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Kentucky selling floor from NCAA title game

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The University of Kentucky is receiving sealed bids to buy the hardwood floor from the NCAA title game that the 1995-1996 Wildcats won at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J.

University officials say 161 pieces of the floor will be sold to one buyer, but Kentucky will continue to own the center court for its Basketball Museum.

Coached by current Louisville head coach Rick Pitino, the 1996 Wildcats defeated Syracuse 76-67 in the championship game.

The school's current top athletics officials said they don't know how much the NCAA sold the floor to the school for because they were not at the university in 1996.

Kentucky initially stored the floor in a warehouse. The owner eventually sold the warehouse and asked the university to remove the floor, leading to the decision to sell.

© 2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

       30 Comments

Posted by Chainsaw on February 14, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'll bid $0.01/sq-ft. And then burn it in a big bonfire to celebrate their defeat in Nashville. Go Big Blew!

Posted by Hacksaw57 on February 14, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

After Vandy busted their chops so bad I believe I would sell the uniforms, practice balls, Gilispie's house AND Rupp Arena.

Posted by pdhuff on February 14, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I bet my beagle and lab would like to have a 6x8' section. No wait, they're bad to severely mark their territory. Might warp.

Posted by rkastens on February 14, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe Tubby Smith will put in a bid.

Posted by 55Vol on February 14, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

AirForceOne... you are buying a large chunk...right?

Posted by pdhuff on February 14, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

55 vol 10:52- easy on ol' afone, he's having big maintenance problems. They're temporarily grounded.

Beat Ga.

Posted by TommyJack on February 14, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Did Tubby ever lose to anyone by 41? Tubby wuz framed.

Posted by wewhite on February 14, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

UK officials are trying to turn the spotlight away from their struggling program. Eventually, beating Tennessee in Rupp is not going to be enough of an excuse for a UK coach to keep his job, but in the meantime... "LOOK! We're selling the wood!" to a single highest bidder who will turn around and bilk the good alumni of UK out of millions selling them oak flooring out of old houses. Oh well, a UK alum, er... fool and his money are soon parted.

Posted by superk on February 14, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I farted and Alabama smelled it. Big freaking deal that UK is selling their title floor. Schools sell artificial turf,chairs,etc as momentos. Are we jealous that we can't sell something like that?

Posted by VOLstuckINky on February 14, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No where but up to go for the Cats. Hopefully, same for big Phil.

Posted by superk on February 14, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Phil who? If you're referring to Fulmer I'd say he is pretty high up considering the other 10 teams in the SEC. LSU being #1 one of course.

Posted by ddmn33 on February 14, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I find it quite humorous to read these posts from from Tennessee fans looking down on the UK basketball program. All of this from a school that has never advanced beyond the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament. Also, didn't UT & UK already play once this season?

You might want to actually win something prior to "mouthing off".

Posted by mtnvol on February 14, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Not planning on going back to the finals?

Posted by va_vol16 on February 14, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hay ddmn33 hope you guys win the NIT this year then you will have two floors to sell what a joke the UK basketball program has become

Posted by 55Vol on February 14, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ddmn33....that is probably because most Vol fans don't feel the need to go to a Kentuck site and bad-mouth them there. Most Vol fans have more class than that. And if your going to tell me there are some who do, well, takes some to know some. AirForce One is a Kentucky fan who comes here frequently to show how much class he has.......NONE. Be careful yo do not slide into being classless either dude.

Posted by TommyJack on February 14, 2008 at 2:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Lest my memory fails me, I think we sold off pieces of the original Tartan Turf at Neyland..

Posted by mtnvol on February 14, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TJ is right. I think UT sold it to help finance the new grass or upgrades to the stadium.

Posted by 1volgal on February 14, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

SO what! This has nothing to do with us. Go Vols!!!!!

Posted by shocker0042 on February 14, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

DDMN33..... I dont visit your sites to talk about my beloved vols. It is class-less. Maybe its just the fact that your seeing a change in the SEC and want to be apart of what BP is building.... No thanks we have more than enough support. Have fun with Billy and the c**ts....that 41 pt loss to Vandy had to sting. Go Vols 22-2 no 1 RPI and #4 in the nation. Call me when your playing for an NCAA bid not hoping to make the NIT. After Patterson leaves next year itll be another long one... Welcome to the New Class of SEC basketball.

Posted by marc_ash on February 14, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Posted by ddmn33 on February 14, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I find it quite humorous to read these posts from from Tennessee fans looking down on the UK basketball program. All of this from a school that has never advanced beyond the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament. Also, didn't UT & UK already play once this season?

You might want to actually win something prior to "mouthing off"."

You know what ddmn33, I find it just as humorous about your football team. Might possibly want to learn how to beat TN at least 1 time in 25 years before YOU mouth off. Must be tough losing to the same team every year and also have a football team that sucks.

Stop crying because you lost to Vandy by 40. The glory days are over son...go buy some floor.

Posted by jacksonvol on February 14, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Children, children! Play nice!

Posted by ncvol17 on February 14, 2008 at 6:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hating the Cats since 75...Crazy Ray beat em.. DeVoe beat em..Green beat em.. now Pearl can beat em...

Posted by CatScratchFever on February 14, 2008 at 6:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey...with 7 National Championships, 43 SEC Championships and a slew of other trophies and championship mementos....I guess they were needing to make some room. Face it, even all of you know that Kentucky will be winning another NCAA title before tennessee gets near one.

Maybe you guys would like to bid on our floor, because that is as close as you will ever get to a NCAA Championshiop game.

Posted by volfan73120 on February 14, 2008 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I haven't seen airforceone on here in a while. He has been quite for some reason.

Posted by pdhuff on February 14, 2008 at 6:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I give airforce one credit. Anyone who can talk smack after a beat-down drubbing they took from ol' Vandy is either delusional for the blue or chooses to ignore reality.

Billy G is doing all he can with smoke and mirrors which works ocasionally, but he should be lauded. But when he leaves the warmth of Rupp, they're in trouble. Ky winning another NC. Not likely. Just my opinion. Rave on AF one, I enjoy it, its your right.

Posted by pdhuff on February 14, 2008 at 7:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TJ 2:36 - I still have a piece of the famed Tartan Turf. Last game was a drubbing of ol' Vandy by a mighty margin.

Posted by chrisw2967 on February 14, 2008 at 9:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

people will be putting houses up for sale , their wives and horses all will be for sale.just to get a piece of that floor.
Thats sad the owner of the warehouse had to sale his building just to get rid of the floor.sad day in ky.
I bet Airforce one ran home and got his little piggy bank and busted it open and counted his change and put his bid of .15 cents in.

Posted by rbatten9 on February 15, 2008 at 2:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Billy G reminds me of Buzz Peterson. Taking a tourney team to the brink of a losing season the next year!

Posted by pdhuff on February 15, 2008 at 6:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I've thought about this. Picture Dupree, 12TIMES , Gomer Pyle and other mullets lined up to buy 13 year old tongue-in-cheek groved flooring. The only thing to top this would be for Phil to drop the Sears Trophy and sell the yellowed pieces for $4.33 each. Call BR549.

That would rank with my piece of Tartan Turf.

Posted by pearlman on February 16, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why don't they keep it. They could use it when they hire Knight when he comes to clean up the mess that Billy made. We can't say much, they beat us remember. Can't wait till they come to Knoxville though.

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