(08-31-04)

      Football   

  • 'Cats glad to have Sweet Pea    Fortunately for the University of Kentucky Wildcats, Vincent "Sweet Pea" Burns dresses in blue and white on the football field, where he's a dominant presence at defensive end. Off the field, well, who wants to argue about fashion with a 6-foot-2, 268-pound man who likes to wear pink? "I've heard if you look good, you play good," Burns said. "That's what I try to do."  

  • Burns and Boyd Named Team Captains     Quarterback Shane Boyd and defensive end Vincent "Sweet Pea" Burns have been elected team captains for the 2004 Kentucky football season.

  • Football Press Conference Quotes   Head Coach Rich Brooks and selected players made themselves available to the media for the annual football press conference on Monday. They discussed the upcoming 2004 season-opener with Louisville.

  • Burns expected to play Sunday   Senior defensive end Vincent "Sweet Pea" Burns will return to practice today and should suit up versus Louisville on Sunday, Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks said yesterday.

  • No denying magnitude of UK-U of L    BROOKS LEARNED HARD WAY IN 2003    It didn't take Coach Rich Brooks long to realize the importance of the Kentucky-Louisville game in the Bluegrass. If he didn't realize it before he took the field, he learned in the aftermath of the Cards' 40-24 win in his first game on the Wildcats' sideline.

  • Cats go through pre-game paces    Multitalented Pulley tugged in several directions    With the season opener against Louisville now one week away, Rich Brooks officially has his Wildcats in game mode. The Kentucky football team headed to Commonwealth Stadium for its Saturday scrimmage and wore its game uniforms and went through pre-game warm-ups.

  • Wildcats know the importance of rivalry game    When junior linebacker Chad Anderson first arrived at the University of Kentucky from his home in Canton, Ohio, he knew that the University of Louisville was his new rival.

(08-30-04)

      Football   

  • Off The Record: Why UK will upset arch-rival Louisville on Sunday     According to most pigskin pundits, there really is no reason why the University of Kentucky Wildcats should don their pads and helmets for this Sunday's football game against the arch-rival University of Louisville Cardinals. These so-called experts believe the game will be over about a minute after the coin toss.
  • Dicky Lyons didn't push son to play football     Most fathers can't wait for a son to follow in their footsteps when it comes to sports.  
  • Cats find backfield surprise in Dixon   TRUE FRESHMAN TURNS HEADS IN PRACTICE   In his heart, Tony Dixon knew he wanted to be a running back.
  • hottest seat at Uk is dunn's   Just six days away from Kentucky's Sunday opener in the 'Ville, the greatest potential for an "Oh, no," is the Cats' O-Line. 
  • Cats Gearing Up For Louisville     The Kentucky football team held a one-hour 45-minute scrimmage Saturday afternoon at Commonwealth Stadium, the Wildcats’ final major scrimmage before the season opener on Sept. 5

(08-29-04)

      Football   

  • Leger may play for Wildcats earlier than he had planned    If all goes as planned, Jason Leger will find out today whether he figures into Kentucky's plans this year or not.

  • Brooks blows no smoke   Rich Brooks quickly earned a reputation for honesty in his first season as the University of Kentucky's football coach. He was quick to judge that the Wildcats' talent wasn't good enough, and if some players' feelings got hurt, so be it.

  • FAN FUNK: How it came to this    Here in Catland, this is the time of year for misplaced optimism. You hear it on the talk shows, when the true believers run up their wireless charges with predictions of tropical bowls and bragging banners. 

  • Wildcat a natural at talking the talk  LINEBACKER IS 'OFFICIAL MOUTH OF THE TEAM'   It's not a typical day at the Nutter training facility unless Chad Anderson is talking. And talking a lot. He talks before practice. He talks during practice. He talks after practice.

  • In this 3-8 season, let's see if Cats are well coached   The bottom line is always the wins and losses, but this year I don't care much about the wins and losses. I'm not concerned with the record. I can't see this Kentucky football team rising above 3-8. Indiana, Ohio and Vanderbilt or Mississippi State should provide the wins. The usual suspects will administer the usual beatings.
  • Cats go through pre-game paces    Multitalented Pulley tugged in several directions    With the season opener against Louisville now one week away, Rich Brooks officially has his Wildcats in game mode. The Kentucky football team headed to Commonwealth Stadium for its Saturday scrimmage and wore its game uniforms and went through pre-game warm-ups.
  • Cats 'sluggish' in last scrimmage before opener    With just a week left before his team's season opener against the University of Louisville, University of Kentucky football coach Rich Brooks still is bothered by the Wildcats not doing "the little things."
  • Two Cats cited for indecent exposure    Two University of Kentucky football players are scheduled to appear in court Sept. 14 after being cited this summer for indecent exposure.

