Myth vs Fact
Facts Matter
Myth
In his book Loose Balls, Terry Pluto writes that attorney Ron Grinker sat next to Adolph Rupp on a flight from Lexington to Memphis. Pluto writes that Grinker recalled that Rupp had “about six Kentucky bourbons in less than an hour” and then used the n-word in reference to players in the American Basketball Association.
Fact
Adolph Rupp was president of the Memphis Tams from April 1972 to June 1973. Adolph Rupp had diabetes and lost part of his foot to the disease. He had quit drinking by the late 1960s.
There is no proof that Coach Rupp ever made this statement. In fact, there is no substantiated evidence that Coach Rupp ever used racial slurs when referring to people of color. In truth, there is only evidence to the contrary. This story is false.
Myth
At halftime, trailing 34-31, Rupp lit into his team. Sports Illustrated writer Frank Deford was in Kentucky’s locker room. In the book The Franchise: A History of Sports Illustrated Magazine, author Michael MacCambridge says Deford told him that Rupp snarled at his players, “You’ve got to beat those coons,” and told his center, “You go after that big coon.”
Fact
Deford was not in the locker room of that game. The players and coaches in that locker room have all said that there was no sportswriter in the locker room at halftime. Later, when Deford was confronted with this fact, Deford changed his story and said he had snuck into the locker room and hid in a locker. Accounts from players and coaches in the room all agree that the lockers were too small to conceal the six foot four-inch Deford. It was a well-known fact that Coach Rupp didn’t allow any visitors in the locker room at halftime and he famously sometimes denied entry to the University president. Furthermore, the players in the room deny that Coach Rupp said what Deford claimed.
“I never heard him utter a derogatory word or a bigoted word in my presence. Never.” -Larry Conley, player 1963-1966
“In our locker room that night, race was the last thing on our minds. It never came up. All we were thinking about was how to win the game. All we wanted to do is win the national title. That’s it. And if people ever portray us any differently, it’s just wrong.”- Larry Conley
This story is false.
Myth
A 2006 movie called Glory Road depicted a scene where Coach Rupp used derogatory language to describe Black players on the opposing team.
Fact
That movie was fiction and Disney was clear that the movie was fiction. The players in the locker room have all said in subsequent interviews that Coach Rupp never used the language used in the film. The film made other factual errors. For instance, in one scene confederate flags can be seen in the stands. A review of the historical footage of the game shows that no such flags were in the stands.
This story is false.
Myth
Coach Rupp was a segregationist and supported efforts to keep SEC athletics all white.
Fact
In 1961, UK President Frank Dickey asked Coach Rupp for his support to petition the SEC to desegregate athletics. Rupp did so without hesitation. The other schools in the SEC voted down Dickey’s proposal. Subsequently, Dickey and Rupp received numerous death threats, some credible enough to turn over to the FBI.
Myth
Rupp could have done more to lead the integration of athletics in SEC basketball.
Fact
In 1963, the Jackson, Miss., Daily News published an editorial denouncing Coach Rupp because “he agitated for the chance to recruit ‘Negro players.”
Myth
Rupp made only a token effort to recruit Black players.
Fact
Coach Rupp and his staff made 13 recruiting trips to Louisville to meet with Wesley Unseld and his family to sign the prospect. Unseld attended Louisville.
The Louisville Courier-Journal reported that Butch Beard would sign with UK and decommit from UL. Beard eventually attended Louisville.