Jordan Cooley Kept His UK-Themed Baby Blanket for 31 years, Now Sharing It With His Son

Jordan Cooley with his wife Catrina and baby Henry wrapped in the same baby blanket Jordan had.

Jordan Cooley’s mother and her father have been life-long Kentucky fans but Cooley’s father is from Indiana and most of his family root for the Hoosiers.

“My father’s step father at the time he was growing up was a huge UK fan,” Cooley said. “My parents aren’t married anymore but Mom always joked that my Dad’s favorite thing about her was that she was a UK fan.”

Cooley, 31, grew up a UK fan and one of his first Kentucky memories came during the 1998 national championship season when Cameron Mills hit his dramatic 3-point shot against Duke in the NCAA Tournament.

“My Dad and I started cheering loudly, waking up my brother who was three weeks old,” Cooley recalled.

He says watching the 2012 national championship game with his grandfather ranks as another favorite UK moment along with the 2014 Final Four run.

“The game that got me hooked on football was the 2014 South Carolina game where UK won on the Bud Dupree pick 6,” he said.

That’s all background for why Cooley still had his UK-themed baby blanket to share with his son when he was born recently.

“I was given that blanket as a newborn and have pretty much slept with it most of my life believe it or not!” he said.  “It went everywhere with us when I was a kid. One vacation a hotel housekeeper accidentally took it with the hotel sheets and we had to go to the desk to have them find it. 

“I have to probably give my Mom the most credit for keeping it around.  When I moved out it came with me to our house and has been in our living room ever since.”

He says sharing the blanket with his son, Henry, was an idea he got as he was preparing his son’s room.

“Some of my favorite memories are cheering on the Cats with my family and I look forward to doing it with my son.  Also wanted to make sure we start him off right,” he said.

His baby blanket actually was made and given to his parents by an Indiana fan.

“Thats why you see the bits of red speckled in. I’ve always loved the small IU reference despite having no love for the Hoosiers,” he said.

Cooley and his wife, Catrina, live in Georgetown, Ind., about 15 miles from Louisville.

“We are right in the middle of a mix that is mostly Indiana and Louisville fans.  Most of our friends cheer for one or the other. We have a few UK fans around here because I feel like most of the UK fans in this area unite,” he said.

He also has a big group of fans around Lexington where his father now lives who all tailgate together at football games.

“I feel a little more invested in football because I’ve been there through a lot of rough years and have been a season ticket holder for nearly 10 years,” Cooley said. “At the same time, UK basketball will always be my first love and I feel like there’s nothing like UK basketball when it’s at its best. 

“I really want basketball season tickets one day as well, maybe when I have a little more free time.  I still try to make as many UK basketball games as I can, especially Saturday SEC games and big-time opponents. I think this season UK basketball gets back on track and wins the SEC.  I think they are certainly talented enough to make a Final Four/title run.”

Cooley and his wife hope to get young Henry to a basketball game this season.

“I probably wouldn’t take him to a real big game with a rowdy atmosphere but maybe against a smaller opponent,” he said.  “We are going to try to make a few baseball games if we can — Catrina and I had a ball watching them beat IU in the (NCAA) regionals last year and are hoping to see more games this year.

“Hopefully early next season we can get him to Kroger Field.”