      Basketball

  • UK fans have high hopes for hoops     Kentucky's highly-touted freshman basketball recruiting class got its first exposure to Big Blue Madness Thursday.
  • For some, new NBA birthed bronze   GEORGIA FORWARD THINKS UK IS A GOOD FIT; TWO OTHER RECRUITS GO IN ANOTHER DIRECTION    Yesterday at the Olympics, the U.S. men's basketball team won the bronze medal. Or as Herald-Leader editorial cartoonist Joel Pett dubbed it, the "Lebronze."
  • Cats going after Barber    Korvotney Barber, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound power forward from Manchester, Ga., has a date with the University of Kentucky's Midnight Madness.

(08-28-04)

      Football   

  • UK Football Notebook - August 28   The Kentucky football team held a one-hour 45-minute scrimmage Saturday afternoon at Commonwealth Stadium, the Wildcats’ final major scrimmage before the season opener on Sept. 5.

  • Get Ready for Cats vs. Cards   Bios, ticket info, parking, directions and online game day information for Kentucky versus Louisville at Papa John's Stadium on September 5 at 3:30 p.m.

  • Kroger Kickoff Luncheon Quotes   Head Coach Rich Brooks joined President Todd and Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart at the annual Kroger Kickoff Luncheon Friday at the Radisson in downtown Lexington. Brooks talked to the crowd about his expectations for the coming season. 

  • Will real 'Mojo' please stand up?   ABDULLAH'S STRONG START LAST YEAR ENDED UP FIZZLING
    Muhammad Abdullah is known around the University of Kentucky camp as "Mojo," but the junior safety clearly lost his mojo late in the 2003 season.

  • Wildcats' punter knows catching snap isn't snap   Anthony Thornton figures that most punters catch the ball without thinking twice about it. Not at the University of Kentucky, where something as simple as the snap from center to punter can turn disastrous.

  • 2 PLAYERS, EX-PLAYER ACCUSED IN JUNE OF INDECENT EXPOSURE   Kentucky football coach Rich Brooks, in response to a report by a local television station, said yesterday he was aware of indecent exposure cases involving two UK players and a former player that occurred earlier this summer.

(08-27-04)

      Football   

  • Five wins within Cats' reach   University of Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd and Vincent "Sweet Pea" Burns find themselves in some elite company on the cover of this year's media guide.

  • Four big questions for football minds   The sounds of the season -- football season -- fill the mind with questions. So follow me on a trek for answers. Rich Brooks is Moses, you know.

  • LBs aim to make the plays this time    It was late in the second quarter of last year's Florida-Kentucky game. Durrell White had sized up a pass by Florida quarterback Chris Leak intended for Kelvin Kight. He stepped in front of Kight, and all that stood in front of him and a 21-3 UK halftime lead was the green Bermuda grass at Commonwealth Stadium.

  • Hancock County standout commits    SCHWINDEL IS A POSSIBLE GRAYSHIRT CANDIDATE FOR CATS   The University of Kentucky football team added a fourth in-state prospect when Hancock County wide receiver/safety Mike Schwindel committed yesterday.

  • Hornets' Schwindel picks UK    Michael Schwindel will be a Kentucky Wildcat.  The Hancock County High School star football player went with his heart and chose the Big Blue when he made his verbal announcement Thursday.

  • Two-sport standout Pulley will be football-only at UK   Hopkinsville's Curtis Pulley might be Kentucky's best overall high school athlete this year.

  • End trims down, gains playing time   Married life has been known to pack a few pounds on even the best of them. 

  • Booker fills bill at corner for UK   University of Kentucky cornerback Karl Booker still remembers his first college interception.

  • Anderson talks lots, backs it up    Got a question? University of Kentucky linebacker Chad Anderson has the answer.

      Basketball

  • Tubby's Clubhouses for technology launched   DELL PROGRAM LETS LOW-INCOME YOUTHS STUDY COMPUTERS   Tyler Thurman, future politician or attorney, knows more about computers than most 14-year-olds. He probably knows more than most adults.

