything Kentucky blue. My family had season tickets to basketball and football when I was a kid which we had until my grandmother died back in 2003, so going to games was just second nature for us. Sometimes I wish I had stayed home and gone to school at UK but at that time I was ready to be on my own and I chose to go to Western, but I wore more UK blue on the hill than I did Hilltopper red. I love WKU and the hill is a special place, but first and foremost, my blood will always be blue.

 

[UKserialkiller]

It's in my DNA since I came out the nutsack

 

[GonzoCat90]

It's a treasured family heirloom.

When I question eventually having kids, one of the main reasons I come back around is so I can share those experiences the same way my dad shared them with me.

 

[chroix]

I went to U.K. In 96 and was a big fan already but the 98 run locked me in for life. That game against Duke was the greatest comeback I've ever witnessed, not points wise but simply for sheer determination and refuse to lose cajones.

 

[Cat78Scot]

Intelligence?

Lol, lived in Scotland until I was 8, moving to Louisville in 74. My soccer team in Scotland wore the same shade of blue and were dominant in their sport.

4 years after moving here I saw my first basketball game on TV when we beat Duke in 78. They wore blue, I now lived in Kentucky and I'm a loyal guy. Stick with the team I pick. Also basketball has many subtle similarities to soccer so I understood it quicker.

That game got me listening to Cawood and buying in which led me to hearing the Reds dominating with Joe and Marty calling the games which then led me to hearing the Steelers win two Super Bowls.

So other than the Reds, which have their own place in history not quite equal to the other three, I picked the three most successful teams in their sport with the most obsessive and loyal fanbases mostly in that two year period between 78 and 80.

And... If you think UK vs the dirty birds is an intense rivalry, Google Rangers vs Celtic. Nothing like almost 1000 years of religious hatred to ramp things up a wee bit, I tell ya!

 

[UKvisitor_rivals101449]

As a child, UK BB games took out my cartoons on a Sat morn. on tv. Dark old looking places with guys running around. I hated it.

 

[420grover]

It's in my DNA since I came out the nutsack

This.

 

[UK’98UK’00]

Grew up in Ft Thomas and Lexington. Had/have an uncle and aunt who were big fans, both attended. My uncle's passion as a fan started it for me. Would do the Cawood thing on the radio and stay up late to watch the delayed broadcasts for home games with him.
A seperate aunt became and then was a nurse at Uk(neonatal care).Mom became a nurse at Uk, and then worked at the Markey cancer institute. My dad became a Dr. at Uk and so did a real uncle, and the sort of family friend who is like a separate uncle.
Went to high school at Lexington Catholic and then college at Centre. Also became a Dr at Uk. Been around that area a long time and many family ties to the school. Wife was enrolled at Uk law when Toyota came a calling in Georgetown and she switched careers paths promptly.
While a resident at Uk, we would do reseason exams on the patients/players. Was in school there for the 96 title, 97 runner up year, and 98 title. Pretty sweet run as a doctoral student.

 

[jrm693]

It started for me in 1963 my dad who participated in the D-Day invasion had a buddy from Lexington Mr Taylor Gaines whom we went to visit. He carried us over to Memorial and we went in and walked around "King Cotton" Nash was practicing alone and he came over and shook my hand. My grandad and myself used to sit around and listen to the radio and caught every game we could and then when The SEC game of the week started being televised every Saturday we watched those together and it was highly addictive. I will always remember solemn John Ferguson and Joe "string music" Dean calling those games, and all the "gimme Emge" commercials. As a boy Stan Key used to help us cut tobacco and he went on to play at UK and I believe he is president of Alumni not sure but he is still involved. It is something that most of us look forward to with the hope and excitement of a new season and can't wait for the games to start. Since Cal has been here I have not missed a Final Four with my granddaughter and we try to make 7 games during the season it is 275 miles from my driveway to Rupp but is well worth the effort to go and get caught up in the electricity of Rupp.

 

[Blue Decade]

For me; I grew up in Lexington, graduated from UK, so I was surrounded by it all of my adolescent life, and went to all of the games as a college student. It's pretty simple for me . . . I was grown in it. We have a lot of fans who have never even stepped foot in the state. Also, which is the first UK team you became interested in. It was the Bowie/Turpin team were my first memories of fandom.

What's your story?

Grew up in Lexington. Graduated from UK. Participated in athletics and respect the brotherhood. I think the extended story of UK athletics is the most interesting story in college sports.

