September 2004 WildcatZone.Com News Archive

(09-30-04)

      Football   

  • Kentucky Football Notebook    Offensive tackle Ernie Pelayo will have shoulder surgery next week and will be out for the season, Coach Rich Brooks has announced.    Ohio game to include United Way collection ... Game-day honorees for the Ohio game ... Television coverage for the Ohio game.

  • The SEC This Week    Ohio at Kentucky    Records: Ohio 2-2 (1-1 MAC East); Kentucky 1-2 (0-1 SEC East). Coaches: Ohio’s Brian Knorr (9-30); Kentucky’s Rich Brooks (96-119-4). Series: Kentucky leads 3-1. Kickoff: Saturday, 7 p.m. TV: None.   Key for Ohio: Maintain a balanced attack. QB Ryan Hawk has more passing attempts through four games than any Bobcats quarterback has had in a season since 1995. 

  • In the running to be go-to back    DIXON IS NO. 1 FOR NOW DESPITE FEW CARRIES AGAINST FLORIDA    Kentucky has been searching for a feature back ever since Artose Pinner packed his bags and headed north to carry the ball for the Detroit Lions.

  • McClinton, Woodyard lift each other, Cats' secondary   Wesley Woodyard had just settled into his new dorm room this past summer when Marcus McClinton barged in. They had met just once before, but already they were past such formalities as knocking.

  • College football becoming a drag   These days, college football games last longer than the Academy Awards. According to USA Today, the average length of televised games in the six major conferences was 3:21 in 2003. The four-hour mark is within yawning distance. That's a lot of Rocky Top. Even Keith Jackson is running out of things to say.

      Basketball   

(09-29-04)

      Football   

  • Freshman players take step forward for Kentucky    If you've been to a University of Kentucky soccer match, you may have needed a program to recognize the midfield

  • Ohio is first of three key home games   For Kentucky to have any chance to have a successful season, the Wildcats know they have to play well the next three weeks.

  • Big arm, bigger riddle   UK coaches aren't even sure what Woodson has to offer   He's become the biggest curiosity at the University of Kentucky football complex. Andre Woodson certainly looks like a quarterback, carrying 230 pounds on a 6-foot-5 frame. Watch him throw and it's apparent that he has the arm strength.

  • Woodson to see action against Ohio  Redshirt freshman quarterback Andre Woodson is expected to see his first playing time for the University of Kentucky in Saturday's game against Ohio University. He took all of the snaps with the first-team offense Monday — starter Shane Boyd sat out with a bruised left shoulder — and received a heavy dose of the snaps yesterday

  • Game-Worn Throwback Uniforms to be Auctioned Off    The uniforms (jerseys and pants) worn by the Wildcats in Saturday’s “Throwback Game” vs. Ohio will be auctioned next week to benefit the Trent DiGiuro Memorial Scholarship.

      Basketball   

  • UK fans ready for Madness    The Big Blue Madness is almost ready to begin. No, not the Big Blue Madness that officially opens Kentucky basketball practice at midnight Oct. 15. That's only the beginning of the real Big Blue Madness for UK fans who are openly talking about a Final Four contender despite losing four of the top six players off last year's team and going into this season depending heavily on five newcomers.

  • Almost Tubby Time: Questions and answers from Planet Hoops    An early visit to Planet Hoops. Less than a month until Tubby Smith assembles his eighth edition UK team. One that will include maybe the best group of newcomers in 25 years. 

  • Big Blue Madness Set For Oct. 15    Kentucky opens practice for the 2004-05 men’s and women’s basketball season Friday, Oct. 15, as part of the 23rd-annual Big Blue Madness festivities. Ticket distribution is Sat., Oct. 9 at 7 a.m. The men's basketball Blue/White Scrimmage is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, Oct. 1

  • Wildcats tickets going on sale   Tickets for the University of Kentucky's Blue-White Scrimmage will go on sale Friday at the Memorial Coliseum ticket office on UK's campus or online at www.ukathletics.com. The cost is $5 per ticket for the scrimmage that will be played 4 p.m. in Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 23.

(09-28-04)

      Football   

  • Flowers, Ruth Earn Game Captain Roles  Senior cornerback Earven Flowers and senior kicker Clint Ruth are the game captains for this week’s contest vs. Ohio, Coach Rich Brooks has announced.
    1984 Hall of Fame Bowl Reunion this weekend ... "Throwback" game celebrates 114 seasons of Kentucky football.

  • Brooks says Woodson will play    Redshirt freshman quarterback Andre Woodson will make his collegiate debut when Kentucky hosts Ohio University Saturday.  

  • Throwback Game” Celebrates 114 Seasons of Kentucky Football     The Throwback Game was the idea of Rick Thompson, UK Associate Athletics Director for Marketing, Licensing and Media Relations, and Jason Schlafer, UK Marketing Director for Football.

  • Kentucky Looking to Bounce Back Against Ohio This Saturday  Head Coach Rich Brooks and wide receiver Gerad Parker spoke to the media today at the weekly news conference. They discussed the upcoming game against Ohio that starts off three-game homestand.

  • Cats expect ailing Boyd to play    Brooks says Woodson will get at least one series against Ohio    An MRI on the left shoulder of Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd was negative and revealed no structural damage, UK Coach Rich Brooks said yesterday.

  • Brooks rips UK for lack of energy    Straight-shooting University of Kentucky football coach Rich Brooks again took his team to task for not standing up taller against a Southeastern Conference bully.

  • UK has much worth throwing back to    OK, so the "throwback" uniforms Kentucky will wear Saturday night against Ohio are, well, fake. Not really old Kentucky uniforms at all, but an amalgamation designed to create the "feel" of an old Kentucky uniform.

