September 2002 WildcatZone.Com News Archive

(9-30-02)

     Football
  • Morriss: National exposure helps UK    Not only did Guy Morriss learn something about his team Saturday, but he hopes recruits did, too
  • Abney Named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week    Kentucky kick returner Derek Abney has been named Southeastern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his NCAA- and SEC-record-tying performance in Saturday's game at Florida.    The South Carolina at Kentucky game on Oct. 12 has been selected for live national cablecast by espn2. Game time remains at 7 p.m. EDT
  • Think positive, Morriss says    If the University of Kentucky couldn't pull off the upset at No. 7 Florida on Saturday, coach Guy Morriss wants his Wildcats to at least walk away with their confidence intact.
  • One win, one loss, one special weekend      So: Best weekend of football ever in this state? You could make the argument, even with a 1-1 record.
  • Wildcats- No moral victories this season    After his team spent much of the second half of the 2001 season coming close to pulling off upsets, University of Kentucky senior linebacker Ronnie Riley wanted his teammates to know following Saturday's near upset of Florida that moral victories don't mean anything anymore.
(9-29-02)

     Football
  • GAINESVILLE, Fla. I was here for 73-7. I was here for 65-0. I was...here for 59-31 and 51-35 and 35-19. I saw Bill Curry's face turn the ghostly color of a man who had just watched his team lose by 66 points. I saw Hal Mumme's entertaining but ultimately empty circus shows melt in the searing heat of The Swamp.
  • Must be a Swamp thing    When Guy Morriss and his Kentucky football team walked into the locker room at halftime of yesterday's game at No. 7 Florida, they looked like yet another UK team that was about to get swallowed in The Swamp.
  • STATISTICS    Kentucky 0 0 28 6--34 Florida 6 13 13 9--41 First quarter Earnest Graham 1 run (kick blocked), 2:08. Second quarter - Ran Carthon 19 run (pass failed), 11:55; UF -- Carthon 6 run (Matt Leach kick), 2:54.
  • Abney gives nod to his blockers for punt-kickoff return coup    Kentucky receiver Derek Abney became just the seventh player in NCAA history to have a kickoff return and a punt return for a touchdown in the same game.
  • Abney's kick returns win Gator fans' respect    When the University of Kentucky needed a play, Derek Abney delivered. The speedy junior from Mosinee, Wis., returned a kickoff 100 yards and a punt 49 yards to become the seventh player in NCAA history to run back a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns in the same game.
  • These Cats don't pump fists over near misses    If the University of Kentucky football team has led the nation in any statistic over the last 20 years, it's this one:
  • UK makes plays but still pays   It was the greatest special-teams performance of all time. It was the worst special-teams performance of all time.

     Basketball

  • Tubby's advice to coaching dad: Go for it    The scenario -- a vocal segment of UK fans would call it the worst-case scenario -- sounds familiar. A new coach decides to add his son to the team. The son, neither superstar nor lowly scrub, is not good enough to dispel charges of nepotism. Neither is he bad enough to quietly fade into irrelevancy.
(9-28-02)

     Football
  • Florida held on for a wild 41-34 win over Kentucky    Florida's Ron Zook once coached special teams. He may be doing that again this week.
  • Florida wins wild one over Kentucky    Kickers and punters went running for cover. Return men and defensive backs were begging for more.
  • Wildcats Drop Wild One To No. 7 Florida, 41-34    Florida and Kentucky put on a show better suited for the back yard than The Swamp on Saturday. In a game full of big plays, big mistakes and huge momentum shifts, the seventh-ranked Gators somehow came out with a 41-34 victory over the newly revived Wildcats. Keiwan Ratliff returned an interception for a touchdown and scored two points on a defensive conversion to help the Gators (4-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) overcome their own mistakes and Derek Abney's two special-teams touchdowns.
  • Wildcats confident headed to the Swamp    The numbers are stacked against the University of Kentucky upsetting No. 7 Florida, but UK football coach Guy Morriss wants to make sure his Wildcats don't think they have lost before the game even begins.
  • In broadcast booth at Florida, a closet Cat    It could qualify as one of those AFLAC trivia questions that spring up like mini SATs during most college football telecasts. Question: Name the CBS color man, and former Penn State quarterback, first-round NFL draft choice, and son of a football coach, who grew up wanting to be a star basketball player at the University of Kentucky.
  • GATOR BAIT? NOT THIS BREED OF CAT    It's clear that the University of Kentucky football team feels good about its chances against seventh-ranked Florida this afternoon at The Swamp.
  • THE SAME DAY    Nov. 17, 1979 The last time UK beat Florida in Gainesville. The Cats, coached by Fran Curci, won 31-3. Sophomore quarterback Juan Portela came off the bench to throw touchdown passes of 62 and 43 yards to Felix Wilson.
  • DEPTH CHARTS    Kentucky offense Tight end 11 Chase Harp 6-4 250 Sr. 84 Jeremiah Drobney 6-4 232 Fr. Left tackle 61 Matt Huff 6-5 304 So. 74 Jeremy Darveau 6-8 295 Fr.It's a big shot for a big QB- Lorenzen
  • It's a big shot for a big QB- Lorenzen    He has thrown it left-handed and righthanded. He has thrown it blindly over his head, side-armed and underhanded.
(9-27-02)