      Newsworthy Cats from the Past

(08-26-04)

      Football   

  • HOPKINSVILLE QUARTERBACK TO SIGN FOR 2005     Kentucky picked up its third and most significant verbal commitment for the 2005 recruiting season when Hopkinsville standout Curtis Pulley called UK recruiting coordinator Joker Phillips yesterday afternoon and told him he plans on signing with the Wildcats in February.

  • End trims down, gains playing time   BURNS' INJURY HURTS DEPTH OF CATS' LINE   Married life has been known to pack a few pounds on even the best of them. For Trey Mielsch, bigger has always been better, especially since making the transition from a 215-pound freshman linebacker into a defensive end.

(08-25-04)

      Football   

  • Return teams can be special without Abney   BUT BURTON, LYONS HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL   Yes, Derek Abney and his zillion kick-return records now are in Baltimore, but Kentucky does still plan on fielding a special teams unit this fall.

  • Abren looks to make headlines on the field   So far, most of what we know about Ricky Abren surrounds off-the-field issues. A heart condition that sidelined him all of last season. An off-season arrest that put his 2004 season in jeopardy.

  • Sweet Pea's status is up in the air    Defensive end Vincent Burns, UK's lone selection to the preseason All-Southeastern Conference team, limps around practice with his knee wrapped, looking nothing like the chipper version that was the talk of SEC Media Days in his ivory suit and pink shoes.

(08-24-04)

      Football

  • UK's Williams learning patience   Based on what he did last year, it would be easy for Mike Williams to feel a little bit overlooked going into this season.

  • Bottom line on Cats' line? Jury is out   SUSPECT UNIT IN SPRING STILL INTACT, CONFIDENT   At the conclusion of spring practice, Rich Brooks offered this assessment of his offensive line: "I think we'll be OK. And we might be better than OK."

  • UK line is largely untested     Offensive line coach Paul Dunn takes a philosophical approach toward the University of Kentucky line's inexperience.

  • Holt's game-day play key at receiver   There aren't many certainties regarding the Kentucky offense this fall. But if everything comes together in the passing game, UK does have potential at receiver. 

  • Long wait finally ends for Wildcats' talented QB Boyd  Boyd split time with Lorenzen in 2001, starting five games and throwing for 853 yards and four touchdowns. The last two years, though, he's been strictly a backup.   

      Basketball

  • UK loses blue-chip recruit to N.C.   This time, the tradition of the University of Kentucky, the winningest program in college basketball history, couldn't match the mystique of the University of North Carolina's storied program.
  • Hansbrough spurns UK for Tar Heels   CATS HAVE THEIR SIGHTS SET ON BARBER AT POWER FORWARD    Heralded prospect Tyler Hansbrough committed to North Carolina, an announcement that interrupted -- but did not end -- Kentucky's search for a forward this recruiting year.
  • Brian Smith Joins Rebel Basketball Team   Brian Smith, a freshman point guard from Lexington, Ky., is the latest addition to the 2004-05 Ole Miss basketball roster. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Smith is the son of Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith.  

(08-23-04)

      Football

  • Holt's game-day play key at receiver  BURTON RETURNING STAR; 6-6 DEWALT MAKING NOISE  There aren't many certainties regarding the Kentucky offense this fall. But if everything comes together in the passing game, UK does have potential at receiver.

  • Boyd ready for attention   University of Kentucky senior quarterback Shane Boyd knows he's being watched.

      Basketball

  • Highly sought big man from Missouri picks UNC     Highly recruited basketball star Tyler Hansbrough intended to announce his college choice today at a news conference in his hometown of Poplar Bluff, Mo.
  • UK has Plan B for power forward   At 6:30 tonight, Poplar Bluff High (Mo.) forward Tyler Hansbrough will announce where he will go to college next fall. If Hansbrough picks the University of Kentucky, the Wildcats' coaching staff can spend the rest of the year recruiting underclassmen without worrying about signing any more players for the class of 2005. As of now, UK has only one scholarship to give.

      Newsworthy Cats from the Past

  • Big Blue add Keith Chatelain   The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today added an import offensive lineman to its practice roster with the acquisition of Keith Chatelain. 

(08-22-04)

      Football

  • Cats scrimmage on field similar to Papa John's   University of Kentucky linebacker Chad Anderson lost his footing about four times on the first series of the team's scrimmage yesterday at Tates Creek High School.  

  • big building blocks   Kentucky running back Arliss Beach couldn't contain his excitement when he first got an up-close look at freshmen offensive linemen Micah Jones and Kane Hannaford. 

