WATCH: Storytime with Tennessee Villain Ron Slay at SEC Media Days

You never know who you’re going to run into at SEC Media Days. This year I bumped past the first college basketball player I can remember hating with a fiery passion, Ron Slay.

The Tennessee Volunteer was an SEC menace from 1999-03. He was .3 points per game away from averaging in double figures in all four seasons in Knoxville. Even though Tubby Smith’s Wildcats defeated him in five of six meetings, Ron Slay will always be a personal first in a long line of Tennessee villains.

Even though he was despised two decades ago across the BBN, he was a good sport in a conversation with KSR.

Why Slay Rocked the Headband

There were many reasons to hate Ron Slay. First and foremost, he played for Tennessee. Secondly, he was a bully in the paint that was never too shy to get physical. The cherry on top was his signature look, a white headband.

“It actually came into play eighth grade year,” he told KSR. “I wanted to do something to stand out a little bit. After so long, probably about two years as a sophomore, I tried to stop wearing it and sweat was running in my eyes. I got used to it and had to keep it going.”

Slay was a trendsetter. It developed into the go-to symbol for a long-line of Tennessee villains. Of all the bad guys in orange to rock the headband, Ron Slay is the creme de la creme.

“The problem is, Wayne (Chism) is my guy, but he wears it like a yarmulke or a halo, something like that. That’s not how you’re supposed to wear it,” said Slay. “Tyler Smith and those guys had it going, Scotty Hopson put it on for a while, but when you get to the essence of it, it’s all me.”

A Chuck Hayes Memory

When reflecting on his rivalry meetings with Kentucky, one memory stands out above the rest for the Nashville radio host. In 2003 Ron Slay got into a zone at Rupp Arena.

“They were double-teaming me, sometimes triple-teaming me. I remember I shot a shot from about the K. Chuck Hayes was guarding me and while the ball was in the air, I was backing up telling him, ‘This is bottoms.’

“Coach Smith, Tubby (was coaching) at the time, looked at Chuck and said, ‘Come on, you gotta do something!’

“Chuck looked at Coach Smith like, ‘He shot from the K!’ That was a some good moments,” Slay laughed.

Slay had 22 points and 14 rebounds, but the second-ranked Wildcats’ balanced attack was too much for Tennessee. Five players scored in double figures, led by Keith Bogans’ 15 points, and Kentucky won 80-68. Despite the loss, Slay remembers it fondly.

“In that game, that was the first time I walked off the court after doing interviews, they gave me a standing ovation. The love was there. It was a respect thing.”