November 18, 1998
Kentucky-Tennessee Preview
All of a sudden, this weekend’s game against the top-ranked TenneseeeVolunteers has taken on a whole new perspective for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Less than 24 hours after a 55-17 win over Vanderbilt last Saturday, theWildcats received harrowing news: center Jason Watts was seriously injured anda teammate and another man were killed when Watts’ truck flipped on a ruralhighway.
Arthur Steinmetz, a defensive lineman, and Scott Brock, the best friend ofstar quarterback Tim Couch, were the two casualties.
“Something like this puts bowl games and winning seasons and a big gamewith an arch-rival into perspective,” athletic director C.M. Newton said.”You go from a high of a Saturday we all experienced to the reality of aSunday morning.”
Obviously, Sunday’s tragedy has removed much of the luster from what couldbe a classic matchup at Neyland Stadium.
The Volunteers, who are 9-0 for the first time since 1956, come off anear-miraculous 28-24 win over Arkansas that allowed them to cling to their No.1 ranking. The game-winning drive was set up after Razorbacks quarterback ClintStoerner stumbled and dropped the ball at his own 43 with 1:43 to play.
As a result of the close call, Tennessee’s lead in The AP Poll dwindled by31 points and nine first-place votes. The Vols, who became the first team to berated No. 1 in the BCS standings for two consecutive weeks, now lead KansasState in the writers’ poll by just 10 points.
But top-ranked opponents, BCS standings and SEC titles are the last thing onthe minds of Kentucky (7-3, 4-3) players right now.
“Being a football player, you think you’ve been through a lot of toughthings, losing games in the last seconds, taking big hits,” said Couch, whowas invited to accompany the trio on the deadly trip, but declined to spendtime with his family.
“You think you’re a tough person until you have to deal with going in andseeing your best friend’s parents after he’s just passed away.”
Couch did confirm, however, that he would play Saturday despite thedifficult circumstances.
“Scott would want me to beat Tennessee more than anything,” he said.
The junior, who averages a whopping 394 yards per game through the air, hasthrown 34 scoring passes this season and could provide the Vols with theirstiffest defensive test of the season.
Tennessee can clinch the SEC Eastern Division title with a victory, but mayhave to play without middle linebacker and defensive leader Al Wilson, whopulled a groin muscle Saturday.
The Vols have won the last 13 meetings between the two schools.
By BRIAN OREFICEAP MegaSports Writer
