July 2002 WildcatZone.Com News Archive (7-31-02)      Football QB trio proves SEC's air command    This article is from the second of three Southeastern Conference Media Days to promote the upcoming football season. Kentucky takes part in the final session today. (7-30-02) Eager for challenge, Slive runs into it early    This week is about Southeastern Conference football, its players and coaches, new commissioner Mike Slive said. That directive was meant to put the focus of SEC Media Days on the game, not its problems.      Football Georgia's Bailey says UK has talent    Even though he patiently listened to what University of Kentucky recruiters had to say, Boss Bailey never considered playing anywhere except home-state Georgia. SEC gives students a boost    Normally there's always some type of news coming out of the Southeastern Conference Football Media Days pertaining to Kentucky. Football still king in the SEC    Nineteen tables. Twelve lined one wall. Seven lined another. There were 19 tables yesterday in the narrow hallway that connects the main lobby of the Wynfrey Hotel with the Riverchase Galleria. UK pigskin fans are devoted victims    If University of Kentucky football is known for anything beyond its perverse tradition of calamitous fumbles, blown coverages and luckless conference affiliation, it is this: Its resolute fans. Slive sits out UK, 'Bama cases    New Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive is chairman of the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee, but he said yesterday that he won't hear the upcoming Kentucky and Alabama cases. Arkansas' Wilson snubbed by UK    George Wilson still doesn't understand why it all turned out this way. Some 2-9 seasons at UK are better than others    Sometimes no matter how you look at it, a 2-9 record is still a 2-9 record. (7-28-02)      Basketball Demanding schedule has homecoming angle    A homecoming and the resumption of a brief but highly entertaining series are among the highlights on Kentucky's schedule next season. Kentucky can't contain Big Blue    Lexington resident Judy Wiglesworth Phillips learned anew recently of Kentucky basketball's world-wide pull. Would you believe Big Blue in Red Square? He's Unforgettable    Richie Farmer didn't shoot his way into the University of Kentucky's 1,000-point club, but he remains one of the most popular Wildcats ever. Other Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame inductees         Football Learning to inspire a lifetime    In one corner of UK basketball coach Tubby Smith's conference room hangs a small, simple poster of a little kid holding a basketball. UK brings women inside the huddle    Keeping in tune with its 2003 marketing slogan, "Get Your Game Face On," the UK coaching staff is giving women across the Bluegrass a chance to do just that with the first Guy Morriss Women's Football Clinic to be held Saturday at the Student Center Ballroom. UK's Hall trying to enlighten kids    University of Kentucky offensive lineman Antonio Hall remembers a trip to a college football game during the eighth grade that changed his outlook. Now Hall, a 20-year-old junior, hopes a program he created for middle school students will do the same for them. Morriss could use endorsement to help in recruiting     Mitch Barnhart starts this week as athletic director at the University of Kentucky, trying to point a troubled athletic program in the right direction. (7-26-02) Jefferson County Alumni Association Kickoff Event Photos    Coach Guy Morriss and the rest of the football coaching staff travelled to Louisville Thursday night to take part in the event for the Jefferson County alumni, kicking off the 2002 football season.      Football Recruit Reynolds to miss season     His job may be on the line this season and a deck that's already stacked against University of Kentucky football coach Guy Morriss just had another card placed upon it. Nearly 700 flock to support Morriss    Most of the hot topics floating around the Kentucky athletics circles made the rounds at last night's CUB Wildcat Kickoff Party at Louisville Slugger Field. UK faithful offer Morriss support    A firm handshake and a smile might not win Guy Morriss any football games, but it won him a fair share of fans last night at Louisville Slugger Field. Hall tries to steer kids toward college    What do athletics, academics, and culture have in common? They are all components of the first Complete College Experience, a one-day camp designed by Kentucky football player Antonio Hall.      Baseball Former baseball player wore a skirt but was the real deal    First, a little chin music. Patricia Scott is gonna aim some high heat at the head of Tom Hanks. No one, she says, had to tell the women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League that there was "no crying in baseball." (7-25-02)      Football 2003 class gets third commitment    The University of Kentucky football program received its third verbal commitment for the 2003 recruiting season when Evansville linebacker Joe Schuler told the UK coaching staff this week that he would sign with the Wildcats in February. Schuler, linebacker from Evansville, commits to UK    Joe Schuler, an all-state linebacker from Evansville, Ind., has committed to the University of Kentucky after visiting the school last weekend. He is the third high school senior to-be to commit to the Wildcats, joining offensive lineman Ryan Nesbit from Indianapolis and safety Dallas Greer from Bell County in Pineville, Ky.      