John Clay's Sidelines

UK offensive tackle Billy Joe Murphy has earned plaudits for staying healthy and showing improvement during fall camp. With UK’s opener set for Thursday night, here is the senior from Monroe County talking about his development.

(AP photo)

As some scouting report fodder for Kentucky football’s Thursday night tip-off, oops, kick off against Western Kentucky, I called on former Herald-Leader intern and current College Heights Herald sports editor Cole Claybourn for a five-question rundown of the Hilltoppers.

1) What are reasonable expectations for this season?

I think the expectations for this season are higher than last season, but that’s not saying a whole lot. I think a reasonable expectation is four wins, with the possibility of six. They lost four games in the fourth quarter last season, so they theoretically could have done the same. With more experience and better size, some of those close games might go their way this year.

2) Biggest difference fans should see from last year’s WKU team?

They’ll see a much more mature quarterback in Kawaun Jakes and they’ll see a much improved defense. That’s saying something because their defense was pretty solid in the Sun Belt last season. Also, I think the passing game will be a much bigger weapon. The big question will be if their main receivers can stay healthy. Tight end Jack Doyle and wide receiver Marcus Vasquez are both coming off significant injuries and both wore yellow “non-contact” jerseys throughout fall camp.

Continue reading ‘Scouting report: Five questions about Western Kentucky’

UK basketball target Archie Goodwin has used his twitter account to reveal his five official visits. He is expected to be a guest at Big Blue Madness.

(Hat tip to All Ky Hoops)

Get all your recruiting links at Next Cats.

(AP Photo/Dave Martin)

When Kentucky football makes stopping the run one of its main defensive goals for 2011, the challenge starts with the very first game. Western Kentucky happens to boast one of the best running backs in all of college football. His name is Bobby Rainey, and last year he rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns against the Cats in Commonwealth Stadium.

As a whole his junior season, Rainey rushed for 1,649 yards and 15 touchdowns. This followed his sophomore campaign in which the 5-foot-8, 205-pound product of Griffin, Georgia rushed for 939 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 6.5 yards per pop.

In last year’s UK-WKU game, Rainey produced six runs of 10-or-more yards. He ripped off a 59-yard touchdown run in the game’s first 2:13 to give the Hilltoppers a 7-0 lead.  Here’s an interesting stat: Rainey gained 141 yards on 12 carries when the down-and-distance was 1st-and-10. So 141 of his 184 yards came in that situation.

Continue reading ‘For UK, stopping the run means stopping Bobby Rainey’

In our spotlighting UK fans on twitter, today we single out Michael Rudolph, or @MRudolphComedy on twitter.

Michael’s tag line: “I’m a Stand Up Comedian and winner of the 2011 Funniest Person in Cincinnati contest. UK basketball fan, FSU football fan.” Check out his website by clicking here.

Michael has over 12,000 tweets to his credit. A recent one: “Facebook has informed me that my wedding anniversary is Sept 6, and suggested I send my wife a message…Thanks Facebook..I got this”

Here is his requested bio:

Michael Rudolph Clos aka Michael Rudolph – When I’m on Stage!!!

Comedian by Trade, Wildcat by the grace of God

I was born and raised in Bracken County, KY, yeah that’s right I was a Polar Bear…class of 1997. I know you don’t see too many polar bears running around Kentucky but Crusaders and Juggernauts aren’t very plentiful either..so don’t judge. I have been a fanatical member of this thing we call Big Blue Nation for my entire life. From Kenny Walker to Rex Chapman, Roger Harden to Wayne Turner, Ron Mercer to Jodie Meeks…I have always loved the Big Blue.

Continue reading ‘Spotlighting UK fans on twitter: @MRudolphComedy’

With Kansas center Willie Cauley now scheduled to attend UK’s Big Blue Madness, here are some of his highlights, courtesy of City League Hoops.

(H-L photo/Charles Bertram)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Randall Cobb a big question mark for Packers opener, reports Sporting News. It would be a shame if the former UK star missed a chance to shine in the league’s Thursday night opener.
• Archie Goodwin confirms that he will attend Big Blue Madness, reports Steve Jones of Cats Illustrated. Looks like Nashville’s Alex Poythress will also be part of the crowded guest list.
• Kentucky counting on big guys to stuff the run, writes Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader. Donte Rumph and Mister Cobble hope to plug the middle.
• Picking up D.J. Warren late turned out to be a savvy move for Joker Phillips, says lead to my Wednesday notes column. Taken late from Randall Cobb’s old high school, Warren is now No. 1 on the depth chart.
• Danny Trevathan adds team leader to his resume, reports Kyle Tucker of the Courier-Journal. Leading the SEC in tackles isn’t enough for the senior linebacker.
• Larry Vaught of Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that UK’s fast defense must find way to contain Western. This means containing Bobby Rainey.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cobb may miss opener; Goodwin to attend Madness’

Georgia's Aaron Murray (AP photo)

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Climer: Derek Dooley’s mom dials down her radio persona
• Georgia quarterback  Aaron Murray wants to be like Boise quarterback  Kellen Moore
• Ex-Vol basketball star Scotty Hopson will start his pro career in Greece
• Derailed LSU hopes to get back on track against Oregon
• Clowney everything South Carolina hoped for and more
• Mike Herndon: Arkansas should push Alabama in SEC West
• At Arkansas, now comes the real test of Tyler Wilson’s ability
• Kevin Scarbinsky: Auburn’s Mike Dyer only a backup on paper
• Bruce Pearl says his prayers were answered in finding marketing job
• Charlie Weis pleased with progress offense has made at Florida
• New Alabama receiver Duron Carter impresses in first two practices
• Georgia’s Crowell appears to be as advertised
• Auburn’s Barrett Trotter takes the reins on the Plains
• Ole Miss fans may need a program with all the new faces in football
• Tennessee paying $3.1 million for its non-conference games

Updated with APSE letter of protest.

The Associated Press Managing Editors Association has sent a letter to UK protesting the school’s treatment of the Kentucky Kernel.

Here is the body of the letter:

Dear Mr. Barnhart:

Associated Press Managing Editors, a nationwide organization of newspaper editors and broadcast news directors, objects to your department’s reprehensible conduct in response to news coverage by The Kentucky Kernel of the basketball team’s addition of two walk-on players. Your department’s revocation of reporter Aaron Smith’s media access to team interviews amounts to no less than an attempt to bully the newspaper into submission and to censor news concerning operations of the University of Kentucky athletic department.

This is a level of abuse of free speech not tolerated at universities in other states and is particularly abhorrent at a taxpayer-owned institution. We urge you to restore the access of The Kentucky Kernel and Mr. Smith and to ensure that your department henceforth honors its accountability to public

Sincerely,

Hollis Towns

President, APME

Click here to download a copy of the letter.

Continue reading ‘Press organization protests UK’s treatment of Kernel’

As the Miami Herald reports, the NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff has ruled that eight University of Miami football players must sit out games and repay benefits to regain eligibility.

According to the story, “of the eight, three received substantial benefits as recruits from former booster Nevin Shapiro and athletics personnel to entice them to enroll at UM, which are considered some of the most serious recruiting violations within the NCAA.”

Continue reading ‘Could Miami’s “athletic personnel” include Clint Hurtt?’