xt7h1834284f https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7h1834284f/data/mets.xml Wildcat News Company 1987 Volume 11 -- Number 31 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 (1986-1987) coaches Sutton, Eddie players Davender, Ed awards University of Kentucky Baseball (1987) University of Kentucky Football (1987) Claiborne, Jerry recruiting statistics schedules Cats' Pause Combs, Oscar The Cats' Pause,  "April 11, 1987" text The Cats' Pause,  "April 11, 1987" 1987 2012 true xt7h1834284f section xt7h1834284f Injuries Begin To Pile Up In UK Camp
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SPOTLIGHTING UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE'
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VOLUME 11 - NUMBER 31
SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1987
LEXINGTON, KEN
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Davender Selected MVP Of 1986-87 Wildcats
UK Banquet Emcee Rev. Wayne Smith With Eddie Sutton
Bat Cat FeatureHot Hitting Robbie Buchanan PUBLICATION NO. USPS 707340 Published By WILDCAT NEWS COMPANY P.O.Box 7297 Lexington. Kentucky 40522 Second Class Postage Paid at
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OSCAR L. COMBS
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Spring Ball
Injuries Galore As Wildcats Begin Spring Practice; Claiborne Looking For Durable Running Attack
The date: Tuesday, March 24, 1987, one day before spring practice "'We're very excited about this spring and we're looking forward to it," echoed the comments of Kentucky football coach Jerry Claiborne.
Monday, March 30Eleven injuries, including a slight cartilage tear in Al Baker's left knee and a broken leg suffered by defensive back Chris Moga, were reported following a Saturday (March 28) spring session.
Baker, the heralded Trigg County back, was knocked out of action after UK's third ballgame last season with a broken ankle. According to team trainer Al Green, Baker's
leading candidate to replace Bill Ransdell, led the No. 1 team to one touchdown on two possessions. His lone TD came on a screen pass to sophomore-to-be fullback Andy Murray.
Junior Bill Allen directed the No. 2 offense for two touchdowns against the No. 2 defense. Both, however, came via the ground (Darren Bilberry, seven yards; receiver Ray Gover, three-yard touchdown on a reverse play).
Chuck Broughton and Eric Green took turns guiding the No. 3 offense against the No. 3 Wildcat defense on this chillv after-
BakerKnee Injury
latest injury will not require surgery. Meanwhile, as of last Friday morning the green light had not been given for Baker's immediate return.
Moga's mishap became the third severe injury in the Wildcat camp this spring. Junior defensive back Anthony Gardner tore two ligaments and ripped cartilage in right knee (March 27). He had surgery the following ^Monday. And on the first day of practice rookie receiver Steve Phillips developed bone chips and had surgery the next day.
Other injuries on Saturday included: Mark Brock, Greg Doll, Brent Grim, Mike Meece, Tony Mills, Jamie Ousley, Jerry Reese, Mike Robinson and Butch Wilburn. According to Green those latter injuries were not serious.
Another Wildcat, defensive guard Doug Houser tore cartilage in his right knee during the first day of spring workouts and arthroscopic surgery was performed last Friday. According to Green, the 6-4, 240-pound Houser will be out for the rest of spring ball.
Defensive back Eric Banks suffered a knee injury last Friday. His injury will require surgery and is expected to be out for a minimum of six months.
It was a day of quarterback watching as Kentucky's first 11 -on-11 scrimmage was held at Shively Field last Thursday. Senior quarterback Kevin Dooley, considered the
MogaBroken Leg
noon session. Although Broughton, a 6-foot-4 sophomore-to-be, connected with Gover for a touchdown he struggled during his two possessions. The Ashland product on a couple of instances failed to hit open receivers. Green only played for four plays but was credited with a first down on a nifty option play.
Junior college transfer Glenn Fohr didn't play because the Wildcat staff felt he wasn't quite ready for his debut. Fohr's only been in the UK system for a couple of weeks and according to the Wildcat staff needs to gain confidence.
