Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
Within the many layers of CoachCal dot com — Fundamentals! Dribble-Drive Motion! Bounce Back! — you may have missed out on the Golden Spike section:
The name “Golden Spike” is derived from the legendary nails, or “spikes,” that were part of the old floors at Alumni Gym and Memorial Coliseum. The spikes represented significant shots in UK history, perhaps none more memorable than Vernon Hatton’s 47-foot heave against Temple in 1957 that eventually led to a triple overtime win over the Owls.
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Some day I would like to see a GOLDEN SPIKE driven into the floor at Rupp Arena for something fantastic that one of our Wildcats accomplishes on the floor in our storied building.
This description seems partially inaccurate. There’s no mention of a nail being driven into the floor in the Philidephia Inquirer’s write-up of the 1957 Temple game. In the 1938 Marquette game, Joe (Red) Hagan hit a game-winning jumper. After the game, Kentucky Governor A.B. Chandler drove a nail into the floor at the location of Hagan’s shot. There’s no other online records that show that other shots were marked by a nail in the floor in Alumni Gym, Memorial Coliseum or in Rupp. If UKAA has records of nails being used, hopefully we’ll see more about it online.
(Update by Fake Gimel: reader ukcatfan88 mentions that in Herald-Leader’s “Century of Kentucky Basketball” insert from 2003, a photo shows Coach Rupp placing a nail at the spot where Ralph Beard hit a 54-foot shot against Tennessee on Feb. 14, 1948. Submit in the comments more previous nails from Alumni Gym or Memorial and I’ll gladly keep proving how worthless it is to Google this info.)
While it would be awesome to reward future amazing and/or important shots, perhaps there should be some retroactively rewarded spikes nailed into the Rupp Arena floor. Surely the enlightened minds of Kentucky Sports Radio and the Big Blue Nation(tm) can come up with at least 5 Golden Spike-worthy shots of the Rupp Arena era. In the comments, list as many Spike-able shots you can remember. Remember that the shot must occur in a game held in Rupp Arena. The shots can be game-winners, crucial free throws, or momentum-killing daggers.
And no, you can’t nominate all of Tayshaun’s 5 3-pointers against UNC. Tayshaun’s 5th 3-pointer is automatically nominated:
(Okay, I’ll be honest. I embedded this video mainly because the MIDI music made me laugh. And the girl in the S shirt has some C’s.)
I’ll run through the comments next Friday and count up all the nominations. Get to spikin’! And keep an eye on Cal’s Golden Spike section. Maybe Coach Cal can score an interview with Real Gimel.
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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July 31st, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Great game by Tay!
July 31st, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Calipari does not know how to spell fundamentals?
July 31st, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Didn’t we just establish the best shots, just filter out the ones that were in Rupp. Although, I guess most of those on the list were in tournaments or away from home. So, never mind. Carry on as you were.
July 31st, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I’m sitting here reading the Herald-Leader’s “Century of Kentucky Basketball” insert from 2003. Page 48 shows a photo of Rupp and several players placing a nail in the floor ar Alumni Gym.
Here’s the cutline: “Among many highlights in Ralph Beard’s UK career was hitting a 54-foot shot against Tennessee on Feb. 14, 1948. The shot was so spectacular that the team gathered at Alumni Gym to mark the spot with a nail. Beard, No. 12, was crouching at the center of the photo. Standing from left to right were Coach Adolph Rupp, Cliff Barker, Joe Holland, Alex Groza and Wah Wah Jones. Driving the nail was team captain Kenny Rollins”
July 31st, 2009 at 1:07 pm
can we get a spike in the stands where “nipple guy” was standing durin butthead’s free throw?? talk about a momentum killing dagger… and nipple guy is to be thanked!!
July 31st, 2009 at 1:10 pm
#2 — Evidently my spell-checker isn’t tough enough to spell fundamentals correctly. Ugh.
#4 — Updated my post to include your info. Thanks!
#5 — You want to nail something into an aluminum bleacher? Go right ahead.
July 31st, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Was there ever an official measurement on that last shot? It’s got to be at least 30 feet.
July 31st, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Jodie Meeks’ game winner against Florida this past year.
Gerald Fitch’s 3 against UNC in 2004.
I’m really struggling to remember some bigger games/shots. Most of the games I can think of where either road or neutral site games.
