Fans changed Calipari’s approach to Madness
October 15th, 2009 | 
Author: By LARRY VAUGHT
John Calipari didn’t understand why he needed to give a talk at Big Blue Madness.
He barely said a few words to the fans attending similar festivities at Massachusetts and Memphis. His initial plan at Kentucky for tonight’s event at Rupp Arena was to introduce the players, let the players do a few dunks, maybe have a 3-point shooting contest and then scrimmage.
“Then I saw how important this was to this state. I had to give in and let this thing go. It is what it is,” said Calipari Thursday during UK’s Media Day.
What changed his mind was the passion of UK fans who camped outside Memorial Coliseum to get tickets to Big Blue Madness.
“We are going to do more than we have ever done at a Madness. If people can stay out there seven days in the cold and rain to enjoy this night, we are going to do things we have never done before,” Calipari said. “I have never spoke at one of these functions, but I am going to talk a little bit about our team and program.
“We are going to have special guests that will be co-coaches from the sports world to entertainers at this event. You know why? For the fans. If they are going to camp out for tickets, we are going to show them a good time.”
While there’s no official announcement on who the guests might be, former UK players Rajon Rondo and Tayshaun Prince could take a break from NBA preseason camps to serve as guest coaches. Rapper Drake, who would be popular with recruits attending Madness along with UK players, is also a possibility.
“What the tents (outside Memorial Coliseum) did is show the program is so important to people that you have to understand your position is a privilege,” Calipari said. “I have not been to Big Blue Madness, but they tell me it is crazy every year. What will it be this year? Really crazy? This shows the team and players it is privilege to be here. You are held to a different standard. That’s okay. You understand things go on over here (in other programs) that cannot go on here.”
Kentucky freshman Eric Bledsoe of Birmingham has heard the talk about Big Blue Madness.
“I have heard it was crazy. I didn’t know that many people would come. I think it could be overwhelming. That is a lot of people and we will all be nervous,” he said.
DeMarcus Cousins, another freshman from Alabama, is a bit more outgoing than Bledsoe and has been waiting for Madness.
“I have not had a bad day here. The fans already make you feel like rock stars walking around,” he said. “It was crazy when all those people were out there in tents just to get tickets. I enjoyed being out there with them. I spent a lot of time out there and really enjoyed it because I met some great people.”
That’s the message Calipari tried to convey to his players.
“I told them, ‘Let’s go out and have fun. This is their chance to see and touch you and see you are a normal person,’” Calipari said. “That is what we tried to do. This is different here. It is crazy.”
Posted in UK Basketball
24 1/2 hours. Tick Tock, Tick Tock.
Calipari has taken every part of the fun of being a Cat fan and exponentially made every part of the fun better. The hype is always there… but I feel different this year.
I was certainly excited about the 96 team. I liked Rick then. The 78 team created some hub bub. I looked forward to the Twin Tower years. Joe B. and his assistants made recruiting special.
You would think I would be less jacked up at 40 years old than at 8, 14, and 26.
But I am jacked up – more so than in previous years. I think with merited reasoning.
I sense something very special.
Larry, I’m ready to watch things kick off..should be a great beginning to the start of the season…I have a feeling this Madness might just go down in the history books in terms of excitement and surprises for the fans..GO BIG BLUE!!!
Right on Jim Berryman. I am 42 and I feel like a little kid on Christmas Eve.
22 hours and 56 minutes til Santa.
I am 43 and over the years I have always been excited for the start of the season and BBM. However, this is the first time in a LONG time that you can just feel something really special is going to happen with this team. Just being back in the media conversation of being a Top 10 team has been great !
All of you are certainly right. This is more excitement than I can remember for years. It’s not just the fans, either. The players feel the same way and that is huge
[...] and guest coaches, some word has emerged today regarding who could fit the bill. According to Larry Vaught, Rajon Rondo and Tayshaun Prince are candidates for those guest coaching roles. Also, Vaught puts [...]
I turned 48 last Sat. I camped for two days to get my tickets. I live in Louisville and have been following the cats since my sister went to UK in 74 and lived off campus in the same apartments as The Goose. This is the most excited I’ve been since the 97 championship in Indy(That stub will now have a friend in the picture frame). I hope to see everyone there I am not hard to find I have a Not often seen UK jacket from the 96 championship. Be safe have fun and COME WEARING BLUE OR STAY HOME!!!!!
That is a jacket to treasure
Christmas in October… that’s what it is!
A 7-yr old in a candy store… with Grandpa…
A teenager in line for a concert…
A stock car fan at his first Nascar…
A senior on prom night…
A bride-to-be preparing for the big day…
I’m 62 and all of the above- and more-
anticipating this basketball season.
I don’t believe I’ll be disappointed, either!!!
A UK fan at Indy in April 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Like your spirit. Hope I still have it in five years. But it is an exciting time. I am going to Madness for the first time in about eight years tonight myself
Kentucky basketball pride, at times in dormancy lies. But then comes along a Cal, and again the blue and white faithful rise.
Nice line Chris. The faithful really are rising and with good reason from all I have seen
Ky_Wildcat_Al…those youngun’s don’t know what it is like to be a True Blue Fan forever, I’m 1 year behind you & I have not felt this way in a long time! It’s great to know you can still have intense feelings about something and not have a stroke or heart attack about it! Even through the lean times, I have still been a Big Blue fan. It’s not just the school, the program and the players, it’s the history, the tradition and the feeling deep inside that makes you feel warm all over! If it was not for UK basketball, other schools would not have the programs that they have now. They saw what we were doing and decided they could do it too, however, they still aren’t UK. UK is to college basketball what the Yankees are to baseball, the Celtics to pro ball and ALI to boxing. We might have some bumps this year, but nothing compared to the last 2 years and several years before that. Enjoy the ride, the fun and the excitement…keep it in perspective, after all, it’s just a game…yea, sure it is…it’s Life in Kentucky! Most dull and boring time in Kentucky is from March to Oct. GO BIG BLUE and welcome to Coach Cal and the new recruits, you won’t believe your eyes or ears, you are in for one wild ride! My heart and soul will be there tonight but my body will be elsewhere.
Your heart and soul are what counts the most. I think it will be a wild ride, too, Linda and one we are all going to enjoy just because of the passion you showed in your post. I have never seen UK fans so excited.
Isn’t it wonderful to have this again? I really don’t think fans of other programs, including that ‘other’ school in Louisville can actually understand and feel what UK fans feel. It’s like comparing a mini-Copper to a Bugatti Veyron!
You are so right Linda. This feeling has been missing way too long
There is no word to describe this. Awesome won’t cover it!
But awesome is a good start Gary