  • Piecoro says what's on everybody's minds   He had some rather big shoes to fill, or maybe it was that beard and occasional ponytail he had to follow. 

  • Cats still searching for a go-to tailback   Pretty soon Rich Brooks might place a help-wanted ad for a starting tailback.  

  • new brand of backs    A new offense and a new part of the country isn't all that Draak Davis learned about during his first year at the University of Kentucky.

      Basketball

  • UK Basketball Notebook   The U.S. men's Olympic team lays an egg in Athens.   Louisville-based recruiting analyst Clark Francis goes to San Diego to evaluate sixth- and seventh-graders.

  • Cats looking at foreign trip    The University of Kentucky men are looking into the possibility of taking a foreign trip in October, which would give the Wildcats 10 extra practices and a weekend full of games against international competition.  

      Newsworthy Cats from the Past

(08-21-04)

      Football

      Newsworthy Cats from the Past

(08-20-04)

      Basketball

  • UK Women’s Basketball Announces 2004-05 Schedule   The Kentucky women’s basketball team announced its 2004-05 schedule, which features 17 home games and 13 opponents that advanced to post-season play last March, including five teams ranked in the final Top 25 polls. In addition to the tough 14-game Southeastern Conference slate, other highlights on the Wildcats’ schedule include a three-game stand at the Paradise Jam in the US Virgin Islands and three games at Rupp Arena.
  • UK women's basketball schedule includes trip to Virgin Islands   A tournament in the Virgin Islands, 17 home games and an always-tough Southeastern Conference slate highlight the 29-game University of Kentucky women's basketball 2004-05 schedule released yesterday.
  • DeMoss hopes softer schedule builds confidence    Coach Mickie DeMoss can't do much about the degree of difficulty associated with playing in the Southeastern Conference, so she softened her young team's non-conference schedule to build confidence

      Football

(08-19-04)

      Basketball

  • Prospect expected to choose N. Carolina   Tyler Hansbrough, the highly rated prospect thought to be at the top of Kentucky's basketball wish list, has called a news conference for Monday to announce his college choice.

      Football

  • Burton believes in Boyd    Keenan Burton heard all summer how Kentucky’s offense would become run-oriented this year now that Shane Boyd, a more natural running quarterback, is taking over the Wildcats’ offense

  • Pulley draws Clayton's praise   The impact of Hopkinsville High School football coach Craig Clayton's statement at the Rotary Club Tuesday afternoon echoed through the streets of Hopkinsville well into the night.

  • Burns out with slight knee tear  BROOKS EXPECTS SWEET PEA BACK FOR U OF L GAME  University of Kentucky defensive end Sweet Pea Burns will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery this morning to repair a small cartilage tear in his knee, UK Coach Rich Brooks said yesterday.

  • UK's Burns to have knee scoped today   University of Kentucky defensive end Vincent "Sweet Pea" Burns will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery this morning to repair a slight tear in his lateral cartilage, coach Rich Brooks said yesterday.

  • Converted receiver catches attention at cornerback   Kentucky's quarterbacks are starting to figure out it's best to keep the ball away from Karl Booker. Booker, a non-scholarship player who converted from wide receiver to cornerback in the spring, still is learning the intricacies of the position.

  • Wildcats' Johnson not usual walk-on    Even though no one is confusing him with the best linebackers in the SEC yet, Johnson has proved that he's plenty fast to play for UK and that his height isn't that much of a shortcoming.

(08-18-04)

      Basketball

  • College basketball schedules affected by lawsuit    On the Web site for the Coaches vs. Cancer basketball tournament, the promo mentions Cal, Duke, Kentucky, and Syracuse with a tiny asterisk that denotes scheduled to participate.
  • Hansbrough Set To Announce    One of the nation's Top 5 ranked prospects is ready to make an announcement on where he plans to attend college next year.

      Football

  • Kentucky Football Notebook - August 18   Kentucky has four running backs with game experience, all of whom are juniors, including tailbacks Arliss Beach and Draak Davis, fullback Rock Johnson, and fullback/tailback Alexis Bwenge. Beach led the team in rushing last season with 366 yards and eight touchdowns.  Plus: Student season ticket sales break record.

  • Burns to Have Arthroscopic Knee Surgery   Kentucky senior defensive end Vincent “Sweet Pea” Burns has a small cartilage tear in his knee and will undergo arthroscopic surgery on Thursday, Coach Rich Brooks has announced.

