Aug. 14, 2002

Bernard Bouncing Back: After missing the last three weeks of spring practice because of a high ankle sprain, wide receiver Chris Bernard has looked good during the first three days of fall drills.

“My ankle is 100 percent,” Bernard said. “I need to work on little things. I haven’t played football since early April, so some things are a little foreign to me. But I’m getting my form back quickly.

“I know all my assignments. I haven’t made any mental mistakes thus far in practice. Right now I don’t really feel any ill effects from missing those three weeks in the spring.”

Coach Harold Jackson, wide receivers coach at UK, likes what Bernard adds to the receiving corps.

“He’s the kind of guy you love to have on your team because he’s a quick learner,” Jackson said. “He gives us quickness, speed to get down the field, and he has great hands.”

Bernard is prepared to do what it takes in order to play for a winner. After suffering through some losing seasons in high school and the first year of junior college, he tasted success in his second season at Saddleback College in his hometown of Mission Viejo, Calif. He hopes that success will continue at Kentucky.

“I had a losing season my senior year of high school and my freshman year at junior college,” said Bernard. “My sophomore year of junior college we finished 7-4 and received a berth in a bowl game. That was a great year for me. I just want to have a winning season here this year. That would make this year complete for me.”

In addition to making the adjustment to major college football, Bernard also had to make the transition of living in a different part of the country.

“I like Lexington a lot,” said Bernard. “Kentucky is a vastly different lifestyle from California. The pace is much faster back home, and it’s fun, but believe it or not, after so long it gets kind of boring.

“Coming to Kentucky was a major change for me. And it’s been a good change.”Bernard was a second-team junior college All-American at Saddleback last season, as he caught 61 passes for 957 yards and eight touchdowns. He also averaged 25.4 yards on kickoff returns. He was first team All-Mission Conference both years in junior college.

Wilson to Have MRI: After sustaining an injury to his left knee during practice Tuesday, sophomore cornerback Warren Wilson is scheduled for an MRI test Wednesday night. The test results will be evaluated on Thursday.

Senior Keith Chatelain sports his new hair style Wednesday

Hail to the Victors Valiant, Hail to the Conquering Heroes: Senior offensive guard Keith Chatelain came to practice Wednesday morning with an interesting hairstyle. Thanks to the clippers artistry of fellow lineman Sylvester “Big Kat” Miller, Chatelain has a Mohawk on the top of his head, a swath of shaved scalp on each side of the Mohawk, and hair on the sides of his head around the ears.

“We were sitting in the dorm last night and I decided it was time for a haircut,” Chatelain said. “I wanted to go for a cut that looked like the University of Michigan helmet.” (Editor’s note: the actual result looks more like a St. Louis Rams helmet!)

Miller, who has his own set of clippers, generously consented to perform the task. “Big Kat” has been cutting hair of family and friends since high school. Former roommates at UK, Miller said he has cut Chatelain’s hair “about four times before.”

Dear Diary: Senior linebacker Ronnie Riley and freshman offensive lineman Hayden Lane are publishing training-camp diaries on the football page of the ukathletics.com Web site. The players were chosen in order to give fans the perspective of a fifth-year senior and a first-year player.

Jefferson-Pilot Preview to be Televised: The annual Jefferson-Pilot Sports 30-minute television show previewing the Southeastern Conference will be shown in the following markets in the Kentucky area:

Bowling Green, Ky.   WNKY  Sun. Aug. 25, 10:30 p.m CTCharleston, W. V.    WVAH  Sat. Aug. 17, noon ETCincinnati, Ohio     WBQC  Sat. Aug. 31, 11:30 a.m. ETEvansville, Ind.     WTVW  Sat. Aug. 17, 5:30 p.m CTLexington, Ky.       WKYT  Sun. Aug. 18, 1:30 p.m. ETLouisville, Ky.      WAVE  Sun. Aug. 25, 12:30 p.m. ETPaducah, Ky.         KFVS  Sun. Aug. 25, noon CT

Kentucky Football Calendar:

Aug. 14-17      Practice, 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.Aug. 18         No practiceAug. 19-23      Practice, 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.Aug. 23         Kickoff LuncheonAug. 24         Practice, 9 a.m.                Fans' Day at Commonwealth Stadium, 7 p.m.Aug. 25         No practiceAug. 26-29      Practice, 2 p.m.Aug. 28         Fall classes beginSept. 1         Kentucky at Louisville, 6 p.m., televised by espn2 

– UK –