Coming off its fourth win of the season, the Kentucky football team returns home to face Georgia on Homecoming weekend in Lexington. The Wildcats are 3-1 at home this season and look to carry the momentum into a 1 p.m. showdown with the Bulldogs.
Junior quarterback Andr? Woodson threw for 284 yards with three touchdowns in Kentucky?s win over Mississippi State as wide receiver Dicky Lyons had 117 yards receiving with a touchdown. Georgia dropped its annual contest with Florida in Jacksonville, 21-14.
Kentucky and Georgia are meeting for the 60th time in school history with the Bulldogs holding a 47-10-2 lead in the all-time series. The two teams have met annually since 1956 and Georgia has won nine consecutive meetings with the Wildcats, including a 45-13 win in Athens last season.
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES – 10/30
Head Coach Rich Brooks
Injury update?
?The only significant injury from the game is (offensive guard) Trai Williams. He has a high ankle sprain and we did a stress x-ray to see if there was a tear, and whether or not any surgery would be required, but the good news is that is not the case. That?s the positive on that end, but it is much like (Matt) McCutchan?s, if not a little worse. I would say we have a chance to have him back for the Tennessee game at the end of the season. The next three to four days will probably tell us when we will possibly get Trai back. We also had (offensive guard) Jason Leger who did not make the trip. I would say he is very doubtful for this game, but we are hopeful that he will return if not next week but the Louisiana-Monroe game. (Tailback) Tony Dixon is still bothered by the hamstring injury and he probably won?t be able to practice until at least tomorrow or Wednesday at the earliest. We just don?t know how quickly that will come around so I would say he is questionable for this week.?
On the Mississippi State game?
?I was extremely pleased with our defensive front against the run game. We used our hands better. We controlled the line of scrimmage and the running game and had more tackles for loss than we have had in a long time. I was hopeful that the defensive line would play like that earlier in the year. Mississippi State is not the best running team in our league, but for us to hold them to 24 yards rushing I think speaks volumes for our team. After talking with some of the coaches (Mississippi State) after the game they really thought they were going to be able to run it on us. I think that we?ve made some progress in that area.?
On Georgia?s offense when they are not turning the ball over?
?Their offensive line is very good. I think they have four seniors who are giants, and a junior. They are a very physical group up front. They run the ball pretty well. The guy (quarterback Matthew Stafford) is going to be a really good player in this league. There have been a lot of signs for that. It would be like comparing Andre? Woodson from last year to this year. He?s (Woodson) just a different guy (with another year of experience). I think it is extremely difficult for a really young player to be consistent at that position in this conference.?
On Andre? Woodson?s play?
?He?s a different guy and I?ve said that pretty much all along this year. He?s just a different guy. He?s more mature. I think Randy Sanders has done a terrific job with him. He?s helped him with a few things in his passing motion, and talking with him about getting the right reads and eliminating the negative plays. He?s (Woodson) has also gotten a lot of help from a healthy Keenan Burton, a very good Dicky Lyons and Jacob Tamme. We?ve had a lot of help from the receiving position on a consistent basis than we did a year ago.?
On Alfonso Smith?
?He had some nice holes to hit (in the Mississippi State game) which is significant. When he did get to hit those holes he got that acceleration. There were a couple of times I thought he was going to go the distance. He got caught on one in particular near the end of the game. I thought he would have taken (it the distance), but he kind of ran out of gas. He?s not used to playing that much, and I?m sure he was hyper and excited when he was preparing for the game that took a lot of energy just on his enthusiasm. Once he gets settled down, some of those plays I think he can finish.?
On trying to defend Georgia?
?We hope that we are going to cover better. We?d like to try to confuse him (the quarterback) by giving him some different looks. We want to disguise our coverage a little bit so he can?t see when we?re in a man-to-man coverage, or know when we?re blitzing or know when we?re in cover-two. You also still have to be in position to carry out your duties and assignments as well. You can?t get so caught up in disguising things and forget about just stopping them.?
On the three-game homestand at Commonwealth Stadium and being in position to become bowl-eligible?
