Koby Brea Made Sure This 6-Week Old Baby Would Have a Great UK Experience

Clay McMichael Photo

When Clay McMichael was growing up his father, a state police officer and Kentucky fan, took him to UK games and once he even got a picture when then coach Tubby Smith.

That memory was fresh in his mind Saturday when he and his wife brought their 6-week-old son, Kade, to Rupp Arena for the UK-Florida game won 106-100 by the Cats.

“Since it was Kade’s first game I thought how cool would it be to get a picture with coach (Mark) Pope,” McMichael, who lives in Louisville, said. “Then Koby (Brea) came over and got a picture.”

Brea, who hit seven 3-pointers in the win, went back inside before coming out again after Pope had gone to the opposite side of the floor where McMichael and his son were.

“I said, ‘Koby, what are the chances of you taking my son and getting his picture with coach Pope,” McMichael said on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports Talk. “My wife was behind us and was embarrassed. Koby looked at me like, ‘Are you serious,’ and I handed him (Kade) over. Everybody saw the rest (on social media). It was a great dad moment.”

His wife went to Indiana and is an IU fan. He told her there was “no chance” Kade would be an IU fan when he was born.

“It was important for his first game to go to Kentucky,” McMichael said. “How could he not be a Kentucky fan now. He met Pope and the players. We will have all that stuff (photos, videos) to show him one day.

“After it happened, my wife was just as happy as I was. We went to eat at KSBar and the people sitting next to us came up and asked if that was the baby in the photo (on social media) with coach Pope. We were going home and a truck pulled up and asked if that was the baby that met coach Pope.”

He knew his son was young to be in Rupp Arena but he also understands how expensive tickets are and this was his opportunity to go with his family.

“This is a memory none of us will forget,” the father said. “It was a great decision to go. Maybe one day coach Pope will sign the photo and I can hang it in his room.

“I guess it was all just meant to be with Koby. If the opportunity presented itself to bring him to another game, I would definitely do it.”