With the program?s most wins (seven) since the 2002 season, the Kentucky football team travels to Knoxville Saturday to meet No. 19/21 Tennessee in the regular-season finale. Kick-off in the 102nd meeting between the Wildcats and Volunteers is set for 12:30 p.m. in a game televised by Lincoln Financial.
The Cats are coming off an 42-40 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Senior Day in Commonwealth Stadium. Wide receiver Keenan Burton caught nine passes for 115 yards with a career-high three touchdown passes. It marked the fourth consecutive game that Burton has caught multiple touchdowns.
Kentucky is on a four-game win streak for the first time since 2002 and has won three consecutive Southeastern Conference games for the first time since 1999. The Cats meet the Vols for the 102nd time in school history and Tennessee is on a 21-game winning streak against UK in the all-time series, which UT leads 69-23-9.
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES – NOV. 20
Head Coach Rich Brooks
Injury report ?
?We are probably in the best shape we have been in the last month. Tony Dixon is going to be able to participate this week, going to run with trainers tomorrow and hopefully practice on Wednesday. Tim Masthay also will be able to kick and punt on Wednesday. Karl Booker has a thigh contusion and we will hold him out of practice until Wednesday and the same is with Terrell Bankhead with the turf toe. Nii Adeji Oninku will practice tomorrow with a cast on after having surgery to fix a broken hand. Jacob Tamme is feeling the best he has felt since the Georgia game after he suffered the abdominal strain and he will practice tomorrow. Trai Williams ran yesterday and held up pretty good and he will practice tomorrow.?
On 8-3 Tennessee ?
?Tennessee is obviously a very talented team, especially with (Erik) Ainge returning to the lineup last week. They did an outstanding job against Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt could not move the ball against them. They couldn?t get anything going on offense against Tennessee?s defense and that means we have a real job moving our offense against their defense. Offensively, with Ainge back they put up 39 points and they have shown that they are a very good football team. They have had some injuries and dealt with it and come through. Obviously the winner is in sole possession of second place in the SEC East, so it is a big game for both of us.?
On Kentucky?s 42-40 win over UL-Monroe ?
?We didn?t play well enough, particularly on defense, but we played well enough to win and that has not always been the case around here, so let?s be a little bit positive. We have a four-game winning streak, we have seven wins and there is nothing to be ashamed about. We have work to do; we have a young team. We have some of the most exciting players in Kentucky football history playing on this team and they are not getting their due. Andre? Woodson, Keenan Burton, Rafael Little, Dicky Lyons Jr. , and Wesley Woodyard are lighting it up and having a great year. Marcus McClinton is doing some really good things. Trevard Lindley, a redshirt freshman corner, is playing very well. Do we do it pretty all the time? No, but the news is that we are doing it. It hasn?t been done around here very many times so I feel pretty good about it.?
On the play of the offensive and defensive lines ?
?(In the) Offensive line, Eric Scott played really well. Lets face it, he had never played offensive guard in his life and he stepped in a did a very good job. Matt McCutchan played extremely well. I think Garry Williams has basically taken every snap of the season at left tackle and Aitcheson, moving from guard to tackle throughout the season, has been a very steady performer for us. Christian Johnson also continues to get better and better as we continue to go through the season. Corey Peters played well on the defensive line. Durrell White, who is playing with an arm and a half (because of his shoulder injury), went out and gave it everything he had. So I think there are some guys on the line who are going to continue to get better and there are some young guys like Jeremy Jarmon who are playing well.?
On what UK must do to win against Tennessee ?
?We have to have the formula we had against Georgia and the Ole Miss game where we took care of the football ? we didn?t do as good of a job during the Georgia game as we should but we took it away more then we gave it away. But we need to win the turnover battle and we need to win the special teams battle and we need to do a good job stopping Tennessee?s running game and if we do a good job at that then we can hopefully do a good job stopping their passing game. They have outstanding personnel and I am hopeful we can get back to the aggressiveness that we showed in the Georgia game and the Mississippi State game. I think you will see a much improved defense this week.?
On the mental state of the team after the LSU game ?
?A lot of players on this team thought we would be a better team. We had a chance against South Carolina and we let that slip away. We laid a major egg at LSU and we had a week off and they started thinking that it is time to step up and get some things done. We had our backs against the wall and had two ways to go. We could either roll up our sleeves and get back to work at getting better and take charge of the situation or we could give in to it. And to these players? credit they choose to roll up their sleeves and get back to work and they have made a significant statement.?
On Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge ?
?[Erik] Ainge is similar to Woodson last year in that he has made the same kind of strides. He looked completely healthy getting out and throwing it on the move against Vanderbilt. He is stepping up his game a lot and I think he has matured and is probably making a lot better decisions just like Andre? is.?
On the play of the special teams ?
