Dec. 5, 2001
Four Wildcats Garner All-SEC Recognition: Four Kentucky Wildcats, including wide receiver/kick returner Derek Abney, defensive end Dennis Johnson, punter Glenn Pakulak, and tight end Derek Smith, have received All-Southeastern Conference recognition from the Associated Press and/or Coaches All-SEC teams. The AP team was announced on Tuesday and the Coaches team was released Wednesday.
Derek Abney was chosen first-team All-SEC by the AP as an all-purpose player. He was second in the SEC and 12th nationally in all-purpose yardage with 153.8 yards per game. He caught 66 passes for 741 yards and six touchdowns, leading the team in receiving while ranking third in the league and 24th nationally. He averaged 9.6 yards on punt returns and 22.4 yards on kickoff returns.
Dennis Johnson was named first-team All-SEC by the AP. He led the Southeastern Conference in three defensive categories, including quarterback sacks (school record 12), tackles for loss (19), and fumbles caused (five). He had 61 total tackles for the season and added 12 quarterback hurries, four pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. Earlier, he was named third-team All-America by Football News magazine.
Glenn Pakulak was tabbed first-team All-SEC by the AP and second-team all-league by the SEC Coaches. He averaged 44.5 yards per punt, the second-best mark in school history, leading the SEC and ranking fifth nationally in punting. Like Johnson, he was picked third-team All-America by Football News.
Derek Smith was selected honorable mention All-SEC by the AP. He led the league’s tight ends in pass receiving, grabbing 30 passes for 396 yards and four touchdowns.
Sam Ball to Represent UK at SEC Living Legends Dinner: Former University of Kentucky All-America offensive tackle Sam Ball will represent UK at the annual Southeastern Conference Living Legends Dinner, held Fri. Dec. 7 in conjunction with the SEC Football Championship Game in Atlanta.
Twelve SEC Living Legends, one from each league school, are honored each year at the championship game. In addition to the dinner, the Living Legends participate in autograph and public interview sessions at the “Dr Pepper SEC FanFare.” The FanFare will be held Dec. 7-8 at the Georgia World Congress Center, located next to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Ball played at Kentucky from 1963-65 and was named first-team All-America as a senior by United Press International, The Football Writers Association of America, and The Sporting News. He also was a first-team All-SEC choice. After his senior season, he played in the College All-Star Game, the North-South Shrine Game, and the Senior Bowl. He was a first-round NFL draft choice in 1966 by the Baltimore Colts and played six seasons with that team. The Colts advanced to two Super Bowls, winning the 1971 title and losing in 1969.
Ball lives in Henderson, Ky., where he manages a 350-acre farm and is an award-winning salesman in an agri-business company. He also is very involved in civic and church activities and is in high demand as a public speaker.
Since 1993, UK’s Living Legends have been George Blanda (1993), Vito “Babe” Parilli (1994), Derrick Ramsey (1995), Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones (1996), Jerry Claiborne (1997), Bob Gain (1998), Steve Meilinger (1999), and Lou Michaels (2000).
– UK –