     Football
  • UK can impress recruits    Because he recruits in Florida regularly, Wesley McGriff knows how important Saturday's game at Florida could be.
  • Time to see what Cats are made of    It seems like no matter what Kentucky defensive backs have done, Florida receivers have managed to get open and score touchdowns on them.
  • Gators' bear Zook's stamp    These aren't Steve Spurrier's Florida Gators, but they're still the Gators.
  • Wildcats wary of Florida passer    Florida quarterback Rex Grossman certainly looked like the Rex Grossman of 2000 and 2001 in the Gators' upset of Tennessee last week, which would ordinarily signal bad news for the University of Kentucky football team, except for one reason — the defense, particularly against the pass, hasn't played like the UK defense of recent seasons.

     Basketball

  • Madness ticket plan for students revised    Kentucky tips off its 100th season of men's basketball with Big Blue Madness on Friday, Oct. 11, at Memorial Coliseum and the dates for ticket distribution have been revised.

     Volleyball
(9-26-02)

     Football
  • Pinner provides balance    The Kentucky Wildcats have a big-time back to go along with their big quarterback.   (Gatorsports.Com)
  • Weighty numbers for 'Cats QB    He's been called "Baby Huey," "The Fat Wildcat" and "The Hefty Lefty". (Gatorsports.Com)
  • Wildcats' secondary is making big strides    For Earven Flowers and Claude Sagaille, a pair of University of Kentucky defensive backs, it's been a season of firsts.
  • UK wants to play better with the lead    Three times this season Kentucky has had a comfortable lead only to lose all or most of the advantage.
  • The Cats' sweet steal    Brent Pease had just finished his first spring practice as Kentucky's offensive coordinator when his phone rang. On the other end was Vincent "Sweet Pea" Burns, who was looking to leave Northern Arizona and was calling to see whether there was a spot for him at UK.
  • Fortunes reversed for Ky.'s top teams    That was then: Florida State's visit to Louisville tonight is considered the game of the year among the commonwealth's college football teams.
  • UK needs to kick it into gear    The University of Kentucky's special teams weren't as special as head coach Guy Morriss and position coach Mark Nelson would have liked them to be in the first four games of this season, but they had better be on Saturday if the Wildcats are to upset seventh-ranked Florida.
(9-25-02)

     Football
  • 'Different' UK believes it can win at Florida    The rest of the country certainly would consider it a major upset if Kentucky could win at Florida.
  • Kentucky Football Notebook    Wildcats Among SEC Defensive Leaders; Team's Short-Term Health Improving; UK Football to be Featured on SEC-TV Weekly, ESPN GameDay; Jared Lorenzen on the "Paul Harvey Show"
  • a sense of dj Blue    Now that the 'Tose is loose, and Kentucky has rebounded from ruin by returning to the running game, it's time to talk running backs.
  • Gators, Zook are wary of confident Wildcats    Florida Coach Ron Zook says you can save all the pre-game rhetoric about the potential danger in Saturday's game against Kentucky.
  • Kentucky Wildcats Report    Hot, muggy Swamp awaits the Cats   The Swamp isn't what bothers University of Kentucky tight end Chase Harp. It's the heat and humidity.
  • Less is more for Lorenzen, Wildcats    Even though he hasn't racked up 300-yard passing games this season with the same regularity as he did in the 16 career starts he made his first two seasons, University of Kentucky junior quarterback Jared Lorenzen is perhaps better for it, and so is the the UK offense.

     Basketball

     Baseball
(9-24-02)

     Football
  • Lorenzen won't think about leaving UK early    No matter how well Kentucky does the rest of this year, quarterback Jared Lorenzen says he has no thoughts of going to the National Football League next year.
  • Kentucky finds the right Guy    With all Guy Morriss has faced during his 20-month tenure as Kentucky's head football coach, no one could blame him for crying.
  • New contract gives Morriss job security    As it turned out, it took UK football coach Guy Morriss only eight weeks to pass the Mitch Barnhart evaluation process. Barnhart, the UK athletics director who took over for Larry Ivy on Aug. 1, announced yesterday that the school has agreed in principle to terms on a two-year contract extension for Morriss that guarantees his current deal through 2007.
  • Deserving long shot gets his reward    Funny how things work out. Hal Mumme came to Kentucky and made a reputation as a gambler. But it is Mumme's former assistant, Guy Morriss, who has truly beaten all odds.
  • Morriss gets new deal    University of Kentucky football coach Guy Morriss, who took over a losing program headed toward NCAA probation, was rewarded yesterday with a guaranteed contract through the 2007 season
  • Morriss got just what he deserves    Guy Morriss had a million and one reasons to throw a towel, smash a clipboard or howl at the moon.

