Sept. 17, 2002
by Marianne Stoess * Host Communications
If winning is about hard work, confidence, dedication, heart and desire,then without question, Gerald Carr is a champion.
The newest addition to the Kentucky coaching staff radiates confidence andenthusiasm. His positive attitude is contagious, likely to be picked upquickly and mimicked by all of those around him.
“I am pretty vocal and I hope that my positivity has rubbed off on theplayers,” said Carr. “If there is just one word, one moment, one sentencethat will help them get over the hump, then I feel like I have made acontribution. You exude what you believe in and I believe in these playersand in this staff. I believe we can go out and do a lot of good things.”
Carr came to Kentucky from Indiana, where he served as quarterbacks coach andpassing game coordinator. Under Carr’s direction IU’s Antwaan Randle El wasnamed first-team All-America and the Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player.
This season marks his 20th season as a football coach, including time at thecollegiate and professional levels. In addition to his time at Indiana, Carrhas made coaching stops at Davidson, Akron, Washington State, Arizona, NorthCarolina, Wake Forest, the National Football League and the Arena FootballLeague.
When the opportunity to coach at Kentucky under head coach Guy Morrissemerged, Carr jumped at the chance and looked forward to the challenge ofrebuilding a struggling Kentucky program.
“I have been pleasantly pleased,” said Carr. “The one thing that I like, thatmost people aren’t aware of, is the pride here at UK. We have obviously hadsome downtrodden times but our expectations are to win.
“I’m always up for challenges,” he said. “I had the opportunity to go toNorth Carolina and to Indiana and help them build their programs. I look atthis as an opportunity. I want to be a part of something that is going to bebig. And when it does burst wide open, you always want to be involved in itand be on the cutting edge.”
With his experience coaching in the NFL, Carr has seen some of the nation’smost talented players and has helped develop some of the league’s mostprolific names. Under his direction Pro Bowl wide out Irving Fryar set thePhiladelphia Eagles’ single-season record for receptions in 1996, as theEagles earned a spot in the playoffs. Carr has seen some of football’s elitetalent and likes the potential he sees at UK.
“I feel very good about the one I am coaching right now in Artose Pinner,”said Carr. “He can be as good as any that I have coached. It is exciting tosee a young man learn and grow and just to be able to tell him that he is inthe same ballpark as those guys.”
In addition to liking what he sees on the field, Carr feels very good aboutthe coaches on the sideline with him. The well-traveled coach has workedwith nine other coaching staffs in his 20 seasons and feels that Morrissranks among the best he has worked with.
“He may be the best guy I have worked for,” said Carr. “He is a very sincere,very straight-forward person. Most of all he is very fair. One thing Iadmire about him is that he will let the assistant coaches do their jobs. Asan old assistant coach, he knows what it is like. He is more than willing tolisten to our input and our ideas and to really hear what we are saying.”
Carr believes the attitude and actions of the coaching staff, players and theUniversity will be key factors in getting the UK football program to thenext level. He also knows that Kentucky can continue to elevate the programby playing a tough conference schedule that features some of the nation’selite teams including Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and LSU.
“If you afford it the time and resources, anything is possible,” said Carr.”Once upon a time those programs were trying to get started. Once upon atime LSU was facing downtrodden times, but they were able to come back withthe proper guidance and the proper resources. I think with this staff I cansee us getting this program where it needs to be. But time is of theessence, time is key. It will require the time to implement the plan that wehave established.”
The Cats took the first step toward turning the program around on Sept. 1with a 22-17 upset over then-No. 17 Louisville. And while Carr knows thatone victory doesn’t guarantee a successful season, he understands the valueof a win – especially one over a ranked in-state rival – to open the season.
“I think it is important so the kids understand that all of their hard workand dedication is worthwhile,” said Carr. “So they can see we are doing theright training and running the right drills and taking the proper steps tosucceed. But not a game does a season make. We have to remain focused on ourgoals. In order to win the war, you have to win the battles along the way.”
And winning those battles is exactly what Carr expects the Wildcats to do. Heisn’t interested in preseason predictions and others’ expectations forKentucky, he has seen first hand what this squad is capable of.
“It isn’t a matter of thinking it, I know this team can surprise people,”said Carr. “You are only as good as you believe that you are. I always tellmy guys that a team cannot lose if you refuse to. It is all in our minds,and we believe that we can win.”
