xt7d7w674613 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7d7w674613/data/mets.xml University of Kentucky 1979 Rupp Arena, Lexington (Ky.) athletic publications English University of Kentucky Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. University of Kentucky Basketball Programs (Men) UKAW University of Kentucky Men's Basketball (1978-1979) University of Kentucky Women's Basketball (1978-1979) programs players coaches Hall, Joe B. Yow, Debbie Rupp Arena UK vs. Ole Miss (January 8, 1979) rosters statistics schedules cheerleaders Wildcat mascot Wildcat Tipoff: Kentucky vs. University of Mississippi, January 8, 1979 text Wildcat Tipoff: Kentucky vs. University of Mississippi, January 8, 1979 1979 2012 true xt7d7w674613 section xt7d7w674613 Crcyxznt ftirm
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2 Governmental Officials
Governor of the CommonwealthJulian M. Carroll and Mayor of Lexington-Fayette County GovernmentJames G. Amato and the Urban County Council.
4 University of Kentucky
President Dr. Otis A. Singletary and Athletic Director Cliff Hagan; UK's athletics department and coaching staff.
7 1978 NCAA Champions12 players that comprise the current national champions.
22 Feature of the WeekA look at the world of Kentucky basketball. 24 Scorecard
Keep up with the actiontally field goals, free throws and personal fouls. 33 Opponent
Meet tonight's visiting team, coaches, and plavers. Also, here is general information about the school and its administration.
40 The Last Time, SEC This Week
An account of Kentucky's most recent game with tonight's opponent and a schedule of SEC action.
41 UK Sports Information Department
When you need information about Kentuckv athletics, Russell Rice and Jack Perry have the answers.
46 Code of Sportsmanship
The Student Government Association of the University of Kentuckv has adopted six rules of conduct for intercollegiate athletics.
47 Rupp Arena
Arena diagram and information on first aid, cardiac care, lost and found, gate information, court regulations, public address and general ticket policy.
WILDCAT TIPOFF, The official Lexington Center program for University of Kentucky basketball, is published by Lexington Productions, Inc., 120 Kentucky Avenue, Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Telephone: 233-3533.
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1 JAMES G. AMATO
Mayor Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
JAMES G. AMATO took office as mayor on January 2, 1978. In doing so, he became the second mayor of the consolidated city and county governments.
A native of Lexington, Amato has been a practicing attorney since 1964. He is a member of the Fayette County Bar Association, the Kentucky Bar Association, and the Kentucky Law Enforcement. He formerly held positions as Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Director of Citizens for Judicial Improvement, Inc., Municipal Court Judge and City Prosecutor.
As chief executive of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, the mayor is authorized to supervise, administer and control all departments of government
The mayor is elected on a non-partisan ballot every four years. He is assisted principally by the Chief Administrative Officer and commissioners of the six departments.
JULIAN M. CARROLL Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
JULIAN MORTON CARROLL became Kentucky's 58th governor on December 28, 1974, succeeding Wendell H. Ford, who was elected to the U. S. Senate. Carroll then won a full four-year term in the 1975 general election.
Bom in McCracken County in 1931, he attended Paducah Junior College after graduating from Heath High School. He was graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1954 and received his law degree from UK in 1956. Before becoming governor, Carroll served three years as lieutenant governor and ten years as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives.
He is currently chairman of the National Governors' Association, the first Kentucky Governor to hold that post. He is an active member of the Optimist Club and a former Jaycee. He attained the highest office in Kentucky for laymen of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1966-77 when he was named moderator of the Kentucky Synod.
The Governor and his wife, Charlann, have four children.
2 LEXINGTON URBAN COUNTY COUNCIL
JIM TODD At-Large, Vice Mayor
ANN ROSS At-Large
DON BLEVINS At-Large
O. M. TRAVIS District 1
BOB FINN District 2
JOE JASPER District 3
ANN GABBARD District 4
MARY MANGIONE District 5
HARRY REAMS District 6
ELEANOR LEONARD District 7
BILL LYONS Disrtict 8
BILL RICE District 9
JAMES WILHITE District 10
PAUL ROSE District 11
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University of Kentucky
Dr. Otis A. Singletary University of Kentucky President
Now in his ninth year as president of the University of Kentucky, DR. OTIS A. SINGLETARY is a Mississippian whose route to the Bluegrass State curled through Louisiana, Texas, North Carolina and Washington, D. C.
