Senior Day at Kentucky is a special occasion which is held prior to the final home game of each season. A listing of the games along with the seniors on each team are listed at this link.
Some of the activities in recent years include each player entering Rupp Arena by running through a large hoop covered with paper with their likeness. They are joined by their families at center court where they receive framed jerseys and the entire arena joins together by singing Stephen Foster's My Old Kentucky Home. NBC's Dick Enberg, who has witnessed his share of sporting spectacles, has been quoted as describing Kentucky's Senior Day as "truly one of the most touching moments in all of sports." The spectacle is so moving that eventually the NCAA determined it was a recruiting advantage for Kentucky and banned it from being shown live on television.
JPS Note: The history of Senior Day at Kentucky appears to go back to the Spring of 1967, per a comment former coach Joe Hall mentioned during a telecast when he was doing color commentary for a game in 1993. Prior to that, the seniors may have been noted in the newspaper, but players were typically formally honored after the season was completed during a team banquet.
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Looking back to the 1967 season, in a game against Alabama (the last home game of the season), prior to the game the lights went down and seniors Brad Bounds, Louie Dampier, Pat Riley and Gene Stewart were honored. It would be their last game playing together wearing the Kentucky uniform. Each senior was introduced under a spotlight and received standing ovations. Noted All-American Pat Riley, who was dealing with a serious back injury at the time: "I'll never forget it." Riley said of the ovation from 11,400 fans when he left the game in the closing minutes. "It was one of the most emotional moments I've ever had."
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This practice of spotlighting the senior players continued and became more formalized. Mike Pratt, who played at Kentucky between 1968 and 1970 mentioned on a radio program that they were honored at senior day by turning down the lights and having a spotlight shown on them as they ran onto the court.
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Later on, apparently starting in 1977 the University began to employ a large hoop covered in paper for the players to run through during introductions. The very first seniors to run through the hoop were the duo of Larry Johnson and Merion Haskins.
If anyone knows any details about other senior day activities or celebrations, I'd appreciate learning more. Also, if anyone has additional photos of past senior days, let me know.
Below are some photographs from various parts of the Senior Day Activities:
| Family Affair | Running through the Senior Day Hoop | Receiving Framed Jersey | Singing My Old Kentucky Home | Standing Ovations | Seniors Play | Programs |
Dicky Beal with father - 1984
Jim Master and parents - 1984
Melvin Turpin with mother - 1984
Sam Bowie with mother - 1984
Tom Heitz with family - 1984
Paul Andrews - 1987
James Blackmon with family - 1987
Josh Carrier - 2005
Twany Beckham with family - 2013
Running Through the Senior Day Hoop
Larry Johnson - 1977
Rick Robey - 1978
Truman Claytor - 1979
Kyle Macy - 1980
Jay Shidler - 1980
Lavon Williams - 1980
Bo Lanter - 1982
Chuck Verderber - 1982
Derrick Hord - 1983
Dirk Minniefield - 1983
Sam Bowie - 1984
Melvin Turpin - 1984
Troy McKinley - 1985
Bret Bearup - 1985
Leroy Byrd - 1986
Kenny Walker - 1986
Roger Harden - 1986
Paul Andrews - 1987
Richard Madison - 1988
Ed Davender - 1988
Rob Lock - 1988
Mike Scott - 1989
Jeff Ginnan - 1989
Derrick Miller - 1990
Reggie Hanson - 1991
Johnathon Davis - 1991
John Pelphrey - 1992
Sean Woods - 1992
Todd Svoboda - 1993
Jamal Mashburn - 1993* (not senior but leaving early for NBA)
