The WUKY SportsPage

'From Kentucky Wildcat to NBA Legend' is the title of Dan Issel's long-awaited memoir. This week on the WUKY SportsPage Keith talks with Dan and co-author Doug Brunk. To celebrate the publication, the University Press of Kentucky and the UK Alumni Association will host a special book launch event featuring Issel, Brunk and renowned sportscaster and Emmy Award winner Tom Hammond, who enjoyed a three-decade career with NBC Sports. The launch is 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at the E.S. Good Barn Gorham Hall, 1451 University Drive in Lexington.

The WUKY SportsPage podcast is back with this all-encompassing conversation with former Wildcat great Kevin Grevey. He talks about his recruitment to UK, his relationship with Coach Joe B. Hall, a college career that included an SEC championship in his sophomore season, a 13-13 season the next year, and a national runner-up season as he and his senior teammates capped their UK careers in 1975. He also reflects on the meaning of the NBA championship and the leadership that veteran Wes Unseld provided, inspiring a team that went 44-38 in the regular season to go all the way.

On the eve of Super Bowl Sunday former Wildcat great Derrick Ramsey returns to the booth to talk about playing on the sport's grandest stage while a member of the Oakland Raiders (under legendary coach John Madden), then a few years later with the New England Patriots.

Ravi Moss, a walk-on at Kentucky under coach Tubby Smith from 2002-2006, worked his way into a prominent role with his three-point shooting and all-around game. He also has a promising broadcasting career, working several UK games, and takes a look at the current Wildcats from that perspective.

Chip Rupp was a division I college basketball player at Vanderbilt and West Virginia. Before that, he played on Henry Clay High School’s 1983 state championship team. He's also the grandson of legendary UK basketball coach Adolph Rupp. In this interview, he provides a wide range of memories of his famous grandfather, as well as insight into his own background in basketball — which included cutting down the nets at Rupp and playing in the SEC.

Cisco Bryant was a wide receiver at Kentucky from 1982-85. He’s also a UK football parent. His son Ty is a starter at defensive back for the Wildcats. In this conversation, Cisco talks about his UK career and teammates, playing in the SEC for coach Jerry Claiborne, and his role as a parent and coach.

Kevin Cook is the author of the recently-published book Memorial Coliseum: 75 Years as Monument, Stage and Arena. He combines an extensive collection of photos and text to look back at the history of the building, including the years leading up to its construction. The Coliseum has served as a war memorial, the home of University of Kentucky men’s basketball from 1950 until the move to Rupp Arena in 1976, and the site of many major events, including visits by Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson and Ford. Now known as Historic Memorial Coliseum after a major renovation in 2024, the updated Coliseum is the home of the women’s basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and stunt teams.

Todd Svoboda, a fan favorite on Kentucky’s 1992-93 Final Four team, was a star at Northern Kentucky for three seasons before transferring to UK to join the Wildcats and complete his engineering degree. In 2014, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. His fight against the disease has continued since then, with several recurrences. In this conversation with host Keith Elkins, Todd talks about the battle with cancer, but also about his year with Rick Pitino’s Wildcats, including his first meeting with the coach.

Bill Ransdell is a member of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame, and one of the outstanding quarterbacks in UK history. Playing from 1983-86, he set Kentucky season records for most offensive plays, total offense, pass attempts, pass completions, passing yardage, completion percentage and consecutive passes without an interception. He established school career records at that time for total offense, total offensive plays, pass completions, passing yardage and completion percentage. He helped lead the Wildcats to a 9-3 record and Hall of Fame Bowl victory in 1984. In this conversation, he talks about playing for coach Jerry Claiborne, his early experience in football, including a camp run by then-Indiana coach Lee Corso, and the leadership and the decision-making skills required of a quarterback, among other topics. He also offers his outlook on the 2025 Wildcats.

Lloyd Gardner has had an amazing career in basketball, and is still active today. He is a member of the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. He coached Fairdale High School to the 1994 boys state championship, and was an assistant on two other championship teams at Fairdale. He organized and continues to coordinate the King of the Bluegrass Tournament, one of the leading high school tournaments in the country since he started it in 1981. Before all that, he was the trainer, equipment manager and traveling secretary of the Kentucky Colonels, who won the ABA championship 50 years ago. He talks about it all on this edition of the WUKY SportsPage.