John Clay's Sidelines

UK defensive tackle Luke McDermott on Monday on how his team needs to bounce back after Saturday shellacking.

Click here to see this video on YouTube.

UK’s Luke McDermott talks about getting his first interception as a college player. Remember, McDermott is a defensive tackle. As he says, “It’s cool.”

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Turkish team says it paid Enes Kanter over $100,000, reports Pete Thamel of the New York Times.
• No Lexington TV outlet yet for UK-WKU football game, says Herald-Leader staff report.
• Moncel Allen sees opportunity in Kentucky fullback role, reports Chip Cosby of the H-L.
• UK football season ticket sales are down eight percent, reports Cosby.
• Kentucky and, yes, Louisville are benefiting from basketball recruiting wars, so writes me.
• Diligence pays off for Micah Johnson, writes Andy Kent of miamidolphins.com. (Hat tip to Tom Leach.)
• Bowling Green basketball star Chane Behanan commits to Louisville, reports Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal.
• Rick Bozich of the C-J blogs on Enes Kanter story.
• Eric Crawford of the C-J does a Q&A with himself about the Kanter story.
• Luke McDermott, Freaky Luke, got to prove he can play, writes Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger gives his take on the Enes Kanter story.
• Eamonn Brennan of espn.com blogs about the New York Times and Enes Kanter.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Upset of Ole Miss resonates with Kentucky, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Mark Story of the H-L reviews Kentucky’s win over Louisville last Saturday.
• Western Kentucky not thinking about its last meeting with UK, reports Nick Baumgardner of the Bowling Green Daily News.
• Joker Phillips wants a team of closers, writes Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Despite winning SEC honors, Danny Trevathan thinks he could have done better, reports Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Joker Phillips wants to minimize mistakes, writes Nick Craddock of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Moncel Allen believes he is a fullback now, writes Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• Luke McDermott wants respect, writes Alan Cutler of WLEX-TV.
• Turn on your Hart-light, writes Ryan Lemond for Kentucky Sports Network.
• Bleed Blue Kentucky looks at five unsolved issues for the Kentucky football team.

At Monday’s press luncheon, UK defensive tackle Luke McDermott talks about getting a shout-out on Twitter from ex-teammate Corey Peters, now with the Atlanta Falcons.

Click here to see this video on YouTube.

(H-L photo/Joseph Rey Au)

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Dedication and technique have lifted Luke McDermott into starting spot, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• McDermott is new to Kentucky’s spotlight, writes Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• My column saying that Joker Phillips is demanding physical football from his Cats.
• Victoria Dunlap is soaking up a summer of sweat, reports Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader.
• Erin Andrews will be featured at the UK Basketball Women’s Clinic, blogs Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• Louisville quarterback Adam Froman has plenty of options, writes Mark Maloney of the Herald-Leader.
• Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal writes that the Louisville recruiting war has been shaded blue of late.
• Predicting Governor’s Cup winner is no easy task, writes Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal.
• Other recruits were part of the right fit for UK basketball commit Kyle Wiltjer, writes Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• The 2011 recruiting class may be best ever for Calipari, blogs Eamonn Brennan of espn.com.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Links, links and more links for UK-U of L’

Video of the media talking to Luke McDermott after today’s practice.

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that Luke McDermott was the big news in Kentucky football on Monday.
• The Cats are intent on running their winning streak over Louisville to four straight, reports Cosby.
• Louisville’s Charlie Strong wants poise and aggressive play, reports Mark Maloney of the Herald-Leader.
• Mark Story of the H-L gives you 25 reasons to watch Kentucky football this season.
• Rookie coaches and old friends will face off on Saturday, writes Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
• Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal writes that Joker Phillips has little room to breathe.
• No jitters for Joker, reports Brett Dawson of the C-J.
• Freshmen Jerrell Priester and Raymond Sanders could be double trouble for Cats’ foes, writes Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• UK wants receivers that can win games, reports Aaron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Mr. SEC has a formula for Kentucky cotending in the SEC race.
• A Sea of Blue takes a look at the Kentucky-Louisville football rivalry.
• Kentucky rounding back into shape, writes Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.

Luke McDermott

The big news from Joker Phillips’ press luncheon today was that junior walk-on Luke McDermott had come out of nowhere to take the first-string spot at defensive tackle.

So who is Luke McDermott:

• Native of Louisville and product of Louisville Trinity.

• Has played in six games in his UK career — two last season as a sophomore, three as a redshirt freshman in 2008.

• Listed at 6-foot-1, 265, and has gained approximately 30 pounds since his arrival. Joker Phillips said today that when McDermott first arrive, coaches told him to eat until he was full, and then eat some more.

• McDermott was named the Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week leading up to the Arkansas win.

• Was redshirted in 2007.

• At Trinity, played for state championship teams his junior and senior years.

• Was a third-team all-state selection by the Courier-Journal his senior season.

• According to UK, Luke’s grandfather, Jack McDermott, played football for the University of Detroit.