     Basketball

  • Camara Breaks Hand, Out 4-6 Weeks    Returning starter Jules Camara has suffered a broken right hand and will be out of action for the next four to six weeks, University of Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith announced Tuesday
(9-23-02)

     Football
  • 'Cats headed to Swamp 4-0    Perhaps it's two instances from the University of Kentucky football team's 44-22 win Saturday against Middle Tennessee State that best illustrate why it has become the first Wildcats team since 1984 to begin a season 4-0.
  • 'Cats confident headed to Swamp    It's all about attitude and confidence for the University of Kentucky this week as it prepares to head to the Swamp in Gainesville, Fla., to try to upset Florida, something the Wildcats haven't done since 1986 — a string of 15 consecutive losses.
  • UK-Florida game on CBS    The University of Kentucky's game at Florida Saturday has been selected for live national TV by CBS. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m
  • Kentucky Football Press Conference Quotes    Following the announcement of his new contract, Coach Morriss discusses the 4-0 start and the upcoming game against Florida. Selected players talked about their excitement for Coach Morriss' new contract and playing one of the top teams in the country.
  • Mills: Cats can't change style for Gators    Because he spent two years at Florida before transferring to Kentucky last summer, Bennie Mills may have a better idea than anyone at UK about what it would take for the Wildcats to win Saturday's nationally televised game
  • Morriss respects Florida    Guy Morriss doesn't think Florida's win at Tennessee will have any impact on Kentucky's game with the Gators Saturday.
  • Morriss' Contract Extended    Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart announced today that head coach Guy Morriss will receive a contract that will guarantee his spot at the helm of the Kentucky football program through 2007
  • Defense faces first real test    UK at Florida When: 3:30 p.m. Records: UK 4-0 (0-0 SEC), Florida 3-1 (1-0) Series: Florida leads 35-17 Last meeting: UF won 44-10 TV: CBS-27
  • New coach, same bite for Gators    For the first time since 1989, University of Kentucky football players will look across The Swamp and won't see Steve Spurrier.
(9-22-02)

     Football
  • UK takes 4-0 record in SEC opener    As time ticked down on Kentucky's fourth straight victory to open the season, a seldom-heard chant rained down from the stands at Commonwealth Stadium.
  • Kentucky at Florida Selected by CBS    The Kentucky at Florida game on Sept. 28 has been selected for live national television by CBS. Game time is 3:30 p.m. This will be Kentucky's second live national television appearance of the season.
  • UNLIKELY BUT UNDEFEATED    It is the Kentucky football New Year's resolution. New year, same resolution. To have any kind of season, a successful season, a winning season, so went the talk on the street, surely the Cats would have to be undefeated heading into the Florida game at September's end.
  • Masters of their house    The Kentucky football team had plenty of reasons to be jacked up for yesterday's game with Middle Tennessee. For one, the Cats figured to be antsy to hit the field after the NCAA nixed their bowl appeal earlier this week.
  • Fracas shows signs of team bonding    Maybe this University of Kentucky football team has finally come together. Yes, UK's 44-22 win over Middle Tennessee got the Cats to 4-0 and equaled their best start since 1984.
  • Balanced attack is winning formula    The Kentucky offense of recent years made a name with its passing game. Trickery was the norm for the Air Raid attack. Suddenly this year a ground game powered by Artose Pinner surfaced. Fans wondered what would happen if the two came together.
  • Cats reach the big 4-0    The University of Kentucky's exuberant students must have missed coach Guy Morriss' class on taking it one game at a time. ''Beat the Gators!'' the students chanted as the Wildcats walked off the field yesterday, still unbeaten.
  • Morriss deserves credit and new deal    The University of Kentucky football team had every excuse to be flatter than a stack of documents from the NCAA Infractions Committee.
  • UK's Tatum heard the talk, walked the walk    One of the more interesting matchups in the University of Kentucky's 44-22 victory yesterday was UK cornerback Derrick Tatum against Middle Tennessee State receiver Tyrone Calico.
  • Brawl leaves pair of UK second-team linemen ejected    One player described it as chaos. Many others called it crazy.  Each side blamed the other for a bench-clearing fight at halftime yesterday in the University of Kentucky's 44-22 victory over Middle Tennessee State.
(9-21-02)

