Kentucky fans are going to miss Cassidy Rowe. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Maybe we will never know all the details about what led to junior Cassidy Rowe losing her basketball scholarship at Kentucky.
Coach Kenny Brooks has seemed to make all the right moves during his first season at Kentucky that ended with a second-round NCAA Tournament loss in Memorial Coliseum. Kentucky beat ranked opponents, got a double bye in the SEC Tournament and got to host two NCAA Tournament games.
However, that goodwill did not stop many Kentucky fans from voicing their displeasure when Rowe shared the news she would not be back for a senior season and would not have a real chance to say thank you to Big Blue fans for years of support.
Social media may or may not be a fair indicator of the majority opinion, but numerous UK fans didn’t hide their disappointment over Rowe’s unexpected departure.
— Kamilah Tyler, the mother of UK junior Saniah Tyler, who is transferring from UK: Such a CLASSACT always played for the name on the front! awesome work ethic! I know you will excel as a physical therapist! Go be great kid! KT will miss you!”
— Longtime UK fan Mike Bear Rogers: “Every team in the country should have a spot for a Cassidy Rowe! Including @KentuckyWBB. So disappointed to not have her a spot for her Senior season. Shameful.”
— D&D Sports Network: “Huge Black Eye for the @KentuckyWBB program. When the program was at its lowest the past few years, Cass was the only bright spot and always represented the State well. Cass will always be the pride of the Mountains!! #Shameful”
— Die-hard UK fan Krystal Dittus of Key West, Fla.: “This pi$$es me off. I fell in love with this @KentuckyWBB team and never missed a game. The way @CoachBrooksUK talked about her this year & then do this is just dirty. I want to win but let’s win with some class and respect. We don’t treat people like this here in Kentucky.”
— Jenna Lifshen, Kentucky Kernel Sports UK women’s beat writer: “A very bad, bad look for Kenny Brooks. It’ll be hard for him to defend having a ‘family’ built program when cutting players like Cass, the hometown hero who was essential to introducing him and his team to Kentucky culture.”
— Terry Spradlin, UK fan in northern Kentucky: “Really, really, hate this. Nobody took a charge better than Cassidy Rowe. She worked so hard coming back from injuries in high school to EARN her scholarship to be a Kentucky Wildcat! Best of luck to her in PT school and to her and her fiancé moving forward!”
— Don Yaden, central Kentucky UK fan: “Very disappointing to all involved. Coach, AD (athletics director), etc. Not the way to run a program and to a local Kentucky girl.”
— Keith Peel, vaughtsviews.com contributor: “It is a bad look for Brooks. I thought he was smarter than that. He lost a lot of BBN goodwill with that move unless there are circumstances we don’t know.”
— Steve Gahafer, UK fan in Lexington: “@Crowe_523 added value to the team. She is the best example of a great teammate you could ask for. Her being on scholarship one more year was not going to hurt one thing.”
34 Responses
I think we need to know the facts before blowing smoke.
UK WBB had finally recovered from the pathetic job done by the replacement for Mitchell. That hire was an absolute detriment to the entire program and she should have never been hired – and after 1 year should have been fired.
Brooks seemed to have rallied UK WBB to a respectable level… but that has quickly been dissolved! A very nasty mark is on Brooks, AD Barnie & the UK WBB program as a whole!
I don’t need the details. If Rowe wanted to continue as a Lady WildCat, then there is ZERO excuse for her missing her senior season.
Brooks just lost 75% to 90% of the favorable view he has seemingly earned in his 1st season.
Dirty politics?
Dumb as a hog decision?
Both?
But by the time next season gets here and if team wins, all this will blow over
For some, it may be forgotten.
For others who have deep appreciation for players loyal to UK, the sting may linger and always be remembered as a very dark day in UK WBB history.
Agree totally. Fan base just went way down. I no longer have interest in his program!!
I’m sure a lot of Ky fans will NO longer be watching UK
Womens basketball!!! Bad look for UK athletics!
Brooks found two scholarships for his two daughters at Virginia Tech when it was important to him and his family. His daughters were not 3 and 4 star players.
COULD IT BE BROOKS ÑEEDS A SPOT FOR HIS DAUGHTER. JUST SAYING
A very possible reason – but unacceptable!
Nothing will surprise me after this fiasco!
