Aug. 31, 2001

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Wildcat Headlines

Kentucky begins its 111th season of intercollegiate football … The gamemarks Guy Morriss’ first game as head coach of the Wildcats … TheWildcats are vying to bring the Governor’s Cup back to Lexington.

Field Named in Honor of C.M. Newton

The Wildcats will be pouncing on a new playing surface this season, whichwill be named “C.M. Newton Field” during a pre-game ceremony.

Newton is being recognized for his service to the University as Directorof Athletics from 1989 until his retirement in 2000.

“This is a tremendous, tremendous honor,” Newton said. “I’ve always lovedfootball and to have your name associated with a football facility in thisleague is very much appreciated.

“Even though the initial announcement came a long time ago, it stilldoesn’t seem real. I’m looking forward to gameday, just to see if they’llreally do it,” Newton joked.

Since retirement, Newton has remained active in FIBA, the governing body of international basketball. He also serves as a consultant to the UK Athletics Association, for USA Basketball, and to the NCAA. He has kept his home in Lexington and also makes frequenttrips to the Bahamas for his favorite hobby, bonefishing. He’s also keptup his golf game and has begun a new pastime of painting.

And, although he is often around UK, he has purposefully avoided thestadium this summer. He wanted his first look at the new field to come onthe day of its dedication.

Newton can be proud of the turf that bears his name. Work on the newfield began last winter. The old field was dug up and removed. Drainagecollection pipes were installed and covered with a sand base. On top is aspecial soil mixture that is well-suited for water drainage. Teams willfind the large crown on the field gone. In June, Bermuda grass wasplanted. The grass grew quickly and was ready for play by early August.

When it rains, water should quickly soak through the soil and sand to thedrainage pipes, which will carry the water to storm sewers. The fieldshould be able to drain as much as 10 to 12 inches of rain in an hour.

Cats on the Tube

Jefferson-Pilot Sports will carry the game live in Lexington. Dave Nealcalls the play-by-play and Dave Rowe will serve as the analyst. CharlesDavis reports from the sidelines.

Cats on the Radio

The UK Football Radio Network will carry the broadcast on approximately 80stations.

Tom Leach calls the play-by-play for the Wildcats. Former Wildcat widereceiver Jeff Piecoro makes his debut in the analyst role after theretirement of Wildcat great Jeff Van Note. Dick Gabriel is the sidelinereporter.

Cats on the Internet

Visit the official University of Kentucky Athletics web site atwww.ukathletics.com. The official Southeastern Conference web site is www.secsports.com.

How Experienced are the Tentative Starters?

          Sr.     Jr.     Soph.   RFr.    Fr.UK        11      4       6       1       0U of L    7       10      3       2       0

Last Season vs. Louisville

In a wild game interrupted by lightning and torrential rain, Louisvilledefeated Kentucky, 40-34, in overtime in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

Tony Stallings scored the game-winning touchdown on a 25-yard run on thefirst possession of overtime. The Cardinals had forced the extra period byblocking an 18-yard field goal attempt on the final play of regulation.

The Cardinal win spoiled the debut of new UK QB Jared Lorenzen. Despite asprained thumb, the freshman completed 22 of 34 passes for 322 yards andthree touchdowns. He also ran for another TD.

UK had a 19-14 lead in the third quarter when the game was interrupted bylightning and a downpour. The game resumed after a 72-minute delay and theteams traded scores until the overtime.

Stallings led all rushers with 15 carries for 144 yards and twotouchdowns. Louisville quarterback Dave Ragone completed 23 of 30 passesfor 256 yards and three TDs.

LB Marlon McCree almost won the game for the Wildcats. He returned afumble nine yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter and another fumblereturn, this time to the two-yard line, preceded the blocked field goalattempt at the end of regulation.

Tube Time

Kentucky has an all-time record of 21-63-1 on live national or regionaltelevision … Kentucky has a 3-12 all-time record on Jefferson-PilotSports … Kentucky has been a popular TV team the last four seasons,averaging seven live national or regional appearances per season … Thisis the fourth time that the UK vs. U of L game has been on live national orregional television, along with 1996 (espn2), 1998 (Fox), and 1999 (Fox).

