xt76hd7npk56 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt76hd7npk56/data/mets.xml Wildcat News Company 1984 Volume 9 -- Number 10 athletic publications  English Wildcat News Company Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. The Cats' Pause UKAW University of Kentucky Men's Basketball (1984-1985) coaches Hall, Joe B. players Byrd, Leroy University of Kentucky Football (1984) Claiborne, Jerry statistics schedules Cats' Pause Combs, Oscar The Cats' Pause,  10-Nov-84 text The Cats' Pause,  10-Nov-84 1984 2012 true xt76hd7npk56 section xt76hd7npk56 University Archive*
Margaret !. Kin? Library - Hotih University of Kentucky
Byrd Eager 40506 For Early Return
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'SPOTLIGHTING UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE"
25590
VOLUME 9 - NUMBER 10
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1984
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
Houston
9 P -.-  W ...... . ,^41
Cats Need Win To Keep Bowl Hopes Alive *16e 0at&"Pcui4c
Vandy's Air Attack Due Here
Both coaches will stress ball control Stadium,
when the University of Kentucky and Commodore   coach   George Macf
Vanderbilt meet  in a  Southeastern Intyre, whose high-scoring Commod-
Conference football showdown at 1:30 ores had an open date after defeating
p.m.    Saturday   at   Commonwealth Ole Miss, 37-20, said his team must
How UK's Opponents Fared
KENT STATE
INDIANA TULANE RUTGERS MISS. STATE L.S.U.
N. TEXAS ST. VANDERBILT FLORIDA TENNESSEE
lost at Eastern Mich. 20-18 ^-5-0
lost at Ohio Sate 50-7 0-9-0
lost at Virginia Tech 13-6 2-6-0
open date 5-3-O
lost to Alabama 2^-20 3-6-0
defeated Ole Miss 32-29 6-1-1
lost at Kentucky 3W 1-9-0
open date 5~3"0
defeated Auburn 2*1-3 6-1-1
open date k-2-\
UK y.s. SEC Last Five Years
OPPONENT	HOME	AWAY	OVERALL	LAST	MEETING
GEORGIA	0-3	0-2	0-5	OCT	198*4
L.S.U.	0-3	1-1	\-k	OCT	198*4
FLORIDA	0-2	0-2	0-4	NOV	1983
VANDERBILT	1-1	2-0	3-1	NOV	1983
TENNESSEE	1-1	0-2	1-3	NOV	1983
ALABAMA	0-T	0-1	0-2	SEPT 1981	
AUBURN	' 0-1	0-1	0-2	OCT	1983
MISSISSIPPI STATE	0-0	1-0	1-0	OCT	198*
Nov. 5  1:00 CST, Commodore Stadium, Nashville
Location: Nashville, TN 37212 Nickname: Commodores Colors: Old Gold & Black Enrollment: 9,000 Conference: Southeastern Athletic Director: Roy Kramer
Stadium: Commodore Stadium (40,000) George Maclntyre Head Coach: George Maclntyre
Record at School 47-39-0
Overall  35-49-0 Publicists:
Lew Harris (SID)
615-356-6190 (H)
615-327-4727 (O)
Lee Moses (Asst.) 615-366-1142 (H) Lettermen Lost: 18   Returning: 50 Chuck Scott
Starters Returning: Offense: Darrell Denson, T; Will Wolford, G; Jim Draille, C; Chuck Scott, TE; Kurt Page, QB; Carl Woods, TB; Keith Edwards, FB; Ardell Fuller, FL; Ricky Anderson, PK. Defense: John Windham, E; Steve Wade, T; Karl Jordan, LB; Steve McCoy, LB; Kermit Sykes, CB; Tim Johnson, SS; Manuel Young, FS; Ricky Anderson, P.
1983 Results (2-9-0) 1984 Schedule
vu		OPP
14	Maryland	21
29	Iowa State	26
24	Alabama	44
30	Tulane	17
10	Florida	29
13	Georgia	20
14	Mississippi	21
7	Memphis State	24
8	Kentucky	17
10	Virginia Tech	21
24	Tennessee	34
Sept. 8	Kansas State	H
Sept. 15	Maryland	A
Sept. 22	Kansas	H
Sept. 29	Alabama	A
Oct. 6	Tulane	H
Oct. 13	LSU	A
Oct. 20	Georgia	A
Oct. 27	Ole Miss	H
Nov. 10	Kentucky	A
Nov. 17	VPI	H
Dec. 1	Tennessee	H
control the ball "because when we don't, we put too much pressure on the defense, and we're not deep enough there."
