xt7hdr2p646q https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7hdr2p646q/data/mets.xml Wildcat News Company 1985 Volume 9 -- Number 30 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. Sutton, Eddie players assistant coaches Parsons, Dicky University of Kentucky Baseball (1985) statistics schedules Cats' Pause Combs, Oscar The Cats' Pause,  "April 6, 1985" text The Cats' Pause,  "April 6, 1985" 1985 2012 true xt7hdr2p646q section xt7hdr2p646q Ordventty Archive*
40506 SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS PER COPY
25590
The Cats' Pause
SPOTLIGHTING UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE"
New UK Coach Eddie Sutton And Wife Patsy
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>19-19	75-173-42.1 49-101-48.5	45-23-	65-69.2 -3-65.1	173- 5. 109- 5.	6 7	95-7 5S-4	30 13	36 17	195- 6.3 126- 6.6	13-TEOT 13-TE.V*
Jaaes           29-1S BLACKXOSCC)18-14		68-165-41.2 37- 92-.0.2	20-8-	35-57.1 15-53.3	40- 1 23- 1	4 3	52-1 35-1	63 36	35 21	156- 5.4 80- 4.4	17-TOL 16-CA
Roger HAR2EN	30-28 CO 19-17	66-167-39.5 38-105-36.2	26-20-	34-76.5 25-SO.O	46- 1 27- 1	5 4	61-0 35-0	142 67	55 32	158- 5.3 96- 5.1	13-STJ 12-VAN
Richard MADISON	24- 0 (C)13- 0	46-118-39.0 14- 45-31.1	31-15-	38-31.6 18-83.3	72- 3 23- 1	0 8	33-1 14-0	14 6	29 10	123- 5.1 43- 3.3	16-INTJ 14-AUB
Troy             27- 1 McKIStEY(C)18- 1		58-104-55.3 44- 83-53.0	9-5-	10-90.0 ' 6-83.3	26- 1 15- 0	0 8	21-0 19-0	19 13	11 8	125- 4.6 93- 5.2	14-OM 14-OM
Paul ANDRr-'S	20- 4 CO 12- I	20- 43-46.5 9- 22-40.9	1-	2-50.0 2-50.0	8- 0 3- 0	3	24-0 12-0	17 14	9 2	41- 2.1 19- 1.6	8-SMu 7-ALA
			1-								
Robert LOCK	27- 4 (O 15- 0	12- 41-29.3 7- 17-41.1	4-	9-44.4	27- 1	8	44-1 18-0	5 3	12 7	31- 1.1 18- 1.2	8-TES: 8-TEW
Cedrlc JENKINS	20- 0 (Oil- 0	5- 14-35.7 3- 3-100.0	4-	7-57.1 6-66.7	28- 1 16- 1	4 5	11-0 6-0	0 0	7 5	14- 0.7 10- 0.9	3-VAS 3-VAS
Todd ZIEGLER	10- 0 CC)4- 0	1- 4-25.0 1- 3-33.3	0-0-	4-00.0 3-00.0	4- 0 3- 0	8	0-0 0-0	0 0	0 0	2- 0.2 2- 0.5	2-VAS 2-VA.S
Leroy BYRD	10- 0 (C)6- 0	1- 2-50.0 1- 2-50.0	0-0-	1-00.0 0-00.0	2- 0 2- 0	2 3	7-0 4-0	3 2	3 2	2- 0.2 2- 0.3	2-TENN 2-TENN
Teas					62				3		
Kentucky 31 (C)19		773-1693-45.7 464- 999-46.4	491-299-	680-72.2 420-71.2	1035-33 631-33	.4 .2	600-23 371-13	441 269	384 227	2037-65.7 1227-64.6	92-TEXN 92-TESN
Opponents 31 CO 19		785-1661-47.3 468-1004-46.6	406-247-	579-70.1 367-67.3	984-31 593-31	.7 .2	638-19 392-13	474 274	392 217	1918-61.8 1183-62.3	89-KA.V 62-MSU
MINUTES PLAYED:
BLOCKED SHOTS:
Walker 1139-36.,7, Bennett 851-28.4, Bearup 818-26.4, Harden 758-25. 3, Davender 725-23.4, Siackmon 645-22.2, Madison 402-16.8, McKinley 357-13.2, Andrews 182-9.1, Lock 196-7.3, Jenkins 87-4.4, Byrd 15-1.5, Zlegler 14-1.4
Walker 37, Bearup 17, Lock 8, Bennett 6, Madison 4, Jenkins 2, Davender 2 Blacknon 1 (UK 78, 0pp. 60)
Davendi
. 33, Blackmon 31. Harden 28, Walker 28, Bennett 23, Bearup 12, 6, McKlnUy 6. Lock 2, Andrews 2, Jenkins 2, Byrd 1.
