December 9, 1989
The Cats' Pause Extra
Page 3A
ClaiborneA player's coach
Wildcats comment about coach's decision to retire
Jerry Claiborne and his players have a father-son type relationship. When the eight-year UK coach tried to tell his team he was retiring, the mentor and his squad could not hold back the emotions. A standing ovation from the players followed. And, once the roar silenced, one by one the Wildcats thanked Claiborne with a hug. Never will they forget the man responsible for bringing back respect to the University of Kentucky football program.
Following are Kentucky player reactions moments after finding out head coach Jerry Claiborne had stepped down from his coaching duties:
Phil Logan (Junior wide-out)
Question: How did you first hear about his retirement? What was your- reaction?
Logan: "It just totally shocked me; I'm really kinda in shock right now. What really
Fullback Darren Bilberry about playing for Claiborne: "Under coach Claiborne you're a student, a player, you're a full person. Football is not forever."
got me was that I found out about it on the news. Some of the other guys heard it and came and told me. I thought he was coming back next year."
Question: Wliat did he say to the team right after the 31-10 loss to Tennessee?
Logan: "Just the same old thing: 'Hit the books, make your grades, make sure you get ready for winter workouts.' The next thing I know he's gone.
"I didn't have any idea anything like this was going to happen. I thought he would coach till he couldn't coach anymore. Everything he stands for is great. He always puts his 'all' into it. He's a dying breed. It's just a shame someone like that has to leave us."
Doug Houser (Senior defensive tackle)
Question: Your reaction.
Houser: "It was my last year and it doesn't affect me as much as it does everybody else. But it's really sad, he's been in coaching for 40 years and all of a sudden it comes to an end. He's done more for me than I'm sure anybody ever could have. I respect the man. I don't feel he should have resigned, but, you know, I guess it was his decision and he was getting burned out on it."
Question: What about when he told the entire squad?
Houser: "There wasn't a dry eye in the house. I walked in a couple of minutes late but I could tell by the experesson on the guys' faces. Everyone cried...it was really sad. It
(the decision) shocked me. I guess he got burned out. After 40 years you can understand. I have the utmost respect for that man."
Andy Murray (Senior fullback)
Question: Your reaction.
Murray: "I was very shocked because a lot of the guys on the team had heard about it on the news around 2 or 2:30 (p.m.). I wasn't around a radio.. .1 didn't know anything about it. Somebody asked me 'Did you hear about coach Claiborne?' I thought coach Claiborne was hurt in a car accident or something like that. I had no idea.
"When they said he had decided to retire I was very shocked."
Question: Was there any indication he would retire?
Murray: "No. Everyday he would come into the meeting with a lot of spunk; he was always fired up and ready for a new day. I thought Coach would be here next year for sure."
Question: What this will do to the team?
Murray: "Everybody on the team really respects coach Claiborne. The guys that are still going to be here have a lot of work to do for a new coach. It's going to make it hard on them; it's going to be a change. You've got to be able to adjust to a change. They may be in for a rude awakening because coach Claiborne does a lot of things that guys don't really realize what he's done for them. Some other coaches may not do those things and that's really going to be missed around here."
Darren Bilberry (Senior fullback)
Question: Your reaction.
Bilberry: "I was shocked because Monday we had just had our meeting after the Tennessee game. He made the statement, 'It's time to go to work and get ready for the '90 season.' So obviously I was under the impression that he still was going to be around. For myself and a lot of other teammates I think it was just surprising. It was his decision. It was what he wanted to do and you had to respect his decision."
Question: What can the players expect in the future?
Bilberry: "It's hard for them to know until they bring in a coach and learn more about him. They really don't know what to expect now. The most important thing for them to do is to carry on the values they learned under coach Claiborne and try to instill those into each other and the younger players and take it from there."
Question: What will you remember most?
Bilberry: "There's so much, it's hard for me to say. We're more than football players, we're students as well. People don't realize that sometimes. Under coach Claiborne you're a student, a player, you're a full person. Football is not forever. You have to play a role in society and do something with your life.
"Most people, after you're done playing ball here, there are other things in life that you're going to have to be able to do. Coach Claiborne stressed that. I can't tell you how much he stresses with his rules, philosophy on discipline. He's helped me in so many ways that I really can't put it in words. I can't thank him enough for everything he's done. When you first get here all you are thinking about is being a big-time college football player. Coach Claiborne lets you know there is more to life. He tries to instill his values, his morals into the rest of his players. He's done a good job of that. I appreciate that because he's been more than just a coach. With the exception of my parents he's pro-
bably been the biggest positive influence on me personally. I've been here five years, that's a long time, and I just appreciate all he's done in the past five years."