  • Kentucky's offense continues its roller-coaster ride     Zero points one game. Fifty-one the next. Three the next. To put it nicely, Kentucky's offense this football season has been unpredictable. 

  • Brooks implores Cats not to overlook Ohio    The first three games of the Kentucky football season have gone about how most people figured they would, with road losses to two ranked teams (Louisville, Florida) sandwiched around a win over a team UK has typically owned (Indiana).

  • Kicker becoming UK's lone scoring threat    Taylor Begley is ready for the limelight.   After UK's loss at Florida Saturday, the junior kicker was the first player to address the media. 

      Basketball   

  • Guard picks UK women over Cards, KU    OTHER TOP PLAYERS FROM OHIO INTERESTED IN CATS    The Kentucky women landed what may be the first of a handful of recruits from Ohio this weekend in Shana Andrus. The 5-foot-10 senior guard from Barberton High School made her oral commitment to UK on Saturday, her high school coach, Pam Davis said yesterday.

  • Barberton star to play at Kentucky    Barberton's Shana Andrus doesn't think she will be second-guessing herself after making a decision that will have a major impact on her life.

      Newsworthy Cats from the Past

(09-27-04)

      Football   

  • Brooks says Boyd misread options   Because he ran so well against Indiana, Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd went into Saturday's game at No. 16 Florida confident he could do so again.

  • Kentucky Looking to Bounce Back Against Ohio This Saturday    Head Coach Rich Brooks and wide receiver Gerad Parker spoke to the media today at the weekly news conference. They discussed the upcoming game against Ohio that starts off three-game homestand.

  • OHIO BOBCATS at KENTUCKY WILDCATS    Teams have met only four times previously with all meetings taking place in Lexington ... The Wildcats have won the series' last two games, 35-14 last season, and 28-0, in 1987 ... Ohio took a 35-6 decision in 1971 ... Kentucky won the series' first game, 12-0, in 1910 ... Kentucky is 9-4 in its last 13 non-conference games ... Since 2000, the Wildcats are 9-2 in non-conference home games ... Kentucky is 27-6-1 against current members of the Mid-American Conference (5-0 vs. Kent, 6-0 vs. Marshall, 6-4-1 vs. Miami, Ohio, 3-1 vs. Ohio, 1-0 vs. Ball State, 2-1 vs. Bowling Green, 4-0 vs. Central Michigan) ... In last season's game, Kentucky QB Shane Boyd threw for a TD, caught a TD and ran for two more in a 35-14 Wildcat win ... Teams were tied, 7-7, at half and Kentucky outscored Ohio, 28-7, in the second half.

  • Alabama Football Game Selected by Jefferson-Pilot    The Alabama at Kentucky game on Oct. 9 has been selected for live regional telecast by Jefferson-Pilot Sports as "The SEC Game of the Week." Game time will be 12:30 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium. The UK/Ohio game this Saturday will be a live home market point-to-point telecast for Ohio

  • 'Hanging around' is UK's specialty   BROOKS AT LEAST GLAD CATS IN POSITION TO WIN   Looking at the final stat sheet from Saturday's Kentucky-Florida game, it's clear that Rich Brooks' Wildcats didn't accomplish a lot.

  • UK's Boyd is banged up   The hits just kept on coming for UK quarterback Shane Boyd against Florida, and he's paying for it with a bruised shoulder. Boyd bounced around Florida Field like he had mistakenly wandered into a mosh pit during the Wildcats' 20-3 loss to the Gators on Saturday.

      Newsworthy Cats from the Past

  • Former UK star, Raider bemoans emphasis on sports   The Raiders are some of the most willfully, boisterously unevolved citizens of sports society. So when you see Rodger Bird, it's hard to connect the trim, soft-spoken 61-year-old insurance man to the Raiders. When he speaks, it's even harder to think you're listening to a Raider.

(09-26-04)

      Football   

  • Despite scoreboard, this was one lopsided affair    CATS BROUGHT OFFENSE THAT GOT SKUNKED AT U OF L    Those hearty souls who remembered to set their alarm clocks and forget the hurricane warnings just to be there at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium yesterday, were rewarded with a rarity

  • Wildcats hang tough against Gators     Florida and Kentucky got an early start to beat Hurricane Jeanne. Then the groggy Gators turned to Ciatrick Fason to beat the Wildcats. Fason's career-high 210 yards rushing and two touchdowns lifted the No. 16 Gators over Kentucky 20-3 Saturday, hours before the hurricane was to strike the state.

  • Cats encounter two hurricanes, 20-3  The University of Kentucky might have kept the score respectable in a 20-3 loss yesterday against No.16-ranked Florida, but the game itself was as one-sided as a tug of war between the football team and the cheerleaders.

  • Cats fizzle in Florida    Maybe that 51-point explosion against Indiana last week was a mirage. That new-and-improved, quick-strike, high-powered attack that rolled up 560 yards against the Hoosiers was nowhere to be found in The Swamp yesterday, as the Cats reverted to the ineffectiveness they displayed in a season-opening shutout loss to Louisville.

  • LB Williams suffers broken arm   University of Kentucky linebacker Dustin Williams suffered a broken left arm in yesterday's 20-3 loss to Florida and will be out indefinitely.

  • Injury bug takes second bite out of UK linebacker   Dustin Williams' return to Kentucky's starting lineup turned out to be short-lived. Williams, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound inside linebacker who missed the Louisville game and only played one series against Indiana because of a partially torn hamstring, suffered a broken arm in the second quarter yesterday against Florida and is out indefinitely.

      Basketball   

  • Basketball Notebook   The Beatles. Ernie Fletcher. Kentucky basketball.   It isn't often those elements go together. But that harmonic convergence happened this weekend.

