What we need to know about Kentucky basketball is the same thing now as it has always been. The game is special to us and because of that, it is enough. We need to know that we care about the program, as others care and have always cared. That is our bond– James Stuckart, UK board of Trustees in response to President Lee Todd’s expressing his frustration that funding for a parking garage for the campus was put on hold to aid in funding a new basketball practice facility.
A recent study of the culture of Appalachian people found that among traditional distinctive traits such as dialect, religion, trust, and gender roles – loyalty to place rated as one of the highest when compared to traditional mainstream values. People of Appalachian culture have a strong connection to their land, and there is a widespread idea that land is held for the next generation. The same can be said of their identity. They know they are Appalachian and more importantly, you’re not. Sometimes the most difficult part of understanding people of Appalachian culture is determining who is of the culture and who is not.
The connection Kentuckians have with the University of Kentucky basketball program is well known. As with their Appalachian heritage, Kentucky fans make no apologies for their devotion to the program as it is as deeply rooted in their cultural identity as bluegrass music and coal mining. I’ve heard many pundits from the outside looking in over the years claim with some disgust how “the Kentucky program is all those people have”. I find this to be self serving on their part because what they miss is a key aspect of our culture – collectivism. It’s not that Kentucky basketball is all we have; it’s that it’s all we need.
For Kentucky fans there is no individual gain from the success of the Kentucky basketball program. In fact, one could argue there is an increased cost as limited resources within a state known more for agriculture than industry are diverted to the program in lieu of more individual rewarding educational and social developments. The basic cultural element of collectivism stresses the benefit of the group goal, to have the best college basketball program in the nation, and in turn gives the Kentucky fan base its directive. Any UK fan worth their salt will be quick to tell you not only do they have the best basketball program in the nation but will be ready to explain why with facts, figures and anecdotes. It may surprise you to know that they know much about your college program as well in the context of why yours doesn’t measure up to Kentucky. Defending the program against all comers is part of the collective.
As a young man growing up in the transitional era between the Norman Rockwell vision of America where old men with chaw tobacco played checkers around a pot belly stove in the back of the general store and the modern era of 24 hour cable sports and internet message boards I have an appreciation for the importance that UK basketball has to its fan base. I just assumed that men and women talked basketball year round and that young children became fans thru watching the passion their parents and grandparents had for the program. I moved out of Kentucky when I landed my first post college job to the deep South where Alabama football has a similar hold on its state. While I could relate to the intensity of the fan support I could not understand why they didn’t share the same passion for Alabama basketball or why no one was interested in talking about basketball at all. I mean, yea, you had a football program that won multiple national championships but you also have a basketball program too. There is an odd admiration between Kentucky and Alabama fans. We concede the greatness of each other programs in their own sport while recognizing the passion that each fan base has for their program.
I was in fact surrounded by people who shared the equivalent passion I did for a college sport yet felt I was on an island of indifference. There were too many things I missed being away from Kentucky, first and foremost was the ability to live and breathe UK basketball year round. I last only 6 years giving up 75 degree February’s, crawfish boils and readily available sweet tea to get back to the land where basketball is our common bond.
Getting back I’ve shared the ups and downs of my program with fellow fans. The scandal, the championships and the continual never ending feel of mediocrity have given UK fans much time to rejoice and hand wring.
As I cruise past the middle years of my life, I’ve noticed that my priorities as a fan have changed. Somewhere along the way I changed my emphasis from proudly trumpeting how great Kentucky basketball is to fans of other programs and started spending more time protecting my program from itself. That has lead to an interesting contrast between Kentucky fans and fans of other programs. Kentucky fans, as a collective, do have influence on their program from the most insignificant of issues (at least to an outsider) to the hiring or firing of a coach. I’m not talking about a relative few well connected boosters who can be counted on to spend a few million now and then, but hundreds of thousands of people who sign petitions, send letters and emails and uniformly organize under a common goal with the precision of a drill team and the spontaneity of a flash mob. Ask any writer who has dared write a disparaging article about anything UK basketball and may have played loose with some facts if UK fans are an effective force for change. Many a follow up article have been written because of overflowing email and maxed out voice mail of a writer just trying to fill blank space in an article.
That power is wielded like a blunt sword. It is both effective and taxing to the program at the same time. I could write another thousand words on my experiences of seeing Big Blue Nation go into attack mode from anything from a perceived slight to a full blown assault. The most recent example is Bobby Knight being forced to address Kentucky after weeks of intentionally avoiding mentioning the programs name. An onslaught on emails , twitter and phone calls to ESPN forced his hand on the matter.
All of this leads me to the latest achievement for Kentucky Basketball. April 2nd, Kentucky Basketball won its 8th championship defeating the Kansas Jayhawks. There is no shortage of superlatives to describe Kentucky’s run to the championship this year and for the collective Kentucky fan base, the goal is achieved. UK fans get a respite of about 150 days after 14 years. Then it is back to the grind of reminding everyone that we are Kentucky…and you’re not.