He came to Lexington from a position as University of Texas vice-chancellor for academic affairs. Previously, in Washington, he had been director of the U. S. Job Corps in the early stages of its development before moving to the American Council on Education as vice-president. He had gone to the capital in 1964 after three years as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
The UNC appointment terminated Dr. Singletary's first association with the University of Texas, this a seven-year stay that saw him, as a young historian, rise rapidly in rank from instructor to full professor and begin the shift to administrative work, first as associate dean and later as assistant to the president.
The Kentucky president, and his wife the former Gloria Walton, met when both were students at Millsaps College. He later earned master's and doctoral degrees at Louisiana State. The Single-tarys have two daughters, Bonnie and Kendall, and a son, Scott.
Cliff Hagan Director of Athletics
"I've been preparing for this all my life," CLIFF HAGAN said before taking over as athletics director at the University of Kentucky in 1975. Hagan succeeded Harry Lancaster as director after serving as assistant director for three years.
Hagan's path to the athletics directorship began in Owensboro, Kentucky, where he established a then state high school tournament record of 41 points in leading Owensboro to victory over Lafayette in the championship game of the 1949 high school tournament.
At UK, he played on teams that won S6 of 91 games and an NCAA championship (1951). The 1954 team, undefeated in 25 games, elected not to participate in the national tournament.
Under his leadership, the UK athletics department continues to develop success in all areas of endeavor including a strong dedication to the academic well-being of the athletes.
4 JOE B. HALL
LEONARD HAMILTON is beginning his fifth year at Kentucky after serving three years as assistant coach at Austin Peay. An outstanding recruiter with seemingly tireless energy, Hamilton has contributed heavily to maintaining a high level of young talent at UK. Specializing in coaching defense, Hamilton has had a positive impact on Wildcat defensive
JOE DEAN, JR., played against the Wildcats for three years at Mississippi State University, before serving as Bulldog assistant coach while earning a masters degree in physical education. An outstanding student, Dean was named to the 1976 Academic All-SEC second team. A native of Baton Rouge,
Joe B. Hall University of Kentucky Wildcats Head Basketball Coach
JOE B. HALL is beginning his seventh season as mentor of the Wildcats, coming off a year in which his senior dominated team captured the 197S NCAA Championship. Since becoming head coach in 1972, succeeding the legendary Adolph F. Rupp, Hall has accumulated a record of 135 wins against 42 losses. His eleven year coaching record stands at 211-98. Broken down, it shows a 57-50 five year mark at Regis College, a 19-6 record at Central Missouri, and a 135-42 record at UK.
Hall became Rupp's top assistant in 1969 when Harry C. Lancaster was named athletics director. His record as freshmen coach was 60-15, including an undefeated (22-0) season (1971-72) which resulted in the Kittens being crowned National Freshmen Champions by Basketball News.
A popular personality on the clinic and convention circuits, Hall also has had much international exposure. In addition to the Globetrotters tour in 1951, and the "Down Under" tour in 1974, he has helped conduct basketball clinics for the U. S. Army in Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska (1968) and at Ramstein Air Base in Frankfurt, Germany and the RAF Base at Mildenhall, England in 1975. He also was Olympic Trials coach under Hank Iba at the Air Force Academy in July 1972 and was a member of the 1976 Olympic Basketball Committee. In 1978 he coached the U.S.A. team that hosted the first International Invitational Tournament.
philosophy. A native of Gastonia, N. C, he lettered three years in football and twice in basketball. An outstanding collegiate player, he starred at Gaston Community College in Dallas, N. C, and at University of Tennessee-Martin. He is married to the former Claudette Hale. They have a son, Lennv, 7.
La., he attended Baton Rouge High School where he earned letters in basketball and football. In addition to regular coaching duties with the Wildcats, Dean's primary responsibilities will be recruiting and scouting. He is married to the former Ellen Elizabeth Anger of Jackson, Miss.
DICK PARSONS
DICK PARSONS, in his seventh year as Joe B. Hall's No. 1 assistant, returned to the University as baseball coach in 1969. Before giving up his position to join the basketball staff on a full time basis, he molded a baseball team (1971) which established or tied 15 school records. He is a graduate of UK where he played guard under former Coacli Adolph F. Rupp.
Parsons came to the University in 1958 after an outstanding career as a four-sports star at Harlan High School, where he had a three-year basketball scoring total of 1,276 points.
He was a two-time (1960-61) recipient of the coveted A. B. Chandler award, given annually for the player best exemplifying the qualities of leadership, scholarship, character and ability. Only four other Wildcats have twice been so honored since the award was originated in 1951.
He is married to the former Celia Cawood of Harlan. They have a daughter, Kathy, and a son, Ed.
5 FRANK HAM Assistant Director of Athletics
FRANK HAM became Assistant Director of Athletics in July 1975 soon after Cliff Hagan succeeded Harry C. Lancaster as Director of Athletics.
