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UK football player Kory Brown enjoyed the Cats' national basketball championship celebration in Rupp Arena and says he can only imagine how fans would also support football if it could win at the same level. (Clay Jackson / April 9, 2012) |
LEXINGTON - He's adjusting to Southeastern Conference football, but junior college transfer Kory Brown was not about to miss the celebration for Kentucky’s national championship team.
That’s why the sophomore safety/linebacker was among 20,000 fans in Rupp Arena last week for the national championship celebration.
“I just wanted to represent my team and support the basketball team,” said Brown, a South Carolina native. “They did a great job all season.”
Brown says he sees basketball players “a few times” on campus and at the academic center.
“I went to a few games during the season after I got here (in January),” Brown said. “I do like basketball. I¿played basketball in high school, so I am into it.”
Brown was not disappointed at the celebration.
“It was amazing. Coach Cal’s speech kind of made me emotional. It seems like when he speaks, he talks from the heart and I¿like that,” Brown said.”It did surprise me that so many people were there. Some people did not go to class. They just took time out of their day to come out for the team. I don’t think people back home could ever understand. I have never seen anything like it. A few other teammates went, but we were all spread out. I just managed to get tickets to the low seats. I was pretty lucky to be down there.
“After beating Louisville (in the national semifinals), the whole city went crazy. I can only imagine everybody getting behind us and believing if we can win big games like that.”
Brown sustained a knee injury at East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss., during the 2010 season and did not play last year, so he has three years of eligibility remaining.
“I had not been on the field in a while and was worried about me knee, but the trainers worked with me and I don’t have a problem at all with it,” Brown said. “The knee is 100 percent. I just have to go out and learn all the plays now. The tough part is knowing what to do at what time. But I¿am catching on.
“I¿have been meeting with (defensive coordinator) coach (Rick) Minter a little more. The more studying I can do,¿I can catch up to where these guys already are. I have to pick it up on the run. He can be tough, but the one on one time I¿get with him helps a lot because when we have meetings he talks to you as a group as a whole. In individual time, he talks directly to you and that really helps me.
“I just want a chance to play this year. It don’t matter where. I just want to help my team.”
