Sept. 28, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky football head coach Joker Phillips has announced that redshirt freshman offensive lineman Zach West and sophomore defensive lineman Mike Douglas have been named game captains for Kentucky’s Southeastern Conference home opener on Saturday against No. 6 South Carolina at 7 p.m. ET.
Game captains are usually chosen on the basis of performance in the previous game. Last week at Florida, West helped the Wildcats rush for 159 yards – most for UK vs. Florida since 2003 – while not allowing any quarterback sacks. The native of Lexington, Ky., has helped the UK offense rank in the top 25 nationally in fewest sacks allowed.
Douglas was recognized for his performance in special teams. He also contributes as a reserve defensive lineman. For the season, Douglas has four tackles, one sack and one quarterback hurry.
West and Douglas will join permanent game captains Matt Smith and Collins Ukwu for the pregame coin toss.
For more information on the Kentucky football team, follow “@UKFootball” on Twitter or visit www.facebook.com/kentuckyfootball.
Cat Walk on Saturday at 4:45 p.m. ET: Fans wishing to participate in the “Cat Walk,” greeting the players when they enter Commonwealth Stadium should be at Gate 1 of the stadium, next to the Nutter Field House, at 4:45 p.m. ET.
Reminder to Fans Attending Saturday’s Game: Pets, except for service dogs, are prohibited from entering Commonwealth Stadium and surrounding parking lots/tailgating areas. For more information visit, www.ukathletics.com/fbgameday.
UK Coaches to Wear Patch for Fifth Season of Coach to Cure MD on Saturday: University of Kentucky football head coach Joker Phillips will wear Coach To Cure MD patches on Saturday against South Carolina as part of a nationwide program to support Coach To Cure MD. The rapidly growing annual effort has raised more than a million dollars to battle Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
On Sept. 29th, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) members will wear a Coach To Cure MD logo patch on the sidelines and college football fans will be asked to donate to research projects supported by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest nonprofit organization in the U.S. focused entirely on Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Football fans can donate to Duchenne muscular dystrophy research by either going online to www.CoachtoCureMD.org or by texting the word CURE to 90999 (a $5 donation will automatically be added to your next phone bill).
Last year, more than 10,000 college coaches at 505 different institutions participated in Coach To Cure MD events. Both those figures are higher than in any of the program’s first three years (2008-10). The four-year fundraising total is just over $1 million.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed during childhood and primarily affects boys across all races and cultures. Boys and young men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy develop progressive muscle weakness that eventually causes loss of mobility, wheelchair dependency and a decline in respiratory and cardiac function. Currently, there is no cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and limited therapeutic options exist.