A native of Scranton, Pa., Ham came to the University in 1969 as Administrative Assistant to football coach John Ray, and was reassigned to the Athletic Director's staff in 1972 when Ray resigned.
Ham graduated from high school at Niles, Michigan, and completed his undergraduate work at Olivet College. He did graduate work at Indiana University and coached high school football and track at John Adams High in South Bend in 1944-46 and then returned to Olivet as athletic director and head football and basketball coach.
In 1951, he became assistant to the president at Olivet, with responsibilities in public and alumni relations. He was in private business from 1954 until 1968.
SUSAN FEAMSTER Assistant Director of Athletics
SUE FEAMSTER joined the athletics association July 1 with the merger of the men's and women's programs. Feamstcr had been the director of women's athletics prior to her appointment as assistant director of athletics.
A native of Frankfort, she came to the
University as a graduate student in 1970, was named assistant director of campus recreation in 1972 and director of women's athletics in 1974.
Feamster graduated from Franklin County High School where she was an outstanding tennis player and athlete. While in college she earned letters in tennis, field hockey, basketball and track from Indiana University and Kentucky State University, where she earned her B.S. degree and graduated with honors.
LARRY IVY Assistant Director of Athletics For Finance
Adding a new dimension to UK athletics was the appointment two years ago of LARRY IVY as Assistant Director of
Athletics for Finance.
Ivy, who came to the University as Director of Housing in 1969, is involved primarily with the administration and management of financial aspects, and develops and initiates policies for accounting procedures and related business management activities of the department.
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6 Will Denote Rupp, UK Basketball
Public Donations To Build Museum To House Memorabilia
Adjacent to the entrance to Rupp Arena in the Lexington Center will be located the Adolph F. Rupp-UK Basketball Museum.
The purpose of the museum is to relive some of the past Wildcat teams' exploits and those of its great players. Included in the museum will be photographs, trophies, tape recordings, films and other memorabilia reflecting on past Kentucky teams.
"We have a unique opportunity to perpetuate the legend of the late Adolph Rupp and the rich basketball tradition that has been established by the University of Kentucky," commented DcWitt Hisle, chairman of the museum. "The museum will give basketball fans every where a fascinating insight into what this game has meant to followers of the UK Wildcats."
Rupp coached teams compiled an 880-190 record. He guided the Wildcats to four NCAA titles, an NIT championship and 27 SEC crowns.
The museum will cover Kentucky basketball teams from the first season in 1903, when the team recorded a 1-2 record, through the most recently completed season.
A small theatre area will be located
ADOLPH F. RUPP
in the museum and used to show films on the changing style of basketball over the past 75 years.
The material found in the museum is coming from the official archives of UK, Memorial Coliseum, the family of the late Adolph Rupp and from the public.
"Obviously one of the major advantages we have in establishing this mus-
eum is the fact that we can build it around a central figure, the late Adolph Rupp, whose 41 seasons as UK head coach resulted in some of the greatest accomplishments in the history of collegiate basketball," said Charles Atcher, archivist of the University of Kentucky.
Atcher says one of the guiding principles in planning for the Rupp-UK Basketball Museum is that the museum will show the continuing history of basketball at UK, which means the museum will be capable of expanding to display accomplishments of future teams.
The UK tradition is being continued by Joe B. Hall who replaced Rupp as head coach beginning with the 1972-73 season. In six years, Hall has led the Cats to four SEC championships, an NIT championship, the 1978 NCAA title and an overall 135-42 record.
Costing an approximate $200,000, the projects' funding will come from tax-deductible donations from the public. Operation of the museum will be funded by a small admission charge, "not to exceed $1," according to Hisle.
Donations to help establish the museum may be' mailed to: Rupp-UK Museum, P. O. Box RUPP, Lexington, Ky. 40512.
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34
("Meet The Cats" continues on page 18)
Good Luck to the Wildcats"
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15 1978-79 NUMERICAL UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY BASKETBALL ROSTER
