LEXINGTON, KY. – Yeast Named SEC Offensive Player of the Week – Senior wide receiver Craig Yeast has been named Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week by the SEC Office for his performance last Saturday at Florida. Yeast caught six passes for a single-game school-record 206 yards. His average of 34.3 yards per reception is a school record. He caught touchdown passes of 97 and 74 yards. The 97-yarder is the longest offensive play in school history, the second-longest pass play in SEC history, and the longest pass play ever allowed by the Florida Gators. Yeast also had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, tying the school and SEC records for longest kickoff return. It also was the longest kickoff return ever allowed by the Gators. Yeast total of 331 all-purpose yards is the third-highest single-game total in SEC history.
South Carolina Game Not Chosen for Television – Kentucky’s home game on Oct. 10 against South Carolina was not chosen for live television. Therefore, game time remains at 7 p.m. EDT.
Willie Gary Out for the Season – University of Kentucky sophomore free safety Willie Gary has sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and is out for the remainder of the 1998 season, UK Athletics Trainer Jim Madaleno confirmed on Monday night. Gary sustained the injury during Kentucky’s game at Florida on Saturday. Tests performed on Monday confirmed the injury. He will undergo surgery to repair the ligament in approximately two weeks, Madaleno said. His status for spring practice is uncertain, but barring unforeseen circumstances, is expected to be ready for the 1999 season. Gary, UK’s starting free safety, is third on the team in tackles with 24 and has three pass breakups. He was named Freshman All-America by The Sporting News and Freshman All-SEC by the Knoxville News-Sentinel following his standout 1997 campaign in which he started all 11 games and made 82 tackles.
“This is a terrific loss for our team,” Coach Hal Mumme said. “You just can’t replace a guy like Willie. We’re hoping he’ll have a complete recovery and look forward to getting back for the ’99 season.”
Kenneth Grant Injured – Sophomore cornerback Kenneth Grant suffered a broken hand in Saturday’s game at Florida, Coach Hal Mumme has confirmed. UK Athletics Trainer Jim Madaleno estimates that Grant will be out of game action for three-to-five weeks.
Grant had played in all four games as a reserve cornerback and had made four tackles.
“We hate to lose Kenneth. He was getting some good experience at cornerback,” Mumme said. Mumme noted that true freshman Anthony Kelly would be moved into Grant’s slot as a second-team cornerback.
