Big Blue Nation
Encyclopedia
The Big Blue Nation is a term, incorporating the trendy "nation" metaphor for American sports fans, used to describe the fan base of University of Kentucky
(UK) athletics programs
, particularly the men's basketball
team. It is a reference to both the signature color of UK athletics (blue) and the fact that UK fans often make up a disproportionate majority of the crowd at most venues where the Wildcats play. Fans sometimes range beyond the borders of their nation, with anecdotal evidence suggesting the Wildcats men's basketball team once even drew a sizable horde of blue-clad supporters at an exhibition game in Japan
.
In The Winning Tradition: A History of Kentucky Wildcat Basketball, Bert Nelli wrote that many rival coaches consider Wildcat fans to be among the most knowledgeable in the country. Former Wildcat Jack "Goose" Givens
, who later played for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks
, has said that UK fans are generally more interested and informed than the typical NBA fan.
'Citizens' of the Big Blue Nation often go to extremes in showing their support. It is not uncommon to see fans with everything from blue wigs to bodies covered in blue paint. While known for being fiercely loyal, these fans are at times impatient and highly critical of their teams. Former coach Tubby Smith
drew the ire of his fan base because of a perceived decline in the quality of both recruiting and on-court play.
. After again finishing number 2 to the Orangemen
in 2005, the Wildcats reclaimed the top spot in 2006 and have led every year since (up to 2011).
When the Wildcats also played Michigan State University
in 'The Basketbowl
' at Detroit's Ford Field
on December 13, 2003, the game set the all-time attendance record for a men's college basketball game at 78,129. The game was also a 79-74 victory for the Wildcats.
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
(UK) athletics programs
Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference...
, particularly the men's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team. It is a reference to both the signature color of UK athletics (blue) and the fact that UK fans often make up a disproportionate majority of the crowd at most venues where the Wildcats play. Fans sometimes range beyond the borders of their nation, with anecdotal evidence suggesting the Wildcats men's basketball team once even drew a sizable horde of blue-clad supporters at an exhibition game in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
In The Winning Tradition: A History of Kentucky Wildcat Basketball, Bert Nelli wrote that many rival coaches consider Wildcat fans to be among the most knowledgeable in the country. Former Wildcat Jack "Goose" Givens
Jack Givens
Jack "Goose" Givens is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player. Givens led the University of Kentucky to the 1978 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship and was named that year's Final Four Most Outstanding Player due in most part to his 41-point performance in...
, who later played for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
, has said that UK fans are generally more interested and informed than the typical NBA fan.
'Citizens' of the Big Blue Nation often go to extremes in showing their support. It is not uncommon to see fans with everything from blue wigs to bodies covered in blue paint. While known for being fiercely loyal, these fans are at times impatient and highly critical of their teams. Former coach Tubby Smith
Tubby Smith
Orlando "Tubby" Smith is an American college basketball coach. He is currently the men's basketball head coach at the University of Minnesota...
drew the ire of his fan base because of a perceived decline in the quality of both recruiting and on-court play.
Records
The UK men's basketball team was first in the nation in home court attendance from 1978 to 1984 and again from 1996 to 2004. In the intervening period from 1985 to 1995, they were led only by Syracuse UniversitySyracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. After again finishing number 2 to the Orangemen
Orangemen
Orangemen can refer:*Historically, to supporters of King William III of Orange.*To members of the modern Orange Institution - a Protestant fraternal organisation.*To the former name of male sports teams of Syracuse University, now called the Orange....
in 2005, the Wildcats reclaimed the top spot in 2006 and have led every year since (up to 2011).
When the Wildcats also played Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 'The Basketbowl
Basketbowl
The Basketbowl was a college basketball game between Michigan State University and the University of Kentucky held on December 13, 2003 at Ford Field, a domed American football stadium in Detroit, Michigan. The announced crowd of 78,129 set a record for verified attendance at a basketball game in...
' at Detroit's Ford Field
Ford Field
Ford Field is an indoor American football stadium located in Detroit, Michigan, USA, that is the current home field of the NFL's Detroit Lions. It is owned by the Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority. It regularly seats 65,000, though it is expandable up to 70,000 for football and 80,000 for...
on December 13, 2003, the game set the all-time attendance record for a men's college basketball game at 78,129. The game was also a 79-74 victory for the Wildcats.
External links
- A Sea of Blue - a popular blog that claims to be "The Online Home of the Big Blue Nation"
- Heart of Big Blue nation beats from the last row - article from The Kentucky Kernel
- WildcatCorner - a blog that claims to be the first Kentucky sports fan blog