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We’re 18 days away from the UK-Miami of Ohio kickoff at Paul Brown Stadium on Sept. 5.

Today’s chart looks at how Kentucky has fared against SEC school since the league split into two divisions in 1992.

A.J. Stewart

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that freshman offensive lineman Larry Warford is making a big impression.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L reports that UK rules SEC Basketball’s Super Tuesday on ESPN.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that UK has something “black” planned for Mississippi State game.
• Dawson also reports on the battle at center for a one-game start.
• Bluegrass State Basketball reports that A.J. Stewart will play at Texas State.
• Cat Scratches reports that UK pitcher James Paxton has postponed his major league career.
• Chris Low of ESPN writes that Kentucky hoops is the villain to Kentucky football.
• Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Corey Joseph, being recruited by UK, is spending plenty of time at Minnesota.

Continue reading ‘BBL: A.J. Stewart to play at Texas State’

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Ex-Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer tells AP he wants to be back on “the big stage.”
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that prize Mississippi State hoops signee Renardo Sidney has cleared first obstacle.
• Veazey also reports that State running back Anthony Dixon may still be in Dan Mullen’s doghouse.
• ESPN’s Chris Low reports that Arkansas has lost starting cornerback Isaac Madison for the season.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that Auburn coach Gene Chizik made a tough quarterback call look easy.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy has not been happy with his play.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Fulmer wants to return to “big stage”’

Curtis Pulley

We’re 19 days away from the UK-Miami of Ohio opener, Sept. 5 at Paul Brown Stadium.

Today we’re going to see how the 2005 UK recruiting class, those who would be redshirt seniors this year, did.

Here ais the 2005 recruiting class:

• E.J. Adams: Wide receiver from Stone Mountain, Ga. left the team for personal reasons after two years as a cornerback and one year as a wide receiver. Caught 14 passes for 180 yards last year in his one season as a wide out.

• James Alexander: The offensive lineman from Atlanta, Ga. was a vauable backup, though he made just two starts in his career. Decided to give up his final year of eligibility.

• Ben Bates: Fullback from Plain City, Ohio played in three games before leaving team after the 2007 season.

• Sefo Blaylock: Offensive guard from Salt Lake City played in four games as a redshirt freshman in 2006, then left team in 2007.

• Ross Bogue: Tight end from Suwanee, Ga. has played in 39 games over past thee years, with one career catch. Is still looking for his first start.

Continue reading ‘Countdown: How did 2005 recruiting class do?’

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that UK’s offense exhibited night-and-day improvement over last year in first scrimmage.
• Cosby also writes on the team concept of fall camp.
• Jerry Tipton’s notebook talks about John Calipari mending fences at UK.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that UK receiver Chris Matthews is making an impression.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that UK is wide open at wideout.
• Tom Leach writes that the improvement on offense is noteworthy.

Continue reading ‘BBL: UK football kicking into gear’

SEC links for Monday:

• David Jones of Florida Today writes on the SEC’s fresh new faces.
• Joe Person of The State reports that South Carolina’s offense is showing off improved firepower.
• John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that Urban Meyer is head of All-SEC coaches.
• Nathan Crabbe of the Gainesville Sun reports that thousands turned out for Florida football’s fan day.
• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes that Auburn fans say they have forgiven last season.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Some fresh new faces’

Update: New York Daily News sent a reporter to Louisville for this lengthy Sunday story on Pitino.

From the in-box.

William wrote:

I generally enjoy reading your articles, but I must take you to task about your recent one regarding Rick Pitino.

In your article you state:

“So, despite the morals clause in his contract, Pitino shouldn’t be pink-slipped just because he had sex with a stranger at Porcini. Nor should he be fired for funding an abortion. You can argue the morality of those acts, you can’t argue the legality.”

I have a problem with this for 3 reasons. First, you seem to equate legality with morality, which is wrong because while not necessarily mutually exclusive, each is a separate entity.

Second, you acknowledge the morals clause in Mr. Pitino’s contract, yet quickly dismiss his conduct as insufficient to justify his termination. This calls into question if you consider any act immoral enough to justify employment termination of a famous coach.

Third, and this is perhaps the crux of my problem with your stance, Rick Pitino’s sexual liaison and reported payment for an abortion are immoral acts by his own standards. If Rick, a staunch Roman Catholic, considers his own actions immoral, as he has admitted, how then can you say that you can “argue the morality of those actions”. In a word, you can’t because he doesn’t.

Daniel wrote:

Pitino’s motivational hogwash, loud personality, and public invocation of his religion while always looking out for Number One (I am a Catholic), just make him look the ultimate hypocrite. The way he used his celebrity muscle against Sypher through the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, the Louisville P.D. and the University still did not make her go away, and now her credibility is on a par with his. Just shows how sleazy big time basketball coaches have become at places like Louisville, UK, the Big East etc. The longer U of L holds onto him, the more foolish the school looks. Before long they will have the dreadful “win at all costs” reputation your alma mater has had since 1951. The whole Pitino coaching tree of himself, Calipari, Donovan et al, has to be nervous about the biggest oak in their forest tumbling soon.

Continue reading ‘E-mailbag: Opinions on the Rick Pitino saga’

Even more Rick Pitino links:

• Rebecca Rosenberg of the New York Post travels to Louisville and talks to Jacqueline Pitino who says that, as Post puts it, “vixen can’t ruin Pitino’s marriage.”
• Laurnie Caproni of the Maysville Ledger-Independent writes an open letter to Pitino.
• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press compares Vandy’s Kevin Stallings’ behavior to that of Pitino’s.
• Andew Wolfson of the Courier-Journal talks to Pitino’s lawyer, who says that coach did not force Karen Sypher to have an abortion.
• Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal writes that the Pitino story is far from over.
• Nathaniel Bryan of the Elizaethtown News-Enterprise talks to Scott Padgett about Pitino’s situation.

Continue reading ‘Even more Rick Pitino and his “vixen” links’

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com says it could be Brandon Knight or bust for UK as far as point guards. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Herald-Leader report that UK’s all-time leading scorer in men’s basketball, Dan Issel, has filed for bankruptcy.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L reports that freshmen quarterbacks Ryan Mossakowski and Morgan Newton are struggling.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that LaGrange High School in Georgia is a UK pipeline.
• ESPN’s Ivan Maisel names Trevard Lindley as first-team All-American.
• Bluegrass State Basketball has an interview with me, yes, me, on John Calipari, the internet, etc.

Continue reading ‘BBL: It may be Brandon Knight or bust for UK’