Oct. 29, 2003
Freeman one of 17 Nominees for FWAA/ESPN Courage Award: Kentucky student equipment manager Travis Freeman is one of 17 nominees for the College Football Courage Award given by the Football Writers Association of America and ESPN.
Freeman, a senior from Corbin, Ky., is in his fifth season as a manager for the Wildcats. Freeman went blind at the age of 12 because of a case of meningitis, but he hasn’t let that hold him back. Freeman played center for his high school football team. At UK, he performs many duties for the equipment staff and does so with a grace and good humor that have made him a favorite of the coaches and players. In the classroom, he has a grade-point average above 3.0 and for two years he served as president of the school’s chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He will graduate in December.
Freeman also was a finalist for the Courage Award in 2002.
Tickets Available: Tickets are available for Saturday’s game against Arkansas. Tickets cost $29 (sideline) or $22 (end zone). The Memorial Coliseum Ticket Office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets also may be ordered over the phone by calling (859) 257-1818 or 1-800-928-CATS. Tickets also are available on-line by clicking on the Tickets link at the top of this page.
Game time for Saturday’s clash between the Wildcats and Razorbacks is 7 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium.
Weather Forecast Looks Great: The forecast for Saturday is mostly sunny with a high of 77 degrees and zero percent chance of precipitation.
Fans Advised to “Park Before Dark”: With darkness arriving at approximately 5:45 p.m. Saturday, fans are advised to arrive early and “Park Before Dark” in order to maximize safety and efficiency in the parking lots.
Bring Canned Food for God’s Pantry; Win Basketball Tickets: The UK Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will have its annual food drive at the Arkansas game.
Fans are encouraged to bring canned goods or other non-perishable food items to the game. The SAAC will have collection bins around the stadium. Financial donations also will be accepted. The food and money will be given to God’s Pantry, an organization dedicated to feeding the hungry in the Lexington area.
Fans bringing a donation will receive an envelope with information about God’s Pantry. 125 of the envelopes will include a pair of tickets to the men’s basketball exhibition game vs. EA Sports, scheduled for Nov. 12. 100 of the envelopes will include a pair of tickets for the women’s basketball game vs. North Carolina, scheduled for Nov. 25 at Rupp Arena.
Commonwealth Stadium, Tim Couch Featured on Thursday’s Edition of “SEC TV”: This week’s edition of “SEC TV” will include features on Commonwealth Stadium and former Wildcat quarterback Tim Couch.
“SEC TV” is Fox Sports Net’s live weekly studio program that focuses on the Southeastern Conference. The show will air Thursday, Oct. 30, at 6:30 p.m. EST on Fox Sports Net South. The show originates from the FSNS Atlanta studio and the hosts are Dave Neal and Jenn Hildreth.
Commonwealth Stadium was constructed in 1973 and has undergone numerous improvements in the last four years – expansion to the current capacity of 67,606; addition of video boards; a new playing surface and state-of-the-art drainage system; and new scoreboards, sound system, and concourse televisions. The Wildcats have ranked in the nation’s top 25 in attendance every year since the expansion in 1999.
Also on the show, Lexington’s own Dave Baker has a feature on former Kentucky All-America quarterback Tim Couch. They discuss Couch’s career with the Wildcats and Cleveland Browns and also talk about the importance of giving back to UK – a school he says has given so much to him personally and professionally.