(09-25-04)

      Football   

  • UF 20    UK 3   (Final)

  • Cats lose to Gators    Maybe that 51-point explosion against Indiana last week was a mirage.   That new and improved, quick-strike, high-powered attack that rolled up 560 yards against the Hoosiers was nowhere to be found in The Swamp yesterday, as the Cats reverted to the ineffectiveness they displayed in a season-opening shutout loss to Louisville. 

  • Cats Fall to Florida in SEC Opener  With Hurricane Jeanne approaching, Florida squeezed in its game against Kentucky and beat the Wildcats 20-3 Saturday behind Ciatrick Fason's career-high 210 yards rushing and two touchdowns.   

  • Fason Leads Gators over Wildcats   Junior Ciatrick Fason scored two touchdowns and became the first Gator running back to eclipse 200 yards in a single game since 1989 as Florida picked up its first Southeastern Conference victory of the season with a 20-3 triumph over Kentucky at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

  • Punchless Gators manage win against Kentucky   The University of Florida's Southeastern Conference titles hopes could have come to a sudden end this afternoon during a unimpressive 20-3 victory against Kentucky in The Swamp.

  • big misses, high drama   Extra points not automatic anymore   Where is Lou "The Toe" Groza when we need him? Tell George Blanda to lace up his black hightops. Put out on an APB for a Jan Stenerud.

  • Boyd-led Wildcats set for brunch with Gators   "Brunch at The Swamp" lacks the elegance of "Breakfast at Wimbledon," but that's the best the universities of Kentucky and Florida could do on short notice.

  • Last week will linger on both sidelines   UK HAS TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM; GATORS HAVE TO   BOUNCE BACK   Rich Brooks' first trip to The Swamp won't be without its share of storylines. First, Brooks is anxious for another opportunity to get a read on his offense after a shockingly bad performance against Louisville and a startlingly good showing last week against Indiana.

  • STORM NOT EXPECTED TO HIT UNTIL SUNDAY   The University of Kentucky's football game with Florida today has been moved to 11:30 a.m. because of the potential impact of Hurricane Jeanne, Florida and Southeastern Conference officials announced yesterday.

  • GAMES WITHIN THE GAME    The Chris Leak that Kentucky will see today is a much different player than the freshman who led the Gators to a fourth-quarter comeback in his first career start last year.

  • SERIES RESULTS    Florida leads 37-17 Year Result 1917 Kentucky 52, Florida 0 1926 Kentucky 18, Florida 13 1927 Florida 27, Kentucky 6 1931 Kentucky 7, Florida 2

  • a.m. start puts uk in fast forward    Rich Brooks and his assistant coaches were forced into some last-minute cramming as a result of today's game with Florida being moved up from 6 p.m. to 11:30 a.m.

(09-24-04)

      Football   

  • Kentucky/Florida Game Time Changed   The University of Florida's football game with Kentucky on Saturday, Sept. 25, will kick off at 11:30 a.m. ET due to the potential impact of Hurricane Jeanne, UF and Southeastern Conference officials announced Friday.  Includes map of regional ESPN2 TV coverage.  

  • SEC Football Week 4 Game Previews     Florida has a 17-game winning streak against the Wildcats ... The streak is tied for sixth on the NCAA Division I list for most consecutive wins over a major opponent in a series ... The Gators have won the last 12 meetings in Gainesville ... The Wildcats have not won at Florida Field since 1979 (UK, 31-3) ... The Wildcats won 12 of the first 16 games played bweteen the schools but the Gators have won 23 of the last 24 and 33 of the last 38 meetings ... Teams have met every year since 1967, with Florida holding a 32-5 edge in those games ... UF defensive coordinator Charlie Strong and UK wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator Joker Phillips were members of the same South Carolina staff in 2002 ... UF head coach Ron Zook and UK defensive coordinator Mike Archer were members of the same Pittsburgh Steelers staff from 1996-98 ... Zook and UK offensive coordinator Ron Hudson were on the same Ohio State staff from 1988-90 ... In last season's contest, Florida scored 21 fourth quarter points to rally and defeat Kentucky, 24-21 ... Gator QB Chris Leak, in his first career start, was 20-of-35 for 268 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs ... Gator CB Johnny Lamar was the SEC Defensive Player of the Week with 7 tackles and one interception.

  • 2 UK football players avoid being indicted     No indictments were issued yesterday against University of Kentucky football players Dustin Williams and Ryan Schumm by an Oldham County grand jury for their part in a July 10 fight in Crestwood, Commonwealth's Attorney Kim Snell said.

  • Secondary can't afford a leak     The Kentucky football program already is the answer to the future trivia question of what school Chris Leak faced (and beat) in his first collegiate start. 

  • Kickoff unsettled     Kickoff time for the University of Kentucky's football game at Florida tomorrow could be moved up because of the approach of Hurricane Jeanne.  

  • Holt doesn't plan to hide in Swamp     Glenn Holt couldn't have scripted it any better.   He's the Cats No. 1 receiver returning to his home state to face the Florida Gators on national television. 

  • After IU win, UK defense is Gator bait     Forget about the points.    While the UK offense put up Playstation numbers against Indiana, everyone forgot about defense - including the Cats. 

  • History on Gators' side vs. Cats    The Florida Gators will have history on their side Saturday night against Kentucky.  The No. 16 Gators (1-1, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) have won 17 consecutive games in the series. Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said the streak will be a factor when the Wildcats (1-1) visit The Swamp. 

