A %w ty** Witt,
With Cats9 Pause Columnist Bob Watkins
Despite the meddlesome long arm of the NCAA is there anyone out there worth his *K" cap who can resist pinching himself when reviewing the athletic successes enjoyed by the University of Kentucky in 1976?
Alice in Wonderland liveth. Jack can chop the hell out of a beanstalk. Derrick Ramsey IS a quarterback. And Joe B. Hall can coach a basketball team out of the long shadow of the incomparable Adolph Rupp. Ain't it wunnerful?
Contrary to incessant accusations by coaches everywhere, sports writers can transcribe a good thing or two now and then. In years past we here have been reduced to ficticious puffery, boosterism and outright Rah-Rah when dealing with Kentucky's paper tiger. It is no longer so. Everyone is slapping everyone else on the back. A bystander (UK pennant in hand) suddenly cannot detect a sports hack from the coach's best friend, except for his baggy breeches, worn heels and pencil at the Teady.
Writers love to recreate success stories. When the good guys have vanquished the baddies it is glorious aJJ right with God, memorable and makes delicious prose the next day.
In years gone by we here have had to rely on euphemisms to soften the blow of harsh truth. When a tight end has graduated to the Big House we are cursed villians for saying so. When a quarterback-turned tight end-turned-quarterback launches concrete footballs we are scoundrels for saying so.
But now all is sunshine, bluegrass Rah Rah. The honeymoon is on again. And peaches are the favorite fruits of our labor. The athletes? Oh, they did a
thing or two along the way to help make it possible. Bless their supporters.
Now it is the end of a year in which Rupp Arena is a splendid reality. Its rafters adorned with the newest flag of our conquests. An NIT championship. And the football team is (pinch yourself) headed for the Peach Bowl. Wunnerful!
Sports is a coffee break according to lecherous Al McGuire. Believe it, add a spike, and drink up with me. And let us reflect on 1976 by offering a well and aimed wish to everyone involved. Happy New Year to all, Cawood.
Dedicated first to the University of Kentucky's Cinderfella football success, here is a New Year's wish that . . .
Cawood Ledford - will have the gumption to never change. "Kentucky will be heading toward the right side of your radio dial, folks. And HEEERRE
we go."
Coach Fran Curci - will find a new way of saying: ' 'Uncle Fran wants you, son . . . and your dad and mom and sister and girlfriend and ..."
Athletics Director Cliff Hagan - will find a new way of saying; "...it's all just a lot of wild, outrageous rumors. "
Coach Jon Mirtlovich - will take a crash course on how to meet the press . . .compliments of Bobbv Knight. Smile gentlemen, please?
Broadcaster Lee Grosscup - will apply for Ralph Hacker's job. Fat chance.
Pete Gemmill - will have a happy homecoming.
Warren Bryant - may he never learn the ways of Conrad Dobler.
Mike Siganos - will never discover how small he is.
Jim Kovach - will have a prosperous career and never grow a beard like Doug Kotar's.
Derrick Ramsey - will somehow find a new Warren Bryant for his senior year.
Chris Hill - will continue to believe, somehow, some way, that he is really Terry Metcalf.
Randy Burke - he never relinguish-es the faith that he will be discovered.
Greg Woods - will continue to believe that Billy 'White Shoes' Johnson "...ain't showed 'em nothun yet.''
Dave Fadrowski - will receive a crash course in Joe Namath optimism. It was Fonzie who, while suffering from apparent heat exhaustion after the Kansas beating, talked about UK going to a bowl game.
Mike Siganos - will receive an EST suggestion that there IS safety in the number 1 and fair catches be damned!
Mike Deaton - a renewed (and undying) faith that Fran Tarkenton once rode the bench too.
And for coach Joe B. Hall's defending NIT champions and seekers of a higher throne, here are a few appropriately chosen jabs..er..wishes for the New Year. A Happy New-Year's wish that . . .
Cawood   Ledford       realizes an heretofore unpublished dream: Catch columnist Mike Barry in a stripped shirt on a dark night in Starkville, Miss.
Athletics Director Cliff Hagan - will acquire a new creditability gap with reporters. The old one now rivals the abyss at Clay's Ferry.
Coach Joe Hall  may he find a new
synonym for the word, intensity,
Jay Shidler may he find ;i believable way of saying: "Gosh fellas, I'm really just ,i humble, naive kid."
Mike Phillips  a vision from his Fairy God Mother: "Next time you show up al I he dorm past the witching hour your scholarship will turn into a pumpkin inside of which will be a one-way ticket to Cleveland.
Tim Stephens - a break out.
Coach Joe Hall the Pacific Ocean for his players to shoot foul shots at.
Larry Johnson - a new 'how to' paperback on smiling in the face of adversity by Mike Miday, inspired by Bobby Knight.
James Lee - a crash clinic in outlet passing instructed by Mike Phillips' Fairy God Mother.
Rick Robey - no more Mr. Nice Guy when the Ernie & Bernie Show comes to town soon.
Jay Shidler - a year's supply of Lady Clairol and will power enough to get back to the dorm in time to get it on.
Merion Haskins - a chronic attack of 'put it up' and a 10-point scoring night.
Bowling Green coach John Weinert
- a year's supply of Colonel Sanders' finest...up yours...y'all.
Jack Givens - just one slam dunk before he graduates.
The entire UK basketball team - a March visit to Atlanta before UK is dubbed a football school.
Adolph Rupp - stay No. 1 in our hearts.
Happy New Year to all, Cawood.
Tar Heel Defensive Tackle Really
Likes To "Let Loose On A Guy"
In Newton Grove, N.C., Dee Hardison is known as 'Peanut.'' "I don't really know why they call me that," says Hardison. "I guess it's because of my size."
Hardison is one of the starting defensive tackles for the University of North Carolina. He's 6-5 and tips the scales at 250-plus.
Now get this.
How many semi-giants do you know that want to grow up io be kindergarten teachers?
That's right. Dee Harrison, who will be UNC's starting defensive tackle when the Tarheels meet Kentucky in the ninth annual Peach Bowl game
wants to teach pre-schoolers when he graduates.
"I don't know why I got so interested in small children."" says Hardison. "When I was living at home, my mother used to ask me to look after my little sister and I really enjoyed it. I guess I got my love for small kids from watching after her.
"I want to teach them the right direction and I think the time to start is when they" re extremely young and still in their pre-school years."
Hardison is a man of many talents. He played all sports in high school and was the tailback on the football team. "I don't mind switching over to the defensive line." said Hardison. "1 just
wanted to play and help the team and it 1 help at defensive tackle, then that's fine with me."
Hardison has already realized part of his dream as he worked with pre-schoolers this past summer during vacation in his hometown,
The big defensive lineman had never wrestled because his high school didn't have a wrestling program, hut he took it up his sophomore year at North Carolina.
He won his first wrestling mulch in the heavyweight division by pinning Ins opponent and liuisheil the wtestl ing season last ve.u with .i ',< 'I won lost
record. "1 learned a lot last year and I'm   planning  on   going  out for
wrestling again next season. I really enjoyed it and it was a great way to keep in shape for football."
And what about the North Carolina defensive unit against (he tough Kentucky offense in the Peach Bowl?
"Well, one of the main reasons I like defense Is because you can really let loose on a guy. On offense you have to take a lot of punishment, hut on defense, you can give it out."
So Hattlisun will le.ul the defensive assault for the Tarheels against the Wildcats New Year's Eve afternoon in Atlanta Stadium, and it's not likely he'll mistake any of the Wildeat backs for kindergarten students.