Your First Trip to Rupp Arena

[Will Lavender]

How old were you when you first went to Rupp? Who were the Cats playing, and what was the outcome of the game?

I actually don't remember my first trip. I remember the drive with my dad through Lexington, I remember the french fries taking forever at the Hyatt, I remember putting my jacket into a garbage bag so it wouldn't get dirty. But I can't remember who Kentucky was playing or if we even won.

Would love to hear some your stories.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

December 21st, 1962 but it wasn't Rupp Arena it was Memorial Colesium: I would turn sixteen the next day. Kentucky 94 Iowa 69 in the UKIT. A friend of the family got UKIT tickets for me but I had nobody to take me for the Iowa game so my folks let me go on the Greyhound. When I got off in downtown Lexington it was raining and I was scared/excited all at once. I ran into a barber shop and got directions to Memorial and took off running...next thing I know I get to see my hero, Cotton Nash, and my Kentucky Wildcats...the team also included Charles Ishmael, Ted Deeken, Scotty Baesler and Roy Roberts. The next night I had a ride and we beat West Virginia with the great Rod Thorn, 79-75.

[John Clay Rice Jr.]

Penn State game.

[Will Lavender]

Penn State game.

Ouch. :icon_mrgreen:

[UFWildcat]

http://www.wildcatnation.net/forum/showthread.php?t=14552

[JawadtheChinchilla]

My first game at Rupp was actually not a UK game, but a Sweet 16 game my 8th grade year. My first UK game was the home opener of the 2005-06 season vs South Dakota State. I've also had the privilege of working a few home games for ESPN and CBS.

[dougwhit]

about eight or nine years ago, the game was against auburn. my wife got me tickets as a Christmas present. we sat two rows from the top. i didn't care..i was at RUPP. i have been to almost all the home games for the past 5 yrs, seen some great games, but nothing compares to your first time.

[POEKLM]

I was 18, took the greyhound to Lexington from Louisville. Which I was shocked that my parents let me do. I am pretty sure this may have been a UKIT game too. I think it was against St. Johns who had a spectacular player on their team. It was the 78 team. It was a dream come true. No, I think it may have been the 76-77 team. Seems like Kyle was sitting out because I remember talking to him after the game. I think that was my first game.

[misterbluecat]

1987, I was 4, I went to see UK play UofSmell. We won by 1 point, Rex had 21, Davender had 20 and Bennett 14. Ellison had 20 and Crook had 24 for UofSmell.

[Brutus]

Well, I don't know what year it was, mid 80's?, but UK played Navy. David Robinson was playing for them then and the point guard for Navy, Doug Wojic went to high school with me in WV. He later was an assistant at NC when Dougherty was there.

I wasn't a big college basketball fan and not even a UK fan at the time but was overwhelmed by Rupp and the commotion by the Big Blue Nation. I've been hooked ever since :thumbup:

Brutus

[cumberlandredskin]

1979 UKIT. My dad ordered tickets sometime that fall. Me,him,an uncle and I think a brother of mine went. We stayed at the Holidome in Lexington. UK beat California the first night something like 78 to 62. An easy win. The next night they played a very good Purdue team led by Joe Barry Carroll and coached by Kentucky native Lee Rose. This was huge game for Kyle Macy. He had transferred from Purdue and this was the only time he would play against Purdue. Carroll had a huge game for Purdue but UK won by one point. The game ended with the ball in Macy's hands and he flung it up to the ceiling when the buzzer sounded. This started an annual trek for me,my dad and my uncle. We attended most of the UKIT's after that until it's demise in 1989.

[BigblueDrew]

My Dad took me to Memorial to see the Cats play LSU. The Pistol scored about 50 but the Cats still won. My Dad was a high school coach at Fulton County at the time and after the game somehow he talked to Rupp I got to shake the great mans hand, I was 9 and I instantly developed a terminal case of Big Blue Fever that thankfully I have never recovered from.

[jkeller]

1997 vs. Villanova, I think we won by 31 or something.

[TrueblueCATfan]

1997 ( I believe) exhibition game.....Nazr Mohammed's freshmen year

[ukspicoli]

It was the Houston game when they had Olajuwon(?) Huge game in Rupp that year. My father called me up on Sunday morning and asked if I wanted to go...and, of course, I said yes. So Dad, if you're reading this...thanks for a big game as my first in Rupp!

[chworld22]

Ten years ago I think. UK v University of Alaska Anchorge (sp?). UK won but it was a lot closer a game than thought it would be. My brother and I went. Since then I have been twenty or so times. I had season tickets last year and it was the experience of a lifetime really. Eventhough we sucked last year getting to go to every game was amazing.

