Kentucky sophomore forward Keion Brooks met with UK media Friday via a Zoom call, and the topic of changing the name of Rupp Arena was discussed.
Last month, a group of UK faculty members in the African-American and Africana Studies program wrote a letter to UK president Eli Capilouto calling for the arena’s name to be changed due to Rupp’s name “coming to stand for racism and exclusion.”
Brooks, who said he wants to educate himself more on Adolph Rupp and who he was, said he wants to see the Rupp Arena name changed, based on what he does know about the Kentucky coaching legend.
“Being honest, I haven’t educated myself well enough on Adolph Rupp or just the whole situation at hand to really give you my thoughts on it,” said Brooks. “But from what I do know, I’d like to see a name change because what his name is and what that’s connected to and what it represents,” Brooks said.
The quote from Brooks upset a large portion of Big Blue Nation that stands against the idea of removing Rupp’s name from the arena known as one of college basketball’s most prestigious cathedrals.
“We’re people that have strong views on topics just like the fans do,” Brooks said when asked about backlash from fans. “I think they just want us to go out there and entertain them for an hour or two, then shut up, but that’s not going to work. That’s not how it is.”
The surge of negative comments and replies on social media led Kentucky coach John Calipari to release a statement Friday night, asking Big Blue Nation to respect the UK sophomore.
“BBN, I know some of you are upset with Keion Brooks’ comments regarding Rupp Arena,” Calipari wrote on Twitter. “Let me tell you he’s a very smart person and a very conscientious young man. However you feel about what he said, my hope is you show him the respect that all of our/your players deserve.”
Calipari added that he hasn’t had a discussion with his players about Adolph Rupp and who he is, but that is the plan moving forward.
“My job is to make sure all of our players are educated on all that goes along with Coach Rupp’s name, and we are going to walk through that. My plan is to get former players on a Zoom with our current guys so they can ask those players directly about Coach Rupp.
“My focus has been on everything going forward, which is why we hadn’t addressed it. As I’ve said before, give these players the benefit of the doubt. If you’re unhappy w/anything, be unhappy with me, not a 19-year-old who is walking through these difficult times. I love you all.”