Chris Harrison - 1995
Tony Delk - 1996
Walter McCarty - 1996
Mark Pope - 1996
Derek Anderson - 1997
Cameron Mills - 1998
Saul Smith - 2001
Jules Camara - 2003
Gerald Fitch - 2004
Josh Carrier - 2005
Chuck Hayes - 2005
Brandon Stockton - 2006
Ravi Moss - 2006
Lukasz Obrzut -2007
Bobby Perry -2007
Sheray Thomas -2007
Joe Crawford - 2008
Ramel Bradley - 2008
Jared Carter - 2009
Ramon Harris - 2010
Perry Stevenson - 2010
Patrick Patterson - 2010* (not senior but graduating that year)
Josh Harrellson - 2011
Darius Miller - 2012
Jarrod Polson - 2014
Jon Hood - 2014
Brian Long - 2015
Sam Malone - 2015
Tod Lanter - 2015
Alex Poythress - 2016
Dominique Hawkins - 2017
Mychal Mulder - 2017
Jonny David - 2019
Reid Travis - 2019** (not senior, grad transfer student)
Nate Sestina - 2020** (not senior, grad transfer student)
Kellan Grady - 2022** (5th year senior, had graduated from Davidson already)
Davion Mintz - 2022** (6th year senior, had graduated from Creighton already. Due to extra year for Covid-19, Mintz actually had two senior nights at UK [2021 & 2022])
Brennan Canada - 2023** (returned for 2024 season)
C.J. Fredrick - 2023
Jacob Toppin - 2023
Antonio Reeves - 2023** (returned for 2024 season)
Antonio Reeves - 2024
Kareem Watkins - 2024
Koby Brea - 2025
Lamont Butler - 2025
Andrew Carr - 2025
Jaxson Robinson - 2025
Amari Williams - 2025
Chris Harrison is supported by his teammate, Anthony Epps - 1995
Anthony Epps holds his daugther, Makayla, who later went on to become a star for the UK Women's team - 1997
An especially poignant moment was when John Stewart's parents received an honorable jersey for their son, who never was able to wear it for the Blue and White - 2003
Rajon Rondo presents jersey to his former teammate Joe Crawford - 2008
Mark Krebs - 2010
Eloy Vargas - 2012
Julius Mays - 2013** (not Senior, Grad transfer student)
Derek Willis - 2017 used the occassion to propose to his long-time girlfriend Keely Potts
Kellan Grady - 2022
Davion Mintz - 2022
Ansley Almonor - 2025
Lamont Butler - 2025
Jaxson Robinson - 2025
Amari Williams - 2025
Kenny Walker, Roger Harden and Leroy Byrd - 1986
Albert "Happy" Chandler sings My Old Kentucky Home - 1988
Derrick Miller - 1990
Reggie Hanson - 1991
John Pelphrey - 1992
Senior Day Activities - 1996
Josh Carrier and Chuck Hayes - 2005
Chuck Hayes - 2005
Darius Miller - 2012
Dominique Hawkins - 2017
Senior Day Activities - 2013
Singing My Old Kentucky Home - 2015
Dan Issel waves to the crowd after coming out of his final home game.
Mike Pratt and Coach Rupp acknowledge the crowd
Coach Rupp hugs Senior Stan Key as he walks off the Memorial court in Rupp's (and Key's) final home game.
1974 Seniors: Rick Drewitz, Ray Edelman and captain Ronnie Lyons stand in the spotlight prior to their Senior Day game vs. Mississippi State in 1974.
1975 Seniors: Jimmy Dan Conner, Jerry Hale, Kevin Grevey and Bob Guyette.
1980 Seniors: Lavon Williams, Kyle Macy and Jay Shidler.
1983 Seniors: Charles Hurt, Dirk Minniefield and Derrick Hord.
Although it doesn't always occur, it's a special occassion when the coach tries to give all the seniors, including walk-ons a chance to play in their final home game. Sometimes they are given the start, other times they are brought in during the closing moments of the game in order for the crowd to give them a hand.
Adolph Rupp gives instructions to walk-on Greg Smith while Larry Miller and Kirk Chiles prepare to enter game.
Sam Malone, Brian Long and Tod Lanter started the game vs. Florida but later go to the scorer's table for one more appearance.
1980 - Kyle Macy, Lavon Williams and Jay Shidler.
1983 - Derrick Hord, Charles Hurt and Dirk Minniefield.
1987 - Paul Andrews and James Blackmon.
1988 - Ed Davender, Cedric Jenkins, Winston Bennett, Robert Lock and Richard Madison.
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