  • Games will be great, but don't deserve hype     Among the many things that make college football great is a Saturday like this one.   On the surface, it stinks.    There are no real headline games, a few that you may want to watch but none that are particularly compelling. Florida State vs. Clemson has lost a lot of appeal. The College GameDay boys are in Madison, Wis., which is a great town, but Penn State at Wisconsin hardly rocks your boat. 

  • UK's losing proposition     Florida used to have "Run, Lindsay, run." Kentucky can relate because the Wildcats have their own streak of frustrating futility to bemoan. 

  • Jeanne has Florida's home opener in doubt    Florida's season opener was postponed and its first home game was delayed due to a tornado warning. And just when the Gator football team thought they were poised to play a home game without a hurricane barring down on them, Hurricane Jeanne doubled back.  

(09-23-04)

      Football   

  • 'Silent Storm' on the blind side   FRESHMAN TACKLE LETS GAME DO THE TALKING   Aaron Miller's collegiate career is just one game old, yet the true freshman out of East Carter High School already is starting to compile nicknames. 

  • Leak has that look    Florida's unwavering QB continues to show improvement   One year later, the coach hasn't forgotten. He still remembers his quarterback's reaction, his lack of emotion. "I remember walking in the weight room about 7 o'clock in the morning," Florida Coach Ron Zook said Tuesday, a year from the day he made Chris Leak his starting quarterback. "Chris had just finished on the power rack (weight machine), and I said to him 'You're going to start this week.' "

  • A good start for UK's Miller   Aaron Miller was a surprise starter at left tackle for the Wildcats (1-1) in Saturday's 51-32 win over Indiana University. And, according to UK's coaches, he played well enough to keep his job for UK's trip to Florida (1-1) on Saturday.

  • Dixon provides spark at his new Kentucky home    Tony Dixon arrived at the University of Kentucky looking for the opportunity few other schools offered: the chance to play immediately

      Basketball   

  • Watkins commits to UK    Last year Christian County High School basketball player Lydia Watkins was willing to accept a role behind star players like Corkey Stiger, Shaleea Petty and Arnika Brown

      Newsworthy Cats from the Past

  • UK: Bassett suit has no merit   'LAWSUIT ATTEMPTS TO JUSTIFY HIS OWN WRONGDOING'   The University of Kentucky says a federal lawsuit filed by a former assistant football coach is without merit. Claude Bassett, a central figure in the UK football program's National Collegiate Athletic Association 2001 probation for recruiting violations, sued the UK Athletic Association last week for $50 million.

  • Lorenzen could go to Europe   Jared Lorenzen, the ex-Kentucky quarterback who mysteriously didn't show up for the start of training camp, might have a career with the New York Giants after all. He's at home in Kentucky, working out and hoping to persuade the Giants to send him to NFL Europe in the spring -- something General Manager Ernie Accorsi said the team is willing to do.

  • UK responds to Bassett's lawsuit    The University of Kentucky responded yesterday to the $50million lawsuit filed by former football coach Claude Bassett, saying it will "vigorously defend its actions" against claims that are "unfounded."

(09-22-04)

      Football   

  • Going from small town to starting lineup doesn't faze Miller    Aaron Miller doesn't talk much, so sometimes Kentucky coaches wonder what he's thinking. 

  • UK Responds To Former Football Coach's Lawsuit Filing     LEX 18 was the first to tell you about the plans of a former UK football assistant coach to take the school to court in hopes of defending his name. Wednesday, the University of Kentucky offers its response to the accusations that athletes were paid money.

  • College Football Game Preview     WTV Jacksonville    Prediction: Florida 41, Kentucky 13 

  • Cats hoping offense will keep working   Even Florida coach Ron Zook couldn't believe the difference in Kentucky's offense from one game to the next.

  • UK win may help recruiting    It would not have ruined Kentucky's recruiting this season if the Wildcats had lost to Indiana, but recruiting coordinator Joker Phillips knew how much harder his job would be if the Cats had not won.

  • Lyons a lion-hearted punt returner   True freshman Dicky Lyons Jr. made his UK debut against Indiana, returning five punts for a total of 8 yards. The only return that he broke for a long gain was called back because of an illegal block by Karl Booker.

  • Cats get fifth commitment/Other recruiting news     Tim Masthay, a place-kicker from Murray, Ky., committed to UK yesterday morning, making him the Cats' fifth commitment in the 2005 class.  

  • Holt, Begley are Game Captains This Week    Wide receiver Glenn Holt and kicker Taylor Begley are this week’s game captains, joining permanent captains Shane Boyd and Sweet Pea Burns for the coin toss at Florida.

  • Luckily, Cats can fill gaps at receiver   HOLT LOOKS LIKE GO-TO GUY OF NEW FOUR-MAN ROTATION   The rate at which Kentucky receivers have been going down in the past six months, you'd think the UK wideouts spent the off-season breaking mirrors or walking in front of black cats.

  • Kentucky's Boyd looking for big game against UF   Florida fans surely won't have as much fun with Kentucky's new quarterback as they did with his predecessor, Jared "The Hefty Lefty" Lorenzen.

  • Wildcats' offense gets in step     For the first time in recent memory, Kentucky coach Rich Brooks didn't have to answer negative questions about the Wildcats' offense Monday. 

  • Improving Kentucky Next For Florida    For the Kentucky football team, what a difference a game makes.  After being blanked by Louisville 28-0 and looking inept in losing, the Wildcats turned it around in their second game and beat Indiana, scoring 51 points in the process.

  • SORRY, ZEBRAS, BUT LAST WEEK'S GAFFES PROVE YOU NEED HELP   We don't ride the zebras. Others can complain about the men in the black and white stripes, but our preference is our own creed. Officials do a thankless and commendable service.

  • Burton played two games with wrist injury     Kentucky wide receiver Keenan Burton will miss the rest of the football season with a broken left wrist. 

