Transfer experience enhanced by enjoyable UK athletics events

November 8, 2009 | Filed under: Columns,Opinions | Posted by:

 

When I arrived in August to study for a year at UK through the National Student Exchange program, the very first campus event I went to was the “Big Blue U” pep rally at Commonwealth Stadium. 
As UK coaches such as women’s basketball head coach Matthew Mitchell and men’s soccer head coach Ian Collins were introduced, the blue-clad crowd responded with quiet, obligatory applause. 
However, when men’s basketball head coach John Calipari stepped forward, there was no time for his name to be announced before the students erupted with cheers and chants in honor of their hero. Coach Cal needed no introduction.
Almost everywhere I have looked, Coach Cal is there. He is in multiple TV commercials. He is in UK football game programs. He was interviewed during UK’s nationally televised volleyball game against Tennessee. But I longed to see him in action in his true element: coaching on the basketball court. 
Unfortunately, I was not the only individual eager to see Coach Cal and his star-studded team. Big Blue Madness tickets went on sale and sold out while I dozed on an early October Saturday morning.
Later that day, Coach Cal and his players appeared in Commonwealth Stadium at UK’s football game versus Alabama. Moments earlier, the Crimson Tide had sucked the life out of the crowd by scoring two touchdowns in 19 seconds to transform a 7-6 margin into a 21-6 lead. 
But when the men’s basketball team entered the east end zone, the stadium played host to a raucous standing ovation as everyone in blue roared in approval during a sustained standing ovation. Who cares about football when we have Coach Cal and his Cats?
As the cheers subsided, I was saddened. Part of my reason for coming to UK on an exchange was to experience big-time Southeastern Conference sports, but I had missed the opportunity to witness Big Blue Madness, and at the moment, UK’s football performance was cause for doubting whether I had picked the right SEC school.
However, shortly thereafter, an e-mail from the university informed me that I would have a second chance to for an up-close view of the men’s basketball team. A practice open exclusively to UK students would be held on Friday, Oct. 23 in Memorial Coliseum. Although Coach Cal’s former Philadelphia 76er, Allen Iverson, likely would not have been thrilled about going to a practice, I was elated.
All I needed was to attend one of a few select non-revenue sports events, and I would have the “Member of the Big Blue Nation” bracelet required for admittance to the students-only practice.
I took the first opportunity: a men’s soccer game against Tulsa. I arrived to the soccer field more than an hour before the match hoping to be one of the first 500 students in attendance, which would make me bracelet-eligible, but a long line preceded me at the gate. 
A fellow student in the line nervously wondered aloud if 500 students were ahead of us. Thankfully, we were 174th and 175th. After enduring a two-hour wait during a painful 1-0 loss to Tulsa, I finally claimed my bracelet.
Oct. 23 finally came. Students packed both sides of the lower level of Memorial Coliseum. UK band members played song after song as the boisterous crowd awaited Coach Cal and the Cats to take the court. At long last, Coach Cal emerged to a standing ovation. Students rejoiced. I was delighted.
Coach Cal reminded students how privileged they were to be in his “classroom” and he requested that after cheering for the players when they entered the arena, students watch the practice quietly so his players could pretend nobody was watching and concentrate on getting better. The crowd respectfully obliged. Who can lower and turn up crowd volume as easily as Coach Cal?
 My fellow students and I watched in silent awe as Coach Cal commanded his troops during drills. The practice did not feature anything flashy, except for the occasional John Wall dunk, but it did reveal Coach Cal’s emphasis on effort and teamwork. As he pushed his players to give their all, he demonstrated that his mantras of energy and team basketball are not merely empty words.
I left Memorial Coliseum impressed by Coach Cal and grateful for the inside look. I will certainly treasure every opportunity to witness his team play throughout the upcoming season.
Tim Kroboth is a political science and economics junior. E-mail opinions@kykernel.com.

Column by  Tim Kroboth

When I arrived in August to study for a year at UK through the National Student Exchange program, the very first campus event I went to was the “Big Blue U” pep rally at Commonwealth Stadium. 

As UK coaches such as women’s basketball head coach Matthew Mitchell and men’s soccer head coach Ian Collins were introduced, the blue-clad crowd responded with quiet, obligatory applause. 

However, when men’s basketball head coach John Calipari stepped forward, there was no time for his name to be announced before the students erupted with cheers and chants in honor of their hero. Coach Cal needed no introduction.

