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  • Sheppard on why UK basketball misses Keightley

    by
    LarryVaught1
    Published on 07-24-2013 08:15 AM
    1 Comment Comments


    Jeff Sheppard thinks current Kentucky basketball players have a “little” sense of UK history, but not as much as they probably should.

    “I would have been the same way if I left after my freshman year (for the NBA),” said Sheppard. “I came in and had Travis Ford, Jared Prickett, Gimel Martinez and Jeff Brassow, all veteran players, to take me under their wings. Travis Ford would take me home to Madisonville and that’s when I really knew this Kentucky basketball thing was unbelievable. I don’t know how many current players get to do that now and go around the state and see what Kentucky basketball is all about. There is a respect for the tradition, but it is just different.

    “I have a great relationship with Rex (Chapman), Sam (Bowie), Kyle (Macy) and all those old Kentucky basketball players that used to play a long time ago. Us young guys have a real respect for them. But I was at UK five years.”

    Sheppard thinks current players also miss the benefit of having Bill Keightley, UK’s long-time equipment manager who was known as Mr. Wildcat for his years of work, around daily like he did. Keightley passed away before UK coach John Calipari arrived.

    “One guy we miss at Kentucky basketball more than any individual to bridge the gap from old and new was Bill Keightley. He was the last one to bridge gap from Cotton Nash to DeMarcus Cousins,” Sheppard said. “He did it well with few words. He knew everybody and everybody loved him. When he passed away, I never thought I could miss a non-family member as much as Mr. Keightley.”

    Sheppard said players always found time to visit Keightley, and he always welcomed them and entertained them with UK stories.

    “When you had an hour between appointments, you would stop by the equipment room. You did not go to see the coaches or the gym or the (Wildcat) Lodge. You went to the equipment room,” Sheppard said. “You might see the governor talking to Dan Issel. You might see coach Pitino talking to Ralph Beard. In between was Mr. Keightley telling a story.

    “He bridged everything together. He was best recruiter of all time at Kentucky. He had way about him about how to work hard and treat people right without saying a word. You just had to watch him. We miss him a lot.”
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    Comments 18 Comments
    1. dan_bgblue's Avatar
      dan_bgblue - 07-23-2013, 08:34 PM
      I agree with Shep, and thought on the day he passed, the UK tradition would never be the same.
    1. StuBleedsBlue2's Avatar
      StuBleedsBlue2 - 07-23-2013, 08:45 PM
      Keightley died while BCG was coach. Not sure how the player bridge was gapped. Also, even though Mr Wildcat is no longer with us, it doesn't mean that guys like Sheppard and players of his generation, which happens to be mine too, can't fill that gap and show the guys from this generation what they had, instead of being critical of those who are participating in a lousy system that benefits them and their families.
    1. UKHistory's Avatar
      UKHistory - 07-23-2013, 08:58 PM
      Mr. Bill past before Clyde's last year so he connected the eras of Coach Rupp and Nash to Patrick Patterson.

      Bill Keightley was a tremendous asset to the program and specifically the UK players.

      It takes time to find someone to fill that role. It is not a job that anyone can fill and it is not a job you can assign.

      There will never be another Mr. Wildcat; but one day we will have someone to be that guy.

      No one will ever be Cawood. However, Tom Leach is superb as the Voice of the Cats.

      No one wraps themsevles up in UK history any more than I do (pun intended) but we must continue to look forward to how UK will grow and prosper in the future just as we remember fondly the great teams from the past.
    1. CitizenBBN's Avatar
      CitizenBBN - 07-23-2013, 09:43 PM
      considering that Cal's one and done's have actually met guys like Joe B. Hall and Rick would have had him and the other alumni escorted from the campus I'm betting these guys have far more knowledge of UK's history than he may think. Rick's guys were notoriously disconnected from UK's history, as was Pitino. Cal goes out of his way to connect the current players to the program and the former players in ways Rick never did.

      True Mr. Wildcat was a bridge, and is a big loss to the program, but frankly I read this as a very conceited position by Shep. By his own admission he doesn't hang out at UK much, but he knows what these guys think and how they perceive UK.

