Clinton County’s hopes of playing at Rupp Arena this season may have recently been flushed down the drain according to a story published by the Lexington Herald-Leader on Friday, November 25, 2011.

According to the article, the NCAA put a stop to the “Rumble in Rupp”, a series of preseason scrimmagtes, noting it was not a “scholastic event.”

Word of the NCAA’s denial of waiving an earlier ruling came in 36 hours before the first of the games were set to get underway at Rupp Arena.

Apparently the problem concerning the event stemmed from some confusion surrounding the fact that Rupp Arena, while considered to be the “home of the Kentucky Wildcats” is in reality, not a facility owned and operated by the University of Kentucky, but rather by the city of Lexingon, Kentucky.

Both of Clinton County’s teams, the Lady Bulldogs and Bulldogs, were scheduled to play in a similar showcase event during this 2011-12 regular season.

The girls’ game was set to be held on December 11 against Mercer County. The boys’ game was scheduled on January 8, 2012 against Bryan Station. Both dates were on a Sunday.

Published in the Big Blue Preview a couple of week’s ago, both Clinton County head coaches, Bulldog Coach Todd Messor and Lady Bulldog Coach Darrell Thompson, said they were excited about the chances to play in Rupp Arena and noted the players were looking forward to the chance to play on Kentucky’s court.

“We’ve not received a clear cut ruling on the game – whether or not it will be allowed and probably won’t know anything for sure until next week,” Messer said. “Hopefully with continued efforts of Bleid Sports and the NCAA, they can get a waiver for this year due to the fact that schedules are finalized and contracts have been signed. If we are not permitted to play, then it will be just that much more motivation to take care of things during the district and the regional tournament in order to get to play in Rupp Arena during the Sweet 16.”

The rule being enforced by the NCAA will not affect the Sweet 16 State Championship for the girls or the boys which is played at Western Kentucky’s Diddle Arena for the girls and Rupp Arena for the boys, as those events are “hosted” by Kentucky’s high school governing body, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.

As of Tuesday at press time,, the company that organizes and promotes this and other similar basketball showcase events, Bleid Sports, has moved the showcase to a different venue. This change has made some teams change their minds about playing in the showcase.

Messer said Monday night that if the showcase is moved anywhere other than Rupp Arena, he didn’t want to go.

Also at stake, is the funding that Clinton County had to put up front in order to be included in the Rupp Arena showcase event, and whether or not those funds would be refunded.

Athletic Director and assistant boys’ coach Mike Beard said the school had already paid the money up front for the showcase and bought tickets to sell to fans in the county.

The Lexington Center and Bleid Sports heard about the NCAA’s interpretation, so they contacted the NCAA in early summer to get authorization for events such as this weekend’s “Rumble in Rupp” pre-season scrimmages. Bleid Sports got the OK from the NCAA, and they worked out contracts with the Lexington Center for five different events.

The Lexington Center and Bleid Sports later became concerned about the authorization for the event, so they asked the University of Kentucky to send a letter with a waiver request. That request was denied.

Last weekend’s scrimmages were relocated to Lexington Christian Academy.

Breaking the NCAA’s rule could cause trouble for the University of Kentucky causing Blied Sports to change the venue to keep from compromising UK’s integrity.

Rupp Arena is not the only place the rule will be enforced. Blied Sports also hosts events at Duke, Virginia and Oregon.