Nov. 4, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Cornerback Trevard Lindley did not have any adverse effects from his participation in Tuesday’s practice and worked out again on Wednesday, Coach Rich Brooks has reported.
“It’s encouraging that he’s gone through two days, even though he’s probably not at 100 percent, at least he’s out here going through reps (practice repetitions),” Brooks said. “He’s going to be sore. It’s been over a month now, so I think hopefully he’ll be ready to take some snaps this week (in the game).
“If he’s well, it makes a major, major difference in our defense because you usually don’t have to worry too much about the guy he’s covering,” Brooks said. “That makes a pretty significant difference. You think back at a few games that we’ve played it might have made a major difference.
“The games he (Lindley) played in, he played extremely well. There’s still some things coming back that he can accomplish and he has four games to finish up, hopefully five, that will put him in good shape for his future.”
Three key players returned to practice on Wednesday, offensive guard Christian Johnson, linebacker Micah Johnson and tailback Alfonso Smith, after missing Tuesday’s practice because of illness. However, eight other Wildcats who missed Tuesday because of new injuries or illnesses also did not participate on Wednesday.
Quarterback Mike Hartline has begun participating in some drills at practice, but it is still not known if he will be able to return this season
“He (Hartline) took some pass drops yesterday and threw the ball one-on-one in individual stuff, and did it again today,” Brooks said. “There was no swelling this morning. He’s increasing his activities. We’ll just have to see how it goes in the next 5-to-10 days.”
Hartline incurred a torn medial collateral ligament and torn cartilage in his knee at South Carolina on Oct. 10. The MCL is healing but is uncertain how much the cartilage will limit Hartline. Brooks reiterated that it is still unknown when, or if, Hartline will be able to play again in 2009.
After the personnel updates, Brooks turned his attention to this week’s opponent, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels. EKU is 5-3 on the season, and with three close losses, is only three plays away from being undefeated.
“They’re doing some very good things,” Brooks said. “They run the spread, they throw it, they run the counter play that we had trouble with. They’re going to mix it up with the run and the pass. Defensively, they’ve been very, very stingy. They did a good job against the run against almost everybody. This will be a tough game.”
The Wildcats host the Colonels on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will be televised live on WKYT in Lexington, WYMT in Hazard, on ESPN GamePlan and on ESPN360.com. It also will be a delayed telecast on the Big Blue Sports Network.
Saturday is National College Football Day: Nearly 100 spectators gathered around a field in New Brunswick, N.J., on Nov. 6, 1869 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 to be held annually on the first Saturday in November.
In 2006, the holiday took on added significance when the Classic teamed up with the V Foundation for Cancer Research to raise funds and increase awareness in the fight against cancer. This year, the American Football Coaches Association, the National Association of Collegiate Football Officials, the Football Writers Association of America, the College Sports Information Directors of America and the Athletic Equipment Managers Association have given their support to this great cause.
Celebrate the sixth-annual National College Football Day on Nov. 7 and consider making a donation to the V Foundation and help us “Blow the Whistle on Cancer.” For more information, visit www.NationalCollegeFootballDay.com .
Tickets Available: Tickets are available for each of Kentucky’s remaining home games. However, less than 300 tickets are available for the Eastern Kentucky game and less than 400 tickets are available for the game against Tennessee.
- Eastern Kentucky, Nov. 7, 1 p.m. $35 each
- Tennessee, Nov. 28, time TBA, $40 each
Tickets may be purchased in-person at the Joe Craft Center Athletics Ticket Office, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the phone by calling 800-928-2287, or via the Internet at ukathletics.com or ticketmaster.com.
“Cat Walk” Set for 10:45: Fans wishing to participate in the “Cat Walk,” cheering the Wildcats when they enter Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday, should be at Gate One of the stadium at 10:45 a.m.