      Has Shep opened his mouth even once this week in a way that couldn't be roughly summarized as: "things were so much better in my day."? They had alll these wonderful things like Mr. Bill they don't have now, they cared about team first and foremost, They built long term relationships with the fans, blah blah blah
    1. catmanjack's Avatar
      catmanjack - 07-23-2013, 10:05 PM
      The more Jeff opens his mouth the more he needs to keep it shut.
      I really get tired of hearing ex players make comments like his that really have no
      basis.
      Support the program and players past and present and stop trying to ruin things.
      Really this started with Woods last year and now Sheppard and the only common
      factor is prick.
      Does anyone see this as funny or what when we all know Prick would love to tear the big blue nation down.
      Cal really needs to put a major butt hurt on that team this year.
    1. badrose's Avatar
      badrose - 07-24-2013, 07:30 AM
      Really disappointed to read what Sheppard has said. If he really has embraced UK tradition he needs to look no further than under his nose who rejected it. Pitino left UK and now coaches its most hated rival. His perspective is heavily skewed and someone needs to take him aside and set him straight. Cal has done everything in his power to bridge all the gaps.
    1. ETWNAPPEL's Avatar
      ETWNAPPEL - 07-24-2013, 07:42 AM
      Darius took Cousins and Wall to Mason County for a game. I'm sure they got similar experience to what he did in Madisonville. I would like to see UK continue to get Kentucky players. I would much rather have a Polson type filling out the 13 man roster as opposed to a Masiello. Cal has gotten the KY players. Previous coaches seemed to be afraid to. Keep KY kids on the roster and they can do what Keightley did. (to a degree)
    1. Rock Hard Ten's Avatar
      Rock Hard Ten - 07-24-2013, 07:57 AM
      Have to agree with the views on Sheppard shutting his mouth.....he has really soured his image in the BBN......Cal has been tremendous in reaching out to the past players......

      Prick is a Prick and he stuck a stick in the eye of BBN.....and has done it repeatedly.....and will continue to do so......and now, one of his proteges (Sheppard) is doing it in a destructive, surreptitious manner.....pisses me off
    1. UKHistory's Avatar
      UKHistory - 07-24-2013, 08:19 AM
      Citizen,

      In light of Jeff's earlier comments that is how I read it too. I elected to not raise your point but I see and agree with you.

      One thing to consider is context/time of how we are reading these too.

      All of Jeff's comments to Larry, I think, came around the time of the Ohio UK fan convention. Whatever negative issue was in his head can be seen in all of these comments.

      And very honetly we are reading this comment after reading Jeff call Cal them enemy, predict UK won't win the title (which is not the same as rooting against UK to win the title), and criticize Cal for his recruiting.

      We might read this comment about the loss of Bill Keightley in a different light had Jeff not made his earlier comments. Based on the film footage of Jeff and Larry's own comment about how Cal is keeping a lot of people in the business around UK (Jeff is looking to make money and not trying to get back to school or just hang out) I see Jeff lashing out a little.

      That is not going to help Jeff's relationship with the UK coaching staff. I am almost anxious to see how more negative Jeff can get with the questions he is answering.

      With regards to the respect for the past...Sean Woods made similar comments.

      But honestly I don't recall the players under Rick--save for the Kentucky boys--appreciating UK's history. On the contrary I have a book where Rick is quoted as saying he didn't recruit on UK's history but rather his personal NBA experience as the "coach of the Knicks". There is some revisionist (UK) history going on with this story.



      Quote Originally Posted by CitizenBBN View Post
      considering that Cal's one and done's have actually met guys like Joe B. Hall and Rick would have had him and the other alumni escorted from the campus I'm betting these guys have far more knowledge of UK's history than he may think. Rick's guys were notoriously disconnected from UK's history, as was Pitino. Cal goes out of his way to connect the current players to the program and the former players in ways Rick never did.

      True Mr. Wildcat was a bridge, and is a big loss to the program, but frankly I read this as a very conceited position by Shep. By his own admission he doesn't hang out at UK much, but he knows what these guys think and how they perceive UK.

