By LARRY VAUGHT
For those nationally who wonder why coach John Calipari is so popular in Kentucky and why UK fans are so passionate about him, just look at what the Kentucky coach did Thursday and Friday.
He spent almost two full days traveling about 1,000 miles from Ashland to Paducah — with a lot of stops in between — with his staff showing off the national championship trophy to fans.
Friday he rode into Frankfort on a train waving to a crowd of an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 fans that cheered as the Franklin County High School band played the Kentucky fight song.
“It’s like a 1948 political tour,†said Calipari.
Actually, it was probably more like a 2012 rock star tour. Everywhere Calipari went, people came. Fans were lined up at the Kroger parking lot in Owensboro Friday hours before he came. It was the same in Pikeville Thursday.
Fans wanted to see Calipari — and the trophy, too.
These were fans who don’t have season tickets to Rupp Arena to watch UK. These were fans who couldn’t afford to make the trip to New Orleans for the Final Four to watch UK beat Louisville and Kansas to win the national title. No, these were fans who simply love the Wildcats and couldn’t wait to see and/or touch the trophy and Calipari.
The coach even had a plan to make sure every fan could get a picture with him and the trophy. Rather than line up for individual shots, he put 20 to 30 fans in a group photo that they could order online for their special keepsake.
Someone in the crowd at Frankfort even suggested “repeat†after Calipari’s arrival.
“Can you please let me enjoy this for like, two weeks?†Calipari joked back to the fan.
It was that kind of two-day event. Kentucky fans who brought basketballs and hats to autograph didn’t even seem to mind that Calipari didn’t sign autographs to make sure as many pictures as possible were taken.
The coach’s sense of history has to be touching to many older UK fans as well. He brought Herky Rupp, the son of legendary UK coach Adolph Rupp with him Friday. He also had former Kentucky coach Joe Hall, who led UK to the 1978 national championship, on the tour with him Friday.
“It was just amazing,†Hall said. “I was thrilled he asked me to be part of it, but to see how excited the fans were was really special.â€
Gov. Steve Beshear, first lady Jane Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson met Calipari in Frankfort. Beshear congratulated Calipari for being “the best coach in the nation†and leading a team that “worked unselfishly to bring the trophy back to Kentucky†— statements UK fans certainly would not dispute.
“In most places, basketball is a sport,†Beshear said. “In Kentucky, I think it’s a religion. But it fits well with our other religion, amen.â€
Especially when John Calipari is the one delivering the message the way he does.
13 Responses to Trophy tour shows why Kentucky fans love John Calipari so much
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Thanks for the pictures,i live in the western part of the state wanted to go to Owensborro to see the trophy but due to work couldn’t make it. Larry thanks for giving insight what it was liked.Coach Cal has got our state in such a buzz he could win the govern spot by a landslide LOL!!!!
Play it forward Coach Cal,and as alway’s enjoy you to Larry!
I think the coolest thing about the tour has been the unscheduled stops that Cal has made at gas stations and restaurants. If you ever wonder if Cal is doing this just for the publicity, that should set your mind at ease. I’ve read in the trip diary at Coachcal.com about the bus stopping at several restaurants and gas stations, and Cal hopping out with the trophy to take photographs with anyone who was lucky enough to be there. No one in the media was around at those stops, but he truly enjoyed letting the fans have a moment with the trophy and for the fans to be able to say thanks. It would have been easy for him to sit on the bus and rest, but he wanted to touch as many fans as possible. Cal just continues to impress me more and more every day, not just as a coach, but as a caring human being. I’ve been a fan for a long time, and I don’t remember there ever being anything like this as Kentucky (or anywhere else) for that matter. Hopefully, Cal gets a chance to rest up a bit before he has to go back out on the road to recruit more players for this season and next.
And to include Herky Rupp and Coach Hall (as well as his staff) in this tour just shows the sense of history that he has of Kentucky basketball. As he put it in one of the stops, it was good to see the appreciation that the fans still have for Coach Joe B. Hall after all these years, and how much fun Mr. Rupp and Coach Hall had on the tour as well.
Larry,my wife andI did get to see Coach Cal and the trophy and enjoyed everything he said about winning the championship. ( at Owensboro ) It was also great to see Ellen, Coach Hall, Orlando and John Rubic. It is amazing what Cal comes up with to show the fans how much they contribute to the games Big Blue Nation in general. I loved the stories I’ve read about the stops at restaurants and gas station in small town to let those people know they count too. Unfortunately Martha and I couldn’t stay for all the photograph session. We had been ther over 1 1/2 hours before he bus arrived and at our age its difficult to stand that long. Did enjoy it and hope to see Coach Cal and future CAT teams in the final four again soon. And, thanks Larry for the magnificent work you do giving us excellent articles about the Cats.
Bill
Not a 1000 miles between Ashland and Paducah, not even close
Both Coachcal.com’s writer and KSR’s Matt Jones reported it as “literally a thousand miles.” Not a straight line, of course, but with the return to Lexington each night, and the roundabout route the trophy took included, probably close.
Gee, Cathouse, do you need a chill pill?
The official stats of the tour: 3 days, 1,100 miles and 10 cities.
As the bird flys, true, probably not a 1000 miles if traveled in one straight line, but they zig-zagged and returned to Lexington each night. Still an amazing thing, no matter the milesage.
I love Cal. He understands Kentucky. I must say though I am extremely disappointed with the University of Kentucky athletic director Barnhart. Coach Tubby Smith won the 1998 national championship which is 14 years ago. Tubbys name has NEVER been retired in Rupp Arena.
Coach Halls was within 14 years, Coach Pitinos was before he even left UK, and as much as I love John Calipari, I bet his will be hanging from Rupp by the year 2026. What is the delay for Coach Tubby Smith?
It is time for Mitch Barnhart to recognize Coach Tubby Smith like all other Kentucky Basketball coaches who have won National Championships or at least have the guts to tell the Commonwealth why he chooses not to.
Larry,i order the elite eight book can’t wait to get it!!! Thanks Larry!
Thanks Bryan. Anxious to see how you like it