Jan. 29, 2003

Kentucky Schedule Completed With the Addition of Murray State: The Kentucky football schedule for the 2003 season has been completed with the addition of in-state foe Murray State, UK Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart has announced.

The Wildcats will play host to the Racers on Sept. 6. Murray State replaces Florida Atlantic, which was moved when the FAU contest did not qualify as a game that could be counted toward the NCAA-minimum six victories needed for a bowl game. If Kentucky defeats Murray State, the game can be counted toward the bowl minimum.

Murray State was the 2002 Ohio Valley Conference champion and finished the regular season with a 7-4 record. The Racers advanced to the Division I-AA playoffs but were defeated by eventual national champion Western Kentucky in the first round.

This will be the first football game between UK and MSU. Here is Kentucky’s updated schedule for 2003:

Date      Opponent           2002 Record, Post-SeasonAug. 30   Louisville         7-6, GMAC BowlSept. 6   Murray State       7-5, Division I-AA playoffsSept. 13  at Alabama         10-3Sept. 20  at Indiana         3-9Sept. 27  Florida            8-5, Outback BowlOct. 4    openOct. 11   at South Carolina  5-7Oct. 18   Ohio               4-8Oct. 25   Mississippi State  3-9Nov. 1    Arkansas           9-5, Gaylord Hotels Music City BowlNov. 8    openNov. 15   at Vanderbilt      2-10Nov. 22   at Georgia         13-1, Nokia Sugar BowlNov. 29   Tennessee          8-5, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

Wildcats in the All-Star Games: Wildcats participating in the post-season all-star games include wide receiver Aaron Boone, defensive end Otis Grigsby, tight end Chase Harp, punter Glenn Pakulak, and running back Artose Pinner. Here is a list of the games and the players who will participate/has participated in each game:

Senior Bowl (Pinner), played on Jan. 18; Pinner had three carries for 12 yards for the winning North team

Paradise Bowl (Boone, Grigsby, Harp), played on Sat. Jan. 25; Boone caught the game-winning TD pass

Hula Bowl Maui (Pakulak), Sat. Feb. 1, 9 p.m. EST, Wailuku, Hawaii, televised by ESPN. Pakulak also will be honored with the Mosi Tatupu Award as the National Special Teams Player of the Year during the week of the Hula Bowl.

Kentucky Football Calendar

Wed. Feb. 5 – High school signing period begins
Mon. March 31 – Spring practice begins
Sat. Apr. 26 – Blue/White Spring Football Game
July 29-31 – SEC Football Media Days; Kentucky appearance is Tue. July 29
Mon. Aug. 4 – Newcomers report
Thu. Aug. 7 – Veterans report
Fri. Aug. 8 – Kentucky Football Media Day
Sat. Aug. 30 – Louisville at Kentucky

– UK –