Aug. 18, 2001
Wildcats Scrimmage: The Kentucky football team had a 40-play scrimmage Saturday morning at the Nutter Training Center.
The scrimmage featured the first-team offense and defense against their second-team counterparts. The first-team offense moved the ball very well, including a 70-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Jared Lorenzen to senior wide receiver Anthony Kelly on the first play of the scrimmage. The second-team offense, led by redshirt freshman Shane Boyd, had some good moments against the first-team defense. The most impressive play came when Boyd scrambled, then rifled an eight-yard touchdown pass to freshman tight end Jeremiah Drobney.
“My gut feeling is that both quarterbacks had good days, although you have to look at the film to know for sure,” Coach Guy Morriss said. “Shane Boyd’s athleticism helped him make some plays. I think both of them performed well.”
An emphasis for the coming season is to improve the running game and there were good signs in that area. Sophomore Chad Scott had several good runs, including a 29-yard play on his first carry. Junior Artose Pinner ran with the first and second teams and showed his usual powerful style.
“Artose is a good inside runner,” Morriss said. “He can be a guy who can grind it out in short-yardage and goal-line situations, but he’s also faster than most folks realize. Not many people can catch him from behind.”
Morriss also gave credit to the offensive line. Four of the starting linemen have missed practices because of injuries, but all of them played today with the exception of senior left tackle Matt Brown, who is expected to return next week.
“There are some players we’ve held out of some practices and that’s hurt our continuity, but the offensive line is starting to come together,” Morriss noted. “I felt really good about how we were able to move the ball in the red zone.”
The Wildcats return to the practice field Saturday at 3 p.m., completing six consecutive days of two-a-day practices. Sunday will be a day off. Monday and Tuesday are two-a-days and school starts on Wednesday.
“We probably need to have one more scrimmage,” Morriss said. We’ll sit down as a staff and talk about it. If we have another scrimmage, we’ll probably do it early next week. We need to put them in a situation to help the defense with tackling as we prepare to play Louisville.”
Fontaine Signs With Kentucky: Raymond Fontaine, a versatile athlete from Ottawa, Ontario, has signed to play with the Wildcats.
The 6-4, 200-pound Fontaine played defensive end, linebacker, defensive back, and wide receiver for his club team in Ottawa. He had his first practice with the Wildcats on Saturday and is being tried initially at defensive end.
“Raymond is a player that Coach Nelson (assistant coach Mark Nelson) found through his connections in Canada,” Morriss said. “He has good size and speed. The fact that he’s played end, linebacker, defensive back, and wide receiver shows his athletic ability.”
“I heard about Raymond through Coach Dan Murphy, who played for Edmonton (of the Canadian Football League) when I coached there,” Nelson said. “Coach Murphy told me that Raymond is a great athlete and good football player. I saw him at a combine in Montreal. He’s a good-looking player who can run.”
Here is a biography on Fontaine:
Raymond Fontaine, Defensive End, 6-4, 200, Fr-HS, Ottawa, Ontario (Sir Robert Borden HS) – Good all-around athlete … Played the last eight years for the Myers Raiders club team in Ottawa, the same club team that produced current New York Giants Jesse Palmer and Pat Woodcock … At various times, played defensive back, linebacker, and end on defense and wide receiver on offense … Coached by Dan Murphy … Attended Sir Robert Borden High School in Ottawa, where he played basketball and was a member of the track and field team … Five-year starter in basketball, helping his team advance to the city finals one year … Once played against former Wildcat Jamaal Magloire … Participated in the 200- and 400-meter runs for the track team, advancing to the regional meet … Also was a long jumper who advanced to the provincial finals … Best long jump was seven meters, which is approximately 23 feet … School’s athlete of the year for two years … Is bilingual, speaking English and French.
SEC Football Preview Televised by JP Sports: The 2001 SEC Football Preview, a 30-minute show produced by JP Sports, will be televised throughout the South beginning Aug. 18.
Here are the dates and times for stations that serve Kentucky markets:
Bowling Green, Ky.WNKYSat. Aug. 256:30 p.m. CT
Evansville, Ind.WTVWSat. Aug. 255:30 p.m. CT
Hazard, Ky. WYMTFri. Aug. 318:00 p.m. ET
Lexington, Ky.WKYTFri. Aug. 318:00 p.m. ET
Louisville, Ky.WAVESat. Aug. 2512:30 p.m. ET
Nashville, Tenn.WUXPSat. Aug. 256:30 p.m. CT
Paducah, Ky.KFVSSun. Aug. 2612:30 p.m. CT
UK Football Calendar: Here are some upcoming events for Kentucky football:
Aug. 19Off
Aug. 20Practice, 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Aug. 21Practice, 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Aug. 22Classes begin, practice at 2 p.m.
Aug. 24Kickoff Luncheon
Sept. 1Louisville at Kentucky, 12:30 p.m. EDT, JP Sports live regional TV
– UK –