  • Tamme makes most of first start at UK     Jacob Tamme wondered when he was younger what it would be like to play for his beloved Kentucky Wildcats

  • Brooks says freshmen are `difference-makers'    University of Kentucky football coach Rich Brooks isn't ready to call this freshman class the best in the history of college football, but it's clear by the team's youth movement that the rookies have made an impression in a short time.

      Basketball   

  • Player who left UK leaves Louisville   CARDS TO REDO PHOTO WITHOUT PFEIFFER   Jenny Pfeiffer, the former Kentucky women's basketball starter who left the team and transferred to Louisville, has now left the Cardinals' program as well, Coach Tom Collen said yesterday.

      Newsworthy Cats from the Past

  • Former UK Recruiter, Harold Richard "Dick" Redding dies    Harold Richard "Dick" Redding will be buried in Westview Cemetery in Blacksburg on Friday, the day he will be inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame. 

  • Proving Himself All Over Again   Keith Bogans thought he was done proving himself. As a rookie last season, Bogans proved himself by earning a starting nod in 36 games and averaging nearly 25 minutes per contest. He validated himself again by carving out a niche as a defensive specialist, one of the Orlando Magic’s weaker points last season, proving to himself and everyone else in the NBA that he truly did belong.

(09-21-04)

      Football   

  • Kentucky Rides Momentum Into Gainesville   Rich Brooks and selected players spoke Monday at the weekly news conference about their win over the weekend against Indiana and the upcoming SEC opener against Florida. Click to read the press conference quotes.

  • Florida singing bad-call blues now   ZOOK TRYING TO STEADY GATORS AFTER REFS HELP VOLS ESCAPE   If the Florida Gators were playing anyone else besides the University of Kentucky this weekend, Ron Zook might have gotten a deskful of sympathy cards from Wildcat Nation.

  • Revival against Indiana tops list of UK football stunners   If the College Football Hall of Fame were to launch a new interactive exhibit -- and call it the "University of Kentucky Experience" -- what would it feature?

  • Burton's broken wrist will cost him season   Kentucky wide receiver Keenan Burton will have surgery Thursday to repair a fracture in his wrist and will be out for the season, the school said yesterday.

  • Cats' Burton out for season   Keenan Burton's broken wrist has worsened in the past week, and the University of Kentucky receiver will require season-ending surgery.

  • Ex-coach Bassett sues UK   Former U of K assistant football coach Claude Bassett is suing the NCAA, the SEC and the UK Athletics Association for $50 million, claiming he was denied due process during UK's investigation into recruiting violations that landed the school on probation.

  • Boyd sharp in blowout win    Shane Boyd couldn't think of a better way to celebrate his 22nd birthday than with a decisive win. Kentucky's senior quarterback had 335 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns, leading the Wildcats to a 51-32 victory over Indiana on Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium.

      Basketball   

  • UK lands Sacred Heart's Ormerod   Sacred Heart Academy's Carly Ormerod, the only player to be named MVP of the state tournament twice, has committed to UK.

  • Ormerod takes MVP game to UK   TWO-TIME SWEET 16 MVP BOASTS 111-3 RECORD AT SACRED HEART   The Ormerod family sat around the dinner table Sunday night. Daughter Carly was quiet. Then she asked the question on everybody's mind: "Where do you think I should go to college?"

(09-20-04)

      Football   

  • Freshmen playmakers key to UK's success   Since he knows his team will play at least nine true freshmen Saturday at Florida, Kentucky coach Rich Brooks sees it as a good news, bad news situation

  • Kentucky Rides Momentum Into Gainesville     Head Coach Rich Brooks  On injuries… 
    “We’re relatively healthy going into this week. Rock Johnson will be out again this week with the shoulder injury. Ernie Pelayo will return to practice after spending two weeks strengthening his shoulder.”

  • Matt McCutchan is SEC Offensive Lineman of the week    McCutchan recorded eight cut blocks, three knockdown blocks and one pancake block in Kentucky's 51-32 win against Indiana.  

  • Was that the real Wildcat offense?   BROOKS HOPES IU GAME SHOWED THE TRUE BLUE   Two games into the University of Kentucky's football season, inquiring minds want to know which is the real Wildcat offense. Is it the ineffective unit that bumbled and stumbled its way to a scoreless outing against Louisville?

  • Amid adversity, Cats find plenty of answers    The University of Kentucky football team was bombarded with questions the past two weeks, and Saturday night it supplied the answers. In a 51-32 victory over Indiana University, the Wildcats showed they indeed can move the ball on offense. Perhaps more important, UK answered every challenge issued by the Hoosiers.

  • Getting what it needed, Kentucky proves there is hope after convincing victory   This is exactly what the Kentucky Wildcats needed.

(09-19-04)

      Football   

  • Wildcats get win they needed    When is the Outback Bowl?   Well, maybe that's a question Kentucky fans and players can't be asking just yet, but Saturday's 51-32 win over Indiana certainly breathed new life into a program that desperately needed it.

  • Wildcats Easily Handle Hoosiers, 51-32   Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd had 335 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns, leading the Wildcats to a 51-32 victory over Indiana on Saturday night.

  • Getting what it needed, Kentucky proves there is hope after convincing victory    This is exactly what the Kentucky Wildcats needed.

  • Old and new for Blue   Shane Boyd, playing on his 22nd birthday, might have been a year older yesterday, but his young legs carried the Cats' formerly punchless offense to a 51-32 victory over Indiana University at Commonwealth Stadium.

  • Hoosier Winner? The Kentucky Wildcats!    Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd had 335 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns, leading the Wildcats to a 51-32 victory over Indiana on Saturday night.

