It’s interesting to view the comments on sports sites after a game like this and see the Kentucky-haters come out en-force. But I’m not going to complain about the foul calling (it was abysmal toward both teams), and I’m not going to say Kentucky got robbed (Alabama got robbed on Thursday, Kentucky got beat by 3-point shooting). I am however going to complain about unsportsmanlike conduct by the Vanderbilt student section.
Most schools tell the other team they suck. It’s usually during the introductions, and I’ve heard the UK student section do it as well. I don’t think it’s particularly sportsmanlike, but it’s not the worst thing you can say to an opposing team.
What is the most unsportsmanlike thing you can say to an opposing team? F-you? If that’s true then Vanderbilt has reached the depths of unsportsmanlike conduct. It’s not bad enough that Kevin Stallings has been whining all week about how unfair it is that Kentucky doesn’t have any Thursday-Saturday games (we’re used to Stallings’ whining). It’s another thing for the Vanderbilt student section to chant “F*** you Kentucky”. It’s another thing for the cameras to pick up a student sign that has “F” then a UK logo, then “Calipari”. Seriously? I thought Vanderbilt was supposed to be the brains of the SEC. I thought Vanderbilt was supposed to be the class of the SEC. I was obviously mistaken. Like Brian Eldridge said, “This ain’t your daddy’s Vanderbilt.”
And before I get inundated with comments like “Calipari yelled it at his own player!” Yes, caught up in the moment, Calipari used it as an adjective to describe Terrence Jones’ selfish play. Vanderbilt’s student section used it as a verb, intentionally directing it toward an opposing team’s players. And the sign? Classy. Congratulations Vanderbilt, you must be so proud…
