Interviews & Stories
Some Facts about Adolph Rupp and race issue
By The Interior Journal
Published August 5, 2020
Given the climate in America today when it comes to race relations, it was inevitable that a debate would open up about Rupp Arena and its namesake. To many, the thought of Adolph Rupp still kindles the notion not of basketball, but of racism and segregation.
Paris Native Remembers A Different Rupp
By Tom Leach Bourbon County Citizen
Published September 7, 1991
With 1991 marking the 25th anniversary of the Rupp’s Runts team at Kentucky, you have no doubt read and seen much about the societal impact of that game. It marked the first NCAA basketball final in which a team made up of five Black starters beat an all-white team.
In Truth, Rupp was trailblazer
By Deron Snyder The News-Press
Published January 29, 2006
When I wrote that Kentucky's legendary Adolph Rupp "refused to recruit blacks or even schedule schools that did," I was repeating what I'd read, heard and accepted as fact for as long as I can remember.
Billy Reed: Happy to debate facts vs facts with anyone, but to be clear — Adolph Rupp was not racist
By Billy Reed KyForward | Kentucky's Online Newspaper
Published August 2, 2020
Naively, I now realize, I thought I would never again have to write the column about whether Adolph Rupp was a racist. The facts simply do not support the notion that he was. Period. Yet once again, 43 years after his death, the legendary University of Kentucky basketball coach is being attacked by some opportunists who refuse to let the facts get in the way of their prejudices and perceptions.
Adolph Rupp Was Not A Racist According To Paris Western Players
By Jeanine Scott The Bourbon County Citizen
Published August 6, 2020
Upset by the news on ESPN and other national news outlets that there is push by some of the faculty at the University of Kentucky to rename Rupp Arena because of Rupp’s alleged history as a racist, former Paris Western High School basketball player Allen Lewis contacted me to try and set the record straight.
Research Needs To Be Done Before Considering Rupp Name Change
By Larry Vaught Vaught’s Views
Published July 25, 2020
As soon as news broke that the faculty of the University of Kentucky ‘s African American and Africana Studies program wanted to change the name of Rupp Arena because the name stood for “racism and exclusion” that “alienates” black students and fans you knew it not only was going to create national headlines but also create controversy with UK fans.
NBA Trailblazer Jim Tucker might have been 1st Black Player at UK
By Dick Gabriel
Published May 23, 2020
When an 87-year-old man who played briefly in the NBA back in the 1950s dies, it generally draws but a passing mention in anything more than his hometown paper. Not so with Jim Tucker. That’s because he was a trailblazer when it came to pro basketball.
Rupp was no saint - but neither was he clearly a racist
By Christopher Harris Commonwealth Journal
Published July 24, 2020
There are few names in the state of Kentucky that carry as much weight as that of Adolph Rupp. Kentucky is a part of the country that for decades has lived and breathed the game of basketball. That is due almost primarily to Rupp.
Beard Switches, Will Attend UK
By Earl Ruby Courier-Journal
Published May 30, 1965
Hardinsburg, Ky.—Butch Beard, the All-American high school basketball star who signed a letter of intent 10 days ago to go to the University of Louisville announced yesterday that he intends to go to the University of Kentucky instead.
Butch Beard recalls racist reaction when he was recruited by Kentucky
By John Clay Lexington Herald-Leader
Published June 29, 2020
Over the weekend, former Louisville and NBA star Butch Beard recalled the racism he experienced when he was being recruited by Adolph Rupp to play basketball at Kentucky.
Guy Strong: Adolph Rupp was tough, demanding but no “racist”
By Larry Vaught Vaught’s Views
Published August 15, 2020
Guy Strong was head coach at Kentucky Wesleyan (he won a national championship), Eastern Kentucky University and Oklahoma State and later a successful coach at George Rogers Clark High School.
Guy Strong on Adolph Rupp: “He was for whoever could win”
By Larry Vaught Vaught’s Views
Published August 26, 2020
Former Kentucky basketball player Guy Strong was at UK when the transition was made from playing in Alumni Gym to Memorial Coliseum under coach Adolph Rupp.