DEAD BALL REBOUNDS:    Kentucky 61, Opponents 72
Superlatives
Results
GAME
*-PP
Toledo  CH, Nov.  27) 63-54
Purdue (A, Dec. 1) 56-66
SKU CH, Dec.  4) 54-56
Indiana (A, Dec. 8) 68-81
Loulevllle CA, Dec.  15) 64-71
East Tenn. (UKIT, Dec. 21) 69-54
Cincinnati CUKIT, Dec. 22) 66-55 Kansas (Louisville, Dec. 31) 92-89
Auburn (H, Jan. 2) 68-61 North Carolina St. (H, Jan, 5) 78-62
Vanderbllt CH, Jan. 7) 75-58
Mississippi (A, Jan. 9) 57-45
Alabama (A, Jan. 12) 58-60 Mississippi State (H, Jan. 16) 58-57
Florida (H, Jan. 19) 55-67 Georgia CA, Jan, 23) 73-81
Tennessee (A, Jan. 27) 65-81 LSU CH, Jan. 31) 53-43 Auburn CA, Feb. 2) 49-47 oc
Vanderbllt CA, Feb 7) 68-62 Mississippi CH, Feb. 9) 67-52 Alabama (H, Feb 13) 51-48 Mississippi State (A, Feb. 16) 69-82 Florida (A, Feb. 20) 76-68 Georgia (H, Feb. 24) 77-79 Tennessee (H, Feb. 28) 92-67 LSU (A, Mar. 2) 61-67 Florida (B'ham-SEC Tourney) 55-58 Washington (NCAA-Salt Lake) 66-58 UNLV (NCAA-Salt Lake) 64-61 St. John's (NCAA-Denver) 70-86
Attend
23,129 14,123
22.846 17,214 19,487 21,300 23,102 18.920
22.847 23,775 23,432
5,479 15,043 23,628 23,325 10,163 12,700 22,135 10,672 15,626 23,232 21,125
9,799 10,884 23,230 23,820 13.446 13,300
7,351
9,226 17,022
High Scorer			High Rebounder
Walker,	Blackmon	17	Walker 9
Walker,	Blackmon	16	Walker 9
Walker	19		Walker 7
Walker,	Hadlson 16		Bearup 11
Walker	32		Walker 15
Davender 27			Walker 9
Walker	18		Walker 9
Walker	36		Walker 19
Walker	24		Walker 13
Walker	28		Walker 8
Walker	22		Walker 10
Walker	28		Walker 12
Walker	25		Walker 14
Walker	15		Walker 8
Walker	26		Bennett 11
Walker	28		Walker 17
Walker	23		Walker 9
Walker	21		Bearup 8
Walker	15		Bennett 8
Walker	31		Walker 15
Walker	33		Walker 13
Walker	19		Walker 3
Walker	27		Walker 12
Walker, Davender		17	Bearup 9
Walker	25		Walker 12
Walker	33		Walker 18
Davender 22			Walker 13
Bennett 14			Walker 8
Walker	29		Walker 10
Walker	23		Walker 6
Walker	23		Walker 8
Team
Points
Fewest Points Field Goals Made Field Goals Art. Field Goal I Lowest FG 1 Free Throws Made Free Throvs Ate. Free Throw X Rebounds Most Fouls Fewest Fouls Assists
Most Turnovers Fewest Turnovers
Points
Field Goals Made Field Goals Att. Free Throws Made Free Throws Att. Rebounds Assists Blocked Shots
Kentucky
92-Kansas, Tenness<
49-Auburn
37-Tennessee
79-Kansas
55.4-Georgla
34.8-Alabama
34-N.C. State
40-Washlngton
94.4-Vanderbllt
51-Kansas
34-Purdue
10-East Tenn. St.
21- Kansas/Georgia
22- Purdue 6-Florlda
Opponents 89-Kansas 43-LSU 37-Kansas 66-Kansas/Florida 66.l-Indlana 29.1-Cinclnnati 30-Purdue, Miss. State
41- Purdue
100.0-East Tennessee St.
