Sept. 23, 2002

by Todd Wallace * Host Communications

A level head and laid back attitude drive one of the Wildcats’ mostexperienced players on the offensive side of the ball.Keith Chatelain, the only senior starter on the offensive line, keeps an evenkeel about him, which has translated into being one of the unit’s mostconsistent performers during the past two seasons.

Thrust into a starting role as a sophomore for the injured Nolan DeVaughn,Chatelain earned the center starting position in the Wildcats’ final 10games of the season and he performed well.

After the stellar sophomore performance, Chatelain was penciled in as theteam’s starting left guard entering the 2001 season. But four games into theyear – like so many others on the 2001 squad – Chatelain was sidelined withan injury.

An ankle sprain forced the Kenner, La., native to miss the Georgia and LSUgames. Still hampered by the injury, Chatelain only saw limited action inthe final four games of last season.

However, this year, after a year of conditioning, where he “worked his buttoff,” Chatelain is primed to finish his final season at Kentucky in style.

“I just want to go out there and have fun,” Chatelain said. “We (theoffensive line) are a close-knit bunch of guys … I really have fun withthem.”

Starting at right guard, Chatelain is one of the anchors of one of the mostexperienced units on the team.

Every starter on the offensive line has at least four games of startingexperience, with Chatelain and Antonio Hall being the veterans of the group.

This year Chatelain has switched from the left guard spot to right guardwhere graduated senior Josh Parrish started every game in 2001.

With the move to the right side of the line, Chatelain has now played everyinside position on the line (center, right and left guard), prompting headcoach Guy Morriss to label him, “Mr. Versatility.”

Chatelain says he prefers either of the three positions as long as he doesn’thave to step outside and line up at tackle.

“The other day we were just messing around and coach put me at tackle and Ihad forgotten how horrible it was to be out there by yourself,” he said,”It’s just like ‘Hey that guy’s fast.’

“I’d rather face some big powerful guy that is trying to run me over thansome guy that’s going to try and beat me around the outside,” he said, butadded if he had to make the switch to tackle, “I’m up for anything.”

After all, he is “Mr. Versatility.”

Recruited as a tackle out of high school, Chatelain made the switch to theinside at UK and it has been a positive move for him.

“I am really comfortable there. I would rather go up against some big, hugeguy than a quicker guy,” he said.

He also is comfortable with his surroundings at UK. Chatelain fell in lovewith the campus when he visited Lexington and said it has been a great homefor him the past four years.

The only thing he would change about the area is the weather. A Louisiananative, who is used to the heat 365 days a year, Chatelain says theever-changing temperatures in Lexington can be a little frustrating.

“The weather kills me, but that is about it,” he said. “I’m not used to 30degrees in the morning and it is sunny in the evening … but other thanthat I love it here.”

Coaches love the versatility and stability Chatelain has brought to the lineduring the past three years.

They like his ability so much that a solid 2002 season could lead to apotential career in football.

While that possibility does sit in the back of Chatelain’s mind, he tries toblock it out and focus on the task at hand this season.

“I would love to (play in the NFL),” Chatelain said. “But I like to staylow-key about it … if there is a chance, trust me, I’ll take it in asecond. But I would rather not worry about it.”

Chatelain admitted that a lot of his NFL dreams rest on how he performs in2002. So to avoid putting additional pressure on himself, he tries to avoidthe subject.

“People have talked to me about it and it really depends on how I play thisyear,” he said. “And that is why I am not going to talk about it.”

Instead he just wants to focus on leading the Cats to a successful season andhaving fun, which is a key element to him, and the rest of the offensiveline working well.

For instance, Chatelain used the Louisville game as an example why theoffensive line needs to stay loose. As Cardinal quarterback Dave Ragone wasgetting pummeled by Kentucky’s relentless defense, the Cardinals’ offensiveline was obviously getting manhandled.

Chatelain says if that was happening to his unit, and UK quarterback JaredLorenzen was taking the beating, it would be up to the group to settle down,retain a level head and then go out and have some fun.

“Personally, from my experience we all have to start joking around and wehave to do stupid things to each other (if we are struggling in a game),”Chatelain said. “To keep your mind off the game and have some fun. If wearen’t having fun, we’re not consistent. We are not good.”

Consistent and good. Two things Chatelain has gotten used to as an offensivelineman for the University of Kentucky.