Sideline chatter: For the first time in Jerry Claiborne's tenue at Kentucky, the Wildcats will be looking for a leader to emerge from the quarterback position. When they arrived following the 1981 season Claiborne and his staff had Randy Jenkins to turn to. Next in line was a talented passer from Elizabethtown, Bill Ransdell. Ransdell is best known as the holder of 17 Wildcat records. As a junior he also was the leader of the 'Cats' 9-3 squad, a ballclub which stunned Big Ten bad boy Wisconsin in the 1984 Hall of Fame game. Now, Claiborne must turn to an inexperienced lot in hopes of finding a signal caller to guide his team against a rugged '87 slate, which features six teams that played in bowl games last season. This spring there are a number of possibilitiesKevin Dooley, Chuck Broughton, Glenn Fohr, Bill Allen, Eric Green and Tim Smith. Said Claiborne during a recent press luncheon, "They (quarterbacks) really haven't been able to do much. All they cart do during the
winter time is throw inside, because of the weather. As far as their weight program and things of this nature, we think they've worked pretty good. They all know that they have a shot because Ransdell has graduated. It's amazing when people know that they've got a real shot of being first string at any position, they work better, it's just human nature. They do better and have more confidence. We're hoping that that's going to happen to our quarterbacks this spring.". . .Besides finding a replacement at quarterback (Bill Ransdell), the Wildcats also need to come up with a starting tight end (replacing Mark Wheeler and Matt Lucas), center (Ken Lange) and wide receiver (Eric Pitts and Cornell Burbage). Tight end Joe Curry will be held back from spring practice and should be back for the start of fall practice. Martin Pennington did play some last season at the tight end position and has improved with a strong winter program. At receiver Tim Jones and Dee Smith are expected to step into starting roles. Both played quite a bit last season. Also Jimmy O'Neal, Raynard Gover and Jim Wet-ta will be counted on at the receiver position. At center, Claiborne is expecting either Mark Brock or Jimmy Hill to fill the void. However, if neither of those two come through the Wildcat coach indicated that he might switch guard Brad Myers (who played center in high school) to center. "Brad Myers might be finding a football between his legs," said Claiborne. "If somebody doesn't come through in that center spot then we'll probably have to move one of those guards (Myers, Dermontti Dawson, Butch Wilburn) in the center spot. We feel like Brock is the strongest he's been since he's been here, and so is Jimmy Hill. We're hoping that they'll improve.". . .Defensively, Claiborne said that making the big plays is "the biggest thing we've got to improve on. We didn't turn the ball over too many times but we did not get the ball
n
Kremer Wants Consistency
turn it over (to our offense) defensively. We must have dropped 10 or 12 interceptions during the course of the year." . . .Claiborne on the development of UK's 5.75 million dollar operationthe Irv Nutter Training Center. "We're very proud of the Nutter Center," said the UK coach. "I can't say enough for Irv Nutter, Seth Hancock and all the people who have contributed to this programthe Nutter Center. It's just a fan-
[Continued On Page 8] Peaks & Valleys Have Followed UK Since 78 Title
This time next year will mark the 10th anniversary since the Kentucky Wildcats last won a national basketball championship.
To say a lot of water has passed under the bridge would be understating the obvious.
March of 1978 found Kentucky fans at the pinnacle of their glory. During a four-year period, the Wildcats had won the NCAA crown, an NIT trophy in 1976, were NCAA runners-up in 1975 and NCAA regional finalists in 1977.
So when Jack Givens, Rick Robey, Mike Phillips, Kyle Macy, James Lee and Company paraded around the floor at St. Louis' Checkerdome, there was little reason to doubt that more championships would follow during the next decade.
It never happened.
Sure, everyone expected the Wildcats to rebuild in 1979 because graduation hit the Big Blue hard. But the two of the nation's top prepstersDwight Anderson and Clarence Tillmaninked UK letters of intent just a few days after the national championship. The makings of a return trip in just a couple years would be automatic, according to some die-hards.