Louisville Ties

Kentucky has nine players from Louisville, including:

* Senior DE Chris Demaree (Male HS)
* Junior DE Richard Hardin (Male HS)
* Sophomore LB Justin Haydock (St. Xavier HS)
* Redshirt Freshman OT Matt Huff (St. Xavier HS)
* Senior WR Gary Hughes (St. Xavier HS)
* Senior RB Gus Jacobs (St. Xavier HS)
* Sophomore DT Matt Lundgard (Trinity HS)
* Sophomore P Anthony Thornton (Male HS)
* Senior FS Anthony Wajda (Trinity HS)

Season Openers

Kentucky has an all-time record of 77-28-5 (.723) in season openers. UKhas a 69-13-4 (.826) mark in season openers played in Commonwealth Stadium.

This is the eighth consecutive year that Kentucky has opened the seasonwith Louisville. Louisville has won four of the previous seven meetings,including two straight.

First Starts

Kentucky’s tentative lineup has just one player who is slated to make hisfirst collegiate start. Sophomore Leonard Burress has earned a startingspot at cornerback.

The Governor’s Cup and Kroger Scholarship

The Governor’s Cup was created in 1994 as the trophy for the winner of theKentucky-Louisville game.

Donated by The Kroger Company at a cost of $23,000, the Governor’s Cupstands 33 inches tall and weighs 110 pounds. The trophy’s base and uprightcolumns are hand-milled black marble. The glass components are optic-gradecrystal. All metal parts are 23-karat, gold-plated brass. The cup itselfis made of pewter with a 23-karat gold-plated finish.

The Governor’s Cup was designed by Kendall Costner and sculpted by JamesCorcoran of Bruce Fox, Inc.

The Kroger Company also is involved in supporting academic pursuits at theschools. Kroger is donating $10,000 to the general scholarship fund ofeach school each year the game is played. Kroger’s donations now total$160,000 – $80,000 to each school.

UK Retires Jersey of Dermontti Dawson.

Dermontti Dawson, an All-Southeastern Conference guard at Kentucky and oneof the greatest centers in the history of the National Football League,will have his number 57 UK jersey retired during the season-opening gamevs. Louisville in a ceremony slated to take place between the first andsecond quarters. The announcement was made by Larry Ivy, UK Director ofAthletics, at the annual UK Kickoff Luncheon held Aug. 24 at the HyattRegency Hotel.

Dawson’s story is that of the hometown hero. He is a product ofLexington’s Bryan Station High School, where he was an all-statelineman. He played guard and center at UK. He was a four-year lettermanfrom 1984-87 and played for the ’84 Hall of Fame Bowl championshipteam. He was named All-SEC following his senior season and was asecond-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Dawson achieved national acclaim during his 13-year pro career, all spentwith the Steelers from 1988-2000. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selectionfrom 1992-98. His effectiveness was matched by his durability, as heplayed in 170 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in Steelers’history. He played in 184 total games in his career, the fifth-highestmark in team history.

“This is a big honor and I’m very excited,” Dawson said. “When I heardabout it, I was really shocked, but very happy. This is one of those unexpected things that come along. Not a lot of playersget their jerseys retired.”

Dawson is happy to be back in Lexington on a more permanent basis. He hasmaintained an off-season home here with his wife Regina (also a UK grad)and their two children.

“It’s nice to be back. It’s the first time since college that I’ve beenin Lexington full-time,” Dawson said. “I haven’t been able to keep up withUK football in person and I’m looking forward to that.”

When reflecting on his UK playing career, thoughts of one man come to theforefront of Dermontti’s mind – Coach Jerry Claiborne.

“I thank Coach Claiborne for what he did while I was at UK,” Dawsonsaid. “Coach Claiborne talked about two things all the time- characterand discipline. I’ve tried to carry those things with me. He inspired meto play my best and be the best person I could be.”

