Kentucky Athletics: The Unsung Players

I’m a fan of the University of Kentucky. I’m a proud alumni  of the University of Kentucky. I want to see the University excel at everything. When it comes to athletics, I want to see all sports succeed, not just men’s basketball and football.  The student athletes that compete in volleyball, baseball, softball, swimming and diving and soccer work just as hard as the household names do at their sport.  They study and work just as hard in the classroom.  They sacrifice just as much as the McDonald’s All Americans that practice in the Craft Center.  They have just as much pride in their school as those that play in Final Fours and aspire to bowl games. And, as the Big Blue Nation, we need to do more to support those players than we currently do.

University of Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart has done a wonderful job raising the level of competitiveness throughout the athletic department. He has brought in top level coaches and provided them top level facilities, which has brought about some of the best seasons for all sports.  His work should be applauded and acknowledged.

I was not always this enlightened. As a younger man, for me it was UK basketball (men’s) and football.  But a funny thing happened. I was blessed to become the father of two girls, currently ages 5 and 8.  I would love for them to grow up and attend the University of Kentucky and, if possible, compete in intercollegiate athletics.  If that were to pass, they would not be able to play men’s basketball or football. I had to stop and ask myself what message I was sending to them by only supporting Big Blue when it came to those two sports? Was I subtly telling them that their athletic endeavors didn’t matter?

So, as they’ve grown up, I’ve made a point to watch as many UK sports teams play on TV as possible. I’ve taken them to as many UK sporting events in person as I can. And, I’ve been focusing on the women’s teams. We’ve watched Coach Matthew Mitchell’s women’s basketball team compete with the nation’s elite. We’ve watched the UK softball team, lead by Coach Rachel Lawson breakthrough and make an appearance in the Women’s College World Series. And since both my girls play soccer, we’ve focused on the fortunes of Head Coach Jon Lipsitz and the UK Women’s Soccer Team.

Recently, Coach Lipsitz invited my girls for a tour of the brand new Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex. He showed them the training room, the locker room, the player’s lounge, the pressbox and, most importantly, the field.  They loved it. They enjoyed walking around and seeing what “the big girls” get to do. My girls listened as Coach Lipsitz explained that grades come first, then soccer.  My youngest saw the interlocking “UK” logo displayed throughout and pulled me to the side and said, “they must really love Kentucky here!”

My girls might never play in Rupp or Commonwealth Stadium, but they now have it in their mind that they can play soccer for the University of Kentucky. They saw first hand the fruits of the hard work of Coach Lipsitz and his staff, the UK athletic administration and UK athletics donors. They understand that there’s a since of pride that comes with putting that Kentucky across your chest and playing for your school.  Every student-athlete at UK deserves the support of the Big Blue Nation. They’re all working. They’re all sacrificing.

Thank you, Coach Lipsitz for giving my girls a goal to shoot for. Thank you for letting them know that they can be Wildcats. It’s a dream that all kids in the BBN should have.