Basketball Daniels, Fitch finish service work    University of Kentucky basketball players Erik Daniels and Gerald Fitch have completed their community service requirements, and the charge of using fake identification to get into a nightclub has been expunged from their records. (7-24-02)      Football Antonio Hall Creates Complete College Experience    What do athletics, academics, and culture have in common? They are all components of the first Complete College Experience, a one-day camp solely created and designed by Kentucky football player Antonio Hall. Evansville linebacker picks UK    Kentucky's losing records the last two football seasons didn't keep Evansville linebacker Joe Schuler from deciding to play with the Wildcats. (7-23-02) New UK AD faces tough task    Mitch Barnhart will be paid more than University of Kentucky President Lee Todd to run the school's athletic program. (7-21-02) Barnhart positive about UK's future    Give new University of Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart credit for not needing long to endear himself to UK fans and irritate those at the University of Louisville.      Basketball Ivy's chapter concludes, but there's no shortage of juicy plots    Twenty-one random musings on America's longest-running soap opera: As the Big Blue Turns. 1. On a personal level, I want to feel sorry for Larry Ivy, I really do. New AD 'anxious' to see how UK works    Mitch Barnhart's tentative plan calls for him to start work as the University of Kentucky's athletics director on Aug. 1, return to Oregon soon thereafter to complete his family's move and then be fully in place at UK by mid-August. The children begin school at Lexington Christian Academy on Aug. 19. A Who's Who of the gurus    In the basketball recruiting world, they are known as analysts, gurus, mavens (and a few names unsuitable for print in a family newspaper).      Football Barnhart making no promises regarding Morriss's future    Perhaps the most pressing issue facing new University of Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart is what to do with the school's probation-ridden football program. (7-19-02)      Basketball Smith: Parker on schedule for next season    Center Jason Parker is now "mentally focused" on getting healthy for the 2002-2003 basketball season and should start running in the next few days. UK trio will make the point    There's actually something positive that could develop for the University of Kentucky basketball team while junior point guard Cliff Hawkins sits out the first semester of the 2002-2003 season as an academic casualty.      Football Upcoming Football Events    Events include SEC Media Days, Media Day in Lexington, UK/UL Kickoff Luncheon, and Fan Day - culminating in the UK/UL game, Sunday, Sept. 1 at 6:00 pm in Louisville. Lonnie Wheeler- Enduring war with waistline    For Jared Lorenzen, May is the cruelest month. Classes out, spring football over, May is a beach. It is R & R & R - rest, relaxation and refrigerator. It's sleeping in and carrying out. CATS EVALUATING LOUISVILLE EASTERN LB    Louisville Eastern LB Andre Bradford could be a name to watch this fall on the Wildcats' recruiting radar. (7-18-02)      Basketball Tubby Smith SEC Teleconference Quotes    Tubby Smith talked to the media during a SEC teleconference Thursday afternoon. He talked about losing Cliff Hawkins for a semester, the possibility of getting Jason Parker back, and the newcomers.      Football MORRISS WILL ATTEND KICKOFF PARTY JULY 25    UK coach Guy Morriss and several assistant coaches will be at Louisville's Slugger Field next week to talk about the 2002 Cats and sign autographs. (7-17-02) Todd had to pay more to get more    There might be a simple explanation why Lee Todd is cracking open the university piggy bank for new athletics director Mitch Barnhart. Barnhart takes over at UK    Mitch Barnhart, 42, left Oregon State for a 7-year deal at the Wildcat helm. (7-16-02) UK President Announces New Athletics Director    University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. today announced at a news conference that former Oregon State University Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart has been named UK's new athletics director. Barnhart's enthusiasm should help Kentucky    The way Mitch Barnhart makes it sound, Kentucky should be competing for a national championship in every sport. UK hires Oregon State AD    It was a rare victory to savor for long-suffering University of Kentucky football fans on Monday, and now the question is will it turn into a victory for the entire athletic department? (7-15-02) UK expected to name Barnhart    The University of Kentucky is expected to name Oregon State's Mitch Barnhart as its athletics director today. Barnhart has said he interviewed for the job, and The Oregonian, a Portland newspaper, reported that he will be announced as the AD today.      Football Johnson ready for long year in NFL    Dennis Johnson says there is no way he can know how demanding his first year in the National Football League will be. (7-14-02) What we'll see    Monday UK is sending signals that it will name a new athletics director at a news conference on campus. Oregon State AD Mitch Barnhart appears to be a finalist, but the school has been typically reticent throughout the search. Given the very public hoops Lee Todd had to jump through to get his gig, we have to wonder why he sees the need for secrecy.        Basketball Whoever foots the bill    All's fair in love, war and shoe company deals. That's the lesson to draw from LeBron James' appearances at the summer camps sponsored by Adidas and Nike last week.      