Dec. 15, 2008

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky football team escaped the rain with a two-hour practice in the Nutter Field House on Monday morning and now will have the rest of the week off for final examinations.

Following the practice, Coach Rich Brooks talked about the importance of the upcoming AutoZone Liberty Bowl, which will be played Jan. 2 in Memphis.

“It’s important for the seniors, it’s important for the program, it’s important for the guys coming back, to carry this unusual – in Kentucky history – three bowl games in a row,” Brooks said. “All I heard after the last year was, ‘Well, Kentucky’s success is measured in two-year cycles.’ We want to make sure that is not the case. We want it to be not only three in a row, but four, five and six in a row. We have a lot of work to do. For the seniors going out, this is their last opportunity to do something significant; players returning, they need to keep that streak alive.”

With it being uncertain if Randall Cobb will be available for the bowl game, Brooks was asked about how sophomore quarterbacks Mike Hartline and Will Fidler were doing in practice.

“He (Hartline) is throwing the ball and doing some very good things,” Brooks said. “The receivers are catching it better, so hopefully that will transmit to the game. Will is doing OK. He seems to be making quicker decisions. When he throws it, he throws it well.”

The Wildcats will practice each day on Dec. 19-23 before taking off for three days. The team will convene in Memphis on Dec. 27.