No. Name Pos. Class Ht. Wt. Age Exp. Hometown
4 Kyle Macy C Jr. 6- 3 ISO 21 1L Peru, Ind.
15 Chris Gettelfinger G So. 6- 2 185 19 Sq. Knoxville, Term.
20 Dwane Casey G Sr. 6- 2 195 21 3L Morganfield, Kv.
22 Truman Claytor G Sr. 6- 1 178 21 3L Toledo, Ohio
23 Dwight Anderson G Fr. 6- 3 180 18 Dayton, Ohio
25 Jay Shidler G Jr. 6- 1 185 20 2L Lawrenceville, III
30 Tim Stephens G Jr. 6- 3 180 20 2L Revelo, Kv.
34 Chuck Yerderber F Fr. 6- 6 220 18 Lincoln, 111.
35 Clarence Tillman F Fr. 6- 7 205 18 Philadelphia, Pa.
40 Freddie Cowan F-C So. 6- S 195 19 1L Sturgis. Kv.
50 Chuck Aleksinas C So. 6-10 250 19 IL Litchfield, Conn.
52 LaVon Williams F Jr. 6- 6 200 20 2L Denver, Colo.
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With our compliments, Long John Silvers Seafood Shoppes present the portrait of the 1978-79 University of Kentucky basketball team.
First Row, Left-to-Right: Head CoachJoe B. Hall, #22Truman Claytor, #15Chris Gettelfinger, #20Dwane Casey, #4Kyle Macy, #30Tim Stephens, 23Dwight Anderson, =*25Jay Shidler, Assistant CoachDick Parsons. Second Row, Left-to-Right: ManagerDon Sullivan, Assistant CoachLeonard Hamilton, #34Chuck Verderber, #40Freddie Cowan, #50Chuck Aleksinas, #52LaVon Williams, #35Clarence Tillman, Assistant CoachJoe Dean, Jr., TrainerWalt McCombs. IS FREDDIE COWAN
Position: Forward-Center Class: Sophomore Height: 6'8" Weight: 195 Age: 19
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enter
40
("Meet The Cats" continues on page 26)
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19 1978- 79 Kentucky Wildcats At Home in Joe B. Hall Wildcat Lodge
At left, are senior co-captains Truman Claytor and Dwane Casey. Above, from left, are juniors Jay Shidler, LaVon Williams, Kyle Macy, and Tim Stephens.
i*:a:ifc V 4
At left, are the freshmen Wildcats, Dwight Anderson, Chuck Verderber, and Clarence Tillman. Above, from left, are sophomores Chris Cettelf inger, Chuck Aleksinas, and Freddie Cowan.
20 His Name Is Tradition.
His Friends Call Him Big Blue
Gary Bennett, a Centre College sophomore, ambled through the corridor that led past the dressing rooms at Rupp Arena, circled the concourse area that connects to the basketball court, turned and headed back to the dressing rooms. There was an hour before the opening game of the UKIT and he needed to practice walking.
It had been nearly a year since he had stood S'6" and he needed to condition lii's balance mechanisms to his recent growth which had amounted to 34 inches in a matter of minutes. In an hour lie would bo cavorting around the basketball court in a Kentucky uniform once worn by Bob Guyctte who had stood more than 18 inches shorter. The difference in height caused Bennett's hairy legs to extend below the cuffs of the white warm-up suit but it seemed a small price to pay for the opportunity to carry Kentucky's basketball traditions into Rupp Arena.
The "Dr. Frankenstein" (Dr. Tom Cooper of Lexington) who had given Gary his phcnominal height stood in the dressing room watching the rehearsal. Looking up at his creation, Dr. Cooper said that the phrase used at UK when Bennett was introduced two years earlier to Wildcat fans was "His name is tradition . . . but his friends call him Big Blue."
Dr. Cooper, a close friend of UK head coach Joe B. Hall, had discussed the philosophical problem of moving the memories and traditions that had accumulated in UK's previous basketball houses, Alumni Gym and Memorial Coliseum, to the massive Rupp Arena. Fearful that the shining new arena would be void of tradition and would not have a homecourt atmosphere, Hall and Cooper determined to find a way to bring tradition and spirit to the new edifice.
Noticing a jogger trading along in a runner's warm-up suit while driving home from UK, where he is assistant Dean of the Dental College, Dr. Cooper thought, "Now that's what a basketball player looks like." To that, he added a pair of drywall worker's stilts, a huge blue Wildcat's head, blue fur-covered paws and legs and the notable mascot was born.
An anti-figure was created which became Boo Blue, who represents the mascots of the visiting teams. The stage was set.
Dr. Tom Cooper, the creator of Big Blue, adjusts the stilts worn by-Gary Bennett.
At first it was a family affair with Mrs. Cooper sewing the costumes for Boo Blue and Big Blue. Their son Tom teamed with Bennett and David Hardi-son, family friends, to be Big Blue. Bill Cooper, their youngest son became Boo Blue.
Boo Blue not only created an opposition figure to present the sense of competition but also served to accentuate Big Blue's tremendous height. For the 1978 UKIT, Dr. Cooper thought an additional attraction was needed and created Baby Blue, a childlike character with large cat teeth and the head of a baby Wildcat. Playing Baby Blue would be Chip Adams, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Adams of Murray, Ky.
