Everyone has made solid points. Will, as to yours as Rupp being a trailblazer, you could very well be correct. I truly believe he would have had to do it at another university.
I was in elementary school when Kentucky "officially" desegregated. 99% of the kids didnt care. Wasn't so with parents and grandparents. Those were the people that would have been judging Rupp.
Even though today is not anywhere near a paradise of race relations, it was far harsher in Rupps day. Throw in Kentucky was likely better than the other SEC schools, and I truly doubt Rupp would have been given a chance. That unfortunately also includes the safety of his own players.
Things will play out as they will, but if we continue to damn ourselves for what past generations did or thought, we will continue on this bad road.
I was in elementary school when Kentucky "officially" desegregated. 99% of the kids didnt care. Wasn't so with parents and grandparents. Those were the people that would have been judging Rupp.
Even though today is not anywhere near a paradise of race relations, it was far harsher in Rupps day. Throw in Kentucky was likely better than the other SEC schools, and I truly doubt Rupp would have been given a chance. That unfortunately also includes the safety of his own players.
Things will play out as they will, but if we continue to damn ourselves for what past generations did or thought, we will continue on this bad road.
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