The University of Kentucky’s first “Midnight Special,” which has evolved into Big Blue Madness, was Oct. 14, 1982, in Memorial Coliseum. More than 8,500 fans attended that first practice in the 12,000-seat Memorial Coliseum. Troy McKinley, right, and Derrick Hord led the way through a paper banner that read “The Cats will Run at 12:01.” The event was the brainchild of then-coach Joe B. Hall, according to UKAthletics.com. Hall was seeking to pump up fan interest for the coming season. He was inspired by a similar event organized by Maryland coach Lefty Driesell nearly a decade earlier. Kentucky’s “Special” or “Madness” was held in Memorial Coliseum until 2005, when it moved to Rupp Arena. Here is another photo from our archives of Tubby Smith dressed as Don King during Big Blue Madness in 1998. And one of fans attending in 1994. Photo by E. Martin Jessee | Staff