Jerry Claiborne, whose Wildcats gave him his 150th career victory and the game ball after defeating North Texas State, 31-7 Saturday, echoed the same sentiments while hoping his offense has regained the form that led to high-scoring performances the first part of the season.
Vanderbilt is 5-3 and has scored a total of 242 points while allowing 218 points to opponents. Kentucky is 6-2 and has outscored the opposition, 212-147.
Kentucky has lost to LSU (36-10) and Georgia(37-7) while Vandy has lost to Tulane (27-23), LSU (34-27) and Georgia (62-35).
Maclntyre sees the UK game as one that could launch the Commodores into bowl contention. "We need to go to Kentucky and play our best game of the year,'' he said. "If we win, we will have an opportunity to go to a bowl somewhere.''
Claiborne refuses to discuss bowl possibilities, pointing out that his crippled Wildcats must concentrate on the game at hand. After his players gave him the game ball, he said his only concern was winning No. 151 against Vanderbilt.
The Wildcats suffered a big loss when offensive guard Joe Prince received a knee injury in the North Texas State game. Also injured were center Ken Pietrowiak (ankle sprain) and center-guard Dermontti Dawson (achilles heel sprain).
Fullback Chris Derry and defensive back Russell Hairston, who missed the North Texas State game, should return to action Saturday. The Smith brothers -- defensive tackle Jeff and linebacker Larry-- are still out of action with knee injuries.
"We're getting thin," Claiborne said. "We're going to have to rise to the occasion. The other players will just have to play better."
+     + +
In defeating the Eagles from the Southland Conference, Kentucky earned head coach Jerry Claiborne his 150th victory in a career that spans 23 seasons. Claiborne won 61 games in 10 seasons as head coach at Virginia Tech, and 77 games in 10 years at Maryland. Now in his third season as head coach at Kentucky, Claiborne's record at his alma mater is 12-17-2.
This Wildcat secondary enjoyed its finest performance of the season against North Texas State, holding the Eagles to 106 yards passing on eight completions in 27 attempts. Paul Calhoun, Brian Williams and Tony Mayes each intercepted a NTSU pass.
The Commodores' high-powered offense is triggered by senior quarterback Kurt Page. Page leads the SEC in total offense with 226.4 yards per game. He is also third in passing efficiency with a rating of 126.3. Page has completed 150 passes in 263 attempts for 1,863 yards and 12 touchdowns. Page, who tied the conference record with 29 interceptions last season, has had only seven passes picked off this season.
Senior flanker Chuck Scott leads the team in receptions with 37 for 666 yards and six touchdowns. Fullback Keith Edwards has caught 31 passes for 340 yards.
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When Will The Students Return?
Three years ago, even the most optimistic University of Kentucky fans agreed that a consistent winning record, anywhere from 6-5 to an occasional 7-4 or 8-3 mark would be cause for immense celebration in the Bluegrass State and that Commonwealth Stadium would be full to the brim.
Somewhere along the way, some of those die-hard and fair-weather fans have gone on to the hereafter or somewhere. The attendance announced at th stadium last Saturday was a little over 54,000 in the 58,000-seat facility and quite frankly the figure was inflated like some Title IX sporting events around UK.
In other words, there probably weren't 50,000 fans in the stands for the game with North Texas State. Granted, the Green Eagles aren't the Geonjias or LSUs of the SEC, but Kentucky was embarking upon a game in which the Cats could assure themselves of their second straight winning season in a game which should provide a lot of excitement for the home fans.
Still, fans stayed away. One of the major reasons for the low turnout, admittedly, was the visiting team's fans. Georgia and LSU brought anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 fans while North Texas State's group probably numbered no more than ten to twenty.
Most discouraging to the UK program and players in particular has to be the non-turnout of the UK students. Kentucky has always retained somewhere between 14,000 and 15,000 tickets for the students. Problem is, you have to go back a long, long way to the last time UK students consumed all their tickets.
Last Saturday was ridicilous.lt was a sunny day, a bit on the cool side but perfect autumn weather for college football in Kentucky. But where were the students? There couldn't have been more than 4,000 (if that many) students in the stands. These are the same students which level demands if the team were 9-0 and heading to the Sugar Bowl.
