One Proud Wildcat!!

The University of Kentucky Wildcats are my favorite team and have been since 1964. I remember my little league team, on which I was a manager, went together to watch a UK-UT freshman game at Neyland Stadium. I was allowed to wear Roger Bird’s number 21 to avoid other players fighting over it. Roger Bird was an All American and had been a South Ward Wildcat.

A few years passed and a wonderful thing happened at UK. At the time, I am pretty sure I did not capture the significance of the event, but today, I am so proud of UK for honoring four individuals.

These four individuals are Greg Page (deceased), Wilbur Hackett, Houston Hogg and Nate Northington. They were recruited to play at UK and in the process became the first four black players, not only at UK, but in the Southeastern Conference.

This was an incredible act of courage at a time when overt violence against African-Americans was prevalent. Some folks were not hesitant to shout racial slurs and promote anonymous death threats.

Just last month, UK honored these four players with statues near the stadium and the new practice facility.

For me, it was a benchmark day in the life of University of Kentucky sports. Until I take my dying breath, I will be proud of the school whose team I support for honoring, then 18 year olds, who were willing to risk their lives to do the right thing by integrating the Southeastern Conference.

Moving to the deeper places,
Jeff