Tonight at Rupp Arena, the Colgate basketball team will face off against No. 5 Kentucky in a highly anticipated game. For one family, however, this matchup holds a deeper significance. They will sit in the Colgate section, but regardless of the outcome, they’ll leave the arena with smiles and fond memories, celebrating the life and legacy of the late Ephraim Woods.
Woods, an Ashland, Kentucky native, was a beloved chemistry professor and men’s basketball faculty liaison at Colgate University. He passed away on February 13, 2023, after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Though a lifelong fan of the University of Kentucky basketball, Woods also developed a strong passion for Colgate basketball after joining the faculty in 2002.
His son, Aidan Woods, 23, reflected on his father’s journey from Kentucky to Colgate. “Dad grew up loving UK basketball,” Aidan shared. “He left Ashland to attend Transylvania University and later went to graduate school in Wisconsin. He conducted research at North Carolina for four years before moving to New York when I was just a year old. Once we started attending Colgate games, his love for the team grew. By 2011, he became the team’s faculty liaison, which brought him even closer to the coaches and players. I’m sure he let a few players know he was a UK fan at heart, though.”
The late professor’s dual loyalty to both schools did not go unnoticed. Colgate’s head coach, Matt Langel, who developed a strong friendship with Woods, sought to schedule a game against Kentucky as a special tribute. “Coach Langel really wanted to honor my dad,” Aidan explained. “He worked intentionally to make this game happen. Colgate also wanted to challenge itself against higher-ranked teams like Kentucky, so it was a meaningful arrangement on many levels.”
Woods’ wife, Kerri, also an Ashland native, shares deep Kentucky ties. A graduate of UK’s College of Pharmacy, Kerri will attend tonight’s game alongside her daughter Lily, a junior at Syracuse University. Friends of the family who reside in Kentucky will join them, making the occasion even more significant.
Aidan admitted to feeling torn about whom to cheer for, given his father’s connection to both teams. “We’ll be sitting in the Colgate section, so I think I’ll wear neutral colors,” he said. “I owe it to Colgate to cheer for them, but I also feel a strong pull toward Kentucky because of Dad. It’s a strange, emotional experience for us all.”
This won’t be Aidan’s first visit to Rupp Arena. He attended games there as a child and accompanied his family to a UK game in late 2022. Reflecting on tonight’s game, he shared, “We can’t believe this is happening. We’re nervous but excited. We were fortunate to travel with Colgate during March Madness in 2023—I even played clarinet in their pep band—but this feels entirely different.”
Coach Langel has worked to ensure his players understand the profound impact Woods had on the Colgate basketball program. Woods attended practices, built relationships with players, and supported the team in meaningful ways.
“Ephraim was more than just a professor,” Langel told Colgate Athletics. “He was a mentor and a friend to many of us. He influenced my life and so many others. This game is an opportunity to reflect on his contributions and celebrate his legacy. The trip to Kentucky will undoubtedly bring back a flood of emotions, but it’s a chance to honor him and all he stood for.”
For the Woods family and the Colgate team, tonight’s game is far more than a basketball matchup. It’s a heartfelt tribute to a man who bridged two worlds—Kentucky and Colgate—and left an indelible mark on everyone he met. Whether it’s Colgate or Kentucky that emerges victorious, Ephraim Woods’ legacy will shine brightly in Rupp Arena tonight.