Oct. 24, 2002
Mississippi State Game to be on Live Pay-Per-View and Delayed on the UKTV Network: With no live network telecast of the Kentucky at Mississippi State game on Nov. 2, Host Communications will have a live pay-per-view and delayed telecast of the game.
The live pay-per-view will be available on participating cable systems in Kentucky. Fans should contact their local cable company for the price and other details.
Fans also can see the game on a delayed basis on the UKTV Network that night at 11:35 p.m. EST.
Wildcats Wrap up Practice for Georgia: The Kentucky football team completed preparations for Saturday’s game against Georgia with a one and one-half hour practice at the Nutter Training Facility.
“We had a good week again this week. We’re in a good frame of mind,” Coach Guy Morriss said. “This is our fourth time this season that we’ve been on national TV, and this is not our first ranked opponent, so I hope they (the players) have learned from those experiences and come out loose and ready to play.
“We’re not a team that plays well when we’re tight. We have to be loose, ready to play on the edge with nothing to lose.”
Morriss the SEC Midseason Coach of the Year on ESPN.com: The Website ESPN.com lists Guy Morriss as the Midseason Coach of the Year in the Southeastern Conference. Here is the text written by Pat Forde of the Louisville Courier-Journal, who is the SEC correspondent for ESPN.com.
“Midseason Coach of the Year: There wasn’t a coach in the SEC — nor many in the nation — who would have traded places with Guy Morriss in August. His program was on probation and facing major scholarship cuts, he had no buyout in his contract and a new athletic director had just come to town. This was a dead man coaching, but Morriss never got the memo. He’s led the ‘Cats to a pair of road wins as double-digit underdogs — at Louisville and Arkansas — and earned himself a nice contract extension along the way. Plenty of guys would trade jobs with him now, but Kentucky isn’t parting with the plainspoken Texan who turned around a tough situation.”
Forde also tabs Kentucky as the SEC’s surprise team in the first half of the season. Here’s the summary of UK’s progress.
“A dream season began with an upset at Louisville and then bloomed into the Wildcats’ first 4-0 start since 1984. Even the loss at Florida was memorable, after coming back from a 19-0 deficit to take a 28-25 lead. Then, just when fans began to wonder if the jig was up after a 16-12 loss to South Carolina, Kentucky went into Fayetteville and rocked the Razorbacks. Last time the Wildcats went seven games into a season without a double-digit loss: 1975.”
Homecoming Parade: The Homecoming Parade begins Friday at 8 p.m. The parade route is Commonwealth Stadium to Stoll Field. Immediately following the parade is a pep rally at Stoll Field. There is no charge and the public is invited.
Team Will Have “Cat Walk” at 1:30 p.m. as Wildcats Arrive at Gate 9: Fans are encouraged to meet the team when the Wildcats arrive at 1:30 p.m. at Gate 9. The players will make the “Cat Walk” from Gate 9 to their stadium entry point at Gate 12. Blue cat paws are painted along the “Cat Walk” route on the south side of the stadium and fans are encouraged to line up on the sidewalk and cheer the team as it enters the stadium.
The “Cat Walk” has been organized by the families of the players, a group named the Wildcat Football Family Association.
Fans Encouraged to Get in Stadium Early: UK Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart has issued a challenge to fans and the student body to be in their stadium seat by 3 p.m. Saturday.
Click here to read a letter from UK Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart.
The Georgia game is sold out, UK’s third sellout of the season.
Game Day Activities:
The Kentucky women’s basketball team will be giving away posters and signing autographs at the Launch Pad from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Approximately 50,000 pom-pons will be distributed in the stands approximately 15 minutes before the game.
Oct. 26 is “Make-A-Difference Day,” a national celebration of community service and volunteer work. Videos portraying UK athletes’ community service will be shown on the DiamondVision video boards during the game.
The Homecoming Queen and her court will be introduced at halftime.
Note These Cancellations: Two changes from the release issued on Wednesday, the Louisville Valley Sports Little League champions and the Peach Bowl Challenge Trailer will not be at the game.
