Visiting UK fan story on KSR.com

I wasn’t in Bloomington, so I can’t comment about the atmosphere. So, allow me to comment on it. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a bit ugly. It was a huge game for IU, a close game all the way, and the tipoff time probably led to a well-lubricated crowd. There’s also the fact that for all the debate about whether we care more about beating Purdue or beating Kentucky, there is no program for which IU fans have less respect than UK. Now, to any UK fan reading this, I’m not saying that this is true or justified, but I think the typical IU fan views UK’s program as a corrupt basketball factory and nearly everything UK has accomplished. I think the resentment is amplified when IU’s program hit rock bottom over NCAA violations that while shameful, pale in comparison to what has gone on at UK over the years, and in the very same timeframe that UK has rebuilt its program by hiring a guy who doesn’t enjoy a good reputation (again, not saying Cal’s reputation is deserved, but it exists). In my experience, IU fans dislike Purdue but are enraged by Kentucky. I don’t say any of that to excuse rude behavior, but to say it wouldn’t surprise me if it were a bit ugly in the bars this weekend.

That said, the part of the story that doesn’t ring true is the idea that everyone was in on it, that absolutely no one was decent to them. And, of course, it’s odd that they mention nothing of how they were treated inside Assembly Hall. As far as I could tell, all of the anecdotes came from inside bars. It would seem that the treatment inside the game, sitting in close quarters to IU fans and under the supervision of IU officials, would have merited mention one way or the other. The omission makes me think it was fine in the arena, which is the part most directly under IU’s control.

Maybe I’m just an older fart (only in my 40’s), but I don’t see why anyone would even need to sneer at a UK fan in Bloomington. I wouldn’t expect to get openly abused in a Lexington bar if I had on my IU colors. I’d expect to get some taunting, and some verbal grief, but actual malicious abuse would be out of line.

And while I wouldn’t go out of my way to befriend a UK fan if I saw one in Bloomington, I sure as HELL wouldn’t go out of my way to abuse them or even make fun of them to their faces. If they were friendly, sure, some fun back and forth is just fan behavior, but again, actual abuse is going too far.

Part of me hopes that there was a lot of exaggeration in that story. I was actually downtown right after the game, and drove past both Sports as well as Kilroy’s on Kirkwood. I saw a little bit of rowdy behavior – not anywhere near as much as the ‘01-’02 season’s Final Four evenings (yes, I was in Bloomington for that too… heck, I was here for the 1992 Final Four) – but nothing that seemed malicious, or even that far out of line. Heck, no one was dancing on cars yet, and I was still able to drive past. But at the same time, a crowd can turn ugly in an instant (anyone who’s experienced Little 500’s in the late 80’s and early 90’s can attest to that; just look at the pictures from the ‘87 Arbutus – that’s the yearbook, for non-IU folks reading this- and the water canons and riot cops. Things can turn quickly). And that’s what worries me: I can’t disprove the allegations. I can only say I didn’t see it myself.

I’m hoping that with some success comes some sanity. After the ‘92 Final Four loss, Kirkwood wasn’t even that crowded (at least when I was there. Admittedly very, very late). I love exuberance – for the first time in years, I not only didn’t mind the court rush, but felt it was entirely justifiable – but I hate that such things can go wrong in a crowd very fast. When IU starts winning, I think some of the more passionate people will start to calm down and understand how to behave. It’s new to some folks. Hopefully, it’ll become old hat and we won’t hear any of those types of stories ever again.

The worst were people dodging in and out of traffic on Kirkwood after the game. Hell, I nearly plastered 5 of them myself at the corner of Dunn and Kirkwood; thank God for good brakes! Anyway, sure, that’s dangerous, but emotionally it’s also quite tame. Especially in comparison to the accusations made in that KSR article.