What happened the following year only re-enforced the Big Blue faithful's optimisim. Coach Joe B. Hall and his staff went out and signed what many tabbed as the nation's top recruiting class. Among the signees were Sam Bowie, Derrick Hord, Dirk Min-niefield, Charles Hurt and Tom Heitz. A sixth member who never signed because he slipped away to prep school and then transferred to UK the following season was a kid by the name of Melvin Turpin.
The class was so awesome, many said Kentucky couldn't miss making the Final Four, even if it tried.
Despite the youthfulness of the 1979 squad, it often brought Wildcat fans more joy than some other UK teams which were far more successful in the won-loss column. By the season's end, the 'Cats clawed their way to the championship game of the renewed Southeastern Conference tournament before bowing to Tennessee in overtime.
A couple nights later, UK was upset at home by Clemson in the opening round of the NIT with a couple Wildcats fighting back flu symptoms and fatigue.
In 1979-80, the season began the way it ended, with a tough down-to-the-wire loss to Duke University, the team which Kentucky defeated in 1978 for its last national championship.
In the season-opening Hall of Fame Classic at Springfield, Mass., the young kiddie corps of Bowie, Hord, Minniefield, Hurt and Heitz put on quite a show with veteran Kyle Macy and sophomore Dwight Anderson leading the charge, only to lose in overtime.
But the the Wildcats bounced back quickly, winning the Great Alaska Shootout by defeating the Jim Valvano-coached Iona Gaels (led by Jeff Ruland) in the title game.
What followed was a brilliant season. Although Kentucky lost to LSU in the championship game of the SEC tourney, after winning the regular season trophy, the Wildcats bounced a good Florida State team out of the NCAA tournament in advancing to the Mideast Regional semifinals at Rupp Arena.
Although the 'Cats played excellent basketball in demolishing FSU 97-78, all was not well in the Kentucky camp. It was no secret Macy was unhappy because he wasn't being called on more in the offense. With the pros just around the corner, the Mr. Basketball from Indiana figured his scoring average was important as the pro draft time neared. He was particularly annoyed because of his lack of playing time in the second half against Florida State. Others called it pouting.
Amidst all the media cries about being allowed to play on its home floor, Kentucky muffed the opportunity of advancing to the Final Four when Duke upset the Wildcats 55-54 as Macy's shot at the buzzer fell short.
Bowie went to the bench early in the contest with three personal fouls and saw little action the rest of the way. What kept Kentucky in the game was the play of junior Fred Cowan who responded with what would prove to be the biggest game of his career. He poured home 26 points, but it wasn't enough.
That 29-5 season saw four of the five losses administered by LSU and Duke with the only other defeat coming at the hands of Alabama. Ironically, three of the five losses came at home and the other two were administered on a neutral floor. That season, as frustrating as it began and ended, failed to see Kentucky lose on an opponent's home court.
But agony's ugly face would soon return.
With Macy gone to the pros, Kentucky still fashioned an excellent 22-6 worksheet the following season, but never seemed to be on the right track. There were narrow victories over schools fans expected Kentucky to dominate.
And during an era in which Kentucky totally dominated Digger Phelps and Notre Dame, the Wildcats experienced one of their rare losses to the Irish and at a time when the 'Cats were big favorites.
Kentucky struggled toward the end of the season and the 'Cats were upset in their first game of the SEC tournament by Vanderbilt. The loss was more damaging than most thought at the time.
A week later, University of Alabama-Birmingham, a team which Kentucky defeated 61-53 in the annual UKIT earlier in the season, shocked the Wildcats 69-62 in the opening round of the NCAA at Tuscaloosa, Ala., as Sam Bowie sat helplessly on the sideline in foul trouble much of the game.
The loss left Wildcat fans growling from border to border. Never mind that UAB advanced to the semifinals and gave Indiana the
toughest game of the tourney before the Hoosiers won the national title. Never mind that UAB a year later would upset Ralph Sampson and Virginia.
Then the really bad news.
