Larry Conley's "see blue." Story Segment One: SOT (Larry Conley): " There are a couple of reasons why I chose Kentucky, and I gotta tell you the first one is I AM a Kentuckian. I grew up in Ashland. I loved basketball, played basketball, and there isnÕt a state in the United States that reveres basketball like the state of Kentucky. So, if youÕre a good player in Kentucky, particularly back in the Ō40s, the Ō50s, the 60Õs, the only place you really considered going was to Kentucky when Coach Rupp was there. Coach Rupp was probably one of the most demanding people IÕve ever been around. He was demanding of himself. His philosophy back when I played in the Ō60s was if you canÕt get the job done, go over there and sit down and IÕll put somebody else in your place. You were always somewhat understanding of that position because he commanded so much authority, and the respect for him in the nation for college basketball was second to none. I mean, he was the man. And, you felt compelled to play at a very high level for him, partially out of fear, which my first two years was certainly prevalent. The last two years, it kind of goes away and you kind of had a different relationship with him. Even though I fought and argued with him, like every other player probably did that went through the program the 41 years he was there, you respected what he had accomplished. My experience was wonderful; I wouldn't have traded it for anything. There are so many good friends I met and still to this day am friends with across this country that are UK grads and that never goes away. I love to go back to the university. I think itÕs really important that universities do research today. And it is with that impetus, that drive, to want to make the university a research university as well as a good undergraduate university that I think really makes the University of Kentucky attractive. What you get in the way of good professors and teachers who teach you things that, in some instances, you had no clue what you were getting involved with when you signed up for this class. You take something away from that. And what you take away is basically something that stays with you. There are lots of things that I can still remember that were taught to me at the university. a lot of it is also the social atmosphere that you grow up with, the people that you meet from different parts of the world. What a great melting pot; what a great way to learn about other societies. You canÕt do that anywhere else except on the university campus. ItÕs a wonderful place to go to school; I highly recommend it. If I had to do it over again, IÕd be right back there again." #######