In other words, students aren't much different than the typical fair-weather fan. What is difficult to understand about students is that they attend classes with these same athletes. Fact is, the students didn't even take all of the LSU and Georgia tickets.
One has to wonder what goes through Jerry Claiborne's mind when he trots onto the field and sees all those empty seats on the east side while his team had compiled a 5-2 record. One has to wonder how much different it will be this Saturday when the 6-2 Cats collide with Vanderbilt.
For sure, Vandy's fans will bring 4,000 or 5,000 fans to the Stadium that North Texas State didn't. But I wouldn't bet on there being any more UK students than there were a week ago.
. +    + +
Students own no franchise on lack of enthusiasm for this Kentucky team. The stadium was like a morgue throughout most of the afternoon, with the exception of three or four plays, most notably Mark Logan's touchdown sprint after catching a pass and the Cats' fourth down stand.
Knowingly or not, fans' actions in the stands and on the streets can have as great a bearing on bowl aspirations as the media which follows a team.
Bowl scouts look for teams with exciting offenses and fans who are excited about their club. For the record, bowls claim^tney're only" interested in the best teams with the best records.
Hogwash!
Is that why Kentucky at 6-4-1 last season was selected for the Hall of Fame Bowl and Virginia Tech at 9-2 stayed at home during the holidays?
Numerous bowl officials recalled 1976 when Kentucky was the talk of the SEC after a brilliant three-game winning streak at the season's end over Vanderbilt, Florida, and Tennessee to nail down a Peach Bowl invite.
Kentucky had not been to a bowl in almost 25 years. The fans were excited, the students were excited and, yes, even the media was excited. Bowl scouts translated that into an immediate heavy demand for tickets. They were right.
Hall of Fame Bowl officials were banking on a re-run of sorts last year.
A year earlier Vanderbilt turned the same trick in Birmingham and helped the bowl to a sell-out.
All that turned sour because Kentucky did not have as good an end as its beginning last season. The fans' interest diminished likewise.
Now, this year's Cats could experience the negative reaction to the 1983 situation. Back-to-back losses to LSU and Georgia brought on a thorough "here-we-go-again" attitude.
Last week's struggle to get untrack-ed in the first half against North Texas State did nothing to excite the fans in the stands, but a win is, nevertheless, a win.
Saturday, there will be plenty of fireworks and you can bet your bread money on this. Kentucky's defense has played about as well as it can under the circumstances throughout most of the season, but it will not face a better pa'ssmg attack than Vanderbilt's.
For Kentucky to win Saturday, the Wildcats are going to have to put a lot of points on the board. It's as simple as that. Vanderbilt, I believe will score 35 to 40 points. The Commodores are that good, especially through the air.
Now, if Kentucky can just uncrank its offense. If there's one cause to pinpoint in the Vanderbilt game it is the Commodores' defense. It's been noted to have a few holes shot through it this season. Kentucky's offense could get well in a hurry, but it will take a gutty effort, especially with injuries beginning to take a major toll on the offensive line.
If you're one to see a lot of points on the scoreboard, then you won't want to miss this battle. Vandy should win thH one, but Kentucky could win a cliffhanger.
SHOW US YOUR BIG BLUE RAG
The official
1984 U. K. FOOTBALL
T BIG BLUE
' RAG...
*&GP TO &CH$"
"For the true Blue Wildcat Fan"
Make Check Steve Tewell Promotions
Payable to:   P.O. BOX 4115
Lexington, KY 40544
606-277-3649 $3.95 & .75 P&H
Name
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If Kentucky hopes to win a bowl berth and the hearts of their fans back, this will be the second most important game of the season. The most important one will come later, if the Cats are successful today.
''-.+    +     + WKBM
The worst thing that could possibly happen for the Southeastern Conference and th league's hopes of putting as many teams as possible in post season bowls would be a tie between Kentucky and Vanderbilt Saturday.
Either team could possibly go on and win a bowl berth, but it would require a major upset much greater than winning this game.
If Vandy wins, the Commodores would go to 6-3 and likely either 7-4 or 8-3 with Virginia Tech and Tennessee on the horizon. Kentucky would go to 7-2 with Florida and Tennessee on the horizon. Both clubs will probablv be underdogs to the Vols and the loser doesn't stand a great deal of a chance.