?We have had some huge, major plays in the kicking game in our favor but we have also had some major, colossal breakdowns as witnessed by the blocked field goal against UL-Monroe. We just simply didn?t block it, the (Monroe) guy came between out right guard and center and just came through clear. That just can?t happen and the punt block (by Vanderbilt) was something that we had worked on earlier. Rafael [Little] would be leading the nation in punt returns but doesn?t have enough returns to qualify because he was hurt. Keenan Burton has been doing a great job in kickoff return. Our kickoff coverage has been very solid. So other then the field goal inaccuracy, I think for a freshman kicker Lones Seiber has done very well and the thing that we haven?t done as well this year is block as many as we have in the previous two years. We actually got a hand on one of the field goals that was made Saturday.?
On what the extra month of practice will do to help the team ?
?It gives you a great opportunity to assess some of the guys who haven?t played as much. After the Tennessee game, since 1999 to this year, when the Tennessee game was over the players had almost a six-week hiatus. They did a little lifting before finals week and after finals week they are home for Christmas and they are getting fat and out of shape, they just are not in football, they are just not doing anything to help themselves. So we should come back in January with a heck of a lot higher level of conditioning, strength, and physically preparedness for the winter program than anytime since 1999 because those players will be working, lifting, running and practicing football during Christmas break.?
On senior offensive lineman Hayden Lane ?
?Hayden Lane has been an absolute pleasure to coach. He has been a consummate team player and has played very well. He has played a very difficult position on the edge at tackle for several years. He started there and had some tough games but never doubted himself, never gave up. Lost his starting job early in the year, came back and never hung his head. Came in and played guard and played exceptionally well in our four-game stretch here until he broke his hand against Vanderbilt. To achieve what he has achieved at the college level and perform at the academic level in a difficult curriculum like he has is almost unheard of. It is in the top five or three percent in the nation what he has been able to achieve in my mind. To play football in a great conference and to achieve All-American status as a student is amazing and he deserves every bit of it. Assignments were never a problem with Hayden Lane.?
Kentucky Players
#18 Jacob Tamme
On what it would mean for Kentucky to beat Tennessee?
?It would definitely mean a lot. I know it means a lot to the people in this state and it means a lot to us, too. We have two big rivalry games- Louisville and Tennessee. They?re both special games and it?s a lot of fun for us to go down there and get to play such a great team. ?
On the team?s mental preparation for the Tennessee game?
?Last Saturday?s game [vs. Louisiana Monroe] was a bit of an eye-opener for us. This season we?ve learned to deal with both success and failure. We?re starting to come out of the failure aspect of it. Right now we have a winning record [7-4], but we need to stay focused on the little things. We need to see our weaknesses and work to improve. I think last week?s game will help us do that.?
On the team?s confidence for the Tennessee game?
?We?re going into this game with as much confidence that we?ve had since I?ve been here. We?ve had a good season and I think we have a good football team. I think Tennessee is a great football team.?
On his two-touchdown performance in 2004 against Tennessee?
?It was my chance to really make plays for the team. It was a special game. The thing that I remember about it was seeing the seniors? faces when they walked off the field, and it wasn?t good. Our goal was to win the game and we failed. Coming back to Tennessee this week is another challenge for us, and I hope we get to walk off the field in a different way.?
#29 Alfonso Smith
On the close game with Louisiana-Monroe?
?I think we did overlook the talent of Louisiana-Monroe. We were really excited about the possibility of a bid to a bowl game. The coaches warned us about overlooking this game, and I think a lot of us lost focus in the game. I?m glad that we got that out of our system and we are completely focused on the Tennessee game.?
On the previous 21 losses to Tennessee?
?I realize that we?ve struggled in the past vs. Tennessee. I think we have a great chance to go down to Tennessee and make some things happen. This is a new age and we are a new team. We want to win this game for the fans and for the former players.?
On running the ball more outside?
?I would like to run more outside. I think I have the speed to get to the outside. I just try to come in, work hard every play and do my job.?
On his toughness covering kicks on special teams?
?I?m not as tough or heavy as I want to be. I would like to add at least 10 more pounds. I am pretty surprised by the toughness I have displayed on special teams. It helps that Coach [Rich] Brooks has a lot of confidence in me, it makes me work harder and play tougher.?
#9 Durrell White
On what playing Tennessee means to him?
?Of course this game means a lot to me. I am from on the border of Tennessee [Middlesboro] so when I go home I have to hear about it from everyone.?
On the mental aspect of defeating Tennessee?
?I definitely think that there is a mental hump to get over. The last time we played it was really close; unfortunately, I did not get to play against them then, but now I get my chance. I think that we are mentally prepared for this game, and are all focused and ready.?
On practice this week?
?We are more focused in practice this week and I think that players are beginning to realize ?you practice how you play.? Some of the other players and I are trying to get everyone focused, and teach them that we can not underestimate anyone.?
#78 Christian Johnson
On the offense having simple plays?
?Our coaches do not want any confusion or misdirection. They just want us to hit hard and protect the ball. We do not need to have fancy plays when we are winning with the basics.?
On the injury to Hayden Lane?
?He brings a spark to the team and is able to motivate everyone. This year he has really stepped up whenever we needed him. He is always there to play hard, and we will definitely miss him this week.?
On practice this week?
?We are way more focused than last week, and we know what we have to do. On Saturday we just have to buckle down and get the job done.?