  • Wildcats Down Hoosiers, 51-32    Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd ran for 130 yards and passed for 205 more to lead the Wildcats (1-1, 0-0) to a 51-32 victory over Indiana (2-1, 0-0) Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium.

  • Zero-to-51 acceleration in 13 days    HUDSON'S OFFENSE HUMS AFTER EXTRA WEEK OF SWEAT   There was that extra week to boil in oil. An extra week to stew. An extra week to hear how bad they were, and what a dreadfully long Kentucky football season it was going to be, and how previous transgressions by previous administrations were all too much for the current leadership to overcome.

  • Boyd shows QB isn't a problem for Wildcats    Sometimes Shane Boyd throws the football to his receiver's right side when the ball actually should be on the left. Sometimes he looks as if he's ready to junk the called play and run about 0.000003 second after taking the snap. And sometimes Boyd does dangerous things with the football.

  • Zero-to-51 acceleration in 13 days   There was that extra week to boil in oil.   An extra week to stew. An extra week to hear how bad they were, and what a dreadfully long Kentucky football season it was going to be, and how previous transgressions by previous administrations were all too much for the current leadership to overcome. 

  • Kentucky vs. Indiana Post-Game Quotes    Kentucky Head Coach Rich Brooks    “There doesn’t appear to be any serious injuries of any kind. For those of you wondering, we threw Dustin (Williams) in that first quarter group just to give him a taste of the action. He’s only had two days of practice and the good news is he’s recovering nicely. I didn’t want to take any chances as the game wore on that he might re-pull it. So, we held him out. Other than that, Glenn Holt had a dinged shoulder late in the game but came out of it okay. I think if you didn’t have a program tonight, you needed to go for one tonight because you saw a lot of new faces in the lineup. A lot of those faces did some very good things - they did some things that were not good, too. But our team was able to overcome those mistakes. I was disappointed in the one thing we were able to do, for pretty much a year and a half on defense, is not give up the big play and we gave up several of them – very easy big plays – today. We need to address that because if they are going to go down the field and score we need to make it on shorter plays getting down the field. If you wanted excitement you got it tonight. Who could complain about the excitement tonight?”  

  • DIXON HIGHLIGHTS BRIGHT SPOTS WITH 105 YARDS   For two gloomy weeks, Lexington was the black hole of college football. Not enough oxygen to sustain even a glimmer of realistic hope.

  • Freshman Dixon makes most of chance    As far as debuts go, University of Kentucky tailback Tony Dixon had one to remember.

  • Suddenly scorching   Boyd leads Cats' 560-yard explosion   The goose egg the Kentucky offense laid against Louisville two weeks ago suddenly transformed into a golden egg at Commonwealth Stadium last night.

  • IU's 'D' doesn't grade even that high   Indiana University football coach Gerry DiNardo didn't need to review the game tape to know what went wrong in last night's 51-32 loss to the University of Kentucky.  

  • Cats' ground game steps it up    The Kentucky offensive line served as official whipping boys in UK's 28-0 loss to Louisville after failing to adequately protect Shane Boyd or clear up holes in the running game.

  • Indiana's shoddy tackling allows Kentucky to run   There has been talk that the Indiana-Kentucky football rivalry might be discontinued after the 2005 season.

      Basketball   

  • Cats covet forward from Georgia    University of Kentucky coach Tubby Smith found his way to tiny Manchester, Ga., last week to check out a forward who has become one of the Wildcats' prime recruiting targets.

      Newsworthy Cats from the Past

  • Former 300-pound project now Knicks' Shaq solution   EX-CAT MOHAMMED ESCAPES ATLANTA, STILL TRAINS IN LEXINGTON   When he played for Kentucky, big man Nazr Mohammed personified reinvention. He came in 1995 as a 300-pound freshman. "A long-term project," then coach Rick Pitino said. Long-term came to mean three years.

(09-18-04)

      Football   

  • UK 51  IU 32 (final)

  • Cats go on the offensive    KENTUCKY GAINS MORE THAN 500 YARDS OF OFFENSE    Kentucky looked like a completely different offensive team tonight at home against Indiana.

  • It's the cats by a coin flip    If not, UK fans will revisit pastime: ripping coaches    Week 2, and Dr. Football is back-to-back. Sorry, we can't supply a brand new Pontiac for every deserving reader, a la Dr. Phil's generous-to-a-fault friend Oprah, but we do offer simple solutions to your grid quandaries.

  • UK gets 2nd chance to make good    Perhaps more than anything, University of Kentucky football coach Rich Brooks wants to hear the refrain that used to be so commonly repeated at Commonwealth Stadium during the team's high-scoring days.

  • BIG BLUE GAME TIME   A few things you'll need to know if you're going to tonight's game   WEATHER FORECAST Leave the ponchos at home. The National Weather Service forecasts a game time temperature in the lower 70s, with northeast winds 5-10 mph. There will be clear skies and a "zilch" chance of rain, meteorologist Larry Dattilow said.

  • Bassett's words, potential suit remain hollow    I planned to write a column about the dismal state of the sagging University of Kentucky football program.

  • IU may help dull UK fans' pain   Cats usually can count on win over Hoosiers   Hurricanes Frances and Ivan have made climate a big topic in the early-season college football landscape. With remnants of Ivan still sweeping through the South, tonight's Kentucky-Indiana game is no different. But Mother Nature might not be the one producing the most volatile climate at Commonwealth Stadium.

  • Boyd 'a problem' for Hoosiers   Indiana University's Herana-Daze Jones is a fan of Shane Boyd.