If the Cats cannot defeat Vandy, the Big Blue isn't likely to inflict much pain on either the Gators or Vols . Ditto for Vandy. Only thing worse would be a tie where neither team was good enough to beat the other, and then both would probably stay home. +     + +
Next week is a biggie on two fronts: It will be the first week bowls can offer invitations and it will be the first week that high school basketball seniors can officially accept invitations to sign a national letter of intent.
As far as bowl bids are concerned, folks around UK will get no feeling of the situation until the Cats can wrap up their seventh win of the year and perhaps even their eighth.
On the basketball recruiting front, about the only news has been of the bad variety, just like all other UK basketball news in recent weeks.
One of the Cats' top targets, Houston's Tito Horford, announced last week that he will sign a national letter of intent with Houston during the national letter of intent early signing week. He said LSU and UCLA were his next closest choices. That came as a bit of a surprise to some because Kentucky was thought to be have in excellent shape up to the very end. There were some who thought UK actually would be his ultimate choice. Just like the Ralph Sampson case, it ain't over til it's over.
Kentucky's urgent need for a big man apparently now centers to Gary Leonard of Belleville, Illinois, and Mike Scott of Greenup County. With only one true center (6-9 Robert Lock) returning next season, Kentucky is in
[Continued On Page 22] %HM>*H6vito,f9X4
Byrd Fighting Bowie Syndrome
Besides playing basketball for the '84 Kentucky Wildcats what do former UK forward Sam Bowie and current guard Leroy Byrd have in common?
It may seem odd but the 5-foot-5 Byrd, who once played for Jerry Tarkanian's Runnin Rebels of Nevada-Las Vegas, has the same leg injury that the 7-1 Bowie had.
Nick Nicholas
Cdtb" Pdus.0 Columnist.
If you remember Bowie didn't discover about his fracture until many months after it happened. The unexplainable damaged tibia kept the big guy away from the court for almost two years. For the Lexington Bryan Station product the recovery was not as lengthy (no pun intended), as Byrd has already started to practice.
"Every now and then they (team members) say how can a guy 7-1 have the same injury as a guy 5-5," noted Byrd about his teammates' joking curiosity.   "They say my legs are not that long to be fractured."
"It's the same as Sam's (injury), but the only thing is that I've had it for two years and haven't known anything about it.
"When I was out at Las Vegas I played in a pickup game one Saturday morning and I noticed I had a big knot on my leg and was favoring it quite a bit. I told a couple of trainers out there and they figured I bumped it on something and not to worry about it."
The rehabilitation process is no different than it was for the current Portland Trailblazer center.
Presently "Baby Magic" is strengthening his leg with a machine that sends electronic sensations through the injury in question. Byrd has to wear the device up to 10 hours a day for the process to work.
With the injury almost healed, Byrd is ready to get into the action. Last Thursday during workouts he alluded to the fact that he's ready to start practicing.
"I went to the doctor yesterday and had it checked," he said. "He said it looks very well and is progressing quite a bit. They're going to start me back to working out, but they are going to work me slowly. If I try to do everything at once then I might redamage it.
"(The treatment) is going very well," said Byrd.
During Thursday's practice session at Memorial Coliseum Byrd seemed to be adjusting well. Though not practicing to the full extent, the smaller than average guard did participate in a few defensive drills. He seemed to be his quick old self while guarding 6-1 team member James Blackmon. The way Byrd was employing his tight ball-hawking defense you would think his leg was 100 percent injury-free.
This year's squad may need Byrd's quick and aggressive style of defense.
A revolving door atmosphere could best describe Coach Joe B. Hall's '85 Wildcats as five players graduated from the program while five freshmen have just come in to Big Blue Country. It's no secret around campus that this year's team will have to rely on speed and tenacious defense to be successful. A style that fits Leroy Byrd the III like a glove.
Vegas is not noted for their defensive play, but under Tarkanian's wing Byrd was quick to point out that he did learn some "D".
"When I was out there," Tark had me playing the full court man to man defense at all times," said Byrd. So I learned a lot about defense when I was out there. I've translated that over to what I've learned here (UK) and hopefully that will make me that much of a better defensive player.
"I feel we're a lot smaller and younger. I'm sure that we'll have to do a lot more defensive picking up and be a lot quicker than last year.
"I pray and hope we improve everyday and give 110 percent."