Prior to the next season, Sam Bowie came down with the leg injury which at first was thought to be minor. Eventually, the popular All-American would be sidelined for a full two years. Most experts refused to concede at the time that Bowie's absence would hinder the Wildcat Express.
Kentucky fashioned a 22-8 mark, one which should have made Joe B. Hall proud, but Kentucky fans never accepted second, even when they should have.
Pressure mounted throughout the year although UK appeared to be making a late-season run with a six-game winning streak before the 'Cats were shocked 94-78 by LSU in Baton Rouge.
With the SEC tournament being played for the first time in Rupp Arena, folks figured Kentucky would get a nice send-off for the NCAA tourney.
Again, it didn't work out that way.
Kentucky defeated Auburn with ease, 89-66 and then held off Ole Miss 62-58 after blowing out the Rebs in the first half. But Ole Miss coach Bob Weltlich should be given an assist for the downfall of the 'Cats as he exhibited his seat while fully-clothed during the postgame press conference.
Shouting obscenties and crying at the same time, he leveled at the game's officials an indictment which hasn't been matched since by any coach in the SEC. According to Weltlich, there was no way the officials were going to allow Kentucky to lose at Rupp Arena.
And wouldn't you know it, less than 24 hours later, Wimp Sanderson {the same man who said prior to this season that it was against the rules for UK to lose at home) and Alabama pulled the trick, defeating UK 48-46 in the title game.
If Kentucky was down, it was nothing to compare with a week later. Thanks to the NCAA selection committee, Kentucky was paired against OVC champion Middle Tennessee State in the opening round, setting up a potential second-round confrontation with arch non-rival Louisville.
Kentucky never got out of the gate and Middle Tennessee shocked Kentucky 50-44 in one of the biggest upsets of the tourney.
The wolves really came alive.
With his back to the wall, Joe B. Hall then fought his way back in 1982-83.
Still without Bowie, Hall faced obstacles
Last Weekly TCP Issue Before Summer Editions
This issue marks the end of our weekly issues for the current sports year at The Cats' Pause.
The May issue will be printed and should by delivered to your home or office by the middle of May.
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank you, our loyal subscribers, for your continued support for both the TCP and the Kentucky Wildcats.
This summer we plan to keep you abreast of the late breaking recruiting news and other items pertaining to Kentucky basketball and football.
Remember, your next issue of Jlie Cats' Pause will be the monthly May issue and it should arrive in your mailbox by the middle of May
Our regular weekly issues will resume in early-September, the sveek of Kentucky's football season opener.
in 1983 he'd never faced before, or after.
Notre Dame's Phelps had been crying for umpteen years that it just wasn't fair to have to play Kentucky at Louisville's Freedom Hall each year, and unless Joe B. agreed to visit Digger's playpen in South Bend, the series would cease.
Pressure had been mounting on Hall for years about not playing Louisville and now the Notre Dame situation arises. Never mind that the long-running (over 20 years) Freedom Hall date was actually proposed and implemented by Notre Dame. Digger's biggest problem was that he just couldn't beat a Joe B.-coached team more than once every seven years or so.
So to silence the critics, Hall agreed to a two-year series which called for one game (1981) in Freedom Hall and one game at Notre Dame. The South Bend contest (December, 1982) turned out to be the final one.
When the 'Cats arrived in South Bend, one could tell that it was one of those rare games which the Irish have become famous for, in other words, winning at any cost.
Digger's best laid plans were buried in the dark of the night by a group of 'Cats. Derrick Hord played one of the finest games of his career, scoring 18 points as the Wildcats hit an amazing 75 percent (24 of 32) from the field in downing Notre Dame 58-45.
The season, however, was far from over.
Kentucky played well near the end of the regular season, winning eight in a row before falling 74-60 at LSU. Like two years earlier, Kentucky lost in the opening round of the SEC tourney, this time to Alabama by a 69-64 count.
But the similarities ended there.