Dr. Cooper said that he calculated early that he would need three people trained to play the role of Big Blue since the players were students and would not always be available.
"The first thing we had to do was to teach them to fall," he says. "So, we had
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22 Dr. Cooper places the Baby Blue head on Chip Adams. The infant mascot was created as an additional attraction for the UKIT.
them practice in the backyard on the soft grass."
According to Bennett, who substituted for David Hardison at the UKIT, the most serious hazards are barriers on the court such as the cheerleaders' mini-trampolines, the 4-inch high edge of the court, and children who like to tug and pull on Big Blue's legs, throwing him off balance.
There are two hazards organic to playing Big Blue. One, the paper-mache helmet-lined head presents a vision problem since it cuts off peripheral vision and the ability to look up or down without moving the head, and two, carbon dioxide builds up inside the poorly ventilated structure.
"You'll look around every few minutes and Big Blue will be gone," says Dr. Cooper. "He has to go behind the stands and remove the head to clear the air. If not, the person playing Big Blue gets giddy and can lose his balance."
During the first year in Rupp Arena, the creation of the costumes became an interesting problem during the SEC schedule. The Coopers were often designing and sewing two costumes per week. They only face that during pre-SEC play at present since the SEC mascots have been created and can be saved for use againthat is if Bill Cooper doesn't have a growing spurt.
The favorite costumes for the Coopers have been the birds such as the Kansas Jay Hawk and the South Carolina Gamecock. "They are the most colorful," said Dr. Cooper. "However, we also enjov creating that ole Tennessee houn' dog."
Boo Blue wore a Santa Claus suit for this year's UKIT because the Cats' first round opponent, Texas A & M, stumped their creativity. "We called everyone we could think of, including A & M's sports information, and no one could tell us what an Aggie was," laughed Dr. Cooper. "So we just gave Santa a sign that read 'Santa Loves Bis: Blue and Asdics Too.
The UKIT presents each year a need for quick thinking and sewing since the Coopers do not know who will be Kentucky's second round opponent until the conclusion of the first night. But, the costume is always ready by game time and UK fans in Rupp Arena continue to be entertained.
The official UK mascot, the Wildcat, is a creation of the Director of Athletics Cliff Hagan and his staff. The Wildcat is played by Terry Barney who often
Bill Cooper, Boo Blue, dressed as Santa Claus for the UK vs. Texas A & M game since a description of an Aggie could not be found.
teams with Boo Blue and sometimes Big Blue to create humorous situations in addition to his cheerleading antics.
One such routine involved his luring the Kansas Jay Hawk into the large blue box used for Dr. Cooper's costumes. Once inside, Bill Cooper stepped behind a false back and when the Wildcat opened the box the Jay Hawk had become a plucked rubber chicken, whicli he then chased around the court.
Not only has Dr. Cooper succeeded in bringing UK traditions to Rupp Arena but has created additional ones. Big Blue and Boo Blue, who are now asked for autographs, have become favorite components of a Kentucky basketball game.
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23 KENTUCKY WILDCAT SCORECARD
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TOTAL yfn})Q^ V)-9S
Officials for tonight's game: Burrell Crowell, Lou Moser and Bob Olah. OLE MISS REBEL ROSTER
FG FT PF | TP
)! 11 HENRY JACKSON 5-11 Senior Guard |/J,0,D 6^2345678 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 3 4 5 %
SEAN TUOHY 6-1 Freshman Guard ^ | ^ 3? 0)2345678 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ltA %
[ 14 STANLEY MALCOM ^ ;'^ 6-2 Freshman Guard ty Q (1)2345678 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 3 4 9-
/H 22 TOM WARDA %j 0 j j 6-5 Junior Guard-Forward'' 123 (t) 5678 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 4 5 S
C 23 JAMES IVY 6-6 Junior Forward Q Q 12345678 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 <$)3 I 5
11,24 CHRIS BARRETT 6-4 Sophomore Guard^Foiward 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 3 4 5 3-
632 RICHARD HAMILTON j ,>,0,A 6-4 Freshman Guard-ForWai/d 12345678 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 ,2' 3 4 5 0
3 ,33 ELSTON TURNER ^ 6-5 Sophomore Forward| 3-, H J77 12345(78 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 2 <3) (0 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 3
34 SCOTT FIELD 6-3 Sophomore Guard 12345678 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 3 4 5
1042 JOHN STROUD , R _ 6-7 Junior Forward ^0, / ,C ,\0 1234,5678 9 10 11