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Phillips, Wildcats Anxious to Return to Commonwealth
Kentucky to face Jacksonville State on Saturday at Noon ET
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The
University of Kentucky football team has worked hard in practice the
past two weeks to take full advantage of its bye week and now head
coach Joker Phillips said his Wildcats are anxious to get back on the
playing field.
“Two weeks ago, we talked about needing an
open date and that we were looking forward to it,” Phillips said. “Now,
after the two weeks, we are ready to play and we are looking forward to
playing. We need to get back out on the field and we are looking
forward to Saturday.
“We will see if we are ready to play,
but we are anxious to play and get back on the field in front of our
fans, who we have been away from the past few weeks. We are anxious to
get out there.”
Phillips said after practice Thursday that the team’s goal during the bye week has been to improve each day.
“We
feel like we have gotten better,” Phillips said. “We have put a
lot of emphasis in special teams’ areas and put a lot of emphasis on
throwing and catching. We hope to see those things show up.”
Phillips
noted the continued progress of junior defensive end Collins Ukwu, who
has missed the last three games because of injury. Phillips said
Ukwu went through more reps in practice Thursday, including team drills.
“It
is not a question, he definitely will play,” Phillips said about Ukwu.
“He got even more reps today in a team setting. Yesterday was more
individual, today was more in a team setting. He is available. Will he
play? I am not for sure or that, yet, but he is available to play.”
Former
Wildcat Artose Pinner to Greet Fans at Keeneland: Former University of
Kentucky football great Artose Pinner will be on hand to sign
autographs and help celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Keeneland at
Seeblue Day on Friday, Oct. 21, at Keeneland Race Course.
General
admission into Keeneland will be free to UK students, faculty and staff
who show a valid UK ID, while UK Alumni Association members will also
be give free admission. The first 200 UK Alumni Association members who
show their membership card at the UK Alumni Association table outside
the gift shop will receive a free gift.
Fans can purchase a
commemorative UK/Keeneland 75th Anniversary hat and have it signed by
Pinner along with other memorabilia. Proceeds will benefit DanceBlue.
The
event is part of Homecoming Week for the Kentucky football team. For
complete details for Homecoming 2011, visit www.ukhomecoming.com.
Pinner
was a four-year letterwinner at running back for the Wildcats from
1999-2002. Pinner had an incredible senior season in 2002, when he
rushed 283 times for 1,414 yards – second-highest total in a single
season in school history – and 13 touchdowns. Pinner currently ranks
seventh all-time on Kentucky’s career rushing list with 2,105 yards and
17 touchdowns. The native of Hopkinsville, Ky., earned 224 rushing
yards against Vanderbilt in 2002, which is the sixth-most rushing yards
by one player in one game in school history.
Pinner played five years in the National Football League with the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons.
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