University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media
C-A-T-S! Cats! Cats! Cats!
Crowds in Midway chanted the Wildcat cry on Sunday as they
waited in the United Bank parking lot for the University
of Kentucky’s men basketball team to arrive by train.
Head coach John Calipari brought the
2018-19 players to Midway on the team’s way back to Lexington from a kids’ basketball camp in Frankfort to give the Big Blue Nation a chance “to meet the entire
team,” a UK press release said. Their R.J. Corman Railroad car arrived just after 5:30 p.m. to the cheers of fans, where they began signing
autographs, giving away posters and taking pictures.
Chris Blanton talks with friends while waiting to meet the team. |
Tim Bernal, executive associate athletic director at UK,
said the stop in Midway was chosen in part because “it’s one of those iconic
towns in Kentucky.” He said the stop might have been right along the way of
their return trip to Lexington, but “when you have a chance to do an event like
this in a great town like this, you take advantage of that,” he said. “The
people showing up the way they did kinda proves that it was a good decision.”
Crowds were tightly wrapped around the bank parking lot.
Bernal said Midway represents rural Kentucky, but
more than that, it represents Kentucky as a whole. “These are the nicest people
and the most appreciative people,” he said of the crowds gathered. “I’ve got a
saying that I kinda use: ‘as long as my gratitude exceeds my expectations, I’m
in pretty good shape’ and everyone just seemed very grateful that we had come.”
Calipari echoed Bernal's sentiment when he told the Lexington Herald-Leader while preparing to leave Midway, "I want these guys to know the impact they have on people in the state, so I think it ended up being a good trip."
Calipari echoed Bernal's sentiment when he told the Lexington Herald-Leader while preparing to leave Midway, "I want these guys to know the impact they have on people in the state, so I think it ended up being a good trip."
Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift said he was "amazed, but not surprised" by how many people came to see the Cats. "It’s incredible that the team can draw about 1000 people with 48 hours notice," he said. "Every time we have something like that, it becomes a great showcase for Midway and reminds us all of what a happening little city we live in."
Players signed posters, basketballs and other items for Wildcat fans. |
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