Excerpts from Game of My Life — Kentucky, Memorable Stories of Wildcats Basketball by Ryan Clark.
“We had resurrected the program by that senior year,” Nash says. “That was a great feeling.”
Cotton Nash on UK reaching the #1 Ranking in the AP Poll.
But [Frank] Ramsey notes a distinct difference in the Rupp and Auerbach coaching styles. “Coach Rupp took a bunch of boys from the hills and said, “If you’ll fit into my system and do it my way, you’ll win.” And he made believers out of you.
Frank Ramsey speaking of playing for Adolph Rupp and Red Auerbach:
“Both were dictators, but I don’t know of any continual winning team that isn’t coached by a dictator.”
These are guys who played for Adolph Rupp. These were guys who were winners. These were guys who knew what it was like to win and win big. Dan Issel speaks similarly about Rupp. As does anyone who played for him. They all loved him and they all knew that he was the man in charge. It was Rupp’s way or the highway.
Billy Gillispie is attempting to re-mold Kentucky into a hard, running, disciplined, focused unit. Some fans seem to think that he should take corners and bend to the players. They want Gillispie to give in to the wants of the athletes in the same manner that Smith was wont to do.
I agree with Billy Gillispie. Make them do it his way. He has shown in the past that he can win with his system. His system has produced a Top 15 program. The athletes need to listen to the coach and do things his way. If they won’t or they can’t, then the door is the only other option.
There can be only one Head Coach at UK. The inmates cannot continue to run the asylum.
All those who want Gillispie to take the short cut for a few extra wins this year need to step back and show some patience. UK is not good this year. That said, I disagree with people like Alex Byington of the Kentucky New Era. I don’t think it will take three years. UK will improve dramatically next season. Gillispie is correct. The Frosh. The new blood will be the ones to lead UK back. New players and new attitudes and guys like Meeks will be one more year removed from the lethargy of the Almost Era. UK will be back next year. New and Improved. I guarantee it.
