Interview with Oscar Combs, November 25, 2019

Interview Summary

Oscar Combs, an Eastern Kentucky native, shares his experience working in the newspaper and sports media industry, while providing a unique view into the world of UK athletics, mostly football and basketball. Combs' early career began when he took up a position working for a newspaper titled the "Eastern Kentucky Voice." Combs acted as the manager there for several years before taking on another newspaper job, operating a newspaper out of the Cumberland region of Kentucky. After selling the newspapers to a larger firm, Combs realized he could pursue a career in a more focused area of media, which for him meant sports media. Combs began making connections through pre-existing friends in Lexington to notable figures in Kentucky athletics. Combs began to work with the Cat's Paw newspaper, writing stories about UK sports and helping grow the media's influence on sports and at the same time increasing the cultural significance of Kentucky basketball. After retiring from managing the Cat's Paw newspaper, Combs moved to Florida to take a break from work. After realizing his true passion lay in sports reporting and sports media, Combs quickly moved back to Kentucky and started a pregame show with the help of some friends still working for UK broadcasting. In this interview, Combs recalls all of the relationships he has built with the coaches of the Kentucky men's basketball team over the years. Combs addresses the controversies surrounding former coaches, including Sutton and Rupp. Combs makes it clear in the interview that his relationship with all the past and current coach(es) is a positive one, saying he feels as though he is part of a Kentucky basketball family. Combs also mentions his work today, which involves a podcast, live broadcasting at games, and managing an active Twitter account devoted to UK athletics that has tens of thousands of followers.

Interview Keyword

Newspapers Media Sports media Sports radio Kentucky Basketball University of Kentucky Southeastern Conference (SEC) Coaches Players Fanbase State pride

Interview LC Subject

Coach-athlete relationships. Sports Radio. Media Basketball Kentucky

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.