      Has Shep opened his mouth even once this week in a way that couldn't be roughly summarized as: "things were so much better in my day."? They had alll these wonderful things like Mr. Bill they don't have now, they cared about team first and foremost, They built long term relationships with the fans, blah blah blah
    1. BigBlueBrock's Avatar
      BigBlueBrock - 07-24-2013, 09:05 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by LarryVaught1 View Post
      Jeff Sheppard thinks current Kentucky basketball players have a “little” sense of UK history, but not as much as they probably should.
    1. catmanjack's Avatar
      catmanjack - 07-24-2013, 09:58 AM
      Really if Jeff knew as much about UK history as he thinks then he would not have made these comments.

      Also I am pretty sure Larry would not have ask him these questions if he knew he was going to get such negative comments.

      Larry,
      You need to pass along to Jeff that this was the wrong way to show your Big Blue support.
    1. blueboss's Avatar
      blueboss - 07-24-2013, 10:59 AM
      "Lets see how many sentences I can end with but I was at Ky five years" - Jeff Sheppard
    1. LarryVaught1's Avatar
      LarryVaught1 - 07-24-2013, 02:45 PM
      Still a Sheppard fan. TRust me, things are VERY different at UK now. OUtward appearances don't always tell the whole story. Change can be good and is never easy. But change can also sometimes involve forgetting those who helped along the way. I feel Jeff's pain myself in ways I could go into great detail about but no need to whine. Just have to find other ways to do my job the best I can
    1. Jimcats's Avatar
      Jimcats - 07-24-2013, 02:48 PM
      Larry, I think you tread lightly but carry a big stick---and that's intended as a compliment.
    1. catmanjack's Avatar
      catmanjack - 07-24-2013, 03:09 PM
      Guess the part that bothered me was maybe it was best he just didn't voice his opinion in such a negative way.
      And by being so into UL and Rick that tends to lead to saying the wrong things right ro wrong in my mind.


      Quote Originally Posted by LarryVaught1 View Post
      Still a Sheppard fan. TRust me, things are VERY different at UK now. OUtward appearances don't always tell the whole story. Change can be good and is never easy. But change can also sometimes involve forgetting those who helped along the way. I feel Jeff's pain myself in ways I could go into great detail about but no need to whine. Just have to find other ways to do my job the best I can
    1. Jimcats's Avatar
      Jimcats - 07-24-2013, 03:27 PM
      If Rick makes Jeff feel more comfortable than Cal does in their current surroundings, that tells me that he isn't being greeted very warmly at Cal's. Jeff is most gently pointing out a fact that to me is bothersome, not overstating or speaking when he shouldn't.

      For those who don't actually know Jeff, he is a good Christian, totally honest and doesn't fudge. IMO, UK fans should get off his case, and just maybe accept that Cal isn't today's Gabriel in all matters.
    1. UKHistory's Avatar
      UKHistory - 07-24-2013, 03:31 PM
      I do trust you and I because of who you are, I hate that you are not getting the necessary access to do your job. Anything that negatively impacts a good guy and quality journalist like you is an issue that should concern Kentucky fans.

      But here is the thing. Rick is for Rick and his goal is to succeed at UofL. If Cal is the enemy--then UK has no friends and no leadership. But for anyone to suggest that Rick really wanted to add to the tradition and was not almost 100% about himself then is not remembering history.

      My guess is that some of these underlining issues that are real and important are affecting Jeff and other good people like you.

      Jeff's venting is not necessarily the most productive way to bring about change.

      Quote Originally Posted by LarryVaught1 View Post
      Still a Sheppard fan. TRust me, things are VERY different at UK now. OUtward appearances don't always tell the whole story. Change can be good and is never easy. But change can also sometimes involve forgetting those who helped along the way. I feel Jeff's pain myself in ways I could go into great detail about but no need to whine. Just have to find other ways to do my job the best I can
    1. catmanjack's Avatar
      catmanjack - 07-24-2013, 03:32 PM
      I would say the $$$$$ make Jeff feel more comfortable being around Rick.

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