To those who spread the UK Gospel, a tribute to out-of-state fans.

Question

I live near Chicago. For nearly 20 years, I've been the biggest UK fan I know. Unlike many of you living in UK, there aren't many UK fans here. At all. If someone is a UK fan, I've likely had a large hand in their conversion experience.

I wonder, for those of you who live out-of-state, how many UK converts have you swayed our way?

As a teacher and a youth minister, I can honestly say that I've swayed at least four dozen people in becoming nominal UK fans, and another 10 or so in becoming die hard fans (one of my mentees is actually at the University of Kentucky now and another one tracks DeAndre Liggins like a stalker). I actually use sermons and teaching lessons with direct references to Kentucky Basketball, and as a result, over 1,000 students are accountable now to the Gospel of Kentucky Basketball.

How many of you have actually converted someone to UK hoops? It's one thing to have 2-3 generations of fans who pushed Big Blue on you since you were 2 years old, living within Kentucky's state boundaries. It's quite another thing to be the reason your entire family loves UK, and the reason others who are hundreds of miles from the state line cheer for Kentucky.

Thus, I want to give a shout out to my fellow fans who create proselytes for BBN. Your value is vastly understated.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Son_Of_Saul.

Answer 1

I can't say I've converted many folks in Ohio, mostly because their affiliations are usually elsewhere. However, I do think I've represented the University both as an alum and fan pretty well. At least to the point where most folks are happy for me and at may even root for UK to do well if not playing their team. It's nice considering that outside of UK, the Cats don't get a lot of love. It's mostly hate.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by KA4Prez.

Answer 2

That's a mixed bag, as you noted. When UK is doing well, I usually get a lot of congrats and such. When they lose in the tournament, I'm singled out and catch a lot of heat (if you can imagine from middle school and high school students).

There's a few kids who take pleasure in Kentucky losing just because they want to talk trash to me. I had a kid come in this morning and say, "I was so depressed when Mississippi St. couldn't finish you guys off!"

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Son_Of_Saul.

Answer 3

Comes with the territory. I do the same to many of the OSU fans I banter with. However, the quality fans who are objective and respectful of others, I don't single them out.

I know how it feels when there is a crushing loss. One of my best friends is a West Virginia alum. He is more of a football guy, but does follow basketball a little. I watched the 2010 Regional Final with him and he was happy, but also didn't rub it in. He knew how crushed I was. It was the same for him when WVU lost the Backyard Brawl to Pittsburgh in 2008 when they would have gone on to the BCS Championship.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by KA4Prez.

Answer 4

Son of Saul...where about near chicago? I just moved to the Naperville area about 5 months ago. Still looking for a nice place to watch a game. I know my neighbors are tired of me watching it at my apartment (they told me as much).

As for the area, I am a trainer, and I'm confident that I've got three people that came through my classes on board as cat fans...mainly because I explained how awesome AD is and that he's a Chicago kid. But my biggest triumph was a kid that works at a grocery store nearby. Twice, while checking out, we talked about UK (I always wear a UK toboggan). Finally the third time was there, he flashed a big grin and reached under his counter to pull out a UK hat. I couldn't have been prouder!

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by humperk12.

Answer 5

Naperville is only about 30 minutes from me. I'm in a town called Channahon, just south of Joliet off 1-55. Lived here almost all my life.

In terms of good places to watch games - we usually go to Buffalo Wild Wings in Plainfield during the tournament. Keep your eyes open for a post around the tourney and maybe you can come out and watch with us (by us, I mean me and three other UK fans I watch games with).

By the way, you should go to the Mickey D game. There's still a ton of tickets. We went last year and watched MKG put on his show. This year we're only four rows up from the court, under the hoop! Gonna love it if we get Bennett or Bazz to cheer for in that game.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Son_Of_Saul.

