Oct. 30, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Offensive tackle Justin Jeffries, linebacker Micah Johnson, safety Marcus McClinton, defensive tackle Myron Pryor and tight end Maurice Grinter are expected to be available for action against Mississippi State, Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks confirmed following Thursday morning’s practice.
Brooks said that he expected Jeffries to be in the starting lineup at right tackle, as the junior from Louisville, Ky., has not played since incurring a knee injury on Sept. 27 in the Western Kentucky game. It will be only the third time this season that the regular starting offensive line (left tackle Garry Williams, left guard Zipp Duncan, center Jorge Gonzalez, right guard Jess Beets and right tackle Justin Jeffries) has taken the field, including the WKU game and the season opener at Louisville. Jeffries was hurt early in the WKU contest, so for all practical purposes, the group has had only one full game as a complete unit.
“It doesn’t mean that they’re all 100 percent healthy, but at least they’re back in the starting lineup together,” Brooks said. “That’s a pretty good thing and gives us better depth and rotation as well.”
Kentucky (5-3 overall, 1-3 SEC) will play at Mississippi State (3-5, 1-3) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. EDT.
Saturday is “National College Football Day”: On Nov. 6, 1869, nearly 100 spectators gathered around a field in New Brunswick, N.J., to witness a game unlike anything seen before. On that day, Rutgers defeated Princeton, 6-4, but more importantly, the players left a lasting legacy that would evolve into the great spectacle of intercollegiate football.
To honor the birth of an American institution, the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic created a holiday that is held annually on the first Saturday in November. The fifth-annual National College Football Day will be Saturday, Nov. 1.
The holiday has taken on additional significance when the Cotton Bowl teamed with the V Foundation for Cancer Research to raise funds and increase awareness of the fight against cancer. Once again this year, the American Football Coaches Association, the National Association of Division IA Football Officials and the Football Writers Association of America have generously given their support to this great cause.
Fans can participate by making a donation to the V Foundation and help “Blow the Whistle on Cancer.” For more information, go to www.NationalCollegeFootballDay.com.
Notes for the Mississippi State Telecast:
- Game is set for 2:30 p.m. EDT (1:30 p.m. CDT in Starkville)
- Live pay-per-view telecast in Kentucky; fans interested in ordering should contact their local cable system or satellite provider
- Live on ESPN GamePlan; however, GamePlan will be blacked out in Kentucky and Mississippi
- Joint production on the telecast with the Big Blue Sports Network and Comcast Sports Southeast; announcers will be Steve Ellis on play-by-play, with Tim Couch and Matt Wyatt providing analysis
Georgia Tickets Available: A limited number of tickets for the Georgia game on Nov. 8 have become available from the unclaimed student allotment. Tickets are $40 each and interested fans should purchase immediately …
- Online at UKathletics.com or TicketMaster.com
- Over the phone at 1-800-928-CATS
- In-person at the Joe Craft Center Ticket Office, weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
