Big Blue Commonwealth Features Panel of Kentucky Sports Reporters

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 16, 2014) — Who loves talking about University of Kentucky Athletics? UK students do and this is why the Student Activities Board Pop Culture Committee is sponsoring Big Blue Commonwealth, an event that showcases the impact athletics has on Kentucky culture for natives and those who are new to the Commonwealth.

The event features a panel of well-known Kentucky sports journalists that will discuss the large-scale implications athletics has on those living in Kentucky at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17, in Memorial Hall. Tentatively, the panel will consist of Matt Jones, founder of Kentucky Sports Radio blog; Dave Baker, sports anchor, reporter and account manager for WKYT-TV;  and John Clay, Herald-Leader sports columnist.

Big Blue Commonwealth is a part of Kentucky Week, a short series of events created to celebrate several aspects of Kentucky. Arts, agriculture, artisanship, athletics and music from the state are exhibited for those who call the Commonwealth home, either permanently or temporarily. This week seeks to delve beneath the traditional representations of the state to reveal the rich culture tucked away in both hills and cities across the Bluegrass.

“This is going to be a great event because we are examining UK Athletics, something that a lot of people are passionate about, beyond just the normal conversational pieces,” Brenton Smith, SAB director of pop culture, said. “We are going to really look at the deeper impact that athletics has on the cultural structure of the Commonwealth. This event is going to be a lot of fun, and we have a lot of great sports media figures to talk about the ins and outs of athletics in the Bluegrass.”

SAB brings more than 100 entertaining, educational and enriching programs that are reflective of contemporary issues and trends to the University of Kentucky annually. These programs are designed to enhance the college experience for students, faculty, staff and the greater Lexington community.

Connect with SAB at www.uksab.org, follow on Twitter at twitter.com/UKSAB and Instagram at instagram.com/uksab or like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UKSAB. For more information about SAB and events, email contact@uksab.org or text a question beginning with SABQ, followed by your question or comment, to 411-247.