Since I was a small child I remember many things about going to see the University of Kentucky Wildcats play in Rupp Arena. This 09-10 season for many reasons will be memorable but none more important to me personally than finally breaking the barrier and having my own season tickets in the lower arena, even better on the floor in the lower arena. A dream come true is what many would consider my march from the bleachers high in 231, to my own season tickets just a few rows behind the railing in the upper, to now possessing the holy grail of tickets, floor seats with backs on them, mid-court, practically eyeball to eyeball with Coach John Calipari as he engages his team on the floor. That is why I am calling this blog bleachers to backs. 
I am venturing a guess only based on what I can conjure by looking at the schedule but this is likely the 28th season I have seen a game in Rupp. My earliest memories of course are of the wildcats winning, Rupp being loud., Joe B. being classy & cool as he always was and nachos. However a funny perspective of those early days is that the wildcat mascots on stilts kept my attention away from anything else during those twin tower days of Sam Bowie and Melvin Turpin. The sheer joy I got from watching those two mascots on stilts resonates today when 
I watch my daughter try to get "the animals" attention at games. I do however remember the Ole Miss mascot making me cry once. I have hated the Rebels to this day for that very reason.Although I was never a great athlete, I managed to be a varsity collegiate athlete in multiple sports and lettering after much persistence. My point is that I have some experience in what these young men are going through as student athletes and I have watched many processions of this wildcat nation go through the motions. I have simply loved this game since I can remember and cant put it better than the old saying, "Kentuckian by birth, Wildcat by the grace of God". I am a fan, a real fan, not to mistaken for fanatic. I dont get overzealous when it comes to matchups and looking at the competition the Big Blue will be facing and try to be real.
As some of you know I own my own whitewater rafting business and also am a kayaker. We have a couple of sayings in whitewater that transfer over to being a UK fan. When you "read and run" in a boat in whitewater you are simply taking the river head on with some confidence you know what you are doing but until each incremental spot in a rapid you wont know your next move. The same goes here. I will try to never get ahead of myself although some may disagree. I hope this season is as enjoyable for us all as I percieve it to be, of course not to be getting ahead of myself. Enjoy.