Almost everywhere I have looked, Coach Cal is there. He is in multiple TV commercials. He is in UK football game programs. He was interviewed during UK’s nationally televised volleyball game against Tennessee. But I longed to see him in action in his true element: coaching on the basketball court. 

Unfortunately, I was not the only individual eager to see Coach Cal and his star-studded team. Big Blue Madness tickets went on sale and sold out while I dozed on an early October Saturday morning.

Later that day, Coach Cal and his players appeared in Commonwealth Stadium at UK’s football game versus Alabama. Moments earlier, the Crimson Tide had sucked the life out of the crowd by scoring two touchdowns in 19 seconds to transform a 7-6 margin into a 21-6 lead. 

But when the men’s basketball team entered the east end zone, the stadium played host to a raucous standing ovation as everyone in blue roared in approval during a sustained standing ovation. Who cares about football when we have Coach Cal and his Cats?

As the cheers subsided, I was saddened. Part of my reason for coming to UK on an exchange was to experience big-time Southeastern Conference sports, but I had missed the opportunity to witness Big Blue Madness, and at the moment, UK’s football performance was cause for doubting whether I had picked the right SEC school.

However, shortly thereafter, an e-mail from the university informed me that I would have a second chance to for an up-close view of the men’s basketball team. A practice open exclusively to UK students would be held on Friday, Oct. 23 in Memorial Coliseum. Although Coach Cal’s former Philadelphia 76er, Allen Iverson, likely would not have been thrilled about going to a practice, I was elated.

All I needed was to attend one of a few select non-revenue sports events, and I would have the “Member of the Big Blue Nation” bracelet required for admittance to the students-only practice.

I took the first opportunity: a men’s soccer game against Tulsa. I arrived to the soccer field more than an hour before the match hoping to be one of the first 500 students in attendance, which would make me bracelet-eligible, but a long line preceded me at the gate. 

A fellow student in the line nervously wondered aloud if 500 students were ahead of us. Thankfully, we were 174th and 175th. After enduring a two-hour wait during a painful 1-0 loss to Tulsa, I finally claimed my bracelet.

Oct. 23 finally came. Students packed both sides of the lower level of Memorial Coliseum. UK band members played song after song as the boisterous crowd awaited Coach Cal and the Cats to take the court. At long last, Coach Cal emerged to a standing ovation. Students rejoiced. I was delighted.

Coach Cal reminded students how privileged they were to be in his “classroom” and he requested that after cheering for the players when they entered the arena, students watch the practice quietly so his players could pretend nobody was watching and concentrate on getting better. The crowd respectfully obliged. Who can lower and turn up crowd volume as easily as Coach Cal?

 My fellow students and I watched in silent awe as Coach Cal commanded his troops during drills. The practice did not feature anything flashy, except for the occasional John Wall dunk, but it did reveal Coach Cal’s emphasis on effort and teamwork. As he pushed his players to give their all, he demonstrated that his mantras of energy and team basketball are not merely empty words.

I left Memorial Coliseum impressed by Coach Cal and grateful for the inside look. I will certainly treasure every opportunity to witness his team play throughout the upcoming season.

Tim Kroboth is a political science and economics junior. E-mail opinions@kykernel.com.

3 Responses to Transfer experience enhanced by enjoyable UK athletics events

  1. Rachel November 9, 2009 - 3:33 am

    While I hope Coach Cal lives up to the hype, I cannot help but reserve some of my excitement. All of his banners have been taken down. We already have one suspended recruit and Big Blue National cannot take another scandal. Good luck Coach Cal but please play by the rules this time.

  2. Oldkentucky November 9, 2009 - 11:23 am

    Coach Cal has always played by the rules. One of his players didn’t and Coach Cal turned him in. The whole team got penalized. Another time, the ncaa arbitarily punished his Memphis team for an unproven misdeed by one of his players. Coach Cal does play by the rules. Do you?

  3. Rachel November 9, 2009 - 11:46 pm

    Like I said I hope everything works out great. I have been a fan since I went to my first game at 12 months old. I am a legacy and alum so I am not sure about the personal attacks. I am just stating that I find it hard to believe that as the head coach you know absolutely nothing about that type of behavior going on. Whether it was direct involvement or putting on blinders it doesn’t matter. I can tell you form living in an area that has fans for other teams there are alot of questions and accusations.