Kentucky Wildcat fan and actress Ashley Judd, left, celebrates former Kentucky head coach Joe B. Hall's upcoming 85th birthday during a 2013 Kentucky basketball game at Rupp Arena. - Photo by Jeff Moreland
Kentucky fans have directed a lot of criticism at coach John Calipari since UK’s stunning NCAA Tournament first-round loss to Saint Peter’s.
Former Kentucky point guard Roger Harden played for Joe Hall and then Eddie Sutton.
“I never heard coach Hall complain about criticism. He never complained publicly or ever lashed out at fans no matter what,” Harden said. “His philosophy was that our fans were right. We never argued with them. Coach Hall felt fans were right.”
Harden also remembers his sophomore season when he was criticized by UK fans and even booed during games at Rupp Arena. Hall talked to Harden about the fan criticism.
“He said, ‘Roger, you can’t take it personal,’” Harden recalled. “Then he said, ‘And Roger I actually agree with our fans. I am sure you wish I would let you and the other guards shoot the ball more. But you can’t take it (fan criticism) personally. You perform and they come around and you will come out of games to standing ovations.’”
Was Hall right?
“He absolutely was right. When I played well and got more consistent, the fans were all behind me,” Harden said.
5 Responses
I saw Roger Harden play in the Indiana v Kentucky high school all star game at freedom hall against against Todd May. I’m still a Harden fan.
I appreciate this insight by Coach Hall, especially with the volume and velocity of social media…
That backs up the saying that the customer is always right. The fans are the customer; they are the boss – they are the reason the program has enough money to be a powerhouse.
If the fans stop buying tickets, or if their eyes don’t watch the games on TV, or if they don’t by licensed UK apparel – there is no money to support the mega machine of UK athletics.
And of course, wealthy boosters have a say in that too.
I was amazed when I saw the amount of money that comes in through ticket sales, television contracts, and shoe contracts. All of it is customer driven.
Correction above "buy" not by. No edit feature. And I never would have booed Roger Harden – he was one of my favorites and a solid decision maker.
The basketball bennies cannot possibly be right.