• January 28th, 2010 04:59 PM


    Kentucky Fans Come In All Types - What Kind Are You?

    Let’s look at some different classifications of Wildcat fans and make an effort to understand how you and your fellow Wildcat fans handle the highs and lows.

    Anthony Vicars
    By Anthony Vicars
    NationofBlue.com

    Attachment 199


    A day and a half removed from our first loss, it is time for all UK Fans to regroup, unite and get ready for Vanderbilt. We've grieved and now we need to let our young team know that we still have their back and we're extremely proud of what they've accomplished this season. Some fans have crossed the line with players, others discuss the negatives and positive aspects of the game and some refuse to think/say anything that might be perceived negative. At the end of the day, we all love our CATS! We all just grieve a little differently.
    Let’s look at some different classifications of Wildcat fans and make an effort to understand how you and your fellow Wildcat fans handle the highs and lows. First I’m going to take a stab at coming up with some groups that everyone could fall in. We’ll break it down into four groups and describe how these groups behave in four different categories. The categories will be the following…


     · Stands The Entire Game
     · Will Use Body/Face Paint
     · “Boo” The Cats
     · Gameday Dress Attire


     After you read this and if you think I’ve missed a category, feel free to add it to the comments at the bottom of the post. We’ll then put up a poll to see what the most common fan types really are. Keep in mind there are always exceptions and it’s very possible that a fan is not a 100% fit for any of these categories. Just think about which one describes you and your friend’s the best.




    Here we go…..


     1.) The Forever Positive – This type of fan would never think about saying anything negative and seems to see the good in even some of Billy Clyde’s worst losses (ie:.Gardner Webb).


    Stands The Entire Game – Standing the entire game is a bit much, but you can expect them to stand at the beginning of games, coming out of half time, time outs, etc. On great plays, these fans may or may not stand up. It all depends if they can see the play from their seats.


     Use Body/Face Paint – Definitely not! They’ll always show their support, but painting ones face is a bit too much


     “Boo” The Cats– Definitely not! It doesn’t matter if the boos are for a decision the coaching staff made or a lack of effort, booing at a game is viewed as booing our players. Even booing the opposing team is questionable.

    Gameday Dress Attire – Very conservative, the majority are your casual dressed fans (t-shirts and jeans) but some fans may be borderline tacky. You may see these fans wearing dressier attire than most fans. Some examples may be wildcat purses, women’s hats and sweater vest.



     2.) Passionate Yet Sarcastic – This fan loves the CATS and is very passionate about his/her team. They are also known to be sarcastic when their performance is not where they feel it should be. When gameday comes, they will be optimistic and support the CATS as much as other fan types. Some believe this is type of fan is more than 75% of the Wildcat Fan Population (It’s also important to note that 80% of statistics are made up).

     Stands The Entire Game – If needed these fans will stand the entire game. If someone is standing in front of them, they will stand and it doesn’t bother them in the least. In fact, they feel embarrassed that they were not standing already


    Use Body/Face Paint – Face Paint is a possibility, but body paint is out of the question. For the right matchup, these fans can be persuaded to do things they might not normally do.


     “Boo” The Cats – Would never “boo” the team/players directly, but due to their passionate nature, booing is a possibility in the right circumstances. If a “boo” occurs, it will be explained as booing the coach or a coaching decision that was made during the game. Also note that booing only occurs after the perceived lack of judgment has occurred on multiple occasions and the fans frustration builds to a point where booing just feels good.


     Gameday Dress Attire – Will always show their colors but nothing over the top. Baseball caps, T-Shirts and Jeans are most commonly worn on gameday.



    3.) Unconscious Fanatics – This fan loves the CATS and will do anything they can to make sure everyone in KY and the world knows it. These fans go through many emotional highs and lows throughout the season. It’s believed that all of us at one time have been an “Unconscious Fanatic” at some point in your life. Most Unconscious Fanatics become “Passionate yet Sarcastic” as they get older.

     Stands The Entire Game – You better believe they will! In fact, they’ll be screaming at anyone who’s sitting down!


    Use Body/Face Paint – Absolutely. These are the fans you see painted in blue with a white letter painted on their chest spelling out the word “CATS”. They’ll be camping out a week in advance for Big Blue Madness and they’ll follow the team across the state for the barnstorm tour.


     “Boo” The Cats – 99.9% of the time you will not here this fan type “boo”. However, after hours of camping out and cheering relentlessly, they could feel betrayed if they perceive a bad coaching decision is made. They will of course feel horrible after, but feel as if it was uncontrollable at that moment in time.


     Gameday Dress Attire – Coordinating/Matching attire is not of importance. Foam fingers, foam hats shaped as a wildcat, and homemade costumes are known to be worn by these fans.



     5.) I’m Better Than You Fan – This fan is also referred to as the “long time season ticket holder” (15yrs +). They feel that because they have had their tickets longer or the fact that they’re just more important (in their mind) gives them the right to tell other fans when to sit down or stand up during the game.