With Hord, Hurt and Minniefield playing their final games, Kentucky regrouped and steamed past Ohio University 57^0 to set up a big date with Indiana in the Mideast semifinals at Knoxville.
The NCAA selection committee, with a gleam in its eyes, set up the perfect confrontations. Kentucky versus Indiana with the winner taking on the winner of the Arkansas (Hi there, Eddie) and Louisville game.
Three months earlier, Kentucky dropped a tough 62-59 decision to Bobby Knight in Bloomington. Experts argued that a date in Knoxville would not change the outcome. They were wrong.
Kentucky, which had been gaining rapidly in getting even with Knight over the past few years, fought through the Hoosier picks like a jack-hammer operator and found itself a 64-59 winner as Hall continued his mastery of Knight which changed dramatically after the famous head-slapping incident in 1975. For obvious reasons, the victory was short-lived.
It did set up the all-important match with Louisville after the Cardinals scored a come-from-behind victory over Arkansas in the other semifinal match.
Kentucky left its season on the Stokely Athletics Center floor that Saturday afternoon in a 12-point overtime loss to the Cardinals, but it certainly was a far cry from the losses Wildcat fans had become accustomed
[Continued On Page 22] Three-Pointer To Return Again Next Season; Will Remain At 19' 9" Distance
Probably to the delight of many college basketball fans, the NCAA Rules Committee announced last week that the three-point shot will remain a part of the game, and from 19 feet, nine inches.
This came about last Wednesday in New Orleans.
"The three-point rule did exactly what it was intended to do," said committee member Ed Steitz.
Steitz noted that the three-point shot put more points on the scoreboard, while inside the paint it reduced the rough play and over-guarding.
Also next season, an intentional foul will not only result in two free tosses but possession of the ball as well.
From 1,448 coaches' questionnaires, 80 percent wanted the three-point shot to remain on the collegiate level. Of those 80 percent, 35 percent agreed with the present distance, and 36 percent wanted to use the Olympic measurementnine inches deeper than the current collegiate three-pointer.
Another rule which will be implimented next season will allow an official to impose a technical foul on a coach if any of his players come off the bench to participate in a fight on the hardwood.
A third change deals with a coach confronting the scorer's table, to protest a scoring or timing decision. However, this time the coaches will be given a break. Under the old rules the referee could whistle a technical on the guilty party. Now, if an incident like this occurs the team in question will be issued a timeout.
Several changes also will be allowed to take place in a conference, on an experimental basis. The NCAA will permit conferences to try several new things in which they (the conferences) will monitor and give the results to the rule committee.
Those experiements that CAN be included are:
*Moving the three-point shot out to Olympic specification.
Taking away the bottom foot of the backboard for safety purposes.
*Issue a team a five-second violation if a squad doesn't resume play promptly following a timeout.
?Originally referees' jurisdiction is 30 minutes prior to tipoff. Now, under experimental procedures, it will be 20 minutes.
*Draw a box at the scorer's table which the substitues have to be in when they report to the table.
Ham Roasting? UKAA To Honor Retiring Assistant
University of Kentucky assistant athletics director Frank Ham will be treated to a "Roast" on Friday, May 8 at the Lexington Hyatt Regency, according to UK athletics director Cliff Hagan.
The event is scheduled for the Patterson Ball Room at 6:30 p.m.
Ham, who is retiring in June, has been at his at his current position since July 1975.
Tickets are $30 per person and can be purchased in room 12 at Memorial Coliseum. They also can be obtained by sending a check earmarked for "Frank Ham dinner" in care of Lori Barnes, UKAA, Memorial Coliseum, Lexington, Ky., 40506.
For more informastion contact Barnes at 257-5611.
Last year prior to the start of the college football season, The Cats' Pause conducted a preseason poll. Media personalities from around the commonwealth were asked to project Kentucky's fate for the upcoming season, along with an SEC champion.
While most picked the 'Cats to finish 6-5, almost everyone came to the conclusion that Alabama would claim the SEC title. I, meanwhile, traveled a different route.