I don’t think that is it Vaughn
I don’t know this young lady personally but I feel like I do. I watched her career closely during her senior year in hs and her years as a member of UK’s team. She brought incredible energy and enthusiasm daily. I coached her father Rodney at The University of Pikeville. Rodney was the glue that held our team together. A BIGTIME WINNER everyday!!! Cassidy is a chip off the old block…Should have “count on me” tattooed on her forehead. Cassidy deserved better! However, she is gonna achieve great heights with her professional career as PT and will be a winner in the game of life! She will rise above this disappointment like she always has….with dignity and class. She is beautiful, smart and has a beautiful life ahead of her. The ROWE’s are salt of the earth people. CASSIDY CANNOT BE STOPPED!! Keep your eye on her….Gr888 things lie ahead!
Thanks for an awesome post with fine details. The salt of the earth is cleansing dispensed by those who live a life of Faith & overcome being mistreated by shining in every situation. May the Lord Jesus give her encouragement & strength
This was Rodney’s niece. Doe Doe is her dad.
Lonnie Doe Doe Rowe was her father. Rodney was her uncle.
Cassidy Rowe was the “HEARTBEAT” of that team! Some things you cannot replace!! She gave her all for three years to whatever was needed whether practicing or being their biggest cheerleader, regardless of playing time!! Good luck Brooks on finding that again!! Very poor decision reflecting his complete lack of understanding and touch with the BBN!!! Rowe is a class act with integrity, kindness and morals that so many little girls and aspiring young athletes looked up to!! She WILL be fine, BBN is NOT!!
Great post
How disappointing! We have a saying here in Eastern KY: you make your bed, you lay in it! I suspect that ticket sales, enthusiasm and attendance will suffer from this move. The only thing we love more than winning in KY is loyalty.
Cassidy always played with all her heart even at practice I’ve watched her since she was a little girl shears going to the gym to practice. Her dad Doe Doe and uncle Rodney Rowe were not only awesome players but coaches as well. They taught her to always play with your heart and you will go far in life. She was not only a great player but awesome team player. She encouraged her teammates to be better player and people. I hope someone gives her a chance to play her senior year. she is amazing
Well said David
Y’all are crazy for hating on this man not even knowing the story. 1 the man came to Kentucky to win championships, not have everyone feelings on his mind. 2nd she’s the 2nd best guard to come out of eastern Kentucky the first is the sunbelt freshman of the year Trinity Rowe. The women’s side of the SEC is just as fast paced as the men, I’d say 2 bad knees has put a damper on a fast first step. Also can’t win championships with less than 2.5 PPG
Funny she was good enough to put into the game with 15 seconds left to play to help secure the NCAA Tournament first round win. If Kentucky has 15 five-star All-Americans on bench next year, then your point is valid. But if Brooks again plays five players 90 percent of the time and uses 2 or 3 others sparingly, hard to believe not a spot for Cassidy on the team
Great indisputable remarks – facts cannot be denied!
Tell me you’re a pikeville fan without telling me you’re a pikeville fan. lol sad comment and a VERY biased one at that.
Firstly, in order to build a program, just like everything else, it takes money. I do see a dramatic drop in sales coming because of this decision. Secondly, you can replace a player on the court, but you can’t replace a player in a fan’s heart. So regardless of the coach, AD, and the program’s reasoning behind this move, UK women’s basketball is going to lose…A lot!
I agree Sharon
Where in the hell is our GREAT AD. When this decision was made.. I guess he didn’t have —– to tell Coach you can’t do that… Cass hold your head and be proud and thank for all the blood sweat and tears you give to the program…
Would not surprise me if the player or parents asking for a meeting with Barnhart
Was nice to read all the great comments on Cassidy Rowe.
She is deserving. Have been a fan since her Senior year
of High School.
There is not a more dedicated and hard working player than Cassidy Rowe. Cass has always been a class act and always held UK in the highest esteem.
This move is a black eye on UK women’s sports.
I do not care if the Lady Cats win every game next year along with being NCAA champs which I sincerely doubt will happen in my opinion I have lost all interest in the program its coach and the athelete director. The President of UK should look into this and remedy this situation.
This news is so sad. Cass has the support of the fan base due to her hard work as a team player.
This move is so disgusting!
I enjoyed watching Cassidy play but there has to be more to it than we are hearing. So until I know the reasoning I will not judge anybody. People always jumps to conclusions before we know what went on. Yes I hate that she will not be playing but I will be back to games next year.
Really not that complicated. Coach just chose not to give her a scholarship for next year
Great article, Larry and it sure got the attention of the BBN.
No class move by Brooks