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Sunday, Jun. 08, 2008

Freshmen getting started in summer

Players can work out, get acclimated to campus life

The eight-week summer session started Thursday at the University of Kentucky, meaning incoming freshmen football players were able to enroll in classes and join the returnees in on-campus workouts.

UK doesn't release an official list of players who enroll in the summer, but most of the freshmen who have met academic eligibility requirements are expected to be in Lexington when the six-week summer session starts in two weeks.

Matt Roark is one of the freshmen who arrived last week for classes and workouts. The 6-foot-6, 190-pound Roark is expected to be given a look at quarterback when fall camp opens, so he'll use this time to work out, do some throwing and get acclimated to college life. Roark is rooming with Collins Ukwu, a 6-4, 210-pound defensive end from LaVergne, Tenn.

”You're trying to get a head start,“ Roark said. ”It's not real hectic around town right now, everything's calm, so you can get a chance to learn the area and meet some people.“

The freshmen began voluntary workouts last week and will soon join the veterans in pass skeletons, weight lifting and conditioning.

”It wasn't too bad this week,“ Roark said of workouts. ”But I think everybody's trying to get their feet wet. We know it's about to start getting real tough.“

Greene hearing Wednesday

UK recruit Jerrell Greene will have a preliminary hearing on Wednesday on first-degree robbery charges, according to his former high school coach, David Hensley.

Greene was arrested last Tuesday after allegedly trying to steal cough medicine from the Kroger pharmacy on Alexandria Drive.

According to the citation, the store's manager received cuts and scratches to his wrist, and a loss-prevention officer received cuts and scrapes to her knees during a fight with Greene, who pleaded not guilty.

Greene, a 6-1, 220-pound running back who starred at Paul Laurence Dunbar last season, committed to UK in the spring.

There's no word on the status of Greene's scholarship offer from Kentucky. Coaches are not allowed to comment on recruits who have not signed a letter of intent, but in the past Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks has let most court cases go through the judicial process before making a final decision on a player who runs afoul of the law.

Hensley, who coached Greene at Dunbar for three seasons, said he spoke with Greene shortly after the incident and believes he can rebound from this setback.

”He has a court date set and we will find out more about the situation then,“ Hensley said. ”I still believe in Jerrell as a person and realize that kids sometimes make mistakes. The real test is will they learn from them — and I believe Jerrell will.“

McCutchan a graduate assistant

Former Kentucky center Matt McCutchan has rejoined his alma mater as a graduate assistant coach.

McCutchan will work with the offense, and his duties include analysis of opponent film, preparing scouting reports, conducting ”self scout“ of UK tendencies, overseeing the offensive scout team, and assisting with on-campus recruiting. He also will help coach the offensive line.

”I'm very pleased to get a former player who was part of the transition of our program,“ Brooks said. ”Obviously, he played a role in the growth of our offense through the 2006 season. Matt wasn't the biggest lineman, but he was one of the best in the SEC because of his hard work and dedication. Those are the qualities you look for in coaches.“

McCutchan spent the last year attending a mini-camp with the Kansas City Chiefs and a training camp with the Los Angeles Avengers. He also was an assistant offensive line coach at his alma mater, Lebanon (Ohio) High School, during the 2007 season.

McCutchan was a three-year starter (2004-06) for Kentucky after transferring from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He began as a walk-on but eventually earned a scholarship, starting in all but one of his 31 career games. McCutchan, a member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll in 2005, graduated in 2006 with a degree in economics. He is working on a master's degree in sports leadership.

Parker goes to UT-Martin

McCutchan will replace former UK receiver Gerad Parker, who recently accepted a full-time job as an assistant at Tennessee-Martin.

Parker will coach running backs at UT-Martin, replacing former University of Tennessee running back Jay Graham, who left to take at job at Miami University.

Don't be surprised to see Parker rise rapidly up the coaching ranks. As a Wildcat, he was known as a hard-working and gritty player who battled through injuries and was named the team's Most Inspirational Player after his senior year. And his friendly, easygoing nature made him popular with fans, teammates and the media.

”It's a great opportunity,“ Parker said. ”But it's also hard leaving Kentucky. I've learned so much from (quarterbacks coach) Randy Sanders and (offensive coordinator) Joker Phillips. And they know so many people. Coach Sanders' contacts helped opened this door up for me.“

Parker is married to former Morehead State basketball star Kandi Brown, who's the daughter of the late, legendary girls' high school basketball coach John ”Hop“ Brown.

Brown invited to NCAAExpert Coaches Academy

UK defensive coordinator Steve Brown was invited to attend the NCAA Expert Coaches Academy this weekend in Dallas.

The Expert Coaches Academy is an NCAA program that addresses the critical shortage of ethnic minorities in head coaching positions in college football, primarily at the Division I level. Though the NCAA does not have hiring authority over its member colleges and universities, it is able to provide seminars and networking opportunities that prepare coaches for many of the issues they will experience at the head coaching level.

Of the current 119 Division I Football Bowl Subdivision head football coaches, six are African-American, one is Asian/Pacific Islander, and one is Latino. Three percent of head football coaches in all NCAA divisions are ethnic minorities, excluding the historically black coaches and universities.

With Brown and Joker Phillips, Kentucky is the first school in SEC history to have African-American defensive and offensive coordinators at the same time. On the suggestion of Brooks, Phillips has been designated as UK's head coach of the future following Brooks' eventual retirement.

Lewis signs with CFL team

Former Kentucky defensive end Dominic Lewis has signed a contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

Lewis' senior season was his best: 37 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three quarterback sacks, two fumbles caused and three pass breakups. Lewis is nearing completion of a degree in electrical engineering.

Lewis is the eighth senior from the 2007 team to turn pro, joining NFL players Jacob Tamme (Indianapolis), Keenan Burton (St. Louis), Andre Woodson (New York Giants), Steve Johnson (Buffalo), Rafael Little (Tennessee), Eric Scott (Tennessee) and Wesley Woodyard (Denver).

Other Wildcats currently on NFL rosters: Glenn Holt (Cincinnati), Shane Boyd (Houston), Arliss Beach (Houston), Marlon McCree (Denver), Dewayne Robertson (Denver), Jared Lorenzen (New York Giants), Otis Grigsby (Minnesota), Glenn Pakulak (Chicago) and Artose Pinner (Detroit).

Correction

An item in last week's notebook gave an incorrect address for a location to purchase UK's new football uniforms. The correct address is UKteamshop.com. The uniforms had not arrived in stores or on the Web site as of Friday but should arrive soon.