  • UK’s success could rest on defense  Kentucky football coaches, players and fans have become used to being defensive about their team. They may be again this year, but that might bode well for the Wildcats  

  • Grand jury to hear UK fight case   An Oldham County grand jury will decide whether University of Kentucky linebacker Dustin Williams will be indicted in a July 10 fight that involved three UK football players.  

  • Taking a Cut  "Come on, act like you've been there before."  "Will the center please move the ball to the line ?" 

  • Cats' bruises just minor bumps in the road   Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks said he isn't concerned about the rash of minor injuries during the first week of fall practice. 

  • UK counting on minutes from FCHS's Wallace    The news wasn't good for University of Kentucky linebacker Dustin Williams, who found out Monday that he would be out up to six weeks with a hamstring injury.

(08-17-04)

      Football

  • Boyd goes into season knowing he's the No. 1 quarterback      Rather than feel sorry for himself when things were not going as well as he hoped, Shane Boyd understood hard times were part of his maturation process

  • Kentucky Football Notebook - August 16   Outside Linebackers Making Progress: Kentucky’s outside linebackers have made solid progress in fall practice, according to Mike Archer, UK’s defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach.

  • Williams likely out for UK's opener  SPEEDIER JOHNSON TO TAKE A STARTING SPOT AT LINEBACKER  The University of Kentucky defense will probably be without its second-leading returning tackler when the Cats face Louisville on Sept. 5.

  • Cats' LB out up to 6 weeks   University of Kentucky linebacker Dustin Williams, the team's second-leading tackler a year ago, will miss 5-6 weeks because of a partially torn hamstring in his left leg.

  • Tamme, Begley, Hopewell were always UK fans  Since he's been a life-long University of Kentucky fan, Jacob Tamme always paid close attention to who was playing for the Wildcats.

  • Walk-on Johnson has name and game    He's got a name University of Kentucky football fans already know, but now he's going to have his chance to show he has a game worthy of making people take notice.  

(08-16-04)

      Football

  • Boyd relishes leadership role on Kentucky football team    Even when he wasn't Kentucky's starting quarterback, Shane Boyd considered himself a leader. 

  • Brooks supports prep football    If Kentucky coach Rich Brooks had declined the invitation to speak at the Bob Allen Pigskin Classic dinner, it would have been understandable.

  • UK nuggets to munch on before the season     Kentucky opens its football season Sept. 5 at Louisville as the Wildcats will be trying to show they have improved dramatically from coach Rich Brooks' first season when they finished 4-8 in 2003

  • Tom Leach on 'What Cats need for a winning year'    How do you think the Cats will do this year? Truth is, I gave up these kinds of predictions a few years ago. First, a team or two that looks beatable now will turn out to be better than we think - and the opposite is invariably true as well. And I'm usually a glass-half-full kind of guy so I tend to err on the side of optimism when given the chance.

  • Kentucky Football Notebook - August 16   Kentucky’s outside linebackers have made solid progress in fall practice, according to Mike Archer, UK’s defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach. 

  • First-year players could make impact     Most coaches will tell you that the first week of summer football practice is too early to get excited about true freshmen. 

      Newsworthy Cats from the Past

  • Prime-time player   National Basketball Association player Derek Anderson is being fussed over by a barber and a makeup artist at his 7,200-square-foot home off Brownsboro Road. They're prepping him to be filmed by Black STARZ!, the 24-hour cable and satellite movie channel. 

(08-15-04)

      Football

      Basketball

  • ex-cat has one master    Georgia's loss not Kentucky's gain; Smith makes his rounds all around    For most people, the rooting passions subside with age. The "hate" and "love" for teams and players cool like lava rivers steaming toward the ocean.

  • Second-leading scorer Pfeiffer quits    During her short Kentucky career, guard Jenny Pfeiffer battled a broken hand, shooting slumps, coaching changes and finally mononucleosis.

  • UK women lose Pfeiffer, a starter   University of Kentucky junior guard Jenny Pfeiffer has left the women's basketball program, coach Mickie DeMoss announced yesterday. Pfeiffer has not decided whether she will transfer or remain at UK and not play basketball.   

      Newsworthy Cats from the Past

(08-14-04)

      Football

  • Fans Meet the Cats   Saturday proved to be a busy day for the Kentucky football team as the Wildcats took part in Fans’ Day activities followed by a three-hour practice at Commonwealth Stadium. Click for the rest of the notebook plus a photo gallery from Fans' Day

  • U of L Coache's behavior does not yet match his potential   On paper, the debut looked great. First year as Louisville's head coach, Bobby Petrino went 9-4 last season. He beat Kentucky. He produced the nation's fifth-ranked offense. He took the Cards to a bowl.

