Feb. 10, 2003
Kentucky Football Staff to Visit Veterans Hospital: Coach Rich Brooks and the University of Kentucky football coaching staff will visit patients in the Lexington Veterans Administration Medical Center on Tues. Feb. 11 at 11:30 a.m.
The visit is part of the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week, which is observed Feb. 9-15.
Pinner, Abney at Birmingham Quarterback Club Banquet: Senior running back Artose Pinner and junior wide receiver/kick returner Derek Abney will be honored Tuesday, Feb. 11, by the Birmingham Quarterback Club.
Pinner and Abney will be honored at the annual BQC banquet. Pinner is the Southeastern Conference Back of the Year and Abney is the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year.
Pinner led the Southeastern Conference in rushing with 1,414 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also caught 37 passes for 264 yards and two TDs. He topped the 100-yard mark a school-record eight times during the season. Pinner was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s best running back and was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year by CollegeFootballNews.com and The Associated Press. He was a consensus first-team All-SEC pick.
Abney is enjoying a busy post-season calendar. In December, he was introduced as part of the Walter Camp All-America team at the ESPN/Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Orlando, Fla. In January, he returned to Orlando and was honored as part of the Football Writers Association of America All-America Team. Last weekend, Abney traveled to New Haven, Conn., to take part in the Walter Camp All-America Weekend. On March 1, Abney will be honored by the Atlanta Touchdown Club.
Abney returned six kicks for touchdowns in 2002 and broke or tied five NCAA records, nine Southeastern Conference records and 10 school records for kick returns. He averaged 15.1 yards per punt return, including four touchdowns (at Florida, at Arkansas, two at Mississippi State). He averaged 26.8 yards on kickoff returns with touchdowns at Florida and vs. Vanderbilt. He is the only player who ranked in the nation’s top 11 in punt returns, kickoff returns, and all-purpose yardage.
Abney also is a quality wide receiver. He caught 40 passes for 569 yards and four touchdowns this season and ranks third in school history in pass receptions and pass receiving yardage.
Kentucky Football Calendar
Mon. March 31 – Spring practice begins
Mon. Apr. 21 – Coach Brooks on WLAP Spring Football Call-in Show, 7-9 p.m.
Sat. Apr. 26 – Blue/White Spring Football Game
July 29-31 – SEC Football Media Days; Kentucky appearance is Tue. July 29
Mon. Aug. 4 – Newcomers report
Thu. Aug. 7 – Veterans report
Fri. Aug. 8 – Kentucky Football Media Day
Sat. Aug. 30 – Louisville at Kentucky