     Football
  • Wildcats Remain Unbeaten; Defeat Middle Tennessee, 44-22    Jared Lorenzen threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns Saturday to lead Kentucky to a 44-22 victory over Middle Tennessee, as the Wildcats started 4-0 for the first time since 1984. Artose Pinner, the Southeastern Conference's leading rusher, ran 24 times for 163 yards, his third consecutive 100-yard game
  • Morriss: Banned Wildcats 'resilient'    If Kentucky Coach Guy Morriss hadn't watched his players suffer through hard knock after knock, maybe he would be more concerned about the possible effects of the NCAA's denial of UK's bowl ban appeal.
  • GAMES WITHIN THE GAME    Perhaps the most interesting story to this afternoon's game will be how Kentucky responds after the NCAA last week nixed its appeal to have its bowl ban overturned. The Cats were off to their best start in years when the announcement was made. Now we'll see how much of an effect, if any, the lack of a post-season carrot has on the Wildcats' season.
  • MTSU defense reminds Morriss of Miss. St.    The Middle Tennessee State defense is one of the more unconventional Kentucky will see this season. The Blue Raiders operate out of a 3-5-3 alignment. But they will mix and match sets, with as many as eight players attacking the line of scrimmage and their linebackers moving all over the field.
  • DEPTH CHARTS    Kentucky offense Tight end 11 Chase Harp 6-4 250 Sr. 84 Jeremiah Drobney 6-4 232 Fr. Left tackle 61 Matt Huff 6-5 304 So. 74 Jeremy Darveau 6-8 295 Fr.
  • SEC STANDINGS
  • Barnhart gives Morriss vote of confidence    University of Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart appears to be moving further into football coach Guy Morriss' corner after the Wildcats' 3-0 start.
  • Wildcats unfazed by NCAA decision    Judging by University of Kentucky football coach Guy Morriss, it'd be hard to tell that his team got some bad news this week.
  • UK expects some tough defense    Their records are almost complete opposites, but the question heading into today's Middle Tennessee State vs. Kentucky football game is this: Is Middle Tennessee as bad as its 0-2 record and is UK as good as its 3-0 record?

     Basketball

  • Madness Scheduled for Friday, Oct. 11    The University of Kentucky will tip off its 100th season of men's basketball with Big Blue Madness on Friday, Oct. 11 at Memorial Coliseum. Doors open at 10:30 p.m. and the team will make its first appearance at 12:01 a.m., the first official day college basketball teams may practice (Oct. 12).

     Volleyball

  • Volleyball Cats Fall 3-0 to Oral Roberts    The University of Kentucky volleyball team fell to Oral Roberts, 3-0, on Saturday, Sept. 21, in Columbia, S.C. It was the second consecutive loss for the Wildcats, who fell to 6-5 on the season
(9-20-02)

     Football
  • Burns will talk with his play    Vincent Burns knew long before Middle Tennessee played well in losses at Alabama and Tennessee that the Blue Raiders thought they could beat Kentucky.
  • New start pays off for Cumby    As he rumbled down the field with the interception return that sealed the University of Kentucky football team's win against Indiana Saturday, senior free safety Quentus Cumby began looking over his shoulder for penalty flags. The irony of that moment was twofold, because he's had to look over his shoulder his entire career at UK and penalties had wiped out two other interceptions this season.
  • Cumby's first pick a big one    Kentucky free safety Quentus Cumby was starting to wonder if somebody had put a cruel curse on him. After going without an interception during his first three seasons in a Wildcat uniform, Cumby picked off Louisville quarterback Dave Ragone in the season opener only to see the play wiped out by a defensive holding penalty.
  • Back in the running game    Guy Morriss hadn't been the University of Kentucky's head football coach for half a day when his first crisis knocked on the door.

     Basketball

  • UK enters race for top wing player    Kentucky fans concerned about UK's seeming absence from the recruiting lists of top prospects, take heart. The Cats, who are playing their recruiting cards close to the vest this year, are involved with a player rated among the nation's top 10 prospects.

     Volleyball

  • Volleyball Cats Drop SEC Opener to South Carolina, 3-0    The University of Kentucky volleyball team dropped its Southeastern Conference opener to South Carolina, 3-0, on Friday, Sept. 20 in Columbia, S.C. The Wildcats hit just .125 on the night to USC's season-high .394.
(9-19-02)

     Football
  • Kentucky defense making plays, winning games    Kentucky tailback Artose Pinner remembers a time in the not too distant past when he dreaded watching the defense run out onto the field.
  • Morriss refuses to trade game tapes    Was it a case of prudence or poor sportsmanship? That's the question that's been left open after University of Kentucky football coach Guy Morriss refused to trade game tapes with this Saturday's opponent, Middle Tennessee State, as is customary to do.
  • MTSU confident it can topple Cats    The numbers would seem to indicate that Kentucky should have no trouble against Middle Tennessee here Saturday.
  • Kentucky Football Notebook    Observations from Coach Guy Morriss after Thursday's practice; kicking situation stays the same, according to special teams coordinator Mark Nelson; tickets available for the game
  • No looking back for team-less Smith    He claims no regrets. Never mind that his old school is a surprising 3-0, that the bandwagon is rolling, that as a senior leader, Derek Smith could have been a part of it all.
  • Reputation has Cats on the run    Guy Morriss knows his No. 1 task is to win football games. But he also knows that coaching at the University of Kentucky requires more than just winning.
  • Middle Tennessee wants spot with biggies    Middle Tennessee State's football team might have lost to Alabama, but at least it was on television.

