ESPN basketball analyst Digger Phelps may want to wear a helmet -- or at least earplugs -- the next time he enters Rupp Arena.
Phelps, the former Notre Dame coach, took it upon himself to lecture Kentucky fans on proper decorum at last weekend's game in Nashville.
Apparently fearing that the Wildcat fans, who turn out by the thousands for every road game, would overwhelm the home crowd, Phelps took the microphone and spoke from the floor of Memorial Gymnasium as ESPN's "College GameDay" prepared to go on air.
“Listen to me ... this is important,” Phelps tells the crowd. “We’ve been with you at Kentucky. This is Vandy’s home game. This is Vandy’s — listen to me, listen to me — it’s their home game. You (Kentucky fans) are a part of it. But you show respect for Vandy. I don’t want any nonsense. I don’t want any incidents. Don’t ruin this for ‘College GameDay.’”
On a video posted on YouTube, Kentucky fans in the upper deck can be heard shouting expletives at Phelps and advising him where to take his remarks.
Phelps managed to calm the atmosphere for a moment by introducing a military veteran of Afghanistan. But the crowd quickly revved up again, prompting Phelps to comment, "relax, Wildcats."
The top-ranked Wildcats had the final say, beating the Commodores 69-63. The rematch is set for Saturday, Feb. 25 in Lexington.
