John Clay's Sidelines

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Happy Turkey Day:

• Jerry Tipton of the H-L reports from Cancun on the Cats’ overtime win over Stanford: “Calipari noted how a coach can learn about his team and his players in a pressure-cooker game.’I think we’ve got two guys who are not afraid to make plays,’ he said of Wall and Bledsoe. Later, the UK coach added Harris and Patterson to the freshman guards as players who won his trust.”

• Jerry’s notes from Cancun: “Because Kentucky fans bought almost 500 ticket packages, tournament officials moved the court to a North-South configuration. The rectangular court sits in the middle of a rectangular ballroom. That provided room for seven rows of bleachers behind the benches, six rows behind the opposite sideline and seven more rows behind each end line.”

• Mark Cornelison’s slide show from Cancun.

• Tom Leach has video of Calipari’s post-game press conference.

• Chip Cosby of the H-L reports that Tennessee is coming together: “Tennessee comes into Commonwealth with an unremarkable 6-5 record, but the Volunteers are a much different team now than they were in September. They easily beat Georgia and South Carolina and came within a blocked field goal of knocking off No. 2 Alabama. The only recent hiccup was a 42-17 loss at Mississippi that came on the heels of three players being arrested for attempted armed robbery.”

• Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports UT can’t believe Randall Cobb got away: “Want to know what type of impact Randall Cobb will have on the Tennessee-Kentucky game on Saturday? Just check the scoreboard. ‘I think you’re talking about potentially a 14 to 21 point difference in one player about whether he was signed at Tennessee or went to Kentucky,’ UT coach Lane Kiffin said this week.”

• Wes Rucker of the Chattanooga Times Free Press also writes on Cobb: “The Knoxville-area native, who stunned Tennessee by picking the Wildcats over his childhood favorite Volunteers, is potentially a pesky problem looming in the near horizon. Whether he lines up at receiver, special-package quarterback or return specialist, Cobb drives the Wildcats.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cats escape Cancun, Cobb escapes Tennessee’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes that Clarion game brings back memories of John Calipari’s time there.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L writes about freshman quarterback Morgan Newton.
• The Easy Being Green blog reports on the Wildcat Coal Lodge banner protest at UK.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes on UK freshman receiver La’Rod King.
• Matt May of the Cats Pause reports that Trevard Lindley and Mike Hartline are making progress.
• Marlen Garcia of USA Today writes on the red-hot UK-U of L basketball rivalry.
• Brian Rosenthal of Husker Extra reports that Billy Gillispie was at Nebraska to watch the Cornhuskers. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports that DeQuin Evans thinks Cats backed down.
• Kevin Patton of the Henderson Gleaner writes that Newton’s progress comes at Will Fidler’s expense. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Football Blog.)
• Metz Camfield of the Kentucky Kernel writes on John Wall and high expectations.
• T.J. Walker of the Kernel writes on volleyball’s Gretchen Giesler.

Continue reading ‘BBL: USA Today tackles UK-U of L, and other links’

UK junior quarterback Will Fidler talks here about the highs and lows of his play in the Cats victory. Fidler completed 8 of 13 passes for 82 yards, and threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to John Conner. But he also tossed an interception and lost the ball on the fumble. Asked if it was hard to get a rhythm with the quarterback rotation, Fidler said it sure beat not playing.

Kyrie Irving

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Zagsblog reports that Kyrie Irving has committed to Duke, with an announcement to be made this week.
• Irving says via Twitter he has not committed, however.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes on UK quarterback Will Fidler.
• My notes column, leading with Rich Brooks being honest about being dishonest with the media.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal also writes on how Will Fidler supported Morgan Newton.
• James Pennington of the Kentucky Kernel writes that other UK teams can learn from win at Auburn.
• Tom Leach talks to espn.com basketball writer Dana O’Neil.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes on DeMarcus Cousins.
• A Sea of Blue says SEC officiating stinks.
• Mr. SEC compares UK’s football commitments with rest of the league. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Football Blog.)
• Wildcat-Den writes on UK freshman Jon Hood.
• Wildcat Blue Bog looks at Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones.

Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said today that Morgan Newton is “the likely” starter for Saturday’s game against Louisiana-Monroe. The coach said he likes the idea of starting the younger quarterback, and if things aren’t going well, bringing in the older hand. Do you agree? Which quarterback would you start Saturday?

(H-L photo/Pablo Alcala)

Let’s break it down to three highlights from the Rich Brooks’ press conference today:

• 1. Derrick Locke is doubtful for Saturday’s game with Louisiana-Monroe because of a nagging knee problem. In fact, Brooks said the running back, coming off a 126-yard game, is probably out. Locke has a slight tear of the MCL that will take three or four days to “calm down” said Brooks. That means Alfonso Smith and Moncel Allen are likely to share the load. True freshman running back Donald Russell will also get some playing time.

• 2. Brooks said Morgan Newton will most likely make his second start. Brooks admitted that wasn’t fair to Will Fidler,  but the coach likes the idea of bringing in Fidler off the bench if things aren’t going well. That worked Saturday at Auburn, when Fidler, the junior, engineered those two fourth-quarter scoring drives.

• 3. Last Saturday’s game may have been one of the better ones in UK linebacker history. Micah Johnson was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week, thanks to his 14 tackles. But Danny Trevathan could have received the honor, as well. Trevathan was credited with 14 tackles, as well, by the Auburn stat crew. Trevathan has been leaving the field when UK goes to an extra defensive back, but the Cats played a more conventional defense Saturday, leaving Trevathan on the field.

Back from UK football practice where head coach Rich Brooks said that he will not make an announcement on a starting quarterback before game-time Saturday at Auburn.

The coach said the quarterbacks have done some good things this week, and some not-so-good things. Of course, the consensus seems to be that true freshman Morgan Newton will not only see his first collegiate action, but also his first collegiate start. And Brooks has dropped a few hints this week to make you think that is exactly how the Cats will proceed. But we won’t know for sure until 7:30 Saturday night at the lovely little village on the plains. Brooks did say that it was likely we will see both quarterbacks, Newton and junior Will Fidler.

Meanwhile, Brooks did say that cornerback Paul Warford may be able to go Saturday. Warford will also be a game-time decison. And another Warford, Larry, a true freshman, will probably see some time on the offensive line as a backup now that Jake Lanefski is out for the year with his ACL injury.

Morgan Newton

Update: H-L’s Chip Cosby is on WKYT on-line with ex-UK defensive back Leonard Burress. And Morgan Newton’s father is scheduled to be on at 9:40 a.m.

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that coaches are mum on whether it will be Morgan Newton or Will Fidler at quarterback for UK on Saturday.
• I was on WVLK-590 in Lexington with Larry Glover last night, and caller swore that he knew for 100 percent fact that players have already been told that Newton is the guy. I should point out that it’s in the first 10 minutes or so of the podcast, I think.
• Ryan Alessi of the Herald-Leader reports on the $3 million Billy Gillispie agreement with UK.
• Both sides agree not to speak ill of the other.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes on DeAndre Liggins.
• Doron Lamb tells Zagsblog he will visit either UK or UConn on Oct. 23, but says UK, Oklahoma and Kansas are his top three.
• The H-L’s Jennifer Smith writes on Rebecca Gray’s second chance with UK hoops’ team.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports that Jake Lanefski could miss Auburn game.
• Mary Jo Perino of WLEX reports that Joker Phillips thinks the Cats are no joke.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Could Morgan Newton be the guy? UK isn’t saying’

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Tim Stevens of the Raleigh News & Observer reports that C.J. Leslie will be at UK’s Big Blue Madness. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• The Shiver reports that Josh Selby will attend Kansas’ Midnight Madness. (Hat tip to Bluegrass State Basketball.)
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel talks to UK and UT target Tobias Harris.
• Inside the Hall also has a Josh Selby update.
• Tickets are on sale today for UK-UConn in New York.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports on extent of Mike Hartline’s injury.
• Mark Story of the H-L wants Will Fidler now and Morgan Newton later.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Updates on C.J. Leslie, Josh Selby, Tobias Harris’

As of 2 p.m., true freshman Morgan Newton as starting quarterback was leading my Twitter poll on what the UK staff should do at quarterback.

The results so far:

You can still vote: