Kentucky fan ejected from Wildcats game vs. South Carolina game for 'Please Go To Texas' sign aimed toward John Calipari
Kentucky’s game against South Carolina has taken a bit of a turn.
The Wildcats trailed the Gamecocks, 42-32, at halftime. Kentucky is looking to avoid its 1st loss at Rupp Arena this season. Meanwhile, South Carolina is coming off of a blowout loss to Tennessee on Saturday that saw it score 42 points all game.
Fans have been vocal in their criticism of John Calipari throughout the year as the team has been far below championship standards. The scene at Rupp showed a number of empty seats shortly before tipoff despite it being nationally televised on ESPN2.
One fan that did show up won’t be watching the rest of the game from his seat as he’s been ejected from the game for holding up a sign that read “Please Go To Texas” aimed toward John Calipari.
A fan just got thrown out of Rupp Arena for having a "Please go to Texas" sign
— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) January 11, 2023
Kentucky fans have had enough. pic.twitter.com/bQdo2c3BT1
— Jon (@JonSportsc) January 11, 2023
Of course, the Texas job is open following Chris Beard’s firing after his December arrest on domestic violence charges. It’s a post that will draw plenty of interest, and at the rate this season has gone for the Wildcats, there will be a number of fans glad to see Calipari gone, whether he’s fired or decides to take the job in Austin.
Not all heroes wear capes.
Edna Mode would agree.
good one – NO CAPES!!!!!
Unless he said or did something else he should not have been thrown out.
Agree
Is there a rule that was being enforced or was it just that they didn’t want that sign on TV?
Absolutely. By tossing that fan they only legitimized the “concerns” some fans have with Calipari. You gotta know if you coach at UK in basketball….a great season is called winning a national championship.
I was at Pitino’s first game back in Rupp once he was coaching UofL. There were LOTS of signs throughout the arena. Even the guy with the “Joanne, we never liked you either” sign didn’t get booted.
Tonight is a bad look for UK.
Hobble decision by whoever made it. The team is under performing and fans have every right to be upset with Cal. You can’t hide from the truth.
Should not have been ejected! His feelings are what majority of fans think about Cal now. Dude can’t coach!
Well……he won a national championship at UK, been to the final four 4 times, won the SEC six times, and has a .783 winning percentage. IMHO….that means the man can coach and recruit. Folks at UK long the days of Adolph Rupp, but IMHO forget that the world of college athletics has changed a lot since then.
The sign was very easy to spot in the midst of empty seats in the lower arena.
Good one.
So, the update from fans sitting in the area was that the sign was large enough to obstruct the vision of others and being held up so that it did obstruct. He was, by their reports, asked a number of times to hold it low enough to not obstruct the view of others. After refusing to do so he was escorted out. Still not a good look, but a better explanation.
Then he should be kicked out. I hate it when people aren’t considerate of others and block the view. I don’t go to games to see the back of signs.
Well, that photo does not bear that out. Though admittedly he could have been doing that at other times.
I know…who the heck wants to stand up for a team that is getting waxed by South Carolina? Kick that mo-fo out the stadium so I can sit here and wallow in grief, but still watch the game.
And take Stoops w/ you.
That is a very bad move for whomever made that decision!! Fans can yell all kinds of improper things at players from their courtside seats but a fan can’t hold up that particular sign. What???