UK Basketball...what it means to us

[lilproUK98]

My Dad jumped off the Tubby Bandwagon sometime in the 1999-2000 season I believe. He predicted mediocrity from Tubby's teams for as long as he continued to be our Coach. He saw many of the deficiencies that I was just blind to see, and the trouble that was ahead for the program.

I pretty much ignored him and didn't really say much to him about UK Basketball even when in '02-'03 they had a great year and looked to be back on top from '02-'05.

My Dad, who is 63, was once one of the biggest UK fan's you could ever find in the World. He donated lots of his time and money to following the Cats, wherever they were. We would regularly make UK road games, and go to UK's NCAA Tournament games. My Dad has, in fact, been to ALL of UK's Final Four Appearances since 1978 in St. Louis. He would regularly attend 8-10 home games, and 4-5 road games. He truly loved UK Basketball at one time.

Now, I don't recall my dad going to a UK basketball game since the Elite 8 loss against Michigan St. in St. Louis in 1999. I may be wrong, he may have been to 1 or 2 games, but I doubt it.

My Dad, I believe, is a very good example of manyUK fans today. Someone who has given their heart, time, money, and soul to UK Basketball, but has slowly but surely seen the bright shining light that is UK Basketball dim. Deep down we will always be UK Basketball fans, but we just want that light to shine bright, that's all.

It is so sad to see someone who I shared many memorable moments with, because of UK Basketball, have no hope for the team that he once loved and followed so loyally.I hope one day thatme and my Dad can share these great moments together again.

There needs to be some big changes, whatever they may be. One thing I do know, is thatthe UK Basketball Tradition will goon, and the Cats will be great once again long after Tubby is gone. I have nothing against Tubby, but I believe, if he is not willing to make the REAL CHANGES in his philosopy offensively and to some parts ofhis style in general, he will be replaced.

My Dad has always said that UK Basketball is, and will always be, bigger than one Coach, and that I cannot argue with. I just want him, and all fans,to be able to enjoy and love UK Basketball again like he, and we all,used to. That is all.

[catmandoo25]

You know, I see where people like your dad are coming from, but I will never stop watching theCats and being a fan because I disagree with some of the things going on. Just seems bandwagony to me. No offense intended, just my thoughts on this.

[KapitalCat]

I think it is possible to be off the Tubby Bandwagon but yet stay on the KY program bandwagon. It's tough but possible.

[lilproUK98]

catmandoo25 wrote: You know, I see where people like your dad are coming from, but I will never stop watching theCats and being a fan because I disagree with some of the things going on. Just seems bandwagony to me. No offense intended, just my thoughts on this.

I guess he was on the bandwagon for 50 years??

He still watches the games and he is still a fan, but doesn't make it his priority of the day like he used to. Him not going to a game since 1999 is very telling to me. I guess I should have added that to my orig. post.

He has probably seen more UK Basketball than 98% of the members of this board.

[lilproUK98]

KapitalCat wrote: I think it is possible to be off the Tubby Bandwagon but yet stay on the KY program bandwagon. It's tough but possible.

That's exactly what category I would put my Dad into. Like I said, he just wants to be excited by UK Basketball again. I guarantee you, the next time the Cats are in the Final Four, he'll be there.

[KapitalCat]

lilproUK98 wrote: KapitalCat wrote: I think it is possible to be off the Tubby Bandwagon but yet stay on the KY program bandwagon. It's tough but possible.

That's exactly what category I would put my Dad into. Like I said, he just wants to be excited by UK Basketball again. I guarantee you, the next time the Cats are in the Final Four, he'll be there.
I t hought so. I'll be there very game rooting the cats and supporting these kids who more distraught than we can imagine. At the same time, I have grave concerns Tubby can renergize this program.

