Mitch Barnhart, University of Kentucky Director of Athletics, said Wednesday night that he intends to work out a contract extension with football coach Rich Brooks following the season.
Barnhart was interviewed on the Big Blue Sports Network before the men?s basketball game between Kentucky and Miami (Ohio).
?We have a chance to go to a bowl game this year,? Barnhart said. ?I fully anticipate us going forward with Rich next year.
?He?s (Brooks) not concerned with the contract right now. He?s never come to me and said, ?I need to get this done.? We?ll sit down at the end of the year and work out how we?ll go forward (and) give him a chance to continue to build off the foundation that he?s laid for the program. I?m really proud of what they?ve done.?
?We talked earlier this week about having some discussions, when we got time, about extending it and I?m all for it,? Brooks said after practice Thursday. ?That?s what I came here to do, is get this thing going. I know it hasn?t been as quick as most people would like to see it, but I think it?s pretty understandable that we have a pretty good group of young players coming back (for 2007). I?d like to get into a bowl this year, obviously, and see if we can move up the ladder next year.?
Brooks is currently in the fourth year of a five-year contract that goes through the 2007 season.
Game Captains: Junior quarterback Andre? Woodson and sophomore defensive tackle Myron Pryor have been named game captains for Saturday?s contest against Louisiana-Monroe.
Game captains are usually chosen based on performance in the previous week?s game. In last Saturday?s win over Vanderbilt, Woodson (Radcliff, Ky.) completed 29-of-42 passes for 450 yards and four touchdowns. Pryor (Louisville, Ky.), who has played well all season, had two tackles vs. the Commodores.
Woodson and Pryor will join permanent captains Lamar Mills and Keenan Burton for the pregame coin toss.
Scout Team Players of the Week: Kentucky?s Scout Team Players of the Week in preparation for the Vanderbilt game were freshman quarterback Michael Hartline (Canton, Ohio), freshman linebacker Matt Sauerbeck (Alexandria, Ky.), and freshman wide receiver John Nord (Henderson, Ky.) for special teams.
Big Blue Crush Update: After three days of the Big Blue Crush blood drive, Kentucky trails Tennessee by 131 pints, 1,707 pints to 1,576.
The Big Blue Crush is an annual competition between the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee to see which school can generate the most blood donations in a week. The Big Blue Crush is vital to the local blood supply as there is usually a slowdown in blood donations during the holiday season.
The Big Blue Crush will continue through Fri. Nov. 17. The winning school will be announced at the Kentucky-Tennessee game on Nov. 25. Kentucky leads the all-time series, 9-8, and there has been one tie.
In Lexington, fans may donate blood at the Central Kentucky Blood Center at 330 Waller Avenue. Donors receive a T-shirt, a coupon for a free McDonald?s Premium Salad, and are registered for prizes. Donors also may give at the blood centers in Somerset, Pikeville, and Prestonsburg, and at various mobile sites in Central and Eastern Kentucky. For information on locations and times, go to www.ckbc.org.