Sure, the talented Crimson Tide had arguably the SEC's best player, and perhaps the country's, in linebacker Cornelius Bennett. But along those same lines, LSU returned 10 of 11 defensive players.
No Doubt About It, Defense Wins Games
Big Blue Needs Big Plays
	
	Nick Nicholas Cats' Pause Columnist
	
nciuding consensus All-American Michael Brooks.
The season before the Tigers' defense allowed only 10.3 points per game, which ranked them third in the country.
So, as daring (or as foolish) as it may have seemed I picked the crew from Baton Rouge to win the title. And even though Brooks was injured early in the season, LSU still was able to storm past Alabama, capture the SEC title and a Sugar Bowl berth opposite Nebraska.
Team defense. . .that's what I was looking for. Along with surprising freshman quarterback Tom Hodson, LSU's team defense carried it atop the standings, which not too many people thought possible.
These days, I'll take a good, solid defense over a high-powered offense any day. What is it they saygood pitching will most of the time beat good hitting. I couldn't agree more.
"I think LSU won because of their defense," said Kentucky Wildcat defensive coach Terry Strock. "They had an outstanding defense; their defense turned the ball over, got the ball in good field position for their offense. They did a great job."
Hey, Wildcat fans don't turn the page. . .this column's not devoted to the success of the '86 LSU Tigers. The point I'm trying to make is that defense wins ballgames. So, let's talk about Kentucky football from a defensive standpoint.
Give me a D-E-F-E-N-S-E. What's that spell?. . .DEFENSE. Alright!
Right now the Kentucky staff is teaching the important aspects to the Wildcats, so as not to be rehashed during the regular season. That's what spring ball is all about.
Team Defense Is One Of Two Main Concerns
True, this spring finding a replacement for former signal caller Bill Ransdell is one of top priorities. However, Jerry Claiborne has his mind on another crucial concept, solid team defense.
"Last year we didn't turn the ball over too many times," said Claiborne recently. "But we did not get the ballturn the ball over defensively. We must have dropped 10 or 12 interceptions that were right in our hands".
If not for Tony Mayes UK would have recorded only five in-tereceptions in '86. A senior last season, Mayes picked off four passes from his defensive back position.
Sixteen times did Kentucky's defense, by way of fumble recoveries, turn the ball over to its offensive unit. Meanwhile, let's take a peek at the other side of the coin, Wildcat turnovers.
On offense the Wildcats were guilty of 10 interceptions and losing 12 of 27 fumbles.
When figuring the pros and cons of things, that's a plus-three in UK's turnover department. Not bad, not bad at all. But Claiborne, a perfectionist at heart, wants improvement.
"We've got to come up with more big plays by our defensive unit," said Claiborne, who holds the UK record for nine interceptions in one season. "We need turnoversinterceptions, recovered fumbles and big plays in our kicking game. That's the biggest thing we need as far as our defense is concerned."
Offensively, when a receiver or back drops a pass don't we usually associate that with lack of fundamentals or poor concentration?
Does it work both ways? Last season late in the game Mayes dropped an interception at Virginia Tech, which would have clinched a victory for UK. Was that because of a fundamental or concentration breakdown?
"Interceptions are (based on) a lot of concentration and working to improve your hands and your pass catching ability," Strock said.
"Fumble recoveries are just getting everybody to the football and not having people loaf on plays. What you're trying to do is get 11 people around the football. If it does go on the ground then you have more people around it than they do."
A young, inexperienced group will have problems of getting the "big plays." Yes, I know there were four senior starters on the defensive side of the ball. There also were some youngsters in the '86 defensive makeup, too.
Trading A First-Year For A Fifth-Year
There were redshirt freshmenVic Adams (guard) and Ron Robinson (safety). Bringing your binoculars at eye level you also would have seen sophomores Chris Chenault (linebacker), Carwell Gardner (defensive end), Jay Dortch (defensive end) and David Johnson (cornerback). Add juniors Jerry Reese and John Shannon (switched from tackle to guard in '87) and, sure, you had a good mixture of veteran and young talent. But folks, we're just skimm ing the surface.
