John Clay's Sidelines

Here we have video of the star of the game, senior wide receiver Matt Roark, who made his first start at quarterback. Roark didn’t just start at quarterback. He rushed for 124 yards on 24 carries as Kentucky beat Tennessee 10-7, snapping the 26-game losing streak and keeping the Vols from a bowl game.

Roark said he was told Sunday that he might have to play some quarterback. On Monday, he met with offensive coordinator Randy Sanders, who said he would keep his plan simple. On Tuesday, wide outs coach Tee Martin told Roark that he would more than likely be the starter. And he was — the starter who snapped the streak.

Before last Saturday, Matt Roark had caught 12 passes in seven games. Saturday, he caught 13 passes in one game. It tied for second on the school’s all-time single game reception list. The accomplishment is even more interesting when you consider Roark’s reputation before Saturday. His rep was for dropping balls. More like a rap. Yet Joker Phillips said the senior always played hard on special teams, always practiced well. Here is 60 seconds of Roark talking about just that at today’s media luncheon.

Continue reading ‘Video: Matt Roark on affirming his coaches’ faith’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Christian Laettner coming to Lexington to coach in Villains game.
• Kentucky staff visits No. 1 prospect Shabazz Muhammad.
• Kentucky recruiting could experience a slight letdown, says SI’s Luke Winn.
• Kentucky officially off Mitch McGary’s final list.
• South Carolina’s point guard Bruce Ellington is now returning footballs.
• Matt Roark follows his early drops with his first touchdown catch.
• Wide receiver LaRod King wants everybody on the same page.
• South Carolina’s offense is behind new starting quarterback Connor Shaw.
• Don’t count Stephen Garcia out just yet, says Brad Senkiw.
• Raymond Sanders: Dap King.
• Previewing Saturday’s Kentucky-South Carolina football game.
• Doron Lamb returns for his sophomore season with a purpose.
• Kentucky’s point guard transfers are working to improve.
• John Calipari has a bad case of Rick Pitino envy, writes Rick Bozich.
• The hilarious whine from many quarters over Calipari’s comments.
• John Calipari’s subtle geography lesson.
• After knee surgery, Jon Hood wants to use recovery time to improve.
• UK freshman Anthony Davis grew into a big man overnight.
• More details on those Big Blue All-Stars games.
• UK women’s soccer reaches highest ranking in school history.
• It’s tough to hate the most hated man in Kentucky.

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Anthony Davis signs with UK, family says it still plans to sue Sun-Times, reports Jeff Vorva of the Chicago Tribune.
• Davis says it was a  wild ride that got him to Kentucky, reports Scott Powers of espn.com.
• Michael Gilchrist makes it official, reports Kevin Minnick of the Cherry Hill Courier-Post.
• Courier-Post photo gallery from Michael Gilchrist signing.
• Marquis Teague says UK freshmen-to-be trying to build a brotherhood, reports Kyle Neddenreip of the Indianapolis Star.
• John Calipari “jacked” as his 2011 UK signee class makes it official, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Kentucky snagged four of the top 19 recruits, reports Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal.
• The stars aligned for John Calipari once again, writes Steve Jones for the Cats Pause.
• John Wall posts a triple-double for Wizards in win over Houston, reports Gene Wang of the Washington Post.
• As Kentucky prepares for Senior Day, Mike Hartline is deserving and then some, says my column.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Calipari gets his men on the dotted line’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Another top John Calipari class is ready to sign today, writes Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Calipari rules the recruiting trail again, writes Jim Halley of USA Today.
• Randall Cobb to consider leaving early for the NFL draft, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Cobb could be near the end of his UK career, writes Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• DeQuin Evans has been battling injuries all year, writes Dawson for the C-J.
• Vanderbilt defensive back will help out at quarterback, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Matt Roark flying under the radar for UK, writes B.W. Jones of the Kentucky Kernel.
• It will be Kentucky’s talent vs. East Tennessee’s experience, writes Tipton of the H-L.
• Houston Rockets send Patrick Patterson to D-League, says H-L staff report.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Calipari ready to ink a No. 1 class again today’

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Kentucky football’s new goal is a better bowl, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Kentucky receiver Matt Roark charged with DUI, report Chip Cosby and Jennifer Hewlett of the H-L.
• Former Cats will help out with tonight’s UK basketball scrimmage, reports Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• Run game paves UK’s road to success, writes Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• A lot for Calipari to learn from tonight’s scrimmage, writes Dawson of the C-J.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger talks to UK target Trevor Lacey.
• Eric Quigley on pace to become UK’s top tennis star, reports Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• Missed opportunities have proved fatal for UK volleyball, reports Ethan Levine of the Kentucky Kernel.
• It’s win and in for UK women’s soccer, reports Chandler Howard of the Kernel.
• Suspensions and injuries are marring UK’s receiving corp, reports Jeff Drummond of BigBlue 247.

Matt Roark

At his weekly press conference today, UK football coach Joker Phillips said today that wide receiver Matt Roark was suspended for the Mississippi State game for a violation of team rules.

Now we know why.

WLEX is reporting that Roark was arrested on a DUI charge Sunday morning.

Phillips said the suspension was for one game.

A one-game suspension for a DUI? Or did Phillips not know of the DUI when he spoke Monday?

Update: Brett Dawson reports via Twitter through a UK spokesman that Phillips did know of DUI when he announced the suspension.

(AP photo)

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Three prep schools steered clear of Enes Kanter because of fear he was a professional, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• My column says that with the NCAA, Kentucky’s wait on Enes Kanter could be a long one.
• Young receivers Matt Roark and LaRod King give UK depth at that position, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Furor over Kanter one more challenge for John Calipari, writes Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal.
• Kanter’s biggest problem is geography, blogs Eric Crawford of the C-J.
• The burden of proof in Kanter case is on Kentucky, writes Andy Katz of espn.com.
• Kentucky’s football players are open to a scheduling change, writes B.W. Jones of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Lauren Rapp has become the face of UK volleyball, writes Ethan Levine of the Kernel.
• Another Turk gives his perspective on the Enes Kanter situation to Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Assistant coach says his words were taken out of context by New York Times, blogs USA Today.

Continue reading ‘BBL: More reaction to Enes Kanter situation’