John Clay's Sidelines

Head coach John Calipari has posted a statement/explanation on his web site regarding his decision not to retain at least three of the walk-ons from last year’s UK basketball team.

An excerpt:

In my 17 years of college coaching, I have very rarely had walk-ons and when I have it’s usually been another student-athlete, who could help us in practice or game situations because of his size, speed or skill level. I find my practices run at optimum performance when there are 12-13 players. Any more than that and we’re not able to accomplish what I want in each practice.

Calipari did say that he was considering a spot for Mark Krebs, but had not made a determination at this point.

We’re 37 days away from Kentucky’s Sept. 5 football opener against Miami of Ohio at Paul Brown Stadium.

Today we look at the Tennessee-Florida schedule factor.

The Cats have not beaten Tennessee in football since 1984. They haven’t beaten Florida since 1986. And UK plays each SEC East opponent every season.

It just so happens that the schedule breaks in a way that Florida and Tennessee both play at Kentucky in odd-numbered years, while the Cats visit both schools in even-numbered years.

Because of that, in odd-numbered years, such as this year, UK has two home games against teams it has not beaten in quite some time. In even-numbered years, those home opponents are replaced with teams the Cats might have a better chance of beating.

Continue reading ‘Countdown: The Tennessee-Florida factor’

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that UK loses four-star safety recruit to Michigan State.
• WKYT reports that basketball walk-ons Dwight Perry, Adam Delph and Matt Scherbenski will not be back next season.
• Kentucky Sports Network talks to UK basketball target Adreian Payne.
• Tom Leach reports on Rich Brooks’ talk to the Lexington Rotary Club.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports that Cris Collinsworth’s son has an interest in UK.
• A Sea of Blue has learned to stop worrying and love the hate.
• Inner Circle keeps counting down its list of UK immortals.
• Bluegrass State Basketball reports that ex-Wildcat Allen Edwards has been hired as an assistant at Towson State.
• Wildcat Blue Blog looks at UK football’s recent recruiting losses.
• Straitpinkie has some concern about the UK football recruiting class.

SEC links for Friday:

• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Mississippi State has replaced its long-time (and distinctive) public address announcer.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun writes that there are deflating issues for the Florida Gators.
• Joseph Person of The State reports that South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is encouraged by quarterback Stephen Garcia.
• Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean reports that Lane Kiffin and Bobby Johnson are toning down the UT-Vandy rivalry.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes not to look for Tennessee to just get by on defense.
• Tom Murphy of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the NCAA has granted immediate eligibility to Arkansas running back Broderick Green.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain is talking it up.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate writes that Tiger Tour shines spotlight on LSU coaches.

I’m on WVLK-590 Lexington with Larry Glover at 6:35 tonight.

We’re 38 days away from the Kentucky-Miami of Ohio opener at Paul Brown Stadium, Sept. 5.

That’s right, the Miami of Ohio opener. Louisville comes to Commonwealth Stadium this season. So the Rich Brooks prerogative is in effect, meaning that the Cats will have a game under its belt before Steve Kragthorpe brings the Birds to town for the annual rivalry game.

Kentucky is 13-1 in its last 14 games against the Mid-American Conference, proud home of the Miami Red Hawks.

Here’s a chart looking at Kentucky football’s last 10 games against the MAC.

LP Field

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports on the UK-Western Kentucky football series.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that both Cats and Toppers see series as a win-win.
• Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean reports that Nashville will benefit from the UK-WKU series.
• Cat Scratches was at the UK-WKU announcement in Nashville.
• Jody Demling of the C-J reports that word on the street has Josh Selby at UK.
• Bluegrass State Basketball hears that Selby will be a Wildcat.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Is Josh Selby to UK a done deal?’

Lane Kiffin

SEC links for Thursday:

• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun writes that there’s plenty of speculation about what Lane Kiffin’s billboard in Florida might look like.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC wants to know if Mark Richt will ever win the big one at Georgia.
• David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Georgia knows it has to beat Florida.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that NCAA has asked Renardo Sidney’s family for more documents.
• John Davis of the Oxford Eagle writes that SEC’s new TV deal makes other leagues jealous.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that the schedules favor the top SEC teams.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Tennessee’s planned billboard for Florida’

Bad news from Matt May over at The Cats’ Pause, who sent a tweet saying, “UK won’t be getting new basketball uniforms, just making a few minor changes to last year’s model.”

Too bad.

I’m no Mr. Blackstone, but those souped-up horsey threads Nike slapped on last year’s Cats were as appealing as Billy G.

Yes, the script tribute to Mr. Wildcat was nice and all, but the jockey-silks design, the championships checkerboard and those skirt-like shorts were hardly fashion statements. (I’ve seen Amish women with a higher hemline.) The whole ensemble was way too busy.

Me, I like my basketball uniforms simple and classy, especially when they represent a tradition-rich program.

Continue reading ‘Bad news, only minor changes for UK basketball uniforms’

The Orlando Sentinel has put together a chart ranking the 118 NCAA FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) teams by the revenue they generated in the reporting year of 2007-08.

(Not just football revenue, as previously posted.)

Texas was No. 1, raking in over $120 million last season. Ohio State was No. 2, followed by Florida, Michigan and (surprise) Wisconsin.

Kentucky ranked 22nd, just behind Texas A&M and just ahead of Duke. The Cats were seventh in the SEC, in front of South Carolina (24th), Arkansas (27th), Vanderbilt (52nd), Ole Miss (65th) and Mississippi State (75th).

By the way, Louisville was 44th. U of L brought in just over $52 million. UK brought in just over $71 million.

According to the Sentinel, “These revenues include generated revenue (such as proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships) and allocated revenue (such as tuition waivers, money from student fees and direct institutional support.)”