He also has been working on his shooting touch, both from the field and the charity line. Last year in six games Byrd was one for two from the field while averaging 1.5 minutes per contest. The former high school all-state selection dished out five assists during his first season as a Wildcat.
"My main weakness I feel last year was my free throw shooting," stated Byrd who was zero for two from the stripe. "I've practiced on that quite a bit this summer. (Though) it hasn't been in a game situation yet so I can't really tell. But I've been shooting a lot better in practice from the free throw line."
Over the last year Byrd feels he's matured more while attending the UK campus. He referred to the UNLV college life as being a "loose atmosphere" whereas UK is more disciplined for Byrd. "Student-wise, you have to be a much better student here than at Las Vegas. I feel that has helped me as a person."
That maturity should help him if he's limited to spot duty as he was last season. Byrd is definitely a crowd favorite, but he knows he must wait his turn.
Byrd Against The Vols
Last January, chants of Le-roy, Le-roy were heard throughout the Rupp Arena crowd desiring the guards presence against Georgia. Byrd anxiously awaited to check in, and did so late into the contest. It was an emotional moment for Byrd, who was making his first appearance before the hometown crowd.
"It really surprised me the way the crowd accepted me when I first checked into the ballgame. It was a heck of an experience.
"I'm going to strive to get as much playing time as I possibly can. Hopefully I will get more playing time. If not, I'll be happy with whatever my role may be."
Kentucky Players Review 31-7 Victory
MARK LOGAN
(About the win helping the team for the final three contests)
It was a big win. It was something we really needed and I think it will give a lot of the players some confidence. A win like this will help you a lot. (About your injury - back spasm)
It was with me the whole game. There's pain right now, I just had to suck it up and go out there. With (Mark) Higgs being out, there's only one tailback and that is George (Adams). He came in and did a good
job. But he needed a break and he was getting tired. I had to suck it up and give him a break. (About the team's play)
We played good today. But I still feel we will have to play better. We still haven't reached our full potential, and we just need to earn our respect in the SEC. Vanderbilt is coming up next. I think if we play hard and play like I know we can then everything will be okay.
(About his long run)
It's kind of a load off my mind. (Against Rutgers) the first time I got
it, it took the load off my mind because I knew I could get it. But having it called back it just makes you work a lot harder. I'll just take it one yard at a time. I have never gone into a game looking for a big run -- I'll just go one yard at a time. If it goes one yard it goes one yard. But if it goes 30 or 40 I'll just take it as it comes.
JOKER PHILLIPS
(About his touchdown catch)
It was an out route on the goal line. They played me inside-out. So I broke
to the outside and Bill (Ransdell) had to scramble and I wasn't open at first. I worked to the inside and broke open and Bill hit me for the touchdown.
Will the team have to improve for Vandy?
We're definitely going to have to improve. Vanderbilt is probably a little bit stronger than North Texas State, but we've got to get mentally ready for anybody we can play. It's a big game for us. (If we win) It will be nice to be 7-2 at that time. 7^5
Depth Charts
Vanderbilt Offense
5 - Kci th Edwards 29 ~ Louie Stephenson
lib - Chuck Scott 21  -  Butch Builen
27 - Curl Woods I  - Everett  Crawford P
96 - Ricky Anderson "(9 - Alan Her I i nc
QB
96 - Ricky Anderson <*9 - Alan Herline
12 - Kurt Page
1 I - nark Wratchcr
TE
81 - Jim Popp US - Bob IIles
RT
67 - Dave Logie 51  - Daryl Holt
69 - WiI Vol ford 62 - Hark Herrmann
SE
6 - Joe Kelly
2 - Ardel I Fu]ler
73 - Bill Fletcher 60 - S t eve 0 t i nge r
RT
53  - Rob Monaco
Kentucky Offense
FL
8 - Joe Phi 1 lips 19 - Ci sco Bryant
33 - George Adams ^i, - Chris Derry 25 - Hare Logan     29 - Tom Wheary 22  - Hark Higgs