42- Alabama, Florida 28-N.C. State/Kansas/Washington 13-Louisvllle 27-Kansas 25-N.C. State 2-Vanderbllt
INDIVIDUAL
Kansas Louisville Louisville
Vandy/Ole Miss/Wash.
36-Walker vs. 14-Walker vs. 25-Walker va. 13-Walker vs. 20-Walker vs. Kansas 19-Walker vs. Kansas 12-Harden vs. Tennessee 4-Walker vs. Cincinnati
34-Brooks (Tennessee) 14-Brooks (Tennessee) 23-Mullln (St. John's)
13- Gadis (Purdue)
14- Cadls CPurdue)
15- Koncak CSMU) U-Webb CN.C. State)"
4-Koncak CSMU)
Higgs Injures Knee In
Practice
Sophomore-co-be running back Mark Higgs. who rushed for 476 yards in 75 attempts and five touchdowns in '84. injured his right knee during a "three-man" drill in practice last Friday afternoon and could be lost for next season.
Higgs suffered both cartilage and ligament damage to the injured knee. The Owensboro High School product was flown to Hughston Clinic in Columbus, Ga., Saturday after being examined by Dr. James Andrews (Hughston Clinic). He was scheduled for surgery Monday, which included an arthroscopic procedure and a full opening of the knee.
According to UK officials. Higgs' recovery time will probably be six to eight months and could return to practice in October.
"He's a great asset to our offense," said UK quarterback Bill Ransdell after last Friday's practice.
Asked how big a loss it would be to this Kentucky team if Higgs were to miss the '85 season. Ransdell responded, "anytime you lose a football player like that it definitely hurts you."
The injury occured when Higgs, while dragging a tackier along, was running for extra yardage and was drilled in the right side of the knee by a defender.
His only other football related injury came when he broke his foot during his freshman season at Owensboro High School.
? ? *
Higgs underwent surgery on Monday and UK trainer Al Green said the surgery was a complete success.
Full recovery is expected to take six to eight months.
Mark Higgs
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Sutton Begins A New Era At UK-
Welcome home Eddie.
Just moments after Arkansas' Eddie Sutton was named head basketball coach at Kentucky Tuesday afternoon, the former Razorback basketball czar told a crowd of some 150 reporters, University officials and friends that Kentucky has always been the place he wanted to coach and finish his career.
His dream came true late Monday when a UK ad hoc advisory committee interviewed the popular head coach and then recommended to the UK Athletics Association that he be hired to replace the retiring Joe B. Hall.
It was a nostalgic event, to say the least. There on hand to help celebrate the occasion was Sutton's wife, his three sons and his old college coach, the legendary Henry Iba at Oklahoma State.
Sutton, who made Arkansas something besides a football state, has enjoyed immense  success  with the
Razorbacks in trie Southwest Conference. He has won 260 games and lost only 75 in eleven seasons at Arkansas. Even more astonishing is the Hogs' incredible homecourt record of 121-8.
Known as a defensive wizard, Sutton's teams are known for their intense defensive pressure. Much like Kentucky's proud tradition, Sutton subscribes to total discipline and dedication to the game.
Bombarded with a lengthy question and answer session with dozens of reporters staying over from the NCAA Final Four. Sutton was quick to point out the great Kentucky tradition, first from the great Adolph Rupp and then continued by Joe B. Hall.
He emphasized the similarities of Hall's philosophies and said there were much similiar than most people realized.
What Sutton's appointment accomplishes is a successful effort by the UK administration to continue the tradition and success which UK basketball has enjoyed in the past.
While it will be a few days before Sutton gets his feet on the ground at UK, he isn't allowing any grass to grow around him. He immediately scheduled a session with the local media for the next day and in less than 24 hours after the announcement he and assistant Leonard Hamilton were off recruiting, apparently a quick effort to shore up UK's efforts to win some signees next month.
One of his first official acts was to name Leonard Hamilton as an assistant coach. Hamilton, who has been UK's chief recruiter for almost a decade, appeared with Sutton at the Tuesday announcement.
Hamilton said it was a privilege and honor to be asked by Sutton to be on the new coach's staff. Hamilton was primarily responsible for the early signing of Florida's Irving Thomas last November.
