Defensive tackle Lamar Mills and wide receiver Keenan Burton have been elected permanent captains for the 2006 Kentucky football team, Coach Rich Brooks announced Friday.
Burton, a junior from Louisville, Ky., has earned the respect of his teammates both on and off the field. On the field, he is UK?s top wide receiver and has showed physical courage by bouncing back from injuries that have sidelined him for parts of the last two seasons. Off the field, he has been a member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll and has made it a point to help UK?s four wide receiver signees make a quick adjustment.
Junior-college transfer Steve Johnson has gone so far as to call Burton ?the big brother I never had? and the new captain also made an immediate impression on freshman wide receiver Darrell Stevens.
?Keenan did the best he could to make everybody feel welcome this summer,? said Stevens, who was sidelined by an injury recently. ?When I got hurt, he came to talk to me to help deal with being injured and let me know it would be OK. Being hurt, especially this far away from home, (was difficult but) he made me feel alright.?
?I?m blessed to be in this position,? Burton said of being elected captain. ?I thank my teammates for choosing me. Hopefully, I can live up to what they expect from me.?
Mills, a senior from Slidell, La., has been a tremendous inspiration for the Wildcats. In the classroom, he graduated in just three years and is currently working on his master?s degree in International Commerce. This time a year ago, within a one-week period, Mills had his family home nearly destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, followed by a season-ending knee injury in the season opener. Mills has shown remarkable grace in dealing with the situation.
?Lamar handled the situation so well, with perseverance and strength,? said Mills? close friend and roommate, offensive lineman Michael Aitcheson. ?He is a very steadfast, persistent individual with a faith grounded in Christ. He?s been determined to overcome his obstacles and encourage us. When Lamar speaks, you know he?s had experience with adversity and that means a lot.?
?I was pretty shocked (about being elected captain),? Mills said. ?There are a lot of very strong guys on defense who could have been picked. Hopefully, I can help lead them in the right direction.?
And so, Mills was asked, has this week begun any better than the one a year ago?
?It?s definitely off to a better start,? Mills acknowledged with a laugh.
Lincoln Financial SEC Preview Coming Up: The hour-long Southeastern Conference Football Preview Show, produced and syndicated by Lincoln Financial Sports (formerly Jefferson-Pilot), will be televised around the South this weekend.
The show will air on the following stations that serve Kentucky markets. For a complete list of stations, go to website lfsports.com.
Bowling Green, KY – WBKO – Sun. Aug. 27, noon CDT
Charleston, WV – WSAZ – Sat. Aug. 26, 1 p.m. EDT
Evansville, IN – WTVW – Sun. Aug. 27, 5 p.m. CDT
Lexington, KY – WKYT – Sun. Aug. 27, 6 p.m. EDT
Louisville, KY – WAVE – Sat. Aug. 26, 1 p.m. EDT
Paducah, KY – WQWQ – Sat. Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m. CDT
Big Blue Sports Network TV Special Set to Air: The Big Blue Sports Network will air a 30-minute Kentucky football preseason special on several stations in the Kentucky area. Here?s a list of participating stations (note, all times local):
Bowling Green, KY – WBKO – Sun. Sept. 3, 3:30 p.m.
Evansville, IN – WTVW – Sat. Aug. 26, 5:30 p.m.
Hazard, KY – WYMT – Mon. Aug. 28, 8:30 p.m.
Hopkinsville, KY – WKAG – Thurs. Aug. 31, 7:00 p.m.
Hopkinsville, KY – WKAG – Sat. Sept. 2, 6:30 p.m.
Huntington, WV – WSAZ – Sun. Sept. 3, 1:00 p.m.
Lexington, KY – WKYT – Mon. Aug. 28, 8:30 p.m.
Louisville, KY – WAVE – Sun Sept. 3, 1:00 p.m.
Paducah, KY – WDKA – Sat. Sept. 2, 4:00 p.m.
