Sept. 1, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Senior cornerback Trevard Lindley and junior quarterback Mike Hartline have been named game captains for the season opener vs. Miami, Coach Rich Brooks has announced.
Game captains are usually chosen for their performance in the previous game. In this case, Lindley and Hartline are being recognized for their 2008 accomplishments and performance in the off-season. Lindley (Hiram, Ga.) was a second-team All-American last season when he had four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. Hartline (Canton, Ohio) completed 55.3 percent of his passes last season, good for 1,666 yards and nine touchdowns. He also was UK’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player in the Wildcats’ AutoZone Liberty Bowl victory and followed up with a strong offseason in the weight room and on the practice field.
Lindley and Hartline will join permanent captains Zipp Duncan and Corey Peters for the pregame coin toss.
Cats Wary of Hawks: Kentucky went through a two-hour practice Tuesday morning at the Tim Couch Practice Fields, the first workout of game week as the team prepares for the season opener vs. Miami.
The coaching staff is particularly enamored with the ability of the RedHawk passing game and concerned about what schemes the new coaching staff will run.
“I’m impressed with him (quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh),” said Brooks of the RedHawk QB, who is nearing 5,000 passing yards in his career. “He’s a big, strong guy who can throw the ball. Very impressed with their receiving corps, so that is a concern.”
The coach also discussed the challenge of preparing for the unknown Miami defensive system.
“I know they have some physical people in the defensive front,” Brooks said. “I know they have a really good pair of safeties that are physical and hit you. There’s probably a little more question mark (on how to prepare) on the defensive side because they’re playing some guys who are redshirt freshmen or true freshmen who we haven’t seen.”
Johnson Returns to Practice, Conner Wednesday: Senior linebacker Micah Johnson returned to practice Tuesday after missing approximately one week because of a sprained foot.
Coach Rich Brooks reported that Johnson participated in the entire practice but did not go through post-practice conditioning runs.
“He will not be at peak efficiency,” Brooks said. “There’s no way you can be at peak efficiency when you miss five or six days of practice and you haven’t really conditioned and gotten in football shape during that time. You can lose it pretty fast. I’m sure he’ll play and play well, but he will not be at peak efficiency.”
The coach also said that fullback John Conner (sprained ankle) ran some on Tuesday and, barring any setbacks, hopes to take some practice repetitions on Wednesday.
Tickets Available: Tickets are available for the opener vs. Miami in Paul Brown Stadium. UK is sold out in lower- and club-level seats but has upper-deck seating available at a cost of $35 each.
Fans interested in lower-level seating may contact the Miami ticket office. Those tickets are $45 each.
Modified Cat Walk Set for Saturday: Because of logistical issues at Paul Brown Stadium, the “Cat Walk” greeting of the team will be adjusted this week.
The team buses must pull into the stadium gates before the players can unload, so fans will need to cheer and wave to the buses as they pull into the gates (similar to the Cat Walk last season at Louisville). Fans wishing to participate should line up along Central Avenue on the west side of the stadium by 9:45 a.m. Once the players get off the buses, they will be encouraged to salute the fans who are on Central Avenue.