Last week, Thomas' high school coach, Ernie Bell, expressed concern over Hall's retirement and the vacancy Most insiders believe Thomas will honor his signing with Kentucky.
Of major importance to UK's recruiting today is the prospects of winning Kenny Payne of Mississippi and Tommy Lewis of California. Both had UK high on their list, but no one knows how Hall's sudden retirement may affect them.
The final process to hire Sutton did not  hit   high   gear   until sometime
V. ndav.
It was a week earlier when the UK ad hoc committee first started going after a new man. Reports were numerous and often untrue as is the situation most of the time.
It's apparent that Arizona's Lute Olson was UK's first choice. He reportedly was close to terms as late as Sunday before the deal fell through. A second coach, UAB's Gene Bartow, reportedly could have had the job but pulled out twice.
UK officials declined to say if anyone had been offered the job prior to Sutton. Other names which were considered included: SMU's Dave Bliss, Purdue's Gene Keady, Lakers' Pat Riley, retiring Denver Nuggets' Dan Issel, South Florida's Lee Rose, former UK assistant Dick Parsons, Georgia Tech's Bobby Cremins and several others. Many of those had their names withdrawn from the list.
According to sources close to the situation, the committee was down to Rose and Parsons Monday morning after Bartow decided a second time not to pursue the job.
It was at that time that Sutton was first approached. Our reports have it that Sutton met with the ad hoc committee Monday evening and was offered the job that night. He quickly accepted.
President Otis Singletary confirmed that he, too, sit in on the Sutton interview, the only one in which he
+      +      +       . .;
Singletary pointed out that UK exhausted every possible avenue in acquiring the best coach available.
Despite not being the first choice, Sutton could well turn out to be the best candidate, for two reasons.
First, Jerry Claiborne has proved that first doesn't necessarily mean the
Eddie Sutton Biography
In 11 years as head basketball coach and assistant athletics director at the University of Arkansas, Eddie Sutton has taken his sport from the basement of the Southwest Conference to a statewide phenomenon and a spot among the national elite. Sutton has established and is still building records that may never be approached in league history. His overall percentage of .776 is a conference record as is his percentage of .797 in SWC contests. His record of 260-75 equates to an average of 23.6 victories a season.
During the last nine years the Razorbacks have won or shared five league titles, finished second four times and have made nine trips to the NCAA tournament. Arkansas and North Carolina are the only schools in the country to have played in each of the last nine NCAA tournaments.
Coach of the Year honors have been frequent. He has won national honors twice (1977 and 1978) and has been named the SWC's top coach four times.
Since going to Arkansas from Creighton following the 1973-74 seas-
on, Sutton has created a monster in the Ozarks. His teams have been nearly impossible to defeat at Barnhill Arena, their on-campus home. Under Sutton's direction, the Hogs are 121-8 at Barnhill, a stunning percentage of .932. Razorback games have been sold out before the season begins for the last eight years and tickets to Arkansas' basketball games have become nearly impossible for non-season ticket holders to secure.
Sutton's success has been built on what he calls "the three D's --dedication, discipline and defense." The Razorbacks annually rank as one of the nation's top defensive teams, drawing raves for their suffocating style of man-to-man defense. Even without great perimeter shooters, Arkansas' field goal percentage usually ranks among the best. In fact, during the past 10 seasons, only North Carolina has a higher field goal percentage.
One of Sutton's first coaching jobs came during this past season when his youngest team challenged a schedule
(Continued on Page 22)
best. He wasn't the first choice when UK hired a football coach three years ago, but I doubt anyone would trade his accomplishments for any other coach today.
Secondly, Sutton showed an immediately and total interest for the UK job, something that neither of the other two were totally committed to.
Sutton's ability to recruit and mingle with people is a strong plus for him when you consider the high visibility of the Kentucky program. His on-court winning success certainly qualifies him as one of the nation's top five coaches.
Most impressive to UK officials was Sutton's record and his willingness to make a commitment to UK without hesitation. Sutton later said there was never any doubt that he would accept the UK post, if it were offered to hint.
Sutton begins a new era of Kentucky basketball and it should be a very good one. Best of luck Eddie. Ma'' be many and happy at Kentucky.
Because of the late-breaking developments in the Eddie Sutton appointment, TCP was held up to Tuesday for this announcement.
