Scott Johnson and his wife are both life-long UK fans and that did not change when they moved to Oklahoma 17 years ago.
Kentucky fans travel to support the Wildcats. Just ask Kentucky native Scott Johnson. He now lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but he will be in Orlando Saturday with his wife to watch Kentucky play Iowa in the Citrus Bowl.
Tulsa is over 1,200 miles from Orlando but as soon as Johnson saw UK would play in Orlando, he was ready to make the bowl trip.
“My wife and I were already planning on taking a winter vacation and when the Citrus Bowl was announced, it just made perfect sense,” said Johnson. “We’re meeting some friends from Lexington there to tailgate and then driving over to Clearwater for a few days after the game.”
Johnson was born and raised in Lewisburg (Logan County) and his wife is from Bowling Green.
“Both of our dads were UK fans so we grew up being UK fans,” he said. “My wife’s dad, Bobby Douglas, just passed away on December 21. He was a big UK fan and the reason my wife is today. She also attended UK as a student because of him. He was an awesome guy and we loved him dearly.”
They moved to Tulsa about 17 years ago. He was a pastor at a church but says his fandom never wavered in Oklahoma.
“I bleed blue,” he said.
Following UK sports was more difficult when he first moved to Oklahoma but now with social media, podcasts, and the internet, Johnson says he does not miss much about Kentucky sports.
“I’m so thankful for great media coverage from people who keep me updated on all things UK,” Johnson said. “I have some friends here who are UK fans as well. We grew up together in Kentucky and moved out here around the same time.”
Johnson took his daughters — now ages 30 and 27 and both married — to the Music City Bowl in 2009 when UK lost to Clemson 21-13.
“We were visiting family for Christmas. Wow, that was so cold (for the game),” Johnson said.
It should be a lot warmer in Orlando Saturday when Johnson and his wife get to see coach Mark Stoops and the Cats play Iowa.
“I love what Stoops has done for UK football. Being here in Oklahoma, football is king,” Johnson said. “It’s been so nice to be able to talk UK football and not be laughed out of the room.
“What Stoops and his staff have accomplished, I just never thought could be done at Kentucky. I have always been proud of our basketball program and am still a huge UK basketball fan but it’s so awesome to now be able to brag about UK football.”
One Response
I’m from Oklahoma and started following Kentucky when they used to beat up on Oklahoma State about 50 years ago. I went to kentucky because I liked their team and they had a program I wanted to study. I always followed the OU football team too. Now I have three teams to follow. Oklahoma football, Kentucky football, and Kentucky basketball. I also really like Kentucky woman’s soccer. It surprised me it was so much fun to watch.