QB
9 - Bill fiansdetl I 8 - Kev i n DooIey 17 - Tim Jones
26 - Paul Calhoun 5 - Pete Glavir.os
1 - Jim Rider 15 " Joe Worley
87 - 01iver Wh i te 81  - Katt Lucas 80 - Hark Wheeler
WR
65 - Joe Prince 69 - Jim Reichwe'm       83  - Eric Pitts
57 " Dermontti Dawson     71  - Brad Hyers ** " Cornell Burbage
- Ver
77 - Tom Richey
66 - Ken Pietrowiak
57 - Dermontti Saw*:'-
Kentucky Defense
Vanderbilt Defense
RH
2k - Gordon Jackson 3 - Tony Mayes
Paul Calhoun Gary Sexton Russel1 Hai rston
LH
27 - Maurice Douglas-37 _ Barry Alexander
ss
17 " Tim Johnson 7 - Jeff Holt
FS
32 - Hanue I Youmj l*i - Mike Maclntyre
26 - Thanh Anderson 2*i - Tom Burson
CB
U - Kermi t Sykes Ii3  - Andy Baker
RLB
53 - Jeff Kremer S8 - Tony Crack
LLB
J*8 - Cam Jacobs 33 - Don Yarano
RE
2 - Brian Williams ^3 - Brian Dav i s
RT
SLB
G'1 - Jeff Curtwriyhi 3Ji - Chris Gaines
MLB
56 - Sieve HcCoy 98 - Harvin Thomas
ILB
7 - Jeff Holt 22 - Armando Fitz
71 - Tom Wi Iki ns 99 - Stuart Stubbs
92 - Dave Thompson 56 - Frank Hare
38 - Steve Hazza 1*7 - Stacy Burrel I
69 - John Windham 36 - Glenn Watson
96 - Jon Dumbould 90 - John Shannon
LT
5k - JerryRcese
2*1  -  Hike Vvl-:tta
83 - Richard St ah I 97 " David Wurm
99 - Karl Jordan 65 - Scott Anderson
90 - Steve Wade - John Dworn i ck %xw*h6vi10,19%4
Thirteenth Year May Prove Unlucky
PEOPLE AND THINGS
Doomsaying?
Not since his days as Adolph Rupp's assistant can I recall University of Kentucky basketball coach Joe B. Hall sound so pessimistic. Maybe it is a way of alleviating the pressure and imminent criticism that comes to whoever UK's coach is.
But from here it looks as if Hall is not doomsaying so much as he is preparing Kentucky fans for the worst for the upcoming season.
Hall, who will begin his 13th season as coach, talked about his team and its (lack of) progress last week.
Bob Watkins
Cats' Pause Colurrmist
"We're looking real bad...couldn't be worse right now," he said by telephone. "We're working with seven gone from last year's team and with two recruits not here and one injured returnee."
The two recruits not present at practice these days are freshman Richard Madison, out with a foot injury, and Gunther Behnke who left the team in September. The returnee is Winston Bennett who underwent arthroscopic surgery last week and will need six weeks to recover.
It is Behnke's departure that caused a major disruption in Halls ATT (after Twin Towers) rebuilding project.
"For one thing it stopped our recruiting for another big man," Hall said. "But even more important it affected our offensive philosophy in that we have to change completely now from an inside oriented offense to a more perimeter type approach. So that means we find ourselves having to educate not only the recruits, but also our veteran players too all over again." What about the freshmen, their progress?
Hall is not particularly pleased. "I'm not that much encouraged," he said, "because we're having to throw a lot of new things at them right now. It's just tough going. There's a lot of preparation involved and a lot to get done. And our first scrimmage (at Bell County High) is Nov. 8."
Summing up, Hall said, "Considering our schedule I can't see our team right now as being competitive. We've got a long way to go. That's just how it is."
Stay tuned.
Coming up soon, a visit with Louisville Coach Denny Crum and, the coach whose team could be the best in Kentucky by season's end, Western Kentucky's Clem Haskins.
RECRUITING
UK played host to west coast phenom Tom Lewis of Mater Dei High in Los Angeles last Saturday. The 6-7 Lewis was present along with 6-4 Chris Duncan of Georgia.
How did their visit go?
"Lewis seemed impressed," a UK insider said, "Right now's a good time to visit here because the weather's beautiful and Joe doesn't have any players."
At the University of Louisville a rumor has been put to rest. U of L has not gotten a "verbal committment" from 6-8, 205-pound Michael Payne from Laurel, Miss, as reported by some Louisville radio and television stations.
"You know how "verbal commitments" are, "Uof L sports information director Kenny Klein said last week. "We had one from Cedric Henderson and John Williams last year."