Answer 6

I made the mistake of watching the WVU loss with my youth group. One kid, who I didn't like much anyway because he was only attending to get close to one of the girls in my program, said, "Maybe there's a spiritual reason UK lost this game."

I said, "No, God doesn't care about Kentucky basketball. But I do. So shut your pie hole."

It was probably not one of my finer youth minister moments.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Son_Of_Saul.

Answer 7

There are a few that I have got to be marginal fans in Cali.

But I turned my younger brother into a die hard. I was born in KY but he has never lived outside California or been anywhere near KY. But he is as big a UK fan as I know.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Ripamaru.

Answer 8

I have a similar story. My brother and I were born in Paducah, Ky, but raised in Illinois.

I like to think that there were some similarities there with Abe Lincoln and Gettysburg hero John Buford - both born in Kentucky and raised in Illinois.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Son_Of_Saul.

Answer 9

A lot of Uk fans in southeast Missouri.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by calsitalianarmy.

Answer 10

Humperk, I lived in wheaton for the last 3 yrs before moving to NC 4 months ago. Best place to watch a UK game is at the pony inn on Belmont in lakeview. It a trek from naperville but it is where the Chicago alumni association does there watch parties. Whole place is full of UK fans for every game. I believe the owner is UK alum. Not 100 on that though.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Chino1176.

Answer 11

Thanks for this. I'm gonna try that venue for the Florida game.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Son_Of_Saul.

Answer 12

you should get there 30-45 min before a game against a good team or you will have a hard time getting a table.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by Chino1176.

Answer 13

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by preacherfan.

Answer 14

was there last night for the game. Great to be around UK fans in the city! They've got tons of great drink specials when the games on too.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by funkyFatCan.

Answer 15

I think I am the only fan in the entire state of Iowa. I have tried to convert some with very little success. It is big10 country here. I took 3 friends to the liberty bowl 3 years ago. Paid for the tickets paid for the hotels paid for the gas. They might be the only people I have had any success cheering for UK.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by DhuffUK.

Answer 16

Have lived all over the country and spread the word wherever I go. Usually starts with some remark about UK related paraphenalia that I wear. My roomate from college is a bi-polar fan being a die-hard Mizzou Tiger but likes UK too. His Dad loves UK especially AD.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by bluinbville.

Answer 17

I've fully converted one person but she had no allegiances on the past. My roommate at UGA last night did tell me that he probably likes Kentucky basketball more than UGA basketball because I'm always talking about them and feels like he knows the players really well.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by mark a butler.

Answer 18

I live in the Columbus Indiana area. There are many Uk fans here. Grew up in Ky and parents still live there but have many family members here in Indiana that are UK fans. I run a youth sports center and I have converted many kids to Uk fans. Picked my daughter up at school yesterday and at least 30 kids came out with UK on I ask my daughter why are all the kids with UK on today she replied dad it's gameday.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by tfoster66.

Answer 19

I was born and raised in the bluegrass so my roots run deep. Needless to say when I moved to buckeye country I was always on the defensive but always respectful. Couldn't put a number on it but most notably is my wife. She was a huge osu fball fan w/o a bball affiliation. One of my happiest memories w/ her was watching the uk/osu game when she jumped completely out of her chair to cheer for knight's dagger. She knows all the players by name and face and coaches from the couch and stands right along w/ me.

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by LexCatnOhio.

Answer 20

I have converted a few here in Texas. After football season, they generally don't have anyone to root for down here....

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by jackcarlson.

Answer 21

Nice...Plainfield is just a straight shot down 59 for me. I'll keep my eyes open...I'm always up for watching UK with fellow fans.

I actually plan on going to the Mickey D game...would be my first. Supposed to have a few friends come up from Kentucky to check it out. What's the best thing to do for it? Take the train?

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by humperk12.

Answer 22

Thanks! I'll have to check that out. I looked into it a bit but it is a haul...but if it's packed with blue it's worth the drive!

Originally posted on Rupp Rafters by humperk12.