UK vs. Penn State Could Get Ugly, and Not in a Good Way [VIDEO]

Back in 2001, I was in attendance at Rupp Arena for the annual UK/Louisville game. It was Rick Pitino's first game against the 'Cats as the Louisville head coach. Big Blue Nation was still living on their disgust at the thought of their former hero coaching the enemy. And at least one fan had no qualms about showing just how disgusted she was. And, in turn, I became disgusted. As Coach Pitino walked through the tunnel into the arena, he was met with expected boos and shouts of "Traitor!" Petulant? Yes. Surprising? Not really. But I looked over and saw a lady holding up a big sign she had made comparing Rick Pitino to John Walker Lindh. You may recall that Lindh was the American citizen who was arrested as an enemy combatant in the Afghanistan War in 2001. This was December of that year, and this country was still quite raw from 9/11. I felt--and still do--that that was simply beyond the pale. It was repulsive on a number of levels. For one thing, some good-hearted--or even not so good-hearted--jabs about Pitino being the new coach of UK's most hated rival were to be expected and shrugged off. But Lindh was trained at Al-Farouq, an Al-Qaeda training camp. And Rick Pitino's brother-in-law and best friend Billy Minardi was killed on 9/11 in one of the World Trade Towers. The images that came together as a result of this woman's unconscionable gesture were excessive and offensive. And I mention this moment in UK history because I hope we don't have a similar occurrence during Saturday's matchup between the Wildcats and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Clearly, the horrific child sex abuse scandal that has put that university on the front page for the last couple of weeks will be on everyone's minds. But, this is the BASKETBALL team. And these players do not deserve any repugnant comments tossed in their direction. For one thing, this Penn State team is in a complete rebuilding mode and is seriously outmatched in this game. I don't expect the score to be remotely close. So I hope not even one member of Big Blue Nation embarrasses the Kentucky faithful with any kind of execrable sign or gesture or shouted comment. Let these guys play. The final margin is likely to be quite big. Yes, anyone at Penn State University who is in any way culpable with regards to actions or inactions deserves whatever they get; I have ZERO tolerance for those who commit crimes against children. But we certainly can't cast aspersions at EVERYONE who is connected to that school.