It?s no surprise to us, but Kentucky?s cheerleaders were featured in the ?The Best of College Football? preview in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
?Adolph Rupp?s basketball tams have nothing on Kentucky?s cheerleaders when it comes to championships,? wrote Jeff D?Alessio of the AJC. ?The Wildcats have bagged an unprecedented 15 Universal Cheerleaders Association national titles, including 11 of the past 12 ?
?UK?s spirit squad members, who?ve been featured in everything from Southern Living to Seventeen, give us their top five reasons why they?re the answer to the question, ?Who?s No. 1??
We?ve been invited to meet the president more times than Congress. Our cheerleader adviser (T. Lynn Williamson) has more championship rings on his fingers than hair on his head. We receive approximately 250 tryout videos for about three to six new openings each year. They don?t like us to perform at halftime. It cuts down on the concession sales. Our squad represents approximately 20 different states, including as far away as Alaska.?
Wildcats Again in Nation’s Top 10 in Current Graduates: Kentucky is among the nation?s top 10 schools for the number of players on the team who have graduated already, marking the third consecutive season that the Wildcats have achieved that distinction.
UK ranks 10th nationally this season with five current graduates. The Wildcats were 10th in 2004 and sixth in the country a year ago.
Here are the national rankings for current football players who have completed their bachelor?s degree:
School, Current Players Graduated (min. 5) 1. Auburn 11 2. Notre Dame 9 3. Miami (Fla.) 8 Texas Tech 8 5. Boston College 7 Louisiana Tech 7 Penn State 7 8. Baylor 6 West Virginia 6 10. Kentucky 5 Memphis 5 Nebraska 5
The five grads who will compete for the Wildcats this season, along with their undergraduate degrees and their academic plans for the fall semester, are:
Michael Aitcheson, OG ? Social Work ? adding classes toward a second major Jason Dickerson, Snapper ? Biology ? adding classes toward a second major Hayden Lane, OT ? Anthropology and Classics ? now in his second year in his master?s in History Lamar Mills, DT ? Marketing ? now in his second year in his master?s in International Commerce Jacob Tamme, TE ? Integrated Strategic Communication ? beginning work on his master?s in Business Administration
(Editor?s note: In the 2006 Kentucky football media guide, it is listed that six current Wildcats have graduated. However, center Matt McCutchan is finishing his degree in Economics in December instead of during the summer as originally planned.)
Kentucky Tied for the Nation?s Fewest Recruited Seniors: Since his arrival in 2003, Coach Rich Brooks has had to rebuild the Kentucky team after inheriting a program with low numbers of scholarship players because of NCAA probation.
It?s been a gradual process. UK has 76 recruited scholarship players available, and with scholarships awarded to some walk-ons, that number increases to the low 80s — close to the maximum of 85.
An interesting note regarding the Wildcat roster, however, is that it?s thin at the top. There are only six recruited scholarship seniors on this year?s team. Along with Florida State and South Carolina, who also have just six recruited scholarship seniors, that?s the fewest in the nation.
Parking Information for Fans Attending UK-U of L Football Game: Fans attending the Kentucky at Louisville Sept. 3 football game at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium should plan in advance on where to park for the event.
All lots adjacent to Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium are prepaid reserved parking for University of Louisville season ticket holders.
One of the best options is to park at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. To avoid traffic to the prepaid lots, those parking at the KFEC should access Gate 1 of the fairgrounds off the Watterson Expressway (I-264). Follow Ring Road to the right and park in the lots north of old Cardinal Stadium, then walk across Crittenden Drive and down Central Avenue to Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Parking at the KFEC is $5. There is also substantial surface parking west of the stadium across the railroad tracks.
All handicapped parking at the stadium is presold. Drive up handicapped parking is available on the first floor of U of L’s Floyd Street parking garage, with a shuttle available to the stadium. Individuals may drop off and pick up handicapped patrons in the bus lane of the stadium, however, it is not recommended.
Public transportation drops off in the bus lane adjacent to Floyd Street. Post-event traffic must follow the directions of security personnel to assure exit lanes.
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.
Fox Sports Net South – Fri. Sept. 1, 6:30 p.m. EDT
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.
Louisville, KY – WAVE – Sun Sept. 3, 1:00 p.m.
Paducah, KY – WDKA – Sat. Sept. 2, 4:00 p.m.