     Stands The Entire Game – It seems they only stand at the beginning of the game because they have to. They sit down as quick as possible. Some of these fans will also heckle other fans that are standing in front of them.


    Use Body/Face Paint – Absolutely not. These fans are above face paint.


     “Boo” The Cats – At times they will boo their team. You have to remember that these fans believe that their long relationship with the university makes them better than other fans and even the current coaching staff. They feel they are entitled to boo at anything they want….even players.


     Gameday Dress Attire – The majority of these fans dress blend in with other fan types, but others may be overly dressed. Many of them look as if they’ve just walked out of the country club.


    We must all remember that one fan type is not necessarily better than the other. We all make up the Nation of Blue and like the country we live in; it’s our diversity that makes us great! Hopefully this little run down might help you communicate with other fans in the future.


     Remember what I said at the beginning of the post. If you feel I need to left a type of fan off the list, feel free to describe that type of fan in the comments.


     So the questions remains… What type of Fan are you?


    Other articles you may be interested in:
      •  What kind of fan are you?
      •  Is a Win Really a Win?
      •  Operation Fans Rise 2011
      •  Introducing Mark Ennis, the Next big thing?
      •  Anatomy of the UK fan
    Comments 13 Comments
    1. cathy work's Avatar
      cathy work - January 28th, 2010, 05:15 PM
      I would stand up the whole time. dress in my ky clothes. with a cats paw on my cheeks
    1. BobLin4045@wkybb.net's Avatar
      BobLin4045@wkybb.net - January 28th, 2010, 05:20 PM
      fanatics - we have a UK Christmas tree , one bedroom done in UK, have a bllow up Wildcat on game days. just love the Cats, for 60 years.
    1. littlebit's Avatar
      littlebit - January 28th, 2010, 05:50 PM
      Have been a wuldcat fan since early 1950's A very loyal fan indeed,have been known to get down on my knees and beg for them to catch up if behind,get extremely nervous in a game thats tooo close for comfort.Most of all I cry like a baby when they loose a game,can't go to a game any more because I can't see how to drive at night.Guess I can be called a WILDCAT FANATIC. Beulah Newman
    1. Unregistered's Avatar
      Unregistered - January 28th, 2010, 06:51 PM
      UNCONSCIOUS FANATIC!!!! I LOVE YOU CATS!! win or lose your STILL MY team!!!
    1. jerry's Avatar
      jerry - January 28th, 2010, 07:19 PM
      I too have been a Cats fan since the 1950's after all I am from the same town as Bob Wiggins, Falmouth, KY. I have lived in Florida since 1968 but still watch all the games and live and die with the Cats. OK they lost one but they are still #1 in my playbook. '65 grad.
    1. paperjanice's Avatar
      paperjanice - January 28th, 2010, 08:27 PM
      I stand the whole game, paceing, going from TV to TV. I love my CATS
    1. Unregistered's Avatar
      Unregistered - January 28th, 2010, 08:45 PM
      love my cats.......win or lose......my blood runs blue
    1. Scott's Avatar
      Scott - January 28th, 2010, 09:58 PM
      Passionate yet sarcastic...
    1. Unregistered's Avatar
      Unregistered - January 29th, 2010, 12:37 AM
      i bleed blue!!!!
      I have been a fan since i was a little girl watching the cats with my dad. We still discuss the teams and games!my office at work is decorated with uk stuff!!! My family and friends buy me uk stuff to display

      go big blue!!!
    1. mandylynndennis's Avatar
      mandylynndennis - January 29th, 2010, 10:10 AM
      all of the above!!!!!!go ky i love you nomatter what.im diehard and will always support the big blue nation nomatter what.you have my heart in good times and in bad.this country girls will always bleed blue!!!go cats!!
    1. kentuckyfanAtic's Avatar
      kentuckyfanAtic - January 29th, 2010, 01:00 PM
      my earliest memories are of listening to the games on the radio in the 50's with the fam. Bleed blue, cry only in march now that i'm more mature. have wildcat gear All over the house and many different game day uniforms, from socks, shoes, pants, hats, watch, ring, earring, necklaces, houseshoes, etc.,etc. Wish other fans would not get on the players so negatively when they come up short. they are better "bad" than 98% of other teams in college ball on a good day and they are KIDS. How good at 17-20 years old were any of you "criticizers" at ANYTHING? i bet you excel at nothing but bytching at the team. GO BIG BLUE!
    1. srtgrace's Avatar
      srtgrace - January 29th, 2010, 03:53 PM
      unconscious fanatic...crazy about my cats!
    1. Unregistered's Avatar
      Unregistered - October 12th, 2010, 12:39 AM
      I'm Wildcats everything. I love my Cats !!!! GO BIG BLUE !!!!

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