John Clay's Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Mark Story of the Herald-Leader writes that Louisville fans are down, but not out.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L writes that less confusion means more production for UK offense.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L blogs that UK was to meet with Doron Lamb.
• C.L. Brown of the Courier-Journal writes on the hometown antihero, U of L quarterback Justin Burke.
• Jody Demling of the C-J writes that it’s a big recruiting weekend for Kentucky.
• Brett Dawson of the C-J reports that UK cornerback Trevard Lindley is ready to take what’s thrown  his way.
• Dan Wiederer of the Fayetteville Observer believes Kyrie Irving could be headed to Duke.
• Tom Leach, voice of the Cats, talks to Paul Rogers, voice of the Cards.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that Randall Cobb is being compared to Derek Abney.
• Kenny Colston of the Kentucky Kernel writes that the rivalry has diminished because of Louisville’s slide.
• A Sea of Blue looks asks about he importance of this year’s UK-U of L game.
• Straitpinkie honors UK hockey’s calendar girls.

Trevard Lindley

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Herald-Leader columnist Mark Story writes that Rich Brooks is getting last laugh in UK-U of L rivalry.
• Chip Cosby of H-L reports that Trevard Lindley was named SEC’s defensive player of the week.
• C.L. Brown of the Courier-Journal writes that Louisville may offer some different looks against Kentucky.
• In the Oklahoman, Travis Ford says his favorite sports memory is UK’s Mardi Gras Miracle over LSU. (Hat tip Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel reports on UK volleyball winning its second tourney of the season.
• A Sea of Blue remembers Cawood Ledford.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Travis Ford’s favorite is Mardi Gras Miracle’

Kirk Herbstreit

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstriet, who was nice enough to write my Wednesday column last week, is out with his ninth annual Herbie” Awards. It’s supposed to celebrate the good in college football these days. Herbie ranks the best players going into the season, and tabs UK’s Trevard Lindley as the third-best cornerback in the nation, trailing only Joe Haden of Florida and Syd’Quan Thompson of California.

Then again, Phil Steele picked Lindley as the top cornerback in the country.

Herbstriet’s top five sites GameDay must get to:

1. Ole Miss: The Grove
2. Washington: Lake Washington
3. California: Tightwad Hill
4. Boise State: The Blue Turf
5. West Virginia: Country Roads

(AP photo by Ed Reinke)

Big Blue links for Tuesday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that Rich Brooks is eager for Saturday’s opener.
• Mike Hartline of the Herald-Leader writes that this could be the year that Mike Hartline takes off.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that UK expects victories in non-conference games.
• Pete Conrad of the Oxford Press writes that Miami’s running back battle is heating up.
• Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel writes that Trevard Lindley is among the nation’s best.
• Keith Taylor of the Winchester Sun writes that UK is inching closer to the season.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cats inching closer to season opener’

Videos from UK press luncheon today, starting with Trevard Lindley.

Corey Peters talks about his sprained wrist and the opener.

Randall Cobb talks about the freshmen quarterbacks.

Zipp Duncan talks about the line heading into Miami of Ohio.

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’

Photo by John Clay.

Update: Here’s my Media Day column.

Five quick impressions from this morning’s UK Media Day:

• 1. Quarterback Mike Hartline said he believe he is more mature this year. One step in that maturity, point the finger at yourself first. Hartline said he had talked a lot this summer with HCFO (head coach for the offense) Joker Phillips and OC (offensive coordinator) Randy Sanders and now believed that while it is ok to get on your teammates when the situations warrant, “I need to take care of my own business first.” At times last year, Hartline sounded like he was blaming his teammates for his own failures. That especially came through when the staff benched the sophomore in favor of then-true freshman Randall Cobb. But Hartline sounded today like someone an entire year older, and who had learned his lesson.

• 2. Rich Brooks said, “We’ve shocked a few teams in the SEC the last three years, but we have not shocked enough teams.” (Look for this is to reappear in my print column.)

• 3. Brooks told Cris Cross that the WLXG sports anchor needs to lose weight. This was not just based on visual evidence. Brooks said that sometimes when he’s driving around in his car late afternoons, he’ll switch to Cross and Mike Cameron’s “Sports Huddle,” and Cross is always at a different restaurant. This drew a huge laugh from we media, of course, who are just jealous that Chris receives a free meal most weekdays. By the way, Chris asked the first question. He always does.

• 4. Last year, leadership was a question mark. After all, Keenan Burton was gone. Wesley Woodyard was gone. This year, not so much. True, Jeremy Jarmon is gone, and the former defensive end was a definite leader. But Brooks said he has no worries when it comes to leadership on this team. He pointed to Micah Johnson and Trevard Lindley has leaders in different ways. Micah likes to talk. Trevard does not like to talk. Yet both can lead.

• 5. Brooks said that the new ESPN-SEC TV contract is the biggest development in 50 years. That’s saying something, of course, but then again the man will be 68 on August 20. Who are we to argue? Besides, given the national exposure the league will get, he’s right.

Tobias Harris

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• The Herald-Leader’s Chip Cosby looks at 10 questions facing Kentucky football for 2009.
• The H-L’s Jerry Tipton blogs about Dakotah Euton’s choices.
• Kentucky Sports Radio reports that basketball recruit Tobias Harris is visiting UK today.
• Bluegrass State Basketball has some Harris video.
• Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal writes that UK cornerback Trevard Lindley is scary good.
• Tom Leach reports that Derrick Locke will miss first few days of training camp because of a death in the family.
• Tracee Hamilton of the Washington Post writes on newest Redskin, Jeremy Jarmon.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Tobias Harris reportedly visiting UK today’

Courtesy of al.com.