[Will Lavender]

Five years ago I think. UK v University of Alaska Anchorge (sp?). UK won but it was a lot closer a game than thought it would be. My brother and I went. Since then I have been twenty or so times. I had season tickets last year and it was the experience of a lifetime really. Eventhough we sucked last year getting to go to every game was amazing.

Hmm. I can't remember UK playing Alaska Anchorage. I think you might have the wrong team, chworld.

Of course, I could be totally wrong.

[jwade]

My first game in Rupp was the first game the Cats played there: November 27, 1976 in a 72-64 win over Wisconsin. My second year at UK.


Jim

[chworld22]

Hmm. I can't remember UK playing Alaska Anchorage. I think you might have the wrong team, chworld.

Of course, I could be totally wrong.

It was 96-97 and it was them I checked it because I knew it was a Alaska team just could remember if it was exactly that tema. I remember Magloire dunking on someone to spur a run. Until that dunk it was a slow and boring game and even after that it was pretty boring.

I was way off on the year though.

[auditor]

March 1988, Senior Day vs. Georgia. I was in 5th grade. Ed Davender, Rob Lock, Winston Bennett, Richard Madison, and Cedric "Swoop" Jenkins were the seniors. Rex Chapman's last game as well.

I remember when they were announcing the Jenkins, everyone in Rupp was yelling "Swoooooooop!" My Mom thought they were booing him. :icon_biggrin:

I'll never forget the excitement of walking into hallowed ground like that for the first time. Cats won, but I don't remember the score.

[jimcat]

1986 SEC Tournament. The Cats won a hard fought tournament with the help of a truly great Kenny Walker. I was really impressed with the way Walker, Harden, and Davender moved the ball on fast breaks and the way they could shoot the ball. They were having a sheriff's convention in Lexington, and I met and hung out with some of the sheriffs, including Jim Green from Jefferson County. A few days later I received an Honorary Deputy Sheriff of Jefferson County award in the mail, and I have it mounted on my wall along with pictures of the Cats who participated in the tournament. I recently met Kenny Walker in a local Cracker Barrel in Paducah and we had a nice talk about the tournament. This visit to Rupp really got me hooked on the CATS. I've been to many UK games all over the country from St. Petersburg to Atlanta, and of course many games in Rupp.

[KyBlueBilly]

Was Jan 6 of 1996...It started snowing before game time and we had about 3-4 inches on ground at start of game...Was in section 21 and only people in front of me chairs were directly on the floor...Was good seats..I remember Mississippi looked like they were dreading the game.....As well they should have...Uk won 90-60 and it wasnt even really that close. Going home next day was fun fun fun....car barely made it to interstate out Richmond rd. it hadnt been plowed and front bumper was pushing snow ...took 45 minutes to get from jacobsen park to interstate...but was well worth the hassle

[WingoCatFan]

After 25+ years of following the cats via television, I finally got to go to a game last year. Seats were 3 rows behind the eruption zone.
Words just don't do the experience justice.
The game...conference opener vs Vandy...double overtime victory and the turning point of the season in Gillispie's first year as coach. The atmosphere was unbelievable.

[bluecat406]

After 25+ years of following the cats via television, I finally got to go to a game last year. Seats were 3 rows behind the eruption zone.
Words just don't do the experience justice.
The game...conference opener vs Vandy...double overtime victory and the turning point of the season in Gillispie's first year as coach. The atmosphere was unbelievable.
Wow. Good first game.

My first game was probably 15 years ago. I can't remember who we played or who won, but I remember being in the nose bleed section, and thinking that the seats seemed to be straight up. I'll never forget feeling lightheaded walking up to my seat, which was almost at the top!

[Blue 24/7]

1996 against Alabama. Probably the worst game the Cats played all year. Antoine Walker was out of it, and was booed on his way to the locker room at the half. Don't remember much else about the game except getting the W. It was a super-tuesday late game on ESPN and we had a 4 hour drive that seemed to erase any memory I had. Didn't quite make it to work the next day. ;) I was in the nose bleed section. Derek Anderson was ESPN player of the game. I do remember being amazed by the fur coats and bling bling that came filing in and sat behind the benches. Oh and Dukie V made the "Y". Many don't like him, but I'll tell you he signed autographs all the way out of that building. That's the only game I've seen at Rupp. Honestly, I have more fun at Commonwealth and make that trip once a year.