 

[Cat78Scot]

It started for me in 1963 my dad who participated in the D-Day invasion had a buddy from Lexington Mr Taylor Gaines whom we went to visit. He carried us over to Memorial and we went in and walked around "King Cotton" Nash was practicing alone and he came over and shook my hand. My grandad and myself used to sit around and listen to the radio and caught every game we could and then when The SEC game of the week started being televised every Saturday we watched those together and it was highly addictive. I will always remember solemn John Ferguson and Joe "string music" Dean calling those games, and all the "gimme Emge" commercials. As a boy Stan Key used to help us cut tobacco and he went on to play at UK and I believe he is president of Alumni not sure but he is still involved. It is something that most of us look forward to with the hope and excitement of a new season and can't wait for the games to start. Since Cal has been here I have not missed a Final Four with my granddaughter and we try to make 7 games during the season it is 275 miles from my driveway to Rupp but is well worth the effort to go and get caught up in the electricity of Rupp.

That's pretty damn cool! I had a similar experience with the soccer team I mentioned. Rangers vs Celtic game at Ibrox, Rangers Stadium.

My dad took me into the locker room to meet the team at halftime. Must have been 7 maybe? John Greig is a legend at Rangers, I'm sure I met him and that entire team but only remember that it actually happened, not specifics.

 

[tycornett9]

I'm quite young, and i haven't been watching for very long. but i remember living out in california because of military stuff when i was a little kid, and my mom was always a HUGE UK fan. one night, we had to run out somewhere and my mom was in a huge hurry to get back. so when we finally got back to the house we turned on the tv and i decided i was going to watch with my mom. I had absolutely no idea what was going on other than that i was cheering for the blue team and against the orange team. but this one dude on UK just couldn't be stopped. he kept lighting the orange team (tennessee) up. he must have had like 54 points. it was amazing to me as a little kid, and from then on i was a fan. wonder who that guy was though

 

[anon_dge1vx8o0wnm7]

Runs in the family, like almost everyone else. Helps I go there too

 

[Aike]

I was born into it. The first team where I paid enough attention to be a fan was 1981-82. Loved Jim Master.

 

[caneintally]

My parents went there and the first memories I have are watching UK games with my dad.

 

[BlueVelvetFog]

UK football and basketball is in my veins. Tough to shake

But the saddest day of my life is when my family moved from KY to Florida. The neighbors must've thought we were crazy piling into our car listening to Cawood on WHAS on those winter Florida nights

 

[Goingfor9]

Lived my life in lex. Kicked it with players when I was younger, went to 3-4 games a year. Born on the campus. Born with blue blood

 

[westerncat]

Starting watch in 1966 when I got back from South East Asia and have been a big fan ever since. GBB.

 

[JeffGoodmansVestigialTwin]

To paraphrase Bane from Batman "I was born in BBN....Molded by it"

 

[David Beirne]

Issel/Pratt years was my starting point, but before that my UK uncles took me to a UK/Notre Dame game at Freedom Hall (Rupps Runts) I told my uncles I was for the "green" team. They smacked me upside the head and said "No, you're for the white team" (UK).
Have been Big Blue ever since. I now smack my kids and grandkids to show them the difference ! kay:

 

[STL_Cat]

Pulse.

 

[kybassfan]

Blood and WHAS.

 

[K-Town Kat]

Born in Knoxville, but grandparents grew up in Harlan, KY. Raised the family to be UK fans.

My dream was to attend UK and that was realized when I got to attend UK for dental school. Still in Lexington doing a general dentistry residency, been nice the last 5 years being around fellow UK folks and being away from the hideous orange.

 

[LostinIndiana]

I don't have a whole lot else to do.

 

[MrLair]

It's in my DNA since I came out the nutsack

This. So simple.

 

[KyJones64]

I grew up in Eastern Kentucky and still live here and most folks in this area are very true to Big Blue! I guess the first games that I can remember watching with my dad were from the early 70's, we also listened to Cawood Ledford religiously. For me and my family n friends Kentucky Basketball is and has always been a way of life and has always been a bright beautiful time of year ....... we always look forward to October because we know that is the beginning of Big Blue Madness!!! Always bleeding blue

 

[IdaCat]

Honestly, I do it to pick up chicks.

 

[Dirk2Bowie]

Fate, family and alumnus in that order.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

Born and raised in Kentucky, third generation Cat fan.

 

[UKrazycat2_rivals]

Born and raised in Ky. The most natural thing for me was to cheer for the team that represents the whole state. Kentucky was/is, and always will be basketball.

 

[Naitch86]

Started about 1956 with my Papaw taking me to every UL and UK game he could. Then I started listening to WHAS with the whole family crowded around the radio as the players raced right to left or left to right across our radio dial. Loved me some Cawood.

The only time that UK and Louisville played in the 50's after 1956, was in the tourny in 59. After that, they didnt play again until the 80s.