?How about never? (In regards to being in position for a bowl game). We?ve talked about how we?re a better football team this year, and I think we are. We?ve got warts, still. We still need to continue to try and remove some of those warts. We will do that, and we will continue to get better and improve. We do have three straight home games, and we?re going to go out there and play. Our call at the beginning of the season was to control Commonwealth Stadium. We?ve already lost one of those opportunities (to South Carolina). We just need to see if we can (continue to win) here at home.?
On Georgia?s defense?
?Georgia is a very talented defensive football team. If you look at the numbers they held Florida to almost nothing, and we know what kind of offense Florida has and what kind of players they have. They are a big-time defensive team.?
Kentucky Players
#72 Michael Aitcheson, OG
On the upcoming three-game home stand and potential bowl eligibility?
?The Mississippi State game was an important win on our way to a bowl game. You need six wins to be eligible. We are in a better position this week having four wins and only needing two more to get to a bowl.?
On the team?s win at Mississippi State?
?Every week is a big game and every week is an important game. We weren?t willing to give up and we were determined to get the win. If we had lost, we would be in a big hole trying to dig ourselves out. But with this win there is light at the end of the tunnel. This SEC road win gives us momentum heading into the Georgia game this week.?
On Georgia?
?I don?t know what they will be like emotionally [coming off a loss at Florida] but I?ve played against Georgia before and they are still the Bulldogs. They have great athletes and great coaches. We?re going to have to play our best game of the season.?
On the progress of the offensive line?
?Unfortunately we have lost a few guys to injuries but that is the nature of the game. Adversity is part of the game. As far as on the field, in football when you can stuff the run and run the football, it shows how physical our team is.?
#16 Wesley Woodyard, LB
On playing Georgia for Homecoming?
?Having three games at home is exciting. This weekend is Homecoming and we need to be ready to play. As for defense in this game, we have to play better on third downs. I take it upon myself to get everyone to play hard. We all have responsibilities on the field and we need to take care of those in order to be successful.?
On growing up as a Georgia fan?
?I grew up a Georgia fan. I think everyone in Georgia grows up a fan. I remember the 1980 team as the best team of all time. They have always had great athletes and a great program.?
On the upcoming game against Georgia?
?We have a three-game homestand coming up. Any time we play in Commonwealth Stadium it helps our momentum.?
#19 Keenan Burton, WR
On defeating Mississippi State last Saturday…
?It felt really great to come home with a win. We know we did well. We soaked up the feelings of a good win and now we have to start preparing for this week?s game.?
On Georgia…
?They?ve won six games this year. We would be blessed to have their record right now. Georgia always has a great defense. They do everything to keep other teams out of the endzone. I think they?re hungry for a win. We have to stay focused, and come out and execute in the game. We have to be ready for a dogfight.?
On what a supportive crowd at Saturday?s game vs. Georgia would mean to the team…
?Fan base really means a lot to the team. It would give us strength and motivation. I think mentally and physically everyone is ready to play no matter what the circumstances in the crowd are. I think the fans can really affect the opposing team as well. When we play at stadiums that are really loud, it definitely affects us, especially as an offensive player. If we have a lot of fans cheering for us it gives us motivation and the will to do the things we know we need to do.?
On Kentucky controlling its own destiny…
?It?s fun. You go to practice with your head up. You understand that the outcome is about what you do. The outcome is about how you handle it, how you overcome adversity, and how you answer the bell when the coach calls on you. If you?re willing to step up and make the plays, and if you?re willing to want the ball when the game is on the line then you control the outcome. For us this year, we all want to make the plays. I want to make the plays, Andre? wants to make the plays, Dicky wants to make the plays because we know that we can all step up and make them.?
On being named SEC Specials Teams Player of the Week for Oct. 30…
?I?m honored and I feel blessed. I basically think that I alone shouldn?t be named SEC Player of the Week, the kick-off and punt return teams in themselves should be the Special Teams Player of the Week. All I had to do was run to the open space. I really didn?t have to do much. I?m honored, but I give all the credit to the team and coaches.?