[HoptownFaithful82]

My first time at Rupp was actually a UK All-Stars Game. My husband, then boyfriend, got tickets and we went. I got to meet all kinds of UK Players. I had been a fan for years, but this made me a fanatic, for which my husband is very thankful, he found the woman of his UK Fan dreams....lol

His first game was UK vs. LSU, senior day 1984. Cats won 90-68. He sat four rows behind the UK bench, His Dad paid 200 dollars for 2 tickets.

[cdrw]

1977 Mideast Regional (not UK). I'm pretty sure I didn't get to go to any season games that year.

[SBCatMan]

While I have had season tix to UK football for 10 years, I have never been to Rupp.

[John Clay Rice Jr.]

Ouch. :icon_mrgreen:
Yeah I know. I was 11 years old and I cried.

[John Clay Rice Jr.]

My first time at Rupp was actually a UK All-Stars Game. My husband, then boyfriend, got tickets and we went. I got to meet all kinds of UK Players. I had been a fan for years, but this made me a fanatic, for which my husband is very thankful, he found the woman of his UK Fan dreams....lol

His first game was UK vs. LSU, senior day 1984. Cats won 90-68. He sat four rows behind the UK bench, His Dad paid 200 dollars for 2 tickets.
I hope I find women like you.

[Blue_Soldier21]

my first game was against Alabama, dont really remember much about it except that we were sitting sort of behind a goal, and i looked down for something, and when i happened to look up Mashburn was hanging from the rim. the picture in my head is still there, clear as day... sorry i dont remember the year. it was maybe 1991-1992? I'm not sure...sorry, but we won!

[HoptownFaithful82]

I hope I find women like you.

Hopefully you will. My husband had to get married twice to find the right woman. His first wife hated his passion for the game. She had the cable cut off on him so he couldn't watch games...which I think is a crime punishable by death!:widcat::icon_twisted::icon_biggrin:

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

all of the games I went to at Rupp were in my two years at UK, 1994-95 and 1995-96. First one was against an Ohio team that had Gary Trent. I remember one of my first UK friends got me in with a um....bookie (cough) that year and I remember calling him from the payphones in the concourse that night to throw down some bets. Also saw them play Miss state and Vandy that year. Sorry off topic but I HAVE to mention though that my favorite game there was against Ga tech in 95-96. Watching Walter slam the ball off a pass off the backboard to end the game made the night for me. Unfortunately though, I haven't been back since, but have seen 5 UK-uf games at the o'dome and saw them beat Ohio in Cincy in that awful 05-06 season.

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

After 25+ years of following the cats via television, I finally got to go to a game last year. Seats were 3 rows behind the eruption zone.
Words just don't do the experience justice.
The game...conference opener vs Vandy...double overtime victory and the turning point of the season in Gillispie's first year as coach. The atmosphere was unbelievable.

THAT IS AWESOME ! easily one of my two favorite games from last season. really set the tone for the sec schedule.

[LAcat]

Unfortunately, I've never been to a game at Rupp. It opened one year after I finished up at UK. My memories are tiny Memorial Coliseum and long waits for certain SEC games like Tennessee. Uk was mediocre in the last years of the Rupp tenure.

[jwade]

Uk was mediocre in the last years of the Rupp tenure.

I'd have to disagree, although I suppose it depends upon one's definition of mediocre and the timeframe one wants to consider. The last 5 years of Rupp's tenure were as follows:

1971-72 (21-7, 14-4 SEC), SEC champs, ranked 18th AP and 14th UPI
1970-71 (22-6, 16-2 SEC), SEC champs, ranked 10th AP
1969-70 (26-2, 17-1 SEC), SEC champs, ranked 1st AP, 1st UPI
1968-69 (23-5, 16-2 SEC), SEC champs, ranked 7th
1967-68 (22-5, 15-3 SEC), SEC champs, ranked 4th

I agree the final season might be deemed mediocre, but not the others. At least, not by my definition.


Jim

[baronofblgrs]

I think it was 1987. I pretty much invited myself when a friend had tickets. I was in the 7th grade and we sat in the nose bleed section with his Dad. I remember seeing Roger Harden on the floor. Don't remember who we played. :widcat:Go Cats! Bring on 2008-09 season!

[kentuckyforthewin]

Two seasons ago, I went to see the cats play against Travis Fords UMASS team. the cats won easily. I was up in the rafters but it was nice and loud.

[Littlemeyer]

March 13, 1993. SEC Tournament semi-final game against a tough Arkansas team. I was 16.

Kentucky got off to an extremely quick start and built a comfortable lead. Arkansas made a game out of it, though, before UK pulled away a bit at the end to win by about 10 pts or so.