Next week, we'll have expanded and special stories and comments on Sutton's appointment from other officials around UK and the college basketball circles. Also included will be detailed information on WHAS's decision not to carry UK basketball and football games again.
Also, complete coverage of the Final Four will be next week in our last weekly issue of the season. This issue is actually the last regular issue, but an extra edition will be published next week to make up for the issue not published during the Christmas holidays.
+
Not to be forgotten in all the NCAA Final Four and the new coaching appointment is the final farewell to Coach Joe B. Hall at the Committee of 101 annual basketball banquet Thursday night on the UK campus.
Some tickets are still available by calling the UK basketball ticket office at Memorial Coliseum. Inside is a pictorial look back at the Joe B. Hall era in this issue.
 April 6.19X5
Coaches Unpredictable In '85
Flying Chair Spoiled Ai IU
College basketball in '85 was predictable -- predictable to the extent that it was unpredictable. As in past seasons, some things never went as planned during this year's collegiate hoops.
Sure, Georgetown, Memphis State and Oklahoma had fine seasons as expected. But for some reason, in relation to being predictable, it was the coaches who were unreliable. Who would have suspected:
A) A little man with a lucky sweater vaulting into his first Final Four? Not me.
B) A burned out, fiesty Hoosier hurling a chair across the court during a timeout?
Naw, c'mon now.
C) A head mentor by the name of Sonny helping turn a team around with just simply a resignation slip?
Impossible!
D) An ole fisherman getting more attention than the prestigious Final Four by stepping down from "The Program"?
Unbelievable!
Unbelievable you say . . .look again.
Nick Nicholas
Cats' Pause Columnist
Little Lou Carnesecca's lucky sweaters were not the prettiest things in the world, but they did add color to the    college basketball scene this season.
Because of superstition, for most of the '85 campaign he was decked out in a blue sweater with a red pattern zig-zagging across the middle. While wearing the wool garment, St. John's eventually became the nation's No. 1 ranked team. The Johnies ended Georgetown's, at the time the country's top-ranked squad, 29-game winning streak with a stunning 66-65 upset at Washington's Capital Centre.
When the two teams met again at Madison Square Garden there was a surprise awaiting  Carnesecca,   G-town's  John Thompson  boasted an identical sweater (with the exception a few sizes larger) just like the one Looie attired. Both coaches, the crowd and the media got a kick out of it.
Carnesecca lost in the battle of the sweaters that evening. However, St. John's leader later changed his game wardrobe to a light gray sweater.
It's not the sweaters that led Carnesecca to his first Final Four . . .then again you never know.
The incident of Thompson and Carnesecca brings back fond memories of Fuzzy Zoeller and Greg Norman in last year's U.S. Open Golf Tournament at Wingfoot. Seeing Norman making a lengthy putt on the 72nd hold of the tourney and Zoeller, standing back in the fairway promptly waving a white towel, delighted the huge gallery watching. The following day in the two-way playoff, Norman returned the gesture to the victorious Zoeller by waving his white towel in surrenderance on the final hole. A thunderous standing ovation greeted both players at the end of the tourney.
Enjoyment along side of sportsmanship is something which is rare in athletics these days. Though little things like lucky sweaters and waving white towels make it possible. . .
r SI J
Sonny Decided To Give Auburn A Ciiance
Looie And Joe B.       A Vacaiion Needed?
Now, let's venture from the good to the not so good.
Indiana's Bobby Knight had a rough time of it this season. Picked in almost everyone's preseason Top Ten, the Hoosiers finished the regular season with a disappointing 15-13 slate.
Things got so bad that the fiery Knight suspended a few of his players (including Olympic gold medal winner Steve Alford) for one game. Junior Mike Giomi was then dropped from the team by Knight because of academic reasons. Even though his grades met university requirements, it didn't meet Knight's. ,
But the ultimate occurrence came in Bloomington against arch-rival Purdue. Knight became so furious that he grabbed a chair and side-armed it across the wooden surface. The results: embarrassment to Knight, the university and college basketball.
The '84 Olympic coach was suspended by Big Ten commissioner Wayne Duke for one contest. Still a lot of people haven't let Knight forget this incident. It's a shame.
Sure, he's guilty -- so what? The man needs about a year vacation away from the Bloomington campus altogether. Two straight years of basketball (coached IU in '84 and 85. plus the Summer Olympic team last year) can cause anyone to lose their cool.
