Skip to content

AllSECtalk

  • admin@allsectalk.com
Menu

Go 'Cats!

The University of Kentucky

Location: Lexington, KY

Nickname: Wildcats

Type of School: Public Land Grant Research University

Mascot:  “Blue” (Lynx Rufus – Bobcat) “Wildcat” & “Scratch”

Total student body: 32,703 (Fall 2024)

University Established: 1865

Football Stadium: Kroger Field at Commonwealth Stadium

Capacity: 61,000

Team Colors: Wildcat Blue, White, and Black

Alma Mater

Hail Kentucky, Alma Mater!

Loyal sons and daughters sing;

Sound her praise with voice united;

To the breeze her colors fling.

To the blue and white be true;

Badge triumphant age on age;

Blue, the sky that o’er us bends;

White, Kentucky’s stainless page.

Traditions

Athletics Traditions

The Big Blue Nation: This term affectionately refers to University of Kentucky’s enormous and dedicated fanbase.

Big Blue Madness: The annual kickoff of basketball practice is celebrated with a full-scale event at Rupp Arena. A “tent city” of devoted fans camps outside Memorial Coliseum to secure free tickets for the event.

Wildcat Push-ups: After the football team scores, the mascot is lifted on a board to do push-ups for each point scored. 

My Old Kentucky Home: After each UK home sporting event, the team gathers at center court or field and the band plays the state song.

Campus Lore and Academic Traditions

Rubbing President Patterson’s foot: Students believe that rubbing the right foot of the statue of former UK President James Kennedy Patterson will bring them good luck on their exams.

Wildcat Alumni Plaza: There is a new tradition on campus — a Wildcat sculpture! This intricately detailed bronze sculpture is the centerpiece of Wildcat Alumni Plaza and represents the dignity, strength and vigilance in which the University of Kentucky family takes immense pride. Students will often pat the Wildcat’s foot for good luck.

K Week: This week-long series of events at the start of the fall semester helps new students learn campus traditions and connect with their community.

William T. Young Library Hill: This steep hill next to the library is a prime sledding spot for students on snow days.

DanceBlue: A year-round student-run fundraising effort that culminates in a 24-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon. The event benefits the DanceBlue Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic at Kentucky Children’s Hospital. 

Interesting Facts

Comprehensive education: The University of Kentucky is one of only eight institutions  in the United States featuring a comprehensive set of liberal arts, engineering, professional, agricultural, and medical colleges.

Established in 1865: The university was founded in 1865 as The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky.

The Wildcat origins: The Kentucky “Wildcats” name was adopted in 1909 after a military commandant remarked that the football team “fought like Wildcats” in a game against Illinois.

The First UK mascot: Before live or costumed mascots appeared in Lexington, a young boy named Dulaney Lee O’Roark became team’s first official mascot.

Dulaney O’Roark, the son of UK engineering graduate student, Lauren Snyder O’Roark and Anna McCormick O’Roark lived across Rose Street from the football field. 

Lauren O’Roark served as the university’s yearbook editor in 1908 and 1909. Young Dulaney became the football team’s mascot after his father began
taking him to football games where Lauren reported on the contests and took photographs for the yearbook. 

Fast forward a several years, and Dulaney graduated from UK in 1931 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He went on to have a very successful military career serving as a Military Governor of the district of Kemnath in Bavaria after World War II and then serving in Korea.  He retired from military service in 1963 as a full colonel.

The origin of blue: In 1892, students chose blue and yellow as the school’s original colors. The specific shade of blue was inspired by a student who held up his necktie. A year later, they officially dropped yellow in favor of white.

Trivia
  • The bounce pass in basketball was popularized and some would say “perfected” at the University of Kentucky.
  • The Lady Wildcats women’s basketball team was organized in 1902 while the men’s team wasn’t organized until the following year, 1903.
  • In 1954 the UK Wildcats went 25-0, but did not win the National Championship. They declined the invitation to play in the NCAA Tournament due to what they felt was an antiquated rule enforced by the tournament. Adolph Rupp was quoted as saying about his team, “We’re not going because I’m not going to take a bunch of turds like you to the NCAA (Tournament).” 
  • Adolph Rupp coached UK’s men’s basketball team for 42 years (1930-1972).
  • Notable Alumni include actors Ashley Judd and Harry Dean Stanton. Athletes Riley Gaines and Shawn Kemp and legendary basketball coach Pat Riley.