By LARRY VAUGHT
Vaughtsviews.com reader Patrick McClure of Danville raises some interesting questions about the way basketball banners are displayed at Rupp Arena.
Here’s the e-mail he sent me:
“Over the weekend I spent some time with my cousin, who unfortunately lives in Raleigh-Durham. We were originally discussing the fact that the number of banners, all of one size, shape, and color, set up in a line at the top of Rupp, devalues each of them, especially the championships. My cousin noted that North Carolina hangs one for EVERY ACC tourney win, regular season title, Sweet 16, Final Four, and even a third-place NIT finish. Only recently did they consolidate the NIT stuff. Ridiculous.
“Since obviously we in no way want to look like those chumps, and back to the original discussion, do you think it would be possible to persuade somebody to offset (like drop down to a second row) the seven NCAA title banners, and/or make them bigger, so they stand out from the other illustrious accomplishments.
“I am glad we don’t celebrate SEC titles like UNC does, but maybe ONE banner for SEC tourney championships and regular season titles is okay, but honestly, at Kentucky, I’m not even sure we should be hanging banners for Final Fours. But I know we won’t be taking any banners DOWN. I would probably keep the NIT championship banners, albeit in the upper row, in deference to those early years when the NIT mattered.
“So keeping the other banners in a place of some distinction is an impressive, but not obnoxious, display (like UNC’s), but I really think offsetting the seven championship banners is something that should be strongly considered. Personally I would drop down one set or the other, but in either case make the NCAA title banners bigger, and maybe even a different color/design.  Any thoughts on that?”
Only that I like the thinking. Anything to make the NCAA championship banners stand out more is worth considering. Actually, I think the Dean Dome at North Carolina is an attractive arena. I liked it when I was there, but I tend to agree with McClure that the championship banners at Rupp Arena don’t stand out as much as they should.
What about you? What suggestions, if any, would you have about the banners, especially since the arena will be renovated soon?
9 Responses to Should NCAA championship banners be displayed more prominently at Rupp Arena?
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speaking just for me. if the powers that be, wanted to make uk banners bigger , i am ok with that, as far as strategics of hanging them , i like the way they are right now, it is like a wall, a wall of championship banners. Uhm as far as carolina, it could be the napolean syndrome, having to hang a banner for everything…. Also as far as carolina, you have to remember , 8 miles away is another university named duke. I would bet that since they have such a rivalry that much of the banner hanging is for antagonistic purposes. Since typically , duke and unc yearly fight for the reg. season title, acc tourney title, it is more important for them by a long shot. If louisville and uk were in the same conference and had been for a long time, then maybe it would be worth accentuating the reg season titles and sec titles, just like unc has.
Larry, I’m happy with them the way they are but frankly, but I don’t get to visit Rupp Arena as often as I would like, so I am only going on a vague memory from two years ago (the last time I was there). Do they still have the banners at Memorial that commemorate on one banner the league championships and league tournament championships for each the men and the women?
Was just thinking the same thing during the Florida game. A larger, more prominently displayed banner is not only warranted, but should be the standard. And let’s not forget, SEC banners are painted on the wall outside of Rupp Arena (in the common area).
I think it would be nice if this years banner is platinum, like the Nike jersey.lol
kind of think it would be cool to some how incorporate the trophies onto the floor of rupp i assume by paint or however they do it , but seven trophies on the floor of rupp cannot be missed by the cameras like the banners can be , and it would be on camera constantly. the cameras can choose not to pan over the rafters, however the cameras have to show the floor. essentially i am for anything that displays uk’s winning flags, paint , anything, if you got it , flaunt it !
http://bigbluefans4uk.com/2008-09DataandWritings/Pattern_Of_Excellence.jpg
I agree with Grant, let’s add the championship information to the floor. That can be done by using the checkerboard pattern of excellence [see link] and having it inset into the floor at 2 locations, one at each end of the court, big enough to be visible on a HD TV screen during game broadcasts.
The e-mailer seems to be a bit obsessed with what UNC does. I, for one, couldn’t care less what UNC does. The tradition at Rupp Arena is that the banners are displayed the way they are. There is zero reason to change that to try and outdo any other school. It is what it is. A better question would be a) Why is there no tribute statue of Rupp anywhere on the property or a “shrine” to the Baron? (Only this season did they add a large photo of Rupp—and that’s part of an ad.) b) Why is there no glass display case of replica NCAA trophies UK has won proudly on display at Rupp Arena where fans could pose with them for photos and the rest of the world could see them both in person, and via TV broadcasts where the networks show interior and exterior shots and such? Rupp Arena has always been extremely austere. It’s past time to “warm it up” for a better fan experience.
Illuminate the championship banners with lights before UK’s starting line up is announced. Even if the arena is lit up, where the banners hang it is very dim. I have looked through several pictures and it might be feasible to provide light from overhead or from another angle. The banners will remain lit throughout the game. I would actually have an 8th light shining into the rafters to show and remind everyone what our #1 goal is. Winning games is great all day long, but if you can’t win 6 games in a row when it matters you dwell on what might have been for 7 months.
It is actually not true that the banners have always been as they are now. I think the current lineup only goes back a few years to the last renovation of Rupp. For most of my memory the (at that time 5) championship banners used to be on the other side of the arena from all the others. This was before the jerseys were hung along the sides, so maybe that has something to do with it, but there is definately no “tradition” in the current lineup.
I didn’t read the original post as being obsessed with UNC, just what started the conversation….but I LOVE the idea of putting pictures of the trophies into the floor, as well as a display case in the main concourse.