Don't forget his positive contributions to basketball either: helping Landon Turner through his tragic accident which ended his basketball career, taking up for Kyle Macy in the Pan American games in the summer of '79, putting in so much time to put together and coach our gold medal winners in the 1984 Summer Olympics and his overall devotion to maintain NCAA standards.
One flying chair shouldn't wipe out Bobby Knight's positive contributions to the college game. . .For safety reasons in the future though, IU officials should nail down  all  chairs   .   . .
During post-season play in '85, Auburn's Sonny Smith had a blast. Hard to believe for a lame-duck coach. Smith, because of being dissatisfied with the Auburn program, resigned following a overtime loss to Kentucky.
Led by junior Chuck Person and Gerald White, Smith's Tigers swept through the SEC Tournament and won two games in NCAA play before bowing out to North Carolina.
This was the same Auburn team that was seeded eighth in a 10-team tournament. Losing close ballgames was the norm during much of the regular season. For some reason this team had a change of heart. That reason was Sonny Smith.
His coaching in the SEC tourney was a treat. He never fussed or screamed at his players during their four wins in Birmingham; he just took it all in stride. The Auburn players were giving it their best for the retiring Smith, hoping with each game to give their coach just one more night.
Each win brought Smith closer and closer to tearing up that resignation slip. Sonny was now having fun.
About a week following the six-point loss to Carolina in the Southeast Regionals, Smith decided the would stay. If I had Chuck Person, Chris Morris, Frank Ford, Vernon Strickland (lost in '85 season because of a knee injury), Gerald White, and others returning, I would probably stay, too . . .
And finally we come to that ole fisherman -- Joe B. Hall. UK's coach in '85 will no longer be the keeper in the Wildcats' den. Hall's resignation following the St. John's loss shook the state of Kentucky up pretty well. So well in fact that the after-effects are still lingering despite the presence of Lexington hosting the Final Four.
Questions circulating around at the heart of the Bluegrass: "Why did he retire?", "Was he forced out?", and the ever-popular "Who's going to be the new coach."
Hey, what about Villanova, Memphis State, St. John's and Georgetown, weren't those schools playing for the national title at Rupp Arena?
When the four coaches were interviewed the Wednesday before the Final Four, one of the first questions was, "Are any one of you a candidate for the Kentucky job? "
Well so much for "The Road to Lexington."
Coach Hall deserves the credit for keeping the tradition alive. Now, the new coach that takes over the reins must not only keep the Rupp tradition alive, but the Joe B. Hall tradition aflame as well.   7^e       ' Pc
Poop 7  /4pal6.19X5
Parsons Says Coach Must Understand UK
Claiborne's Thoughts On Grid Aetion
Former UK assistant basketball coach Dick Parsons, a Harlan native, understands the importance of Kentucky basketball. He knows fans all across the state, as well as Kentuckians who have moved out of state, live and die with the Wildcats.
That's why he feels it would benefit Joe Hall's successor as UK head coach if he is familiar with the Kentucky tradition.
"I think the new coach has to be someone who has an understanding of the Kentucky program," says Parsons. "The UK program is different from any other basketball program in the United States.
"UK basketball means a lot to all of us from the time we are small children. The new coach has to understand those feelings."
Parsons feels someone who does not have roots in Kentucky or past associations with the Cats may have trouble understanding the importance of basketball in the Bluegrass. _
Larry Vaught
Cats' Pause Columnist
"Some coaches might think they understand UK basketball but you can't be aware of all that goes on until you are here," says Parsons. "The head coach at Kentucky, and some other schools, doesn't have a lot of time to spend coaching. His assistants must carry that load.
"The UK coach doesn't have time to scout, recruit and prepare his team because of all the other demands on his time."
Parsons, though, also understands the problems players have when they arrive in Lexington. Most have been highly recruited but few are ready for the media or fan attention they receive in Kentucky.
"Players have no idea what is facing them when they get to Kentucky," says Parsons. "But they find a way to adjust and thrive on the atmosphere. Kyle Macy and Jack Givens loved to compete the way some horses love to run on race day. But Kentucky basketball is more difficult on the players than anyone else."
It's easy to see why players always liked Parsons, who retired in 1980 after being Hall's top aide since 1972. Players always valued his opinions and were not afraid to voice their concerns to him. He knew how to communicate on and off the floor.