     Basketball

  • Slam Rates Cats No. 7 in Preseason Poll    The Kentucky Wildcats, which will open their 100th season of basketball in November, have been picked as the nation's seventh-ranked team by Slam Magazine, it announced Thursday.
(9-18-02)

     Football
  • Bowl ban doesn't have to ruin UK's year    Once the shock and disappointment fades away, Kentucky's football players will realize they have plenty to play for the rest of this season.
  • Karen Harp not happy that NCAA punishes players, but not Mumme    The more she thought about what had happened to her son, the more upset Karen Harp became.
  • UK loses its appeal on bowl eligibility    The NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee yesterday denied the University of Kentucky's appeal to have its bowl ban lifted, meaning the Cats will remain ineligible for post-season play in 2002.
  • Turnovers a big key to Wildcats' turnaround    Weep no more, my ladies -- and gentlemen -- of the blue persuasion. Your University of Kentucky Wildcats aren't crying over the now-final death of their postseason football dreams. Neither should you.
  • UK football still bowled over    The University of Kentucky called the NCAA's one-year bowl ban excessive punishment, but now the school's football team must take its licks.
  • Kentucky Wildcats Report    University of Kentucky football coach Guy Morriss decided not to give videotapes of his team's first three games to Middle Tennessee State, which will visit Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday.
  • Bowl game or not, UK is upbeat    The University of Kentucky football team is perhaps the first among NCAA Division I teams to have a bowl opponent for this season, even though the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee on Tuesday upheld a one-year postseason ban placed on the program.
  • NCAA shouldn't punish innocent Cats with bowl ban    Artose Pinner is running the football with efficiency and effort this season.

     Basketball

  • Lang to play in tourney here    James Lang, one of the nation's top high school basketball players and the focus of a recruiting battle between the universities of Louisville and Kentucky, will be playing in Louisville over the Christmas holidays.
(9-17-02)

     Football
  • UK's game with Florida will be televised    Kentucky's game at Florida Sept. 28 will be nationally televised on either CBS or ESPN.
  • Regular day off may be helping Pinner    With the way Artose Pinner has been producing yards for the University of Kentucky, it may turn out to be an unexpected blessing that the senior running back probably will miss one day of practice every week this season.
  • NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee Upholds Penalties Against University of Kentucky    The NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee upheld the penalty against the University of Kentucky football program of a ban on postseason competition following the 2002 football season.
  • Quotes from Pres. Todd, Mitch Barnhart, Guy Morriss and the team captains    "When the University of Kentucky first received the NCAA Infractions Committee report and the resulting sanctions at the end of January, the one issue that I questioned was the ban on the bowl appearance for the 2002 football season. In April we submitted our appeal to the Infractions Appeals Committee regarding that ban. I have not wavered on that one issue since that time. From the beginning, I felt that this appeal was important for the athletes and for our coaches. The vast majority of our coaches and football players were not involved in the violations and these are the individuals that are trying to rebuild this program the right way.
  • NCAA denies UK's appeal of bowl ban    An NCAA infractions appeals committee upheld the one-year bowl ban today that it placed on Kentucky’s football program in January.
  • NCAA upholds UK bowl ban    The ban was one of several sanctions levied against the school in January after internal and NCAA investigations unearthed dozens of recruiting violations.
  • NCAA upholds sanctions against Alabama, Kentucky    The NCAA on Tuesday upheld the sanctions imposed against Alabama and Kentucky, a ruling that will keep the Southeastern Conference schools from competing in a bowl game this season.
  • Dreaming big is still coach's trademark    After all these years, That Voice -- as deep and resonant as rolling thunder -- still peddles big dreams. At 68, Howard Schnellenberger could be lounging on a house boat in some posh Florida harbor.
  • Triple play tries MTSU    At Alabama. At Tennessee. At Kentucky. For a program in just its fourth season of Division I-A, a season-opening slate that features three Southeastern Conference schools usually results in three fat paychecks and three losses.
  • Cats' cheer: 'Give us an I'    Even Artose Pinner laughed when he heard it. ''The University of Kentucky, home to the Southeastern Conference's leading rusher.'' The phrase doesn't exactly roll off the tongue
  • Turnovers a big key to Wildcats' turnaround    The University of Kentucky football team I watched the last two seasons was the kind of team you wouldn't dare drag into Tiffany's. It would fumble something valuable
  • Bowl verdict to be announced    The University of Kentucky learned the NCAA's decision on its bowl-ban appeal yesterday, and an announcement will be made today at a news conference.
  • UK back's fortunes pull a 180    In the span of 19 months, Artose Pinner went from walking into University of Kentucky football coach Guy Morriss' office ready to quit to leading the Southeastern Conference in rushing.
  • Air woes blamed on coach absence    University of Kentucky football coach Guy Morriss cited the absence of wide receivers coach Harold Jackson as the reason for UK's lackluster passing performance Saturday.
  • NCAA announcing UK bowl ban findings    The University of Kentucky football team will find out today if its 3-0 record can still lead to a bowl bid or not.
(9-16-02)

