http://www.kentucky.com/283/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Kentucky.com en-us Copyright 2008 Kentucky.com Chip Cosby 60 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:14:29 EDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench webmaster@kentucky.com http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/446663.html http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/446663.html Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:37 EDT
The University of Kentucky pipeline that UK offensive coordinator and future head coach Joker Phillips has established to powerhouse program LaGrange (Ga.) has been well-chronicled.

Now Phillips may be on the verge of building another pipeline, this one a little closer to home at Louisville's Central High School.

UK got a commitment this week from Central defensive tackle Mister Cobble , and the Wildcats currently lead for Cobble's teammate, linebacker Ridge Wilson .

Central was a basketball powerhouse in the 1960s and 1970s, but the Yellowjackets struggled to maintain the same level of prominence once court-ordered busing began in 1975. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/440545.html http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/440545.html Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:27 EDT
One of the things the University of Kentucky coaching staff must decide when fall camp opens is what to do with Randall Cobb .

Cobb is one of, if not the most athletic and versatile members of UK's incoming freshman class. He led Alcoa, Tenn., to two consecutive state titles while playing quarterback, yet the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder also has the tools to play wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner.

When he signed in February, Cobb was told by the UK coaching staff that he'd be given an opportunity to play quarterback. And Cobb has spent parts of his first three weeks in Lexington taking snaps in pass skeleton drills.

But there's a major logjam at the quarterback position. Junior Curtis Pulley and sophomore Mike Hartline will battle to be the starter. Redshirt sophomore Will Fidler and his surgically repaired shoulder showed enough progress for him to stake a claim for a spot in the rotation. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/434107.html http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/434107.html Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:24 EDT
The pre-season college football magazine circuit is in full swing, and the consensus is that the University of Kentucky will come back to earth a bit after back-to-back eight-win seasons and Music City Bowl trophies.

Phil Steele's College Football Preview, Athlon Sports and Lindy's all have the Wildcats pegged for fifth in the SEC East Division after they finished third in 2006 and fourth last year.

UK Coach Rich Brooks said he's gotten used to the slights. An article in Nashville newspaper The Tennessean earlier this month even suggested that Brooks was on the hot seat.

.I really don't feel like I have to answer to the magazines, but that's how they always pick us,. Brooks said. .Last year, we were coming off an eight-win season, beat Clemson in the Music City Bowl, had most of our team back, and the magazines still picked us fifth.. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/427591.html http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/427591.html Sun, 08 Jun 2008 01:52 EDT
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.. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/420930.html http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/420930.html Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:24 EDT
Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks was among the majority of Southeastern Conference football coaches who was in favor of adding a one-day early signing period in November. The league coaches voted 9-3 at the SEC meetings in Destin, Fla., this week to instill a fall signing period, but the SEC athletic directors and presidents surprisingly shot down the proposal on Friday.

Most of the athletic directors and presidents who were in opposition cited a specific aspect of the proposal which allowed only prospects who hadn't taken an official visit to sign early. Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs was specifically concerned about that element of the proposal.

.How is it that we can sign a guy and he not have made an official visit to our institution, not had a chance to sit down with the school or college dean and actually gone through the process?. Jacobs told the Birmingham News.

But Brooks argued that most prospects are already well familiar with the schools and programs before they take official visits. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/414806.html http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/414806.html Sun, 25 May 2008 02:04 EDT
Recruiting coordinator Randy Sanders said the staff put an emphasis on bringing in speedy, versatile athletes in last year's class, so now the focus for 2009 will switch to size.

Sanders said UK specifically needs defensive lineman and linebackers.

"Last year we wanted speed athletes, and it wasn't pinned down by any certain position," he said. "I think we went out there and addressed that pretty well, so now I think we definitely need more big bodies."

UK currently has three known commitments: Paul Dunbar running back Jerrell Greene, North Hardin receiver LaRod King and Madison Central offensive lineman Larry Warford. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/408352.html http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/408352.html Sun, 18 May 2008 02:04 EDT
LaGrange will once again figure big into UK's recruiting plans for the next couple of years, as the Grangers are once again stacked with major college prospects.

LaGrange's most high-profile player is Qua Huzzie , a 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior linebacker.

Huzzie has already received offers from UK, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Oklahoma State and Duke, and LaGrange Coach Steve Pardue expects more offers to come.

The city has produced several outstanding college linebackers, including Woodyard, Kelley, former Arkansas standout Sam Olajubutu and current Auburn junior Tray Blackmon .]]> http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/401515.html http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/401515.html Sun, 11 May 2008 02:03 EDT
"Well, first of all, I was shocked that Andre fell so low," Lorenzen said this week. "And then I was shocked from the standpoint that we already have four quarterbacks. But I do think it was a great value pick. Andre is a second- or third-round guy and you get him in the sixth round."

Woodson is participating in the Giants' rookie mini-camp this weekend. He'll be trying to put himself in a quarterback rotation that already includes Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning , Lorenzen, former No. 1 overall pick David Carr and journeyman Anthony Wright .