Klein added that, while Payne has a visit to U of L scheduled, he has not been on the campus.
HERE AND THERE
University of Tennessee Coach Don DeVoe engaged in a bit of "monkey on UK's back" last week and took a subtle swipe at coaches Joe Hall, Dale Brown and Wimp Sanderson. When asked to size up this season's SEC basketball race, DeVoe said, "It should be an interesting year. There appears to be real parity. I think Kentucky, with its great tradition, will be one of the teams at the top of the conference. Kentucky, LSU and Alabama are pretty much in a class by themselves in terms of great basketball players."
From Bloomington, Ind. Coach Bob Knight met with IU student fans recently and had some advice that has 'universal application.' "Just remember we're good enough that we don't need you hollering when somebody shoots free throws," Knight said. "We don't need you to hassle the other players, and you're too good a crowd to stoop to that anyhow."
Knight added, "And don't worry about the officials. I'll handle them."
Former UK Ail-American Sam Bowie believes he will live up to expectations by his employer, the Portland Trailblazers. "Portland was looking for a passing center, somebody like Bill Walton," Bowie told a
reporter for The Sporting News. "Passing ability is something you either have or you don't. And I get as much thrill out of making a good pass as I do scoring."
Melvin Turpin has gotten off to a good start with Cleveland, however Coach George Karl had a verbal spanking for Dipper and subtle swipe at UK's program as well. "The problem I have with him (Turpin) is his laziness," Karl said. "It's not that he doesn't work. It's that he has lazy habits that he has built up through college. He has to understand that we're not paying him just because we like him."
FOOTBALL
Who is the state's top quarterback for 1984? Could be Somerset's Tony Massey maybe, but a strong case can be made for Jerry Ratliff who led Phelps High School to a 10-0 regular season.
The 6-1, 175-pounder completed 113 of 186 passes (61 percent) for 1,803 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Hornets. Those are "final figures" on Ratliff even though Phelps is in the Class A playoffs. Here's why - last Friday, Phelps already having clinched a playoff berth against Pikeville was in its final regular season game against Fleming-Neon. Leading 36-6 in the third quarter, Ratliff suffered a broken leg. His team went on to a 56-6 victory, but it was Ratliff's high school swan song.
A four year starter, Ratliff finished his prep career with almost 6,000 yards passing. An excellent student, one of Ratliff's dreams has been to play football at Eastern Kentucky University.
From northern Kentucky Newport Central Catholic Coach Bob Schneider had a good idea last week getting the word out on one of the state's outstanding student - athletes. First, Greg Kremer is a 4.0 student and National Merit semi-finalist. Second, he is a 6-0, 201-pound center plus linebacker who is a team co-captain who is the team's premier blocker on offense and leads the club in tackles on defense.
"Please consider Greg on your All-State ballots," Schneider writes.
UK SCRIMMAGES
Bell Co. High School, Harrison Co. High School, and Pikeville High School will be the sites for the University of Kentucky's three basketball intrasquad games outside of Lexington.
On Nov. 8, the Wildcats will be in Pineville for an exhibition at Bell Co. High School. The benefiting charity will be the Lions Clubs' Eye Foundation.
On. Nov. 9, Coach Joe B. Hall will take his team to his hometown of Cynthiaha for a Blue-White intrasquad scrimmage at Harrison Co. High School. Several local charities will benefit.
On Nov. 12, the Wildcats will be at Pikeville High School. The underprivileged children of that area will be the benefitting charity.
On Nov. 14, the Wildcats will scrimmage in Rupp Arena, and, on Nov. 16, the National Team of China will provide the opposition in Rupp Arena.
UK opens its regular season on Nov. 27 against Toledo in Rupp Arena. SCHNELLENBERGER
Bob Weber is out as University of Louisville football coach, but why on earth would Howard Schnellenberger want the U of L job? That is unless boosters are willing to offer him the kind of money, security and perks he is accustomed too - a lifetime contract, a home in the east end, radio and television shows, maybe a couple race horses, a box at Churchill Downs and, well, you know.
BLACK CLOUD
According to the sports information office at the University of South Carolina, a black cloud has risen over the USC and the fans love it.
Black Fever has struck the USC campus since, Gamecock football games head football coach Joe Morrison started to wear a black hat, a black shirt and black trousers on the sidelines. According to a USC source clothing stores in the Columbia area are sold out of black clothing. Too, the 'blac