Mike Meiners (Senior defensive guard)
Question: What kind of coach do you see Kentucky hiring?
Meiners: "Definitely someone who has integrity, that's obvious. They have to have someone who is honest. I'm sure they (UK administration) will. I think it will be someone who is already established. Someone who stresses academics...pick up right where coach Claiborne left off."
Question: Do you think coach Claiborne felt any pressure to retire from the media and the fans?
Meiners: "People would like to think that he felt the pressure. Coach Claiborne's decision was coach Claiborne's. He's had pressureeveryone has criticsbut he's had a lot of critics. People pass me all the time, whenever I'm at home or here...people in Louisville will come up to me and (say) 'Coach Claiborne is this.' I always tell them they don't know what they are talking about and should keep their comments to themselves.
"People don't understand everything that he's done for this place. I don't think he felt any pressure. I'm sure he heard them but he wasn't listening."
Question: What did you tell him after the loss to Tennessee, your last UK game?
Meiners: "I just thanked him for everything he had done for me. I felt very fortunate I had a chance to play for him."
Question: You mentioned early that the next coach will have tough shoes to follow in Claiborne, especially his off-the-field ac-complishements. What about hiring someone on the current staff?
Meiners: "There are some that are definitely qualified to take the position, handle it and do well. I don't know, that's a tough question because I don't look for that to happen. Shoot, I don't know. It's not my place to say.
"I like my coaches and I don't have any qualms with my coaches. Like I say, there are definitely some qualified coaches (within). Whether they (are considered) is up to the administration. They are definitely good coaches."
Question: What is the main quaility you'll remember about coach Claiborne as a football coach?
Meiners: "Basically, to never give up and remember that you're not the only one in the world. You have to learn to interact with people to be successful. I'll always remember to set your goals and that you're not going to obtain any goals without working hard and being honest. Honesty is his biggest policy, too. You know, you can only fool people for so long. Everyone knows he stands for that honesty, integrity and all that good stuff. That's what I respect about him the most.
"He was always honest with us about anything. Me being a walkon, if I went into his office and asked him 'Coach, where do I stand?' he'd tell me. He'd say, 'Hey, you're fourth-string you've got to get stronger and you've got to get bigger if you want to play here.' That's what I wanted obviously. That's what I respect about him so much. He isn't trying to fool anybody. And I think that decision was his and no one else's."
Question: Big shoes to fill?
Meiners: "I feel sorry for the guy coming in here a little bit because that's a tough act to follow. A great man."
Randy Holleran (Junior linebacker)
Question: What was the most important thing you learned from coach Claiborne?
Holleran: "I really matured under coach Claiborne. Had I been playing for someone else, I could have turned into a hood. He's really like everyone's fatherhe would always check to see if you're in bed and was concerned with how you were doing in school and stuff. That's the main thing: discipline. Everything he ever told us was the truth."
Question: What do you think will happen to coach Claiborne without football?
Holleran: "For him, now he can enjoy life. He sure won't have as much pressure on him now that he's not coaching. He said he hopes we go 12-0 next year; he told us he'll be our biggest fan."
Question: What are your thoughts on hir-
Defensive guard Mike Meiners about hiring within: 'There are some that are definitely qualified to take the position, handle it and do well."
ing a coach within the system?
Holleran: "There is definitely that opportunity; we have some good coaches on this staff. There are some eligible people. Definitely coach (Terry) Strock would be a popular candidate for the head coaching job. He's a great defensive coach and is well liked.
"Maybe some of the other coaches will probably try. I think they definitely have a good background. They have a good background in the Southeastern Conference. They (administration) definitely can't overlook them; they at least have to give them the opportunity...in the application for the job."
Question: About the program's future?
Holleran: "I can't see it really hurting the programI can't see the program going downhill, falling apart. If anything it will definitely advance because this program definitely is on a rise. I believe with all my heart this program is going to be a winning program in a few years."
Question: Mike Meiners said that whoever is the next head coach will have some big shoes to fill? Do you agree?.
Holleran: "Definitely. Coach Claiborne's commitment to being a better person, better student...you always put those into a category (ahead)a better person, better student and then a better athlete. I don't think you'll find anybody around that will equal him in that category. He's committed to that and he's always preached that to us. He's actually put that in our minds. When the (new) coach comes in I guess we'll make a judgment on him. No one is going to be coach Claiborne."