Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History

Interview with William B. Keightley, July 25, 2006

Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries
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00:00:04 - Jay Shidler

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Partial Transcript: Okay, go ahead.

Segment Synopsis: Keightley discusses former player Jay Shidler, including his basketball ability and his later career.

Keywords: 1978; Accuracy; Attitudes; Baseball; Careers; Favorite players; Graduation; Injuries; Injury; Jay Shidler; Lexington (Ky.); Personalities; Personality; Shooting; Starters; Starting players; Truman Claytor

Subjects: Basketball; Basketball players--Kentucky; College athletes; College environment; College sports--Kentucky; College sports.; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; Kentucky Wildcats (Basketball team); University of Kentucky--Basketball

00:03:22 - Tim Stephens

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Partial Transcript: Um, how about, um, Tim Stephens?

Segment Synopsis: Keightley discusses former player Tim Stephens, including his basketball ability, his injury, and his later career.

Keywords: "Stick"; 1974; Attitudes; Basketball camps; Careers; Cumberland College; Injuries; Injury; Joe B. Hall; Lynn Nance; McCreary County (Ky.); Nicknames; Personalities; Personality; Teachers; Teaching; Tim Stephens; Transfers; Vince Taylor

Subjects: Basketball; Basketball coaches--Kentucky; Basketball players--Kentucky; Basketball--Coaching; College athletes; College athletes--Recruiting; College choice; College environment; College sports--Coaching; College sports--Kentucky; College sports--Scouting; College sports.; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; Kentucky Wildcats (Basketball team); University of Kentucky--Basketball

00:06:53 - 1978 Championship season

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Partial Transcript: Now you've, you've--I know you've, you've, um, you've been here so long you've, you've been here for over a thousand games.

Segment Synopsis: Keightley discusses the 1978 UK basketball season during which UK won the national championship. He talks about UK being rated number one from the beginning of the season, which made their season more difficult since all of the other teams desperately wanted to defeat them. He describes various games throughout the season and talks about how they were celebrated by the fans when returning from the semi-final and final games.

Keywords: 1978; 1996; Airports; Bus rides; Buses; Celebrations; Crowds; Dayton (Ohio); Defense; Difficulty; Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr.; Fans; Florida State University; Free throws; Games; Knoxville (Tenn.); Kyle Macy; Lexington (Ky.); Lexington Cemetery; Losses; Louisiana State University (LSU); Miami (Fla.); Michigan State University; National championships; Overpasses; Quarterfinals; Radio stations; St. Louis (Mo.); Supporters; Top-rated; University of Alabama

Subjects: Basketball; Basketball players--Kentucky; College athletes; College environment; College sports--Kentucky; College sports.; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; Kentucky Wildcats (Basketball team); University of Kentucky--Basketball

00:17:34 - Pressure on the UK basketball program

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Partial Transcript: You know, you were talking about being rated number one from the start of the season.

Segment Synopsis: Keightley talks more about the 1978 UK basketball season during which UK won the national championship. He talks about the team's decision to focus on winning the championship that year, which led to their motto, "the season of no celebration." He talks about the pressure on the team due to the fans' expectations.

Keywords: "No fun"; "Season of no celebration"; Bill Foster; Celebrities; Discipline; Duke University; Employees; Expectations; Fans; Focus; Hard work; Joe B. Hall; Kentucky; National championships; Popularity; Pressure; Recognition; Reunions; Semi-finals; Speaking engagements; Staff; Success; Top-rated; Tubby Smith; University of Florida; Visible; Winning

Subjects: Basketball; Basketball coaches--Kentucky; Basketball players--Kentucky; Basketball--Coaching; College athletes; College environment; College sports--Coaching; College sports--Kentucky; College sports.; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; Kentucky Wildcats (Basketball team); University of Kentucky--Basketball

00:29:03 - Changes in players' attitudes over time

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Partial Transcript: You know, you were talking about the celebration and how it's different here than at other schools.

Segment Synopsis: Keightley talks about the growing trend of players celebrating victories and successful plays, especially in football. He talks about other changes in society which have led to changes in players' attitudes, saying that they value individuality and attention more now than they did in the past. He talks about changes in style trends. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: "Model citizen"; "Old school"; Appearances; Attention; Attitudes; Baseball players; Celebrations; Changes; Discipline; Dress codes; Football players; Individuality; New York Yankees; Opponents; Professional-looking; Richie Farmer; Role models; Russell Farmer; Self-expression; Society; Storming the court; Tattoos; Tubby Smith; Young people

Subjects: Basketball; Basketball players--Kentucky; College athletes; College environment; College sports--Kentucky; College sports.; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Conduct of life.; Kentucky Wildcats (Basketball team); University of Kentucky--Basketball