Tag: sports

No Destination: UK Cheerleaders

World Equestrian Games 2010 - Opening Ceremony
UK Cheerleaders at the World Equestrian Games, Lexington, Ky.

The University of Kentucky has a great athletic tradition. Men’s basketball has seven national championships. It is, however, the cheerleaders who are the University’s greatest champions.

With 18 national championships, the UK Cheerleaders are the most storied program in the country. In fact, they’ve won 14 of the last 16 UCA championships. The trophy seems to have a permanent place in Lexington.

Last Friday night, the cheerleaders participated in the opening ceremonies of the World Equestrian Games. There performance was great and their Rockette-style moments (like that pictured above) were spectacular. But this picture also deserves some credit: I posted on flickr 242 WEG2010 photos which received 3,439 hits in the first 24 hours of being online and the picture above was (by far) the most popular. GO CATS!

walkLEX: Commonwealth Stadium

Commonwealth Stadium

I love football and have witnessed many amazing moments at Commonwealth Stadium, home of the University of Kentucky Wildcats. The stadium was first constructed in 1973 to seat about 57,800, but the endzones were enclosed and luxury boxes were added during a massive renovation in 1999 that increased overall oficial seating capacity to 67,606. Of course, crowds of over 71,000 have seen the Wildcats play here.

The picture above is from above the west endzone during the annual Blue-White (scrimmage) game which concludes spring training.

Some of those great (and the most disappointing) moments I’ve seen: (1) Most points scored at the Stadium (77) by UK against UTEP in 2002; (2) most overtimes (7, tied) in NCAA history in a 2003 loss to Arkansas; (3) the Bluegrass Miracle by LSU. There are other great memories and many disappointments. Still, it is a great place to watch a football game and Kentuckians know how to tailgate!

walkLEX: Rupp Arena & Kentucky Wildcats


The University of Kentucky Wildcats are the winningest men’s basketball program in the country! Earlier this season, the Cats achieved a mark: 2,000 Wins. After the win over Drexel (score 88-44), the celebration began as shown above. The celebration emphasized Kentucky history – as well as its future; honors to Coach Hall, Coach Rupp and Mr. Wildcat. The crowd, which often leaves early in a blowout, remained glued to their seats long after the game ended. To date, the Cats remain undefeated this season at 18-0.

Rupp Arena has been the scene of many, many events in Kentucky’s history. It has been the home of the Wildcats since 1976. It hosted the 1985 Final Four – when Villanova upset Georgetown. Since in Rupp, Kentucky has won the National Championship three times: 1978, 1996 and 1998. The official capacity of 23,500 is routinely exceeded and record crowds continue to be reached (most recently the record was broken on Jan. 2, 2010 when Kentucky defeated Louisville 71-62 before a crowd of 24,479.

Currently, there is a proposal to build a new downtown arena for the Wildcats which would include needed amenities like luxury boxes. If this is done, the existing Rupp Arena might be converted into a smaller music venue and additional conference floor space for the Lexington Center.

I hope that readers will share in the comments their favorite Rupp Arena memories.

NoDestination: C6, H0


On October 29, 1921 occurred one of the greatest upsets in college football history. The Praying Colonels of Centre College (Danville, Ky.) defeated football powerhouse Harvard (Cambridge, Mass.).

Harvard – undefeated since 1918 – played Centre at Harvard Field the year before when Centre led 14-6 at the half. Harvard went on to win that game 34-14, but Harvard captain offered the game ball to the Centre captain. Centre’s captain, Bo McMillin refused saying that the team would “be back next year to take it home with us.”

Centre delivered. Scoreless at the half, McMillin rushed into the endzone during the third quarter and Centre won 6-0. C6, H0. When the news travelled to Danville, students painted this “formula” on everything (even cows!).

Today, only the above graffiti remains. But the legend certainly lives on… Oh, and Harvard is still scared. The Crimson refused a rematch on the 75th anniversary.

walkLEX: Memorial Coliseum

From 1950 to 1975, Memorial Coliseum was the home of the University of Kentucky Wildcats Basketball program. Ten times this 9,000 seat facility hosted NCAA Basketball Tournament games. Despite its official occupancy, crowds of 13,000 would often gather inside to watch the Cats play and amass a .890 record (306-38) inside Memorial.

Although Kentucky’s men left the facility in the mid-1970s, the women’s program continues to call Memorial Coliseum home.

But the men’s team returned once last season when it hosted (and defeated) UNLV in a second-round NIT game. It was the last game Billy Clyde Gillispie would coach for the Wildcats in Lexington. Despite fans’ disappointment in BCG and in playing the NIT, the feeling inside Memorial was electric. You could sense the history rising from the wooden bleachers. (Pictured: pre-game).