Dec. 4, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Dr. Jim Kovach, the leading tackler in Kentucky football history, will be UK’s Southeastern Conference Legend during the SEC Championship Game weekend on Dec. 4-5 in Atlanta, Ga.

Kovach will be honored at the annual SEC Legends Dinner on Friday and will be introduced during the championship game on Saturday.

Kovach played at UK in 1974-76 and ’78.  He was a three-time All-SEC linebacker while helping lead the Wildcats to the 1976 SEC championship.  He earned Academic All-America honors and his 521 career tackles still rank No. 1 in school UK history.  Kovach played in the National Football League with the New Orleans Saints and was chosen to the All-Saints’ 20th Anniversary Team.  During the NFL off-seasons, he earned his medical degree at UK and he added a law degree from Stanford University. 

Currently, Kovach is the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Buck Institute, the only independent research institute dedicated to delaying the aging process and preventing chronic age-associated disease.  Kovach, and the potential impact his work could have on athletes, were profiled recently in ESPN The Magazine.

Reminder to Fans, Advance Bowl Ticket Applications Due Friday: A reminder to fans desiring to order tickets for Kentucky’s bowl game, advance ticket applications are due on Friday, Dec. 4. 

Kentucky’s destination for its school-record fourth-consecutive bowl appearance and the opponent will be announced officially on Sunday.

Here is the ticket information:

• University of Kentucky season-ticket holders should already have a bowl application sent through e-mail and U.S. mail.   UK season-ticket holders may order tickets by mail or fax (859-323-1269) by Friday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m.   Ticket applications also can be delivered in-person to the UK Ticket Office at the Joe Craft Center, which is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Non-season-ticket holders may access an application online at UKathletics.com.  Those applications should be mailed or faxed (859-323-1269) by Friday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m.   Non-season-ticket holders also may order tickets in-person at the UK Ticket Office.
• Fans also may call the UK Ticket Office at 800-928-2287, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Because of the anticipated large number of phone calls, we encourage fans to order tickets via mail, fax, or in person at the ticket office. 
• E-mail confirmation of all orders will be sent on Monday, Dec. 7.