     Football
  • Comeback win adds confidence    A second straight blowout might have satisfied University of Kentucky football fans more, but UK head coach Guy Morriss knows that the way his team won Saturday's game against Indiana will be more beneficial.
  • Boyle's Overstreet may not wait much longer to make college choice    Brodie Overstreet still isn't sure where he wants to play his college football. However, he's sure that if he wants to play at the University of Kentucky, he needs to decide soon -- perhaps even this week.
  • Morriss: UK not that bad    Often reviewing game film will allow a coach to see why his team did not play as well as he first thought.
  • Kentucky Football Press Conference Quotes    The Kentucky Wildcats (3-0) will play their third straight home game this Saturday against Middle Tennessee State, who are 0-2 on the season but have played Alabama and Tennessee to close games.
  • Kentucky Football Notebook    The Kentucky at Florida game on Sept. 28 will be nationally televised on CBS or ESPN. CBS is exercising its six-day advance option and next Sunday will select the UK-Florida game or Alabama at Arkansas. The game not selected by CBS will be televised by ESPN. The CBS game will begin at 3:30 p.m. EDT. The ESPN game will be at 7:45 p.m. EDT
  • Morriss' style mirrors Claiborne's    It is said that a team is a reflection of its head coach. What is truly reflected in Kentucky football's surprising 3-0 start, and in the man driving the bandwagon, Guy Morriss, is a return to the traditional values of the past.
  • The deuce is in a duel    Tim Couch paced the sideline. He put his helmet on. He took his helmet off. He put a baseball cap on. He turned the cap backward. He wrapped a towel around his neck. He stretched the towel to its full extension behind his neck.
  • UK to work on keeping its focus    After solid performances in the season's first two games, the University of Kentucky football team was probably due for a stinker against Indiana on Saturday.
  • Wildcats' Pinner turns into double threat    Artose Pinner said he could hear the Indiana University defenders shouting his number.
  • Confident Wildcats beat Indiana, 27-17    It wasn't too long ago that Kentucky was known for its high-octane passing attack and not much else.
(9-15-02)

     Football
  • UK shows resilience in victory    This may not have been a signature win for the University of Kentucky based on the numbers, but the win may have said more about what Guy Morriss has done for the Wildcats than numbers ever can.
  • Cats fast becoming something special    So, when did Kentucky become a football school?
  • Pinner pulls Cats from edge of defeat    Kentucky was working overtime to throw it all away. All the good feeling generated with a surprise 2-0 start. All (well, much of) the wind in the sails of the "Keep Guy Morriss" campaign.
  • BOLTS FROM THE BLUE    For whatever reason, the University of Kentucky football team has gotten on Mother Nature's bad side. Everyone that is, except Artose Pinner and Quentus Cumby.
  • Cats' bandwagon gathering steam    The bandwagon rolls on. OK, so the bandwagon suffered some serious sputtering last night at Commonwealth Stadium. (You were expecting another UTEP trouncing, perhaps?) And the bandwagon was nearly struck dead by lightning. And the bandwagon isn't necessarily an all-terrain vehicle, for it is susceptible to skids in the rain.
  • BY THE NUMBERS    Indiana 0 3 14 0--17 Kentucky 14 0 0 13--27 First quarter Aaron Boone 12 pass from Jared Lorenzen (Taylor Begley kick), 7:17; UK -- Artose Pinner 7 pass from Lorenzen (Begley kick), 2:24.
  • Next game    Middle Tennessee State at UK When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday Records: MTSU 0-2; UK 3-0 Series: First meeting TV: Channel 27, 11:30 p.m., taped

     Basketball

  • Ex-Cat Turner hopes NBA future is no Croc    Wayne Turner, who set an NCAA record for games played, continues to prove his Kentucky career wasn't long enough to satisfy his need to play basketball. To keep his hoop dreams alive, he's crisscrossed the equator and the International Dateline.
(9-14-02)