  • Hudson's plan leans on O-line   COORDINATOR'S FORTUNES HINGE ON UNTESTED UNIT   Ron Hudson is still preaching patience in regards to his University of Kentucky offense

  • Wildcats ready to count on defense   Defense and University of Kentucky football have not been paired in the same sentence often since the arrival of former coach Hal Mumme, unless "defense" was immediately preceded by "pitiful."

      Basketball

  • Pfeiffer Leaves UK Women’s Basketball Program   Kentucky junior Jenny Pfeiffer has left the women’s basketball program, Coach Mickie DeMoss announced today. Pfeiffer has not decided if she will transfer or remain at Kentucky and not play basketball.

  • Big Blue Madness to stay put    Big Blue Madness, a longtime staple at Kentucky's on-campus Memorial Coliseum, will remain at the old facility this year, UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said yesterday.

(08-13-04)

      Football

  • Depth a problem for Cats     Despite all the talk about Kentucky's potential offensive problems this season, that is not the biggest concern coach Rich Brooks and his staff have.

  • Knee doesn't worry lineman    UK'S PELAYO SAYS INJURY IS BEHIND HIM    Ernie Pelayo's first real test came when his knee got locked under a defender during team drills at Kentucky's football practice yesterday.

  • Wildcats look for breakout victory after near-misses   Most Southeastern Conference teams spend the offseason talking about the league's title game or a bowl.  

      Basketball

  • North Carolina is No. 1 in preseason Top 30   I can't wait to tip it off, baby! With so many talented players returning, the season should be excitement galore. It should be special, and a number of quality teams are capable of cutting down the nets at the Final Four in St. Louis. Here's my summertime preseason Top 30:

  • Madness Stays at Memorial for 2004    Big Blue Madness, Kentucky’s annual beginning of the men’s and women’s basketball seasons, will remain at 8,500-seat Memorial Coliseum this year with an eye towards moving the event to 23,000-seat Rupp Arena in 2005. This year’s event is Oct. 15, with tickets to be distributed on Oct. 9. 

(08-12-04)

      Football

  • Kentucky Football Notebook - August 12     Coach Rich Brooks spoke at the Lexington Rotary Club luncheon on Thursday and spent extensive time talking the new faces the fans will see in 2004.   Injury update on Warren Wilson, Dicky Lyons and Jeremiah Drobney.

  • Wallace, McClinton feel right at home   When Gabe Wallace finally decided to allow the ink to dry on his letter of intent to play football at Kentucky last year, he was still not 100 percent sure the University of Kentucky was where he wanted to call home.  

  • Cornerbacks still a puzzle   The University of Kentucky cornerback corps suffered a blow last month when Bo Smith was lost for the season because of injuries suffered in an off-the-field incident. 

(08-11-04)

      Football

  • No hype, just hope    Rich Brooks knows his football team will be better in his second go-around as coach at Kentucky. 

  • New attitude helped Anderson's play    Often Kentucky has to count on players to overachieve if it wants to develop impact football players.

  • Wildcats now Boyd's team     Shane Boyd could never see the imaginary hook last season, but he always felt it looming over him like a bill collector on the first of the month.

  • UK Notebook: Freshmen offensive linemen can get playing time     Normally it's hard for an incoming freshman to earn significant playing time in the offensive line.

  • Little wants to play     Rafael Little's physical skills have always been obvious. He has over a 40-inch vertical jump, can run the 40-yard dash as fast as 4.2 seconds and can squat 515 pounds.

  • Cats 'much closer now'   While plenty of uncertainties remain about the coming season, the Wildcats at least have their focus on the field rather than on who's patrolling the sideline.

  • Coaches Pleased With First Practice   Coach Rich Brooks got a good impression from his team’s first practice Tuesday afternoon at the Nutter Training Facility. Clad in helmets, jerseys, and shorts, the Wildcats split into two groups and each group practiced approximately two and one-half hours

  • Brooks says injured Cook will be 'like a student-coach for us'     Senior receiver Tommy Cook isn't expected to play this season because of a knee injury he suffered during spring practice, but he still might have an impact on the University of Kentucky football team.

  • UK's Believers seem to have leader in Jones    It was a morning sent down from Big Blue Heaven: pristine sky overhead, impeccable green grass underfoot and the University of Kentucky Wildcats in shiny new uniforms. On a day like this, UK media day, all things seem possible: life on Neptune, talking squirrels — even Cats football glory.