Lorenzen, who served as Manning's backup last season, is no stranger to quarterback competitions. Former UK coach Hal Mumme made waves when he gave Lorenzen, then a redshirt freshman, the job over incumbent Dusty Bonner in the summer before the 2000 season, and Lorenzen also battled with Shane Boyd to keep his job later in his career.

But now Lorenzen is firmly entrenched in what he calls the "most intense competition of my career."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/388263.html http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/388263.html Sun, 27 Apr 2008 02:07 EDT
But that's not the only way the Wildcats will look different next fall, as UK will break out new uniforms for the 2008 season.

UK didn't have prints of the new uni's available for the public, but they aren't a drastic change from the most recent model which made their debut in the 2004 season. The lettering and numeral design will remain the same, with the most notable differences coming on the sides. The big stripe down the side of the jersey and pants has been replaced with a smaller, more traditional set of diagonal stripes around the rib cage area.

The new uniforms will also feature more black trim, particularly around the sleeve and collar areas. Since the big stripe going down the pants has been eliminated, UK will also be able to mix combinations. For example, the Cats could wear the white jerseys with blue pants or blue jerseys with white pants. The helmets will remain the same.

Representatives from Nike meet with coaches across the country several times a year to discuss equipment and apparel, and UK Coach Rich Brooks played a big part in the new design.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/381548.html http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/381548.html Sun, 20 Apr 2008 08:31 EDT
These evaluations are based on coaches' comments and observations through spring practice and not just on Saturday's Blue-White Spring Game.

Quarterbacks

Biggest gainer: Will Fidler

Summary: Neither Curtis Pulley nor Mike Hartline secured the No. 1 job, but Fidler put himself back in the mix by showing that he's on the way back from off-season shoulder surgery.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/374874.html http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/374874.html Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:05 EDT
But Phillips didn't get much cooperation from the weather or the UK defense.

The Wildcat 'D' held the offense without a touchdown yesterday, and neither Curtis Pulley nor Mike Hartline could generate much through the air while battling howling winds at Commonwealth Stadium.

Pulley went 8-for-15 passing for 66 yards and an interception, while Hartline was 5-for-14 for 38 yards. Both Pulley and Hartline saw potential scoring drives stopped by missed field goals.

The offense did generate 314 yards on 81 plays and picked up 20 first downs, and the running game was once again solid despite missing two of its top tailbacks.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/368050.html http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/368050.html Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:07 EDT
The scrimmage pitted the first, second, and third-team offenses against the first, second, and third-team defenses. Each series began on the offense's 35-yard line.

Brooks said he was pleased with the scrimmage and noted the Cats got out of it without any significant injuries.

"We made some very good plays in every phase of the game, and we also made some bad plays, inconsistencies, which you're going to expect," Brooks said. "You can't be happy about both sides of the ball when you scrimmage yourself. Overall, though, I thought it was a very, very good first scrimmage."

The top three quarterbacks, junior Curtis Pulley and sophomores Mike Hartline and Will Fidler , each played six series. Hartline and Pulley alternated with the first and second teams.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/348243.html http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/348243.html Sun, 16 Mar 2008 02:02 EDT
In addition to the men's and women's basketball programs securing automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament, the Hilltoppers finalized a deal to come to Lexington next fall for the first-ever football matchup with the University of Kentucky.

"It's pretty good times around the office," Western Kentucky athletics director Dr. Wood Selig said.

Western, in its second year of its transition to Division I-A football, won't officially compete in Sun Belt Conference play until 2009. Its temporary status as an independent allows WKU some schedule flexibility.

The Sun Belt Conference was in the process of re-arranging some league games to accommodate an ESPN made-for-TV game between Alabama and Clemson. When all was said and done, Western ended up with an open date on Sept. 27, the same date UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart was looking to find a game.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/341552.html http://www.kentucky.com/283/story/341552.html Sun, 09 Mar 2008 03:03 EDT
Robertson declared for the draft shortly before UK Coach Rich Brooks was hired in December of 2002. Because Robertson didn't work out at the Combine, Pro Day was the first opportunity for NFL teams to see him. Robertson's performance helped catapult him to the No. 5 overall pick that year.

Nutter Field House was packed on Wednesday for the first time since Robertson's legendary workout, as scouts got an up-close-and-personal look at quarterback Andre Woodson .

Woodson had a forgettable Senior Bowl experience and didn't work out at the Combine. But the consensus is that he helped himself at Pro Day by running a decent time in the 40-yard dash (4.8) and throwing well.

While UK's other top senior draft prospects didn't work out ( Jacob Tamme , Wesley Woodyard , Keenan Burton and Rafael Little ), scouts got an early look at the underclassmen. The Wildcats' 2009 draft class might not be as loaded as this year's, but Brooks believes the talent level has risen to the point to where Pro Day at UK will be full of scouts annually.]]>