Football Enticing season of football grows near    For those suffering the summertime blues, we offer hope. For those fearing baseball will go bust, we offer a different pitch. For those fearing Wall Street will sink our spirits into depression, we offer a reason to believe. (7-12-02) Athletics Director Announcement Monday    The University of Kentucky Athletic Association Board of Directors and the UK Board of Trustees' Executive Committee will meet at 1 p.m. Monday, July 15, to consider UK President Lee Todd's recommendation of the appointment of the new UK athletics director. Immediately following the meetings, a news conference will be held. UK set to name AD; Barnhart a possibility    The University of Kentucky apparently will name a new athletics director on Monday. UK announced that the university athletics association board of directors and the executive committee of the school's board of trustees will meet at 1 p.m. Monday to consider President Lee Todd's recommendation for a new AD.     Football Bell County star opts for UK    Bell County High School defensive back Dallas Greer said his recent non-binding commitment to play football for the University of Kentucky was a matter of loyalty. (7-11-02) Todd selects 3 finalists for AD job    University of Kentucky President Lee Todd has narrowed his search for the school's next athletics director to three finalists, but UK would not identify them yesterday.      Basketball Cats prowl for big men, find camps fully stocked    A recruiting steal by, of all schools, Valparaiso. A potential inside dominator who might owe Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith a favor. A giant who likes Rick Pitino and another being advised by an unabashed admirer of the Louisville coach. (Remember Mark Komara? He helped former UK player Marvin Stone make basketball decisions.) Sizing up big-man potential    By his own admission, Shagari Alleyne's basketball skills do not match his Gulliver-amongst-the-Lilliputians court presence. "I don't have a great game," Alleyne said last weekend. "But it's improving. I'm improving every day, every month, every year." Prince still sore, but scores 8 in NBA debut    Tayshaun Prince made his NBA debut Tuesday, scoring eight points for the Detroit Pistons in an Orlando Summer Professional League game. (7-10-02)      Basketball New cat is one happy camper   Kentucky's newest recruit is not at the Adidas ABCD Camp here. Nor he is playing in the Indianapolis-based Nike All-America Camp, the other place to be this week if you're considered a future basketball superstar.     Football Indiana offensive lineman picks Wildcats    Knowing that the University of Kentucky planned to sign no more than two offensive lineman this recruiting year was not the only reason Ryan Noblet verbally committed to the Wildcats Tuesday. (7-09-02)      Basketball Tubby gives Barbour early nod at point    Antwain Barbour took the scenic route to the University of Kentucky, but now that he's arrived he might be in the express lane to the starting lineup. Rigot officially joins UK staff    Tubby Smith finally confirmed Monday what everyone has known since last week -- Scott Rigot has joined the UK basketball coaching staff. Offering junior a risk Smith willing to take    Earning most valuable player honors at the University of Kentucky basketball camp may not have been a surprise to Adam Williams. What happened next was. (7-07-02)      Basketball Nike Camper likes UK    One of the best high school basketball players at the Nike All-America Camp, which began yesterday at Indiana-Purdue at Indianapolis, said he's very interested in attending the University of Kentucky. WV guard commits to UK    Almost six weeks after receiving his first commitment from the Class of 2003, University of Kentucky men's basketball coach Tubby Smith has received his first one from the Class of 2004. (7-03-02)      Basketball Team Prince Makes Good First Impression    Team Prince impressed Pistons team president Joe Dumars so much, he had the entire lineup introduced to the media and employees Tuesday afternoon in a news conference at the Palace. They were there to meet Tayshaun Prince, the Pistons' first-round pick. But Prince's mother, Diane, and his agent, Billy Duffy, were also introduced. (7-02-02) Slive's departure 'SEC's gain'    Mike Slive became commissioner of Conference USA in April 1995, when the geographically diverse league was little more than a name and a logo. Today he'll leave to become commissioner of the Southeastern Conference after seven years of growth in CUSA, which now includes 15 schools, 11 of which compete in football and 14 in basketball.      Basketball Preseason Hoops Poll- WKU 8th, UK 16th    Now that the NBA draft is over and summer is here, let's take a quick look at how the top 25 shapes up for the 2002-03 college basketball season. (7-01-02) Slive could be a solid fit as SEC's new boss     Multiple media reports say a decision has been made: Mike Slive is the new commissioner of the Southeastern Conference New SEC Chief Faces Bumpy Ride    How fitting that two of the finalists for Southeastern Conference commissioner are former NCAA investigators.       Our Privacy statement can be read here...   Disclaimer:  This site solely owned by WildcatZone.Com and is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Kentucky, the Southeastern Conference, or the NCAA copyright (c) 1997-2006, WildcatZone.Com (except where otherwise indicated)