  • Will new year bring new results to UK?    As the University of Kentucky football team eases into Year II of its Rich Brooks experiment, the Wildcats are hoping it's easier the second time around

  • Dickerson hopes keeping his job is a snap     Jason Dickerson thinks he played well enough last year to earn a return engagement as Kentucky's long snapper.

  • Cats find comfort in continuity   As daunting as Florida, Georgia and Tennessee seemed, they might not have been the toughest battles for Coach Rich Brooks in his first season at Kentucky.

  • Brooks brooks no distractions   CLOSED PRACTICES WILL KEEP FOCUS ON OPENER, HE SAYS   Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks has decided to close practices to the public, the first time that has happened since Bill Curry's final year in 1996.

  • Team just might steal parking lot's thunder    Here we are heading to the annual Kentucky Football Media Day, walking across the most coveted piece of real estate just off Commonwealth Stadium.

(08-10-04)

      Football

  • 2004 Kentucky Football Media Day Quotes   Head Coach Rich Brooks   Opening remarks…  
    “I’m really excited about getting on the field this afternoon, especially with the newcomers thrown into the mix. We have a healthy Ernie Pelayo to work with in the offensive line. We only have two players that are in our 105 right now that won’t practice. Tommy Cook won’t be able to practice at all and in all likelihood won’t be able to play this year. Rafael Little is still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. He will join us in full-speed practice in the next couple of weeks. Everybody appears to be relatively healthy. Everyone had a good summer in the conditioning and weightlifting areas. I’m looking forward to getting them out there. The first two days are in shorts, the second two days are in helmets and shoulder pads, and the fifth day will be our first day in pads. That’s the schedule as mandated by the NCAA. It appears we won’t have our normal hot weather just yet, but I’m hopeful that we’ll get some soon. It’s my understanding that it can get warm in Papa John’s Stadium. So, we need to prepare ourselves for that game since it’s an afternoon kickoff. I am extremely pleased with the attitude of this football team and the way they worked and attacked the weight room. We’ve developed a new room with some new machines, and that has really shown in our vertical jump, our explosion, our power cleans, our squats and our lower body work, which is critically important. I’m waiting to see it out on the field, I’m anxious to see the explosion on the practice field rather than just in the weight room.”      

  • Wildcats aim to disprove pollsters   The days of the University of Kentucky football team feeling sorry for itself ended the day freshman Micah Jones stepped on campus.  

  • Kentucky Football Notebook - August 10   Wildcats Headed for the Field: After reporting to campus on Monday, the Wildcats had a full day of activity scheduled for Tuesday.

  • Time to turn to defense     With an offense that could become one of the nation's best, University of Louisville football coach Bobby Petrino knows that one of the biggest obstacles between his team and a special season could be its development on defense.

  • Cassity looking forward to rivalry with UK   His college coaching career took him to 11 schools before he found his way to Louisville this season. Now former University of Kentucky defensive back Mike Cassity is looking forward to his first game as Louisville's defensive coordinator against - who else - Kentucky Sept. 5.

  • Coach stared down same problem while at Oregon     A 10-second college football quiz.   Name the team that:  A.) Recently led Florida 21-3 in the fourth quarter ... ... and lost.  ........

  • Wildcats' rookies arrive early   The Kentucky football newcomers and veterans reported yesterday, but there wasn't a huge sense of newness among most of the rookies. 

(08-09-04)

      Football

  • Football Players Report to Campus - Photo Gallery   The Kentucky football players officially reported on Monday in preparation for the 2004 season. The players were fitted for equipment, had physicals, and went through other orientation activities. The team’s first practice will be Tuesday.

  • UK's Abren receives 2nd felony charge   Suspended Kentucky football player Ricky Abren had a second felony charge added to his case during a court hearing in his hometown.

  • UK player faces 2nd charge   Suspended University of Kentucky football player Ricky Abren had a second felony charge added to his case during a court hearing in his hometown.

      Basketball

  • Another rugged schedule looms for UK    A home date with Kansas and road trips to North Carolina and Louisville highlight Kentucky's 2004-05 basketball schedule, released yesterday.

  • UK faces Tar Heels, Jayhawks     An exhibition against Northern Kentucky University, a home date with Kansas and road trips to North Carolina and Louisville highlight the University of Kentucky's 2004-05 basketball schedule.