Quality depth, my friends, is a key ingredient to making an average defensive unit into a feared one. From last year's squad Kentucky loses seven lettermen. As I mentioned earlier four of them
"It's true of any football team, that to have a winning season you have to have some big plays on defense. Die defense has to score with interceptions, punt returns and things of this nature. We're working hard to try to increase the number of interceptions that we get and the number of fumbles that we get."
UK Assistant Terry Strock
Mayes, Guy Neal, Larry Smith and Tom Wilkinswere starters Of this year's returning lettermen, who are listed as non-starters on UK's spring depth chart, you'll find only two seniorsguard Scott Endris and linebacker Jeff Kremer.
Wouldn't you say reliable and experienced 'Cat backups were hard to find in '86? I would. And it showed.
During the second and fourth quarters, the two 15-minute periods which are the most tiring because of no rest, Kentucky gave up 61 and 80 points, respectively. In the opening quarter the Wildcats gave up only 36 points, and the in the third stanza, which follows the traditional intermission break, the UK defense allowed just 30 points.
The LSUs, Alabamas, Auburns and others big-time programs have a depth advantage over college football's "average" programs However, help is on the way in the UK camp.
"We are still young in terms of the number of years the kids have played," said Strock. "But we do have some experience because we do have a number of sophomores and redshirt freshmen who played a significant part in our defense last year."
To the disbelief of many followers, the redshirt program at UK is starting to come into play. With 'Bama and Auburn being regular foes in '88, it better work, because something has to give in the not too distant future.
Kentucky returns seven starters on defense and has a good supp ly of backups. Back are 10 defensive reserves who earned letters last year.
The only position which appears to be weak is at defensive end First-stringers Carwell Gardner and Dortch return, but after that the experience is "nil" according to Claiborne.
The Wildcat coach is hoping that DEs Paul McDowell, Tony Zigman, Tony Massey and Mike Robinson will add quality depth to this important position in Kentucky's wide-tackle-six defense Other than that things are on the up-and-up, that is if the injury bug stays out of UK's direction. A couple of weekends ago 11 Wildcats came away with injuries, although mostly bumps and bruises according to team trainer Al Green.
"It's true of any football team, that to have a winning season you have to have some big plays on defense," Strock noted. "The defense has to score with interceptions, punt returns and things of this nature We're working hard to try to increase the number of interceptions that we get and the number of fumbles we get. We had the ball on the ground 33 times last year but we only got 16 fumbles.
"We're trying to improve that part of our defensive scheme-trying to come up with big plays and score on defense."
Following April 25th's Blue-White game UK fans might have good idea who'll be the No. 1 quarterback. But also keep an eye on the Wildcat defense. You see, it's these guys who can carry squad a long, long ways. Seventh Annual University of Kentucky Wildcat
Baseball Camp 1987
Assistant John Butler
PARENTAL AND PHYSICIAN SIGNATURE
PHYSICIAN'S NAME: _
PHYSICIAN: I have examined the heart action, blood pressure, and general physiological condition of the aforementioned camper and believe him to be physically fit to participate in all sports except_
PARENT: In accordance with the rules of the WILDCAT BASEBALL CAMP, I hereby give my consent for the aforementioned camper to participate in the following activities NOT MARKED OUT: Baseball, basketball, football, track, swimming, volleyball, and related minor camping activities. If at any time it is necessary for the aforementioned camper to receive outside or professional medical attention, I hereby give my consent to the camp to secure the services of whatever physical or medical facility they select and to provide or secure whatever transportation is deemed necessary.
I will not hold the camp responsible for any benefits beyond their camp medical insurance program and will secure adequate family insurance coverage if additional protection is desired.
CAMP YEAR_PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE _
CAMP SESSIONS
June 15 - June 19 Day Camp
June 26 Overnight Camp I
June 21
CAMPER'S NAME:
NOTE: No camper will be pe