Hoops & Heels Gave Stacia McBeath Chance To Renew Her UK Passion

Stacia McBeath brought UK coach Mark Pope a picture she had taken with him after UK's 1996 national championship to autograph. She also brought him a copy of the photo.

By LARRY VAUGHT

Stacia McBeath is an eastern Kentucky native who grew up a Kentucky fan and always will be. Her passion for UK made attending Hoops & Heels with coach Mark Pope, his family and the UK players last week an easy decision for her.

She shared her thoughts on the event she attended with friend Debbie Haywood and plans to be back to the event every year if possible.

Question: Why did you want to attend Hoops & Heels?
McBeath: “As a lifelong Kentucky fan, attending this event was about more than just meeting coach Mark Pope and his team. It was a chance to reconnect with the passion that first made me fall in love with Wildcat basketball.
“Growing up in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, some of my favorite childhood memories are of sitting beside my dad and watching Kentucky games on TV. The volume was always muted, of course, so we could listen to Cawood Ledford and Ralph Hacker call the action on the radio. Their voices, filled with excitement and pride, became the soundtrack of my youth.
“Seeing Coach Pope and his team brought back those same feelings — the pride, the energy, and the pure joy of Kentucky basketball in the 1990s. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to spend a few hours surrounded by the coaches, players, and fans who share one of my greatest lifelong passions.”

Question: What did you like best about the event?
McBeath: “What I liked most was meeting the players and coaches in person. They were so genuine and respectful, and it reminded me why I’ve been a Kentucky fan my whole life. Meeting the Pope girls (Pope’s daughters) was a highlight of the night as well. They are the sweetest.
“(Players) Jaland Lowe and Trent Noah had a heartfelt message for the Ladies of the BBN and it had me in tears and it too was a highlight of the night. Such fine young men.”

Question: How did the interactions with the players go and did anything surprise you? 
McBeath: “I wouldn’t say I was surprised, but I was truly impressed by how gracious and generous the players were with their time. One of the most touching moments for me was capturing a video of them sharing why they love their moms. It was such a heartfelt reminder that these are young men and college students, many of whom are far from home.
“AJ (Andrija Jelavic) mentioned he’s 10,000 miles away (from home), which really puts things in perspective. They face the same challenges as any college student, but they do it all in the public eye. I genuinely believe Coach Pope and his staff are teaching these young men more than just basketball. They’re shaping them into better people and future leaders. They represent our great university with such pride and class, and in my eyes, they’re doing an outstanding job.”

Question: What role did Pope’s wife, Lee Anne, and his daughters play in the event? 
McBeath: “Did I mention I love the Pope girls? Mrs. Pope and the Pope girls were such a special part of the day. They were so down-to-earth and gracious, and their love for one another, especially the girls’ admiration for their mom, was truly heartwarming. I also love the passion and protectiveness Mrs. Pope shows for our team. As Coach Pope said, she has a bit of a ‘salty side’ and you can tell she’s not one to let anyone speak negatively about ‘our boys.’
“The Pope daughters even made a sweet video with me for my little boy, who absolutely adores them. During basketball season, he and I made a fun video singing ‘Who’s in the House Tonight,’ and at the end he said, ‘I sure hope the Pope girls are there!’ They  actually remembered him, which made the moment even more special. They recorded a new video with me and his Aunt Debbie just for Peyton.  He smiled from ear to ear when he saw the video and then said, ‘I wanna see the Pope girls.’ So now he is jealous (that I got to meet them).”

Question: Did you have a special surprise for Pope that you gave him?
“That photo takes me back to 1996 when I was 12 years old. Pope, (Tony) Delk, and (Walter) McCarty were traveling around the state after Kentucky won the national championship playing barnstorming basketball games against local players and they came to Allen Central High School. Getting to meet them was a dream come true for a kid from Kentucky. It’s still one of my favorite memories.
“When I heard about the Hoops & Heels, I printed two copies of that old photo — one for Coach Pope to sign and one to give him if he wanted it. When it was my turn to meet him, I told him the story behind it and that it was from the only time I ever got to see him play in person. His face lit up when he saw it. He signed my copy and even kept the extra one for himself. It was such a full-circle moment — one of those times that reminds you exactly why you love Kentucky basketball.
“He was very nice. I could tell he was excited because he probably had never seen that picture before. This picture had hung in my room from the time I was 12 years old until I moved off to college. It was a pretty big deal to me to get it signed by him.”