(08-08-04)

      Football

  • Countdown to kickoff, from 10 to 1  College football follows a deeply ingrained off-season rhythm. From February signing day we proceed to spring ball, then summer arrest season, then conference media days (Phil Fulmer abstaining).  

  • UK offensive coordinator had a first season to forget   As he introduced University of Kentucky offensive coordinator Ron Hudson to a group of Jefferson County boosters last week, radio talk-show host Tony Cruise offered a modest compliment, saying the Wildcats' offense did "pretty well" in Hudson's first season.  

(08-07-04)

      Basketball

  • Kentucky Basketball Releases 2004-05 Schedule    Kentucky’s men’s basketball team, which has won a nation-leading 59 games over the last two seasons despite playing stiff competition, once again takes on a very competitive schedule in 2004-05, the school announced Saturday. The Wildcats, the winningest program in college basketball, face eight 2004 NCAA Tournament teams and the second and third-winningest teams of all-time as Kansas and North Carolina appear on the non-conference schedule.

      Football

(08-06-04)

  • New rules' Kentuckiana impact small   Although the NCAA considered recruiting excesses such a problem that it rushed to legislate reforms yesterday, representatives from area universities say the new rules will have little effect on how they recruit.

      Football

  • Moving game from opener helps no one   U OF L'S JURICH MAY NOT BEND IF UK DEMANDS     CHANGE    Isn't this going to be interesting? It now seems apparent that Kentucky athletics officials are all but certain to end the practice of the UK-Louisville football game starting each season.

  • Cards: No regrets for late TD   No regrets over no knee. Bobby Petrino said yesterday that he has no second thoughts about the final touchdown that Louisville tacked on with six seconds left last year in its 40-24 pasting of archrival Kentucky.

  • Late drive put Petrino in bad spot   University of Louisville football coach Bobby Petrino doesn't doubt that his decision to go for a touchdown instead of taking a knee with six seconds left in last year's game will be a source of motivation for the Wildcats when the teams meet to open the season.

(08-05-04)

      Basketball

  • Watch Out for Hayes!   University of Kentucky senior forward Chuck Hayes has been named one of 50 preseason candidates for the prestigious John R. Wooden Award. The list, announced today, is composed of student-athletes who, based on last year’s individual performance and team records, are the early frontrunners for the coveted trophy.

      Football

  • UK's AD wants U of L game regardless of date   University of Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart wants the Wildcats' football series with the University of Louisville to continue, no matter when the game is played.

  • Humbled Hudson promises better   Offensive coordinators are traditional punching bags, but even a veteran like Ron Hudson had to be thrown for a loss. 

  • Kentucky not predicting gloom    At SEC Media Days last week, Kentucky coach Rich Brooks was asked about the futility of perpetually looking up at Eastern Division powers Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.

      Newsworthy Cats from the Past

  • Couch provides glimpse   Green Bay - Nothing that Tim Couch has shown in his first seven practices for the Green Bay Packers would disqualify him from being Brett Favre's successor. 

  • Packers Notebook: Couch Coming Along   Quarterback Tim Couch has been thrown straight into the fire, trying to pick up a new offense without the benefit of mini-camps. Couch has earned high praise from a number of sources after his early camp performances.

  • Hawks Obtain Three-Time All-Star Antoine Walker   Atlanta also lands guard Tony Delk, as Jason Terry and Alan Henderson head to Dallas 

(08-04-04)

      Football

  • UK loses key recruit for season opener   RAFAEL LITTLE RECOVERING FROM KNEE SURGERY   Kentucky apparently will be without touted running back recruit Rafael Little when the Wildcats kick-off the football season Sept. 5 at archrival Louisville.

(08-03-04)

      Football

  • Private-plane ban concerns some in SEC   PROPOSAL WOULD MAKE RECRUITS GO THE EXTRA MILES   Last week at the Southeastern Conference Media Days, South Carolina Coach Lou Holtz cracked jokes about the proposed crackdown on recruiting practices, saying the Gamecocks couldn't find Starkville, Miss., in chartered planes, let alone commercial.

(08-02-04)

      Football

(08-01-04)

      Football

  • LHL Football Notebook  Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks stood at a podium in Birmingham's Wynfrey Hotel and labeled 2004 as a year "that could go in a lot of directions. I think we're headed up the ladder." 

      Basketball

  • LHL Basketball Notebook     Kentuckian Steve Smith's celebrated coaching career proves that old adage of big things coming from small packages.