By: LARRY VAUGHT
Stanley Williams Sr. now knows it was not Kentucky coach Mark Stoops that barred him from being part of the pregame Cat Walk before last Saturday’s game against Florida.
Before UK’s season opener, the father of UK sophomore running back Boom Williams dazzled the Cat Walk crowd. He had a game jersey and football pants and cleats on. He was wearing eye black. He had a special set of shoulder pads. And he had a microphone to make sure everyone could hear him.
As the Cat Walk fans waited for the players to arrive, Williams energized the fans before the Louisiana-Lafayette game and it was so impressive that ESPN had a segment featuring him. He had done the same for the fans at times last year minus the equipment.
He came back to Commonwealth Stadium for the Florida game expecting to do the same and had even added a blue wig. He was there at 10:30 a.m. — nine hours before kickoff. He circled the stadium interacting with fans and estimates he took over 300 pictures with fans.
But when Williams tried to get inside the ropes keeping fans out of the Cat Walk path, he was turned away.
“The (UK) policeman told me that (UK coach Mark) Stoops did not want me out there and I couldn’t be,” Williams said.
Fans wanted to know where Williams was. As they either heard what happened from someone or saw Williams and asked, many got upset.
I told Williams there was no way Stoops would have handled things in that manner. For one, I doubted the coach had time to focus on who was where during the Cat Walk during Florida week — or before any game. Two, if Stoops had made that decision, I have to believe he would have let Williams know during the week, not when the Cat Walk was about to start.
Williams said Monday night that he got a call from Stoops Sunday as he was driving home to Georgia with family members.
“He told me didn’t know where the police got that from. He said he had not said nothing. He didn’t know how the police got the word to keep me out,” Williams said. “He told me, ‘I ain’t told nobody nothing.’
“He told me to keep doing what I was doing to get the fans excited. He said if I have a problem again, come see him.”
Information on Twitter Monday indicated that UK officials were worried about a “safety concern” with Williams since he is not an official member of the football program. The worry is what might keep other fans from coming inside the Cat Walk line. What UK officials want is for him to continue to lead cheers anywhere at the stadium except inside the Cat Walk line.
If that is the case, someone at UK should let both Stoops and Williams know what is going on. Same with the fans who appreciated Williams’ energy and enthusiasm so much.
Plus, why not find a way to solve the concerns? Maybe fans lined up at the ropes could just alternate stepping back a foot or so and let Williams in front of them. When he wants to move, other fans could do the same.
“I just want to see this team win and get fans hyped,” Williams said. “I am not trying to cause trouble or anything like that. I just want to help.”
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