Kentucky fan explains why she was one of many in line to get autograph from Oscar Tshiebwe

Eileen Smith of Louisville was delighted to get a photo with UK guard Davion Mintz after the Florida game.

Why do so many Kentucky fans of all ages line up after a Kentucky home game to get an autograph from Oscar Tshiebwe?

“I just think he is an amazing guy,” Kentucky fan Eileen Smith of Louisville said.

She was one of many fans lined up Saturday after the Cats blasted Florida hoping for a chance to get an autograph from Tshiebwe — and she did.

“He just has this aura about him. He just exonerates happiness. I told my husband I had to meet him,” Smith said.

Her husband, age 60, has had UK season tickets since he was in high school. She went to Louisville but their first date was a UK game and she loved the whole Rupp Arena atmosphere. Now she considers herself a “die-hard” UK fan.

“My dad always said living in Louisville and living in Kentucky you have to be for both teams. My kids both went to UK and met their spouses at UK. My son even got engaged at a UK game four years ago,” she said.

Smith and her husband go to every home game and went to the Florida game with another couple but decided they would stay after the game for John Calipari’s postgame radio show. She knew that might be a chance to get Tshiebwe’s autograph and had pictures of him printed for her and her friend in case they got the chance to see him.

She was surprised how many fans stayed after the game to hear Calipari and she said arena ushers/security told her where players might come out after the game.

“I just wanted to tell the players how much I enjoy watching them,” Smith said. “We don’t travel. We don’t go on vacations. Our money goes toward getting season football and basketball tickets. I enjoy sports. My husband enjoys sports. Our kids played sports.”

She was lucky enough to be on the end where Tshiebwe was and got her photos signed.

“I enjoyed seeing the action of the kids and other adults when he shook hands or signed a T-shirt or poster,” Smith said. “To keep the line moving, he didn’t take any pictures so he could sign as many autographs as possible.”

Tshiebwe signed autographs before headed back for a postgame media opportunity and then returned to sign more.

Smith even managed to find a way to get pictures with UK players Keion Brooks, Davion Mintz and Kellan Grady after the game.

“They were signing autographs at the other end (of the arena) from Oscar and I just kind of found a way to get to them,” she laughed and said. “A couple of other players came out, talked to family members and left and did not sign autographs. But maybe they just rotate who stays and signs autographs for fans.”

Her husband had no idea she would get Tshiebwe’s autograph after the Florida game when he purchased a Cameo Valentine’s message from Tshiebwe for his wife.

“The Valentine’s Day wish was the best. My husband was blessed to be one of the people who purchased the message,” Smith said. “It was just delightful and just made me think even more of Oscar.”