Dawson becomes the 45th former Wildcat player or coach to have his jerseyretired.

Wildcats in the Final NCAA Stats

Once again, Kentucky ranked among the national leaders in passing andtotal offense in final statistics released by the NCAA for the 2000season. The Wildcats were second nationally in passing offense with 335.4yards per game and 11th in total offense with 445.5 yards per game. UK hasranked second in the nation in passing offense in three of the last fourseasons.

Individually, quarterback Jared Lorenzen was second in the nation in totaloffense (347.9 yards per game), pass completions (321), pass attempts(559), and passing yardage (335.2 yards per game). Kicker Seth Hanson made15 of 17 field goals during the season and was seventh nationally in fieldgoal percentage (88.2 percent) and tied for 15th in field goals per game(1.36).

UK, Lorenzen Win

SEC Statistical Championships

The 2000 season marked the fourth consecutive year that Kentucky led theSoutheastern Conference in passing offense and the second time in the lastfour years that UK has led the SEC in total offensive yardage. Inaddition, quarterback Jared Lorenzen led the league in passing and totaloffense. UK quarterbacks have led the league in passing yardage and totaloffense in each of the last four seasons.

Here are UK’s rankings in the top three in the final 2000 SEC stats:

Team

Passing Offense: 1st, 335.4 yards per game
Total Offense: 1st, 445.5 yards per game
First Downs: 2nd, 257 first downs (note: UK led the SEC in first downs pergame with 23.4 per game)
Time of Possession: 3rd, 31:34 per game

Individual

Total Offense: Jared Lorenzen 1st, 347.9 yards per game
Passing Offense: Jared Lorenzen 1st, 335.2 yards per game
Field Goals Per Game: Seth Hanson 3rd, 1.36 per game
Field Goal Percentage: Seth Hanson 3rd, 88.2 percent

Scoring in the Blue Zone (20-and-in) in 2000

Kentucky: Converted 30 of 41 opportunities for 153 points (16 touchdowns,14 field goals, five turnovers, two lost on downs, two missed field goals,one punt, one end of game).
Opponents: Converted 38 of 48 opportunities for 225 points (28touchdowns, 10 field goals, four missed field goals, four turnovers, twoheld on downs).

Numbers Here, Numbers There

Here are some career statistical superlatives among current players,including regular-season games only.

Most Games Played: 33 by Jeremy Bowie, 32 by Ronnie Riley and Jamal White

Most Games Started: 20 by Matt Brown, 18 by Dennis Johnson and Josh Parrish

100-Yard Rushing Games: 2 by Chad Scott, 1 by Artose Pinner

100-Yard Receiving Games: 2 by Derek Smith

Games With Double-Figure Tackles: 1 by David Johnson

UK Football History

The Kentucky Wildcats are in their 111th season of intercollegiatefootball. The first Southeastern Conference school to introduce football(1881), Kentucky has an all-time record of 519-497-44 (.510).

Kentucky has two SEC championships, 1950 and 1976. The Wildcatshave been to nine bowl games, most recently following the 1998 and 1999seasons. Kentucky’s highest in-season national ranking is third, by TheAssociated Press, on Nov. 20, 1950. UK’s highest final ranking is sixth inthe AP poll in 1977.

Catscellaneous

* Team captains for 2001 are senior wide receiver Dougie Allen and seniorLB Ronnie Riley.
* Kentucky is beginning its 29th season in Commonwealth Stadium. TheWildcats have a record of 95-75-4 (.557) in Commonwealth since the stadiumopened in 1973.
* UK has led or tied for the league lead in most players on the SECAcademic Honor Roll in 10 of the last 17 years.
* Five current players are walk-ons who were awarded full scholarships –FB Gus Jacobs, WR Gary Hughes, P Glenn Pakulak, FS Nigel Smith and SSPatrick Wiggins.
* The Kentucky cheerleaders won an unprecedented 11th national championshipat the 2001 Universal Cheerleaders Association competition in January. TheWildcats cheerleaders have won the last seven national titles – 1995, 1996,1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001.