  • GAMES WITHIN THE GAME   Indiana will be coming into Commonwealth Stadium on a high after posting its biggest victory in years last week at Oregon. Kentucky, on the other hand, is badly in need of a pick-me-up after falling flat in its first game at Louisville. But if there's one program that Kentucky can feel any sense of dominance over, it's Indiana. UK has won eight of its past nine against the Hoosiers. Antwaan Randle El, perhaps the best player in IU history, went only 1-3 against Kentucky, and the Hoosiers have been...

  • Indiana hopes to keep momentum during visit to Kentucky   Indiana wants to continue recent strides in a football program that hasn't tasted success in years. Kentucky just wants to forget a nightmare. Indiana, seeking its first 3-0 start since 1994, has won just one of its last nine meetings with Kentucky and only three times on the road against nonconference opponents since 1995. But the Hoosiers are carrying momentum into their game Saturday at Kentucky, courtesy of a 30-24 win last week at then-No. 24 Oregon by taking advantage of seven turnovers by the Ducks.

  • DEPTH CHARTS   Kentucky offense Left tackle 72 Michael Aitcheson 6-3 285 So 69 Aaron Miller 6-6 295 Fr. Left guard 70 Jason Rollins 6-5 290 Sr. 60 Trai Williams 6-4 275 So.

  • IU and UK heading in opposite directions     Indiana University wants to continue recent strides in a football program that hasn't tasted success in years.  

  • Indiana leads 17-16-1   Year Site Winner Score 1893 Lexington tie 24-24 1904 Bloomington UK 12-0 1905 Bloomington IU 29-0 1918 Bloomington UK 24-7 1919 Lexington IU 24-0

  • Unbeaten IU hopes to continue red-hot start at Kentucky   It was early Sunday morning when Indiana returned to Bloomington from its Saturday night West Coast victory at Oregon; a Big Red eye, if you will.

  • IU-UK series could end in '05   Although nothing is set in stone, tonight could turn out to be Indiana's last trip to Commonwealth Stadium for the foreseeable future.

(09-17-04)

      Football   

  • Micah, I'm doggin' your coaches, not you    Walking off the practice field last week, Micah Jones stopped.   The 6-foot-4, 317-pound freshman offensive lineman stopped and turned to face me.

  • Young offensive linemen ready to step up   This is what they were expecting.   This is why they were recruited.   Sign with UK and play right away. 

  • SEC Preview    Indiana at Kentucky (6 p.m.): Under Gerry DiNardo, Indiana (2-0) has re-established some offensive punch, scoring 71 points in the first two games. QB Matt LoVecchio has been steady under center while RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, a New Orleans native, has rushed for 188 yards and two TDs. Kentucky (0-1) used five true freshmen in the opener, including Parrish High product Tony Dixon at RB. Kentucky leads the series 9-7-1 in Lexington, but needs a victory to even the overall series. While at Vanderbilt, DiNardo was 4-0 against the Wildcats.

  • Indiana (2-0) At Kentucky (0-1)   The Indiana Hoosiers of the Big Ten and the Kentucky Wildcats of the SEC are set to square off at Commonwealth Stadium this weekend. Indiana has every reason to enter this tilt with a high level of confidence, as it invaded Eugene last weekend and emerged with a surprising 30-24 victory over an Oregon squad that was nationally ranked at the time. The Hoosiers are now 2-0 for the first time since the 1996 campaign, and the triumph over the Ducks marked the first road victory of head coach Gerry DiNardo's era. The victory was also significant in that it was Indiana's first road victory over a ranked opponent since November 10, 2001. As for Kentucky, its only game so far took place back on September 5th at Louisville, and that rivalry matchup resulted in a lopsided 28-0 defeat. After not being shut out at all in 2003, the poor result in the opener was disappointing to say the least. The Wildcats haven't started 0-2 since 1996, and they have won their last two meetings with Indiana and eight of the last nine matchups between the squads.

  • Brooks confirms defensive changes   FRESHMAN RB DIXON PRACTICES WITH FIRST TEAM   Rich Brooks isn't going to scrap all of his schemes after one bad outing against Louisville, but he will change up some of the players trying to run those schemes.

  • A sweeter suite for entertaining donors   Even if Kentucky's football team loses its home opener to Indiana on Saturday night and the remnants of Hurricane Ivan drench all involved, UK Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart will feel like a winner.

  • Mum's the word  on UK's lineup   The University of Kentucky football team won't employ the same starting lineup that was so ineffective in the opener against the University of Louisville, but UK coach Rich Brooks doesn't want to tip his hand.

      Basketball   

  • Big-ticket upgrades get initial approval   PRACTICE FACILITY, LOCKER ROOM TOP ATHLETICS  BOARD'S AGENDA   Several facility upgrades on the University of Kentucky's wish list, including a new basketball practice facility, moved a step closer to construction yesterday when the school's Athletic Association Board of Directors formally approved the projects.

(09-16-04)

      Football   

  • Cats' plan: All take, no give vs. IU   CREATING TURNOVERS IS POINT OF EMPHASIS   It might be tempting to look at the fact that Oregon gave the ball away seven times and call Indiana's 30-24 victory last weekend either lucky or a fluke. 

  • Dixon looks for chance to make his mark   After Kentucky's anemic performance in a 28-0 season-opening loss to Louisville, Wildcats' coach Rich Brooks promised lineup changes. One of them might come at running back, if freshman Tony Dixon has his way. 

  • Athletics board OKs $34 million for renovations    UK football players run on uneven ground during practice and play in a stadium with a locker room that separates the team. 

  • Todd says UK paying the price for past sins     The University of Kentucky football team is finding out just how hurtful NCAA penalties can be, UK President Lee Todd said yesterday in opening the athletic association board meeting.