     Football
  • Wildcats Handle Hoosiers, 27-17    Jared Lorenzen threw three touchdown passes and Artose Pinner rushed for 141 yards as Kentucky beat Indiana 27-17 Saturday night. Lorenzen completed 19 of 32 passes for 183 yards with TD passes of 12, 7 and 6 yards to lead Kentucky, which improved to 3-0 for the first time in four years. Pinner rushed 25 times and also caught 10 passes for another 92 yards and a touchdown
  • September games belong at night    If you were in the Easy-Bake Oven that was Commonwealth Stadium last Saturday, you know it wasn't just the poor UTEP Miners who got burned
  • UK's Carr driven against IU    The Guy Morriss evaluation process has certainly gotten off to a rousing start, as his Wildcats beat Louisville and hung 77 points on UTEP in their home opener, all under the watchful eye of new athletics director Mitch Barnhart.
  • Tonight    Indiana at UK When: 7 Records: Indiana 1-1; UK 2-0 Series: Indiana leads 17-14-1 Last year: Indiana won 26-15 TV: Channel 27 (11:35 p.m., taped)
  • Agboke earns scholarship, place in the rotation    Slowly but surely, Tayo Agboke has climbed the Kentucky football ladder. He started off his career in 1999 as a walk-on from Houston playing for the junior varsity team.
  • GAMES WITHIN THE GAME    The ebb and flow of this game most likely will be decided up front. Indiana hasn't shown much in its first two games, but the one thing the Hoosiers do bring to the table is a good offensive line. Tackles Enoch DeMar and A.C. Myler, with guard Anthony Oakley, are battled-tested seniors who paved the way for many of Antwaan Randle El's long runs.
  • DEPTH CHARTS    Kentucky offense Tight end 11 Chase Harp 6-4 250 Sr. 84 Jeremiah Drobney 6-4 232 Fr. Left tackle 61 Matt Huff 6-5 304 So. 74 Jeremy Darveau 6-8 295 Fr.
  • Cats will fight the good fight this time    If the University of Kentucky football team had fought as hard during last year's Indiana game as it did after the game, the Wildcats might have won their season finale.
  • Morriss doesn't want 'Cats looking for a fight    Guy Morriss wants his University of Kentucky football team's fight with Indiana to be on the field this season as opposed to off of it.

     Volleyball

  • Volleyball Cats Look Revived in 3-1 Win Over Western Michigan    The University of Kentucky volleyball team got back on the winning track with a 3-1 win over Western Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 14 in the final match of the Kentucky Conference Challenge in Lexington, Ky. Senior Anne Koester was unstoppable for UK, hammering in 19 kills and hitting .452 on the night.
  • Dayton Snaps Volleyball Cats' Five-Match Win Streak    The University of Kentucky volleyball team saw a five-match win streak come to an end after the Wildcats were swept by Dayton, 3-0, in the Kentucky Conference Challenge on Saturday, Sept. 14 in Lexington, Ky. The loss ended UK's streak, which dates back to Sept. 7.
(9-13-02)

     Football

  • Kentucky Football Notebook    Indiana game close to selling out
  • Taylor, Ruth to Split Kicking Duties Against Indiana    Redshirt freshman Taylor Begley and sophomore Clint Ruth will split the placekicking duties during the Indiana game, Coach Guy Morriss announced Thursday.    There will be a public pep rally on the UK campus Friday night at 9:30 p.m
  • Canes' loss is Holt's, UK's gain    Glenn Holt could have easily been at THE hot college football program right now. He could have been on the sidelines with the Miami Hurricanes as they ran the Florida Gators out of the Swamp last weekend.
  • Wildcats' 'Big Kat' accepts challenge    Chris Lancaster, who is in his first season as the University of Kentucky's offensive line coach, saw Sylvester Miller as a tall, athletic 300-pounder who had been an absolute non-factor for three years
  • Little-used junior now `sixth starter' on O-line    Offensive linemen Sylvester Miller couldn't even get on the field for the University of Kentucky football team last season, but he has quickly developed into UK's "sixth starter" this season.

     Volleyball

  • Volleyball Cats Improve to 5-2 with Victory Over Wake Forest    The University of Kentucky volleyball team opened its home schedule on Friday, Sept. 13 with a strong win over Wake Forest on the opening night of the Kentucky Conference Challenge in Lexington, Ky. The Wildcats are riding a five-match win streak and improve to 5-2 with the victory.
  • Volleyball Cats Play Host to Kentucky Conference Challenge    The University of Kentucky will open its 2002 home schedule on Friday, Sept. 13, when it plays host to the Kentucky Conference Challenge in Memorial Coliseum. The round-robin tournament, which continues through Saturday, also features Dayton, Wake Forest and Western Michigan
(9-12-02)

     Football
  • Support helping Wildcats    It's easy to be a supportive teammate during the good times
  • Robertson gets foes' attention    The official statistics credit Kentucky defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson with just two tackles for the season's first two games.
  • Goodner's UK defense aggressive, effective    Guy Morriss was the University of Kentucky's offensive line coach when he first met John Goodner nearly two years ago.
  • Pair add to UK's arsenal    As an offensive coordinator, Brent Pease is always on the lookout for playmakers, guys who can score from anywhere on the field, and it only took him a few practices in August to find two more he could add to his arsenal for the University of Kentucky football team this season - true freshmen Glenn Holt Jr. and Arliss Beach.

