Nov. 5, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Saturday is the annual “United Way Day” at Commonwealth Stadium.
The United Way of the Bluegrass (UWBG) is the official charity of the University of Kentucky. UK’s annual fundraising campaign is underway and Wildcat football fans will be asked to participate during the Eastern Kentucky game.
During the first half of the game, UWBG volunteers will pass donation buckets through the stands. Fans are invited to give money to the cause.
UWBG is working to advance the common good by focusing on education, income and health. These are the building blocks for a good life – a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health. The goal is to create long-lasting change that prevents problems from happening in the first place. UWBG helps support 97 service agencies in Central Kentucky.
Lindley in, Locke Out: Following Thursday’s practice, Coach Rich Brooks confirmed that cornerback Trevard Lindley will start against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, but tailback Derrick Locke will not play against EKU.
Lindley has missed four games since incurring a high-ankle sprain against Alabama on Oct. 3. In the first four games of the season, he totaled 13 tackles, one interception and four pass breakups.
Locke has a pair of knee injuries, torn scar tissue in one knee and a sprained medial collateral ligament in the other knee. He is the team’s leading rusher with 597 yards and four touchdowns. He’s caught 18 passes for 135 yards. He also leads the Southeastern Conference in kickoff returns with a 31.2-yard average.
Senior Alfonso Smith (167 yards, one TD this season) is expected to get the starting call at tailback, with Moncell Allen (118 yards, one TD), Coshik Williams (52 yards) and Donald Russell (45 yards) also available.
Brooks reported that most of the players who have been ill this week hope to be available, with the possible exceptions of reserve linebacker Ridge Wilson and backup long snapper Jon Thomas.
The Wildcats host the Colonels on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will be televised live on WKYT in Lexington, WYMT in Hazard, on ESPN GamePlan and on ESPN360.com. It also will be a delayed telecast on the Big Blue Sports Network.
Allen, P. Warford are Game Captains: Tailback Moncell Allen and cornerback Paul Warford will be the game captains for the Eastern Kentucky contest, Coach Rich Brooks has announced.
Game captains are usually chosen on the basis of performance in the previous game. Allen was selected primarily for his outstanding effort on special teams against Mississippi State, making three tackles in kick coverage. He also rushed four times for 15 yards. Warford tied his career high with seven tackles. This is the second time in the last three weeks that Warford has earned the game-captain role.
Allen and Warford will join permanent captains Zipp Duncan and Corey Peters at the pregame coin toss.
Saturday is National College Football Day: Nearly 100 spectators gathered around a field in New Brunswick, N.J., on Nov. 6, 1869 to witness a game unlike anything seen before. On that day, Rutgers defeated Princeton, 6-4, but more importantly, the players left a lasting legacy that would evolve into the great spectacle of intercollegiate football. To honor the birth of an American institution, the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic created a holiday to be held annually on the first Saturday in November.
In 2006, the holiday took on added significance when the Classic teamed up with the V Foundation for Cancer Research to raise funds and increase awareness in the fight against cancer. This year, the American Football Coaches Association, the National Association of Collegiate Football Officials, the Football Writers Association of America, the College Sports Information Directors of America and the Athletic Equipment Managers Association have given their support to this great cause.
Celebrate the sixth-annual National College Football Day on Nov. 7 and consider making a donation to the V Foundation and help us “Blow the Whistle on Cancer.” For more information, visit www.nationalcollegefootballday.com.
Tickets Available: Tickets are available for each of Kentucky’s remaining home games. However, less than 300 tickets are available for the Eastern Kentucky game and less than 400 tickets are available for the game against Tennessee.
- Eastern Kentucky, Nov. 7, 1 p.m. $35 each
- Tennessee, Nov. 28, time TBA, $40 each
Tickets may be purchased in-person at the Joe Craft Center Athletics Ticket Office, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the phone by calling 800-928-2287, or via the Internet at ukathletics.com or ticketmaster.com.
“Cat Walk” Set for 10:45: Fans wishing to participate in the “Cat Walk,” cheering the Wildcats when they enter Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday, should be at Gate One of the stadium at 10:45 a.m.