  • Former Football Assistant Set To Sue UK For Millions    LEX 18 News has learned that former UK recruiting coordinator Claude Bassett, the centerpiece of an NCAA investigation that has UK on probation, will sue the university, saying he is tired of being the scapegoat.

  • Climbing the charts    Just as he found himself suddenly moving from defense to offense, Tony Dixon just as suddenly might find himself as the starting tailback Saturday when the Wildcats (0-1) play their home opener against Indiana University (2-0).

  • UK leaders defend Brooks     University of Kentucky president Lee Todd and athletic director Mitch Barnhart offered a spirited defense of second-year coach Rich Brooks Wednesday, 10 days after a humbling shutout loss at Louisville.

(09-15-04)

  • UK reviews awarding of media contract    SCHOOL OFFICIAL COULD HAVE CONFLICT    The University of Kentucky athletics department is set to award its largest media contract ever this month, but officials are now checking on a potential conflict of interest.

      Football   

  • Huffman Named to National Good Works Team   Junior cornerback has been named to the 2004 Good Works Team, the American Football Coaches Association announced Wednesday. It’s a national honor, as only 11 players are chosen from among the NCAA’s 117 Division I-A teams.

  • UK Wideout Parker Injured in Freak Practice Incident   UK senior wide receiver Gerad Parker was injured in the closing moments of practice Tuesday, leaving his status for the Indiana game questionable. 

  • University of Kentucky Notebook     University of Kentucky receiver Gerad Parker had been hit hard before, but nothing like the shot he took yesterday at the end of practice.

  • UK stands in Hoosiers' way to 3-0    Gerry DiNardo spent two seasons at Indiana laying the groundwork to win. Two weeks into his third season, he has a new task: teaching his players how to deal with success. "If I'm not a good teacher, they won't learn," DiNardo said Tuesday during his weekly news conference. For the Hoosiers, this is uncharted territory. They haven't started a season 2-0 since 1996.

  • Sumrall back as starter   KENTUCKY LINEBACKER OVERCOMES LACK OF SIZE TO MAKE PLAYS   Jon Sumrall has been Mr. "Now You See Him, Now You Don't" during his Kentucky football career. Sumrall played sparingly as a redshirt freshman before emerging as a surprise starter in the Louisville game last season.

  • Two Kentucky players get Nov. 1 trial date   University of Kentucky football players Casey Shumate and Eric Klope entered a plea of not guilty on indecent exposure charges in Fayette County District Court yesterday and have been given a jury trial date of Nov. 1.

  • UK-IU game might be a soggy matchup   Ivan the Unpredictable could be heading our way, just in time to get into a Saturday evening football game in Lexington. But it's too early to tell where the now-powerful but wobbly hurricane will be dropping rain by the time it arrives at the Kentucky state line this weekend.

  • DiNardo finally can crack a smile    Indiana University football coach Gerry DiNardo, who had been quite stoic while compiling a 5-19 record in his first two seasons, allowed himself a big smile after the Hoosiers (2-0) had matched their victory total from last year.

(09-14-04)

      Football   

  • Wildcats aim to have more fun, and win   Even when the Cats spoiled a U of L play, they acted as if nothing good had happened at all. Where was the emotion? Where was the excitement? "Nobody looked like they were having fun out there," Senior cornerback Earven Flowers said.

  • Doormat-no-more defense energizing Hoosiers   Imagine a defense of Joe Cullen clones, where everybody plays as if a million-dollar paycheck was at stake, where fun follows fury and victory replaces defeat.

  • UK's jucos providing little help   While he says it is still too early to judge the overall impact junior college signees have had, or could have, at Kentucky, coach Rich Brooks also knows the seven players he's brought in the last two years have not had nearly the immediate impact he had hoped.

  • Dixon knows he can help UK's offense   Since he felt he was doing little to help Kentucky on defense, freshman Tony Dixon decided to ask head coach Rich Brooks if he could try tailback.

  • Hoosiers aim for another road win     When told Indiana University football coach Gerry DiNardo soon would be on the phone for a media teleconference, Kentucky coach Rich Brooks - who had just finished his weekly chat with reporters - noted one difference between him and his counterpart.

  • UK's offense needs help    It seems like every year that the fall brings an almost predictable pattern across the Commonwealth.

  • Suddenly, Indiana game more daunting for Kentucky   When told Indiana coach Gerry DiNardo soon would be on the phone for a media teleconference, Kentucky coach Rich Brooks - who had just finished a news conference - noted one difference between him and his counterpart.   

  • Cats Preparing For Indiana     Coach Brooks   On the progress the team made during the bye week… “We had practice on Thursday and scrimmaged a lot of the young players, and we scrimmaged on Saturday. We have some work to do in the blocking area of the running game. We have looked at quite a few combinations and will continue to do so the first three or four days this week in the offensive line. There will be a few starter changes on offense and defense that probably will be named close to game time.”

  • Brooks sees IU turning a corner   There weren't many dates on the Kentucky football schedule that you could circle as a potential win to begin with

       Basketball

  • New counts filed against Azubuike's dad   THREE FRAUD-RELATED CHARGES FOLLOW 18-COUNT INDICTMENT AS PROSECUTORS CONTINUE PROBE OF FINANCES   Three new counts of fraud-related charges have been filed against the father of University of Kentucky basketball player Kelenna Azubuike.

(09-13-04)

  • UK Athletics Faces Tough Decision in awarding multi-media contract    Sometime in the next couple of days UK will choose from among four companies vying to become the Athletic Association’s media representative for the next 5-7 years starting next April. At stake, among other things, are the distribution rights to print, radio and television broadcasting, marketing, licensing, Internet, and advertising sales. The winner will be selected from among four companies that made formal presentations before a selection