Joe B. Hall and Beau Robinson.
Vaught’s note: Kentucky fan Beau Robinson of Lexington wrote this a week ago just before Kentucky got ready to play — and beat — Kansas to win the national championship. As UK fans continue to bask in the glory of UK’s eighth national title, I thought it certainly was worth sharing with vaughtsviews.com readers because I am guessing many of you felt exactly the same way then and still do today.
By BEAU ROBINSON
Tonight, you are 40 minutes from glory. You are 40 minutes from being legends. You are 40 minutes from being considered one of the all-time elite teams in college basketball. Each one of you has taken a different road to get here, and each one of you will take a different road after tonight. Enjoy this, because this is the last time we will see you together as one team. Now you know what it means to have KENTUCKY across that chest. It’s not just any other team in the nation. It is KENTUCKY.
That name across that uniform means so much more to this state than you could ever imagine. We coach this team, practice with this team, play the game with this team and we celebrate with this team. And yes, at times we let our emotions dictate our actions with this team. KENTUCKY BASKETBALL is a way of life. Many, many years down the road, I will be the proudest KENTUCKY fan ever when I can tell my children and grandchildren about the greats of KENTUCKY BASKETBALL.
The day I can mention your names with the greats … Rupp, Hall, Macy, Givens, Walker, Mashburn, Delk, Bowie, Farmer, Woods, Pelphrey, and Feldhaus. The day that I can talk about the accomplishments this team has achieved. The day were I am dying, and the only thing that will spark a little bit of life back into me is when somebody mentions your names to me.
Tonight, do this for the fans. Do it for that old timer who sits up at Wheelers talking about the glory days with Coach Rupp. Do this for “Mr. Wildcat†Bill Keightley and Cawood Ledford who are looking down from Big Blue Heaven cheering you on. Do this for the blind guy who can’t see the tv, but is hanging on to every word that Tom Leach is speaking through that radio. Do this for the families rebuilding their lives after the violent storms that swept through our state. Do this for our soliders who have put their lives on the line so we have the freedom to enjoy college basketball. Do this for that little boy on that KENTUCKY farm who spends countless hours dribbling a basketball and shooting it up into a hoop attached to a barn in hopes for playing for the BIG BLUE one day. Do this for the high school team in Eastern KENTUCKY that still knows how to dream big. Do this for your family, and the coaching staff who have stood by you and have been there every step of the way.
Do this for KENTUCKY, but most importantly, do this for yourself. You deserve this more than anybody. Tonight, we are all in this together. You have one shot at glory…and you are 40 minutes from it. Regardless, your legacy will live on for eternity in BIG BLUE NATION.
13 Responses to Guest post: 40 minutes from glory
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This is awesome! As I read it, I could feel the adrenalin start pumping all over again. Thanks, Beau. And I love the photo with Coach Hall.
Great, great, great.
Had this been spoken in the locker room, it would have rivaled “Win one for the Gipper”.
Boy does this stir up alot of emotion,so glad this was shared Thanks again Larry and Thanks Beau for sharing your thoughts with us.
I feel sorry for the people who can’t know the joy of watching the Cats bring home yet another title. I’ve got to see half of UK’s titles now. Every one has been special and I won’t forget any of them. This team ranks right up there with the best UK teams from the Fab 5 (yes a UK team had that name long before Michigan borrowed it) to the Runts to the Unforgettables. This team needs a good nickname BTW. “One and done wonders” maybe?
My dad taught me the love of the game and I have passed it on to my kids. Traditions live long in this area. I’m looking forward to getting back the most titles crown myself. I still remember when UK had more than any other team with 4. My dad would have cheered for the Fab 5 and the other Rupp champions. It’s amazing that UK has kept their winning ways for all that time. Amazing.
And I Here-By Name this, 2012 National Championship Team, THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN and Posse…All of Our Great Kentucky Teams had a Name, if there is one more appropriate, I’d be for it… †The Magnificent Seven “, seems to work well and even in the Movie they were Men of Honor…
And with 5 different Coaches…
Beau, you captured what every true blue fan felt before that final game. I feel so lucky to be a small part of something so very special. True fans know exactly how you feel!
Telling you, Beau made me cry. After I read what he sent, made me even more honored to have actually autographed our new book for him. HOping he will write for us again
Beau has truly captured the essence of what it means to be a true blue fan. Thank you, Larry for sharing this.
I didn’t think anyone was a bigger fan then me but I think Beau just beat me on expression what he feels. Wow, really, really good. Cal needs to make copies of this and hand them out to every new UK basketball player. Well done, young man, very well done!
Tears. Thanks, Beau.
Wow, just wow! Gave me chills–in a good way. Well done, Beau. Thanks, Larry, for posting it
Beau certainly spoke for all UK fans I think