"Basketball hasn't changed that much the last 10 years," says Parsons. "The things that were basic 10 years ago are still basic today.
"What's important now is the way you can communicate with players. Youngsters today need encouragement. They're different from kids 10 or 15 years ago.
"The coaches who are successful today are the ones that can communicate with the players. You still have to have discipline in your program but it is just as important to be interested in your players. You are a parent as well as a coach to your players."
Parsons was one of many possible candidates mentioned for the UK job when Hall retired. He did not plan to actively campaign for the post because he enjoys his current job as a fund-raiser for the UK development office.
He did, though, plan to see how much support he had. He says, "No coach is going to have 100 percent support but my mide is thick. Coach (Adolph) Runn saw to that."
Keeping An Eye On Things
Dick Parsons
Parsons was captain of both the baseball and basketball teams during his career at Kentucky. And he has always been a UK fan.
That's why he said he would not be bitter if UK officials did not even approach him about the coaching position.
"I'm going to follow UK whether I'm the coach or not," says Parsons. "That's the beauty of UK basketball."
Spring Training Underway
COACH JERRY Claiborne's football team opened spring practice last week but the veteran mentor won't make any predictions about the 1985 campaign after guiding the Cats to a 9-3 mark in 1984.
Instead, he says that four or five key plays normally determine the outcome of most games.
"Last season most of those key plays went our way," says Claiborne. "I don't know what our record will be next season. It will depend on how those four or five plays turn out."
He also understands that UK fans will expect more success after back-to-back bowl teams.
"In athletics it is not what you did yesterday but what you did today that counts," says Claiborne. "If you don't win, you look for a job."
Claiborne shared those thoughts during a recent trip to Danville, Ky., to speak to a joint meeting of the Chamber of Commerce and UK Alumni Club.
Some of his other thoughts:
On spring practice: "Spring practice is no fun. You don't have a game to look forward to. But we don't want the weather to be too nice this spring. Then the players will be thinking about playing golf or going to the beach. If it is raining, they don't feel they are missing much. Rain keeps their minds on football."
On the student-athlete: "We try to keep our players involved in the community. We have players go to Cardinal Hill Hospital each Tuesday. We have a FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) chapter on campus. We want our players involved because they are here as student-athletes. If they do that they will have a more positive outlook on Saturday when they play."
On positive thinking: "Now the winning edge in football is mental. It takes a dedicated person to play football but he also has to be positive. If he doesn't believe he will win, he won't."
On fan support: "I hope we have a sellout crowd every game next season. It helps the players when they look up and see a mass of blue in Commonwealth Stadium of when we are away from home."
On drug and alcohol abuse: "The influence of drugs and alcohol is everywhere. If you don't think it is, you have your head in the sand. We are doing ail we can. We test our players every week. We aren't testing to catch them but to prevent them from using anything harmful."
On recruiting: "We did a great job in our state. We didn't go out of state and beat Alabama or Ohio State for any players. But we went out of state and got some good players who can compete in the SEC. If the 23 players we signed are as good in college as they were in high school we will have some good student-athletes."
ALMOST EVERY youngster in Kentucky grows up wanting to play for Kentucky. And 6-6 sophomore John Pelphrey of Paintsville is no different.
He helped his team reach the quarterfinals of the Boys State High School Basketball Tournament. He has all the tools to be a major college player in the future. He can shoot outside, handle the ball, block shots and rebound.
He's a player of the future. Would he like to play for UK?
"If I got a chance to do that I would be tickled to death," says Pelphrey. "I want to play major college basketball so I'm going to two or three camps this summer."
Pelphrey is also a modest youngster. He doesn't pay attention to recruiting reports that are touting him.
"Things like that are nice to put in your scrapbook but they don't put points on the board," says Pelphrey. "You still have to show what you can do on the court." An Unusual Encounter With Joe B.
Writer Remembers First Meeting With UK Coach |
The first time I met former University of Kentucky head basketball coach Joe Hall, I was working as a student-intern at Channel 27 television station in Lexington six years ago.
I'll never forget the experience.
It was early one Sunday afternoon, usually a quiet period at the station. I had just arrived and was going through the wire before the then news director, Ken Kurtz, made his usual appearance to get things started before the weekend staff arrived.
I was practically new at the station, and it felt good having the newsroom all to myself. Although I didn't enter the sportscasting profession  I felt like I had a better future in the writing business  it was an exciting experience to work