April 10, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Former Kentucky punter/kicker Tim Masthay is one of three male finalists for the Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship that is awarded by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The $24,000 scholarship is named in honor of Byers, the former NCAA executive director.  Recipients of the award must have a 3.5 grade-point average, demonstrate superior character and leadership and show that participation in athletics has been a positive influence on their personal and intellectual development.  Nominees are accepted from all collegiate sports.

Masthay was Kentucky’s starting punter from 2005-08.  In the classroom, he has a career GPA of 3.82 and a major in economics.  Highlights of his distinguished career include:

• Led the Southeastern Conference in punting as a senior
• First-team All-SEC and honorable-mention All-America as a senior
• First-team Academic All-America as a senior, second-team Academic All-America as a junior
• National Good Works Team for community service by the American Football Coaches Association
• Plans to join the Peace Corps following graduation

Additional male finalists include Arizona diver Craig Sheedy and Arkansas tennis player Blake Strode.  There are also three female finalists for a Byers Scholarship that will be awarded to a woman.

Brooks Helps Raise Money for UK Symphony Orchestra – Photo Gallery – Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks has a busy day Friday at Keeneland Race Course, with his primary mission of helping raise money for the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra.

Brooks began the day bright and early at 6 a.m., giving autographs on the special Maker’s Mark charitable edition bottles that feature his photograph.  Proceeds from the charitable edition will benefit the UK Symphony Orchestra’s traveling program that takes the orchestra to schoolchildren in Kentucky. 

In addition, Brooks will help present the trophy for the winner of Keeneland’s feature race of the day, the Maker’s Mark Mile.

First Scrimmage on Saturday: The Kentucky football team will have its first major scrimmage of the spring on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Commonwealth Stadium.  The scrimmage is open to the public.

The Wildcats practiced for two hours Friday morning in the Nutter Field House, the sixth of 15 practices allotted in the spring.

Lyons, Phillips to Throw First Pitch at UK Baseball: Two football Wildcats, former wide receiver Dicky Lyons Jr. and offensive head coach Joker Phillips, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Kentucky baseball games vs. Georgia this weekend.

Lyons will handle the duty before Friday’s matchup at 6:30 p.m. and Phillips will perform the honor before Sunday’s 1 p.m. start.

Spring Practice Calendar: Practices are open to media and fans.  Practices are held at the Nutter Training Facility unless noted otherwise.  Practices might be moved indoors to the Nutter Field House in case of bad weather.