July 31st, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Cedric Jenkins put-back against Louisville deserves a nail. It may have been a layup, but nothing is guaranteed.
(see Mark Coury layup, M. Sherbenske, A. Delph, D. Perry)
July 31st, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Does Perry Stevenson’s dunk against UNLV count even though it was not in Rupp Arena…that was a “momentum-killing dagger”..
July 31st, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Don’t forget Rondo’s 3 that sealed the deal against South Carolina - it was even more spectacular because nobody thought it was going to go in, being that Rondo was atrocious from outside the arc all season.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Rondo’s game winner against USC stands out in recent memory.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Pick one of James Lee’s dunks. Any of them.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I remember Patrick Sparks hitting a 3 from the K, but I don’t remember who they were playing.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:22 pm
the long three from Sparks prior to the winner by Rondo was equally impressive…
what about the drive from Hawkins against UL when he left his defender NAILED to the floor…
the shot last season from MEEKS against FLORIDA!
the shot from Crawford two seasons ago when he was limping down the court barely able to stand in a must win over Vandy
July 31st, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I agree with #13–anything James Lee or Kyle Macy.
July 31st, 2009 at 2:55 pm
15. I think Crawford was limping up and down the court in the Tennessee game. The Vandy game Ramel Bradley took over at the end.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:13 pm
sweet vid until the “da da do do do” riff. I like how Prince hits the back of the basket before the TO. one of the few times i wish it just would have kept going.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:19 pm
i totally agree with bluegrassed.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:26 pm
I especially like Rondo’s buzzer beater. I was an intern in the athletic department at the time and I was standing at that corner of the court when he made it!
July 31st, 2009 at 3:27 pm
it’s perfect that bill raftery was calling that game.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:30 pm
We should put in nail in Vandy’s court in memory of Nazr’s one handed game winning floater.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Did Shep, Padgett or Mills hit any big shots at Rupp in ‘98? They hit an endless amount during their tourney run. Surely there was something of note during a game at Rupp! It seems almost all buzzer beaters and game winners I can recall happened in the NCAA tourney or on the road. Maybe the weight of 24,000 people makes it much harder to sink a game winner…
July 31st, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Antwain Barbour’s reverse dunk on #1 Florida (I hate typing that) in Feb 2003 was epic. I think it put us up by about 20 and sealed the deal on a walloping of Walsh, Roberson and co.
I’ve only been to Rupp a few times, but that was definitely the loudest moment I’ve experienced there. Plus, it was a great exclamation to the smashing we handed the Gators; remember, it was the first time they were ever ranked number 1 (and they were only ranked number 1 for about 24 hours before we dominated them on that Tuesday night). Definitely an awesome moment in Rupp during our undefeated SEC season.
July 31st, 2009 at 6:56 pm
In no particular order:
1. Fred Cowan’s baseline buzzer beater to beat Tennessee in 1981.
2. Roger Harden demanding the ball and knocking down the jumper to beat LSU in the 1986 SEC Tournament in Rupp.
3. Rex Chapman’s double clutch at the elbow to beat Ole Miss at the buzzer in 1987.
4. Richie Farmer beats Ole Miss at the buzzer in 1989.
5. Farmer’s 6 free throws to hold off LSU in 1990. (Sorry, taken together a truly special moment in Rupp).
On a side note tomorrow marks the anniversary of the death of John “Frenchy” Demoisey in 1963. Demoisey (All-American 1934) teamed with Ellis Johnson (All-American 1933) and Forest “Aggie” Sale (All-American 1932,1933) to form one of Adolph Rupp’s first truly powerful teams. The 1933 team won the inaugural SEC tournament in Atlanta and was named 1933 National Champion by the Helm’s Foundation. Many programs recognize these national championships with a banner in their arenas including North Carolina for 1924 and Kansas for 1922 and 1923 (teams in which Adolph Rupp played for.) I hope the University of Kentucky will one day recognize this GREAT team with their deserved banner in Rupp Arena.
July 31st, 2009 at 7:14 pm
#2 what are talking about. FUNDAMENTALS is spelled correctly by ole Fake Gimel.
July 31st, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Forgot my question mark. Sorry. Ooooh, watch out grammar police.
August 1st, 2009 at 10:35 am
Tay’s left handed baby hook to beat Florida in…2001 i think.