A total of 116 University of Kentucky football alumni have committed toplay in or attend the alumni portion of the Blue/White Spring FootballGame, which will be held Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EDT at Rawlings Stadium onthe campus of Georgetown College.
The alumni will split into two teams and play touch football for the firstquarter of the Blue/White Game. The score of the game will remain on theboard when the varsity begins play in the second quarter. More than 100alumni have played or attended each year since Coach Hal Mumme began thealumni game in 1997. Having the alumni play one quarter as part of thespring game was Mumme’s idea as a means of keeping the former players closeto the program.
The alumni will have an organizational meeting Friday at 6 p.m. at theNutter Field House. Following the meeting, the alumni and their familieswill enjoy a cookout at the K-Association House. The alumni will have abrunch with the current players Saturday at 11 a.m. at the field house.The alumni will report to Rawlings Stadium at 2 p.m.
The alumni coaches this year are Sam Ball and Derrick Ramsey. Ball was anoffensive tackle at UK from 1963-65, garnering first-team All-Americahonors as a senior. He was a first-round draft choice of the BaltimoreColts in 1966 and played five seasons in the National Football League.Ball lives in Henderson, Ky.
Ramsey quarterbacked the Wildcats from 1975-77, leading the team to an SECchampionship and Peach Bowl victory in 1976. He was a third-teamAll-American as a senior and he played 10 years in the NFL as a tight end.Both Ramsey and Ball have had their UK jerseys retired. Ramsey hasreturned to UK as Director of Community Relations.
Ramsey will have a busy day Saturday. Following his participation as aplayer-coach in the alumni game, he will go to the press box and providethe expert analysis for the WVLK radio broadcast. Ramsey is actually alate addition in his coaching role. Former UK letterman Johnny Meihaus hadcommitted to be one of the coaches, but will not be able to do so becauseof an injured foot sustained during a hiking outing.
The alumni planning to attend include:
Chuck Arnold, Cliff Bailey, KerryBaird, Sam Ball, Oliver Barnett, Mike Beirne, Charles Bentley, Ben Bird,Calvin Bird, Fred Bishop, Chuck Blackburn, Dick Blocker, Ken Bocard, LemanBoyd, Lester Boyd, Matt Branum, Ben Bransom, Jack Brown, Tom Brush, CiscoBryant, Joe Bryant, Albert Burks, Bob Butler, Steve Campassi, JamesCampbell, Michael Cassity, Tom Chapala, Darrin Clark, Emery Clark, NealClark, Terry Clark, Tom Clark, Joey Couch, Brian Cralle, Tony Czack, CarlDaley, Charlie Darrington, Shawn Donigan;
Joe Federspiel, Jim Franklin, Rick Fromm, Pete Gemmill, Jim Graves, JimGresham, John Griggs, Tommy Griggs, Geoffrey Heard, Troy Hobbs, RandyHolleran, Steve Hricenak, Jim Huvy, Bill Jenkins, Demo Johns, WallaceJones, Marty Joyce, Lou Karibo, Kevin Kearns, Rick Kestner, Donte’ Key,Doyle King, Kelly Kirchbaum, Rich Ledford, James Lokesak;
John Marcum, Mike Marnhout, Jody Matthews, Mike McGraw, Dan McMillan, MikeMeiners, Andy Molls, Dick Mueller, Andy Murray, John Nochta, Donald Nuerge,Elmer Patrick, Jeff Piecoro, Derrick Potter, Joe Prince, Derrick Ramsey,Bill Ransdell Sr., Bill Ransdell Jr., Leonard Ray, Barry Rich, Mike Riddle,Tom Rodgers, Harry Rogers, Clyde Rudolph;
Mike Schellenberger, John Schlarman, Todd Shadowen, Jaysuma Simms, SteveSlates, Bo Smith, Chuck Smith, Reggie Smith, Timothy Smith, Joe Stefan,Matt Stein, Rod Stewart, Rick Strein, Harvey Sword, Derrick Thomas, TalbottTodd, David VanMeter, Craig Walker, Stephan Walters, Littleton Ward,Sterling Ward, Oliver White, Butch Wilburn, Felix Wilson, Randy Wyatt, TonyZach, Benny Zaranka, Tony Zigman, and Jeff Zurcher.