     Basketball

  • UK courts big man after U of L decision rejected    Kentucky began the in-home phase of this basketball recruiting year by visiting the nation's tallest prospect. Then the Wildcats tried to capitalize on arguably the biggest surprise.
  • UK now in Lang's picture    Don't dress James Lang in University of Louisville red and white just yet. Lang, one of the nation's top basketball prospects, told The Courier-Journal on Aug. 8 that he intends to sign with the Cardinals, but he has reopened his recruitment and will visit with University of Kentucky coach Tubby Smith today, his mother said yesterday.
(9-11-02)

     Football
  • Timing costs 'heartbroken' Tamme chance to commit to UK    After almost a year of trying to decide where he wanted to play his college football, Jacob Tamme finally made a choice
  • Wildcats impress DiNardo    When Gerry DiNardo compares this University of Kentucky team to the previous nine he's coached against, he sees one glaring difference.
  • Making plays, taking names    It was third-and-9, and Texas-El Paso quarterback Jon Schaper was at the Kentucky 20-yard line looking for an open receiver. As he stepped forward to lift his throwing arm, he suddenly found himself lying on his backside.
  • Kentucky Wilcats Report    Indiana University (1-1) is struggling, and second-year Kentucky coach Guy Morriss knows just how new IU coach Gerry DiNardo feels.
  • Hamdan gets nod at QB for Hoosiers    Fifth-year senior Gibran Hamdan will make his first start at quarterback for Indiana University in Saturday's game at Kentucky.
  • Hoosiers make QB change    Gibran Hamdan is in and Tommy Jones out as Indiana's starting quarterback.

     Basketball

  • UK now in Lang's picture    Don't dress James Lang in University of Louisville red and white just yet. Lang, one of the nation's top basketball prospects, told The Courier-Journal on Aug. 8 that he intends to sign with the Cardinals, but he has reopened his recruitment and will visit with University of Kentucky coach Tubby Smith today, his mother said yesterday.
  • Cats' Smith gets credit for telling it like it is    This week's Top 10: 1. Tubby Smith talks, finally: I admit to being a tad surprised and amused at the reaction to the comments the UK basketball coach made last week, finally breaking his near summer-long silence.
  • SPORTS BRIEFS    Former University of Kentucky basketball player Cory Sears was arrested and charged with stalking. Sears, who now attends Union College, was arrested in Barbourville and returned to Lexington, where he was charged yesterday with second-degree stalking. The misdemeanor carries a fine of up to $500 or 12 months in jail.
(9-10-02)

     Football
  • Burton commits to Cats    A push by recruit Andre Woodson and assurances by athletics director Mitch Barnhart about the status of the coaching staff helped Manual's Keenan Burton decide to verbally commit to the University of Kentucky Monday.
  • Kentucky not sure who will kick against Indiana Saturday    Based on what happened to Taylor Begley, Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen might not want to enjoy being Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week too much.
  • UK reflects on frustrating finale at Indiana    Nine months after last year's season-ending 26-15 loss to Indiana, the Kentucky football team can admit that it really didn't want to be there in the first place.
  • Reinventing the Wildcats    There's a reason these big-time college football coaches cash these big-time paychecks. In their lives, the constant companion is problems.
  • Manual's Burton says he'll play wideout for UK    The University of Kentucky football program picked up its fifth verbal commitment of the 2003 recruiting season when Louisville Manual's Keenan Burton announced he would sign with the Cats next February.
  • UK's 2-0 start puts new slant on season    Maybe the University of Kentucky's pending appeal of the NCAA's one-year bowl ban really matters after all.
  • In-state recruit commits to UK    Keenan Burton, a safety, quarterback and wide receiver from Louisville, gave his verbal commitment to the University of Kentucky on Monday.
  • Morriss still sees mistakes    His team was just coming off a 60-point win over the University of Texas-El Paso the day before, but when University of Kentucky Guy Morriss turned on the film projector to dissect that victory he found plenty of things that didn't go right, and that's just fine with his players.
  • Mix-up nearly kept Kamphake off field    A personnel mix-up almost kept University of Kentucky senior fullback Mike Kamphake off the field for the play that wound up with him scoring his first college touchdown.
(9-09-02)

     Football
  • Pinner believes in Cats    Artose Pinner said he and his Kentucky teammates must have heard 20 to 30 times from different coaches during practice about not having a letdown from one week to the next before the Cats played UTEP Saturday.
  • UK FB Notebook: Lorenzen the SEC Player of the Week    Based on his performance in UK's 77-17 win over Texas-El Paso on Saturday, Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen has been named SEC Offensive Player of the Week by the SEC Office and by collegefootballnews.com.
  • Kentucky Football Press Conference Quotes    Guy Morriss and several players met with the media for the weekly press conference. Coach Morriss and the players talked about the big win last Saturday and preparing for this weekend's game against Indiana.
  • Kentucky keeping injury bug away    Kentucky Coach Guy Morriss kept his fingers crossed in the pre-season regarding injuries with his thin football team. Two games into the season, Morriss's fingers are still crossed, but they don't seem to be as tightly crossed as they were a couple of weeks ago.
  • Wildcats again avoid any serious injuries    The University of Kentucky football team emerged from its second straight game without significant injuries, something coach Guy Morriss calls critical to the team's success.
  • Wildcats develop balanced attack    So much for needing Hal Mumme's pass-happy offense to light up the scoreboard.
(9-08-02)

     Football