[UKcat]

You dad mirrors my thoughts and feelings very well. I have been to the sec tourney for the last 15 years (except for 1994, because I fell in the ice storm and shattered my ankle two weeks before the tourney and could not go). I have been to as many home and away games as I could; I have followed this program since the middle '60s faithfully. I LIVE AND BREATHE KENTUCKY BASKETBALL!!!! I am gleefully happy when they win; sulk for hours when they lose (and I am really sulking right now); am despondent when I know they could have done better; am in despair when I see the program failing and nobody willing to fix it. \

I am not going to the tourney this year; the trip is too expensive any more to throw money away on to watch tubby ball again. When he is gone, I'll be back. I just can't do it anymore.

I will continue to watch every game and root them on just as strongly as I ever have, because that's what Cat fans do.; but I will be ecstatic on the day that Tubby Smith is no longer our coach. 'nuff said.

[lilproUK98]

UKcat wrote: You dad mirrors my thoughts and feelings very well. I have been to the sec tourney for the last 15 years (except for 1994, because I fell in the ice storm and shattered my ankle two weeks before the tourney and could not go). I have been to as many home and away games as I could; I have followed this program since the middle '60s faithfully. I LIVE AND BREATHE KENTUCKY BASKETBALL!!!! I am gleefully happy when they win; sulk for hours when they lose (and I am really sulking right now); am despondent when I know they could have done better; am in despair when I see the program failing and nobody willing to fix it.

I am not going to the tourney this year; the trip is too expensive any more to throw money away on to watch tubby ball again. When he is gone, I'll be back. I just can't do it anymore.

I will continue to watch every game and root them on just as strongly as I ever have, because that's what Cat fans do.; but I will be ecstatic on the day that Tubby Smith is no longer our coach. 'nuff said.


That is what I want this thread to be about. I want everybody to let each other know how long we've loved UK Basketball and how badly we just want UK Basketball to be exciting for us again.

There is a great mix of individuals on here, but we are all die-hard UK fans, that much is true. However, like my Dad, many of us are just fed up with the product that UK Basketball has become. Some of us just can't put into UK Basketball what we used to anymore, because we are simply not getting much out of it. I think there are many, many, UK fans just like my Dad out there that just want UK Basketball to be UK Basketball again.

[UKcat]

actually, I guess I can't even count tonight; I have been to the tourney ever since 1990, minus one year; ever how many that is!!!:blush: I would probably still be going this year, but my other half just refused to go again until Tubby is gone, and I finally gave it up and agreed. I will miss it desperately because it is so much fun; someday, I will go again...............soon, I hope.

[WildcatRick]

Nothing tough about it at all. As a matter of fact its a joke to tell someone they arent a real fan unless they support the coach. I have yet to see a post or meet anyone that supports a different team because of Tubby.

lilproUK98, no matter what you are told your Dad is as true blue as anyone on here. I've seen some of the most loyal UK fans I have ever known called out here because they want a coaching change. Like it or not thats theirs(and your Dads)right.

[lilproUK98]

WildcatRick wrote: Nothing tough about it at all. As a matter of fact its a joke to tell someone they arent a real fan unless they support the coach. I have yet to see a post or meet anyone that supports a different team because of Tubby.

lilproUK98, no matter what you are told your Dad is as true blue as anyone on here. I've seen some of the most loyal UK fans I have ever known called out here becasue they want a coaching change. Like it or not thats theirs(and your Dads)right.






Thanks Rick. I just wish everyone on here could read my orig. post and hear that little voice inside their head say to them, "hey, that's my Dad, or that's my Mom, or my Grandfather, or my friend."

I believe that the true heart of the fanbase is melting away the longer the program is struggling like this, my Dad just had the foresight to see that it was going to happen.

[catmandoo25]

I may not have been a fan for as long obviosly because I'm not that old (23), but I'll never stop making it a priority to watch games.....I just don't understand this at all. I guess it's something I won't realize until later in life. Uk basketball games are laways at the forefront of my evening/afernoon and that WILL NEVER CHANGE. To each his own though. Again, obviously, no offense intended.

[Radiated]

I will say this. What a season to have half of season tickets.

[SamKat]

I'm with your dad lilproUK, but I will be attending the SEC tournament at the Renaissance in Catlanta with my WCN friends.