UK fraternity gets free man cave makeover before Final Four game
By Cheryl Truman Wildcat blue steps leading downstairs to a sign that designates the area "Kentucky Wildcats Avenue." A stretch of floor painted Wildcat blue. University of Kentucky ribbon adorning the top blind of each window. UK pillows on leather futons and a UK throw blanket on a leather ottoman. A UK light fixture over the pool table, and a bistro bar in the corner.
And, most important for viewing the Wildcats in the Final Four, three new plasma televisions: two 50-inch TVs on either side of a 42-inch.
After a week of being barred from their basement, the dream room was unveiled for members of the University of Kentucky chapter of Phi Kappa Tau on Thursday, with ESPN Sports Nation co-host Michelle Beadle on hand to show the Final Four suite to fraternity members.
Aaron Parris, a sophomore from Webster County, said the unveiling was a surprise for most members, who knew something was going on downstairs but were not told what it was.
"A lot of people got crazy excited about it," Parris said.
The makeover was courtesy of the Sears Blue Tool Crew "Do It Together" team, which selected the fraternity's chapter house on Lexington Avenue based on its members' volunteer efforts.
Although members perform at least 20 hours of community service a semester, some do hundreds of hours. Many were engaged in the fraternity's latest service project, volunteering at the Hope Center for homeless men on Loudon Avenue.
The cost of the makeover was not available, but Phi Kappa Tau members are thrilled with the result.
Their house, left to them by a Phi Kappa Tau alumnus, now has a UK man cave to complement its old-English country feel upstairs, which features a luxurious library.
