Joker took the podium today for his weekly press conference. When I first heard the Joker was the first UK coach since Bear Bryant to start his career at 2-0, it was hard for me to believe.
Bryant also won 10 games and a national championship. Joker definitely has a shot at 10 games, I’ll reserve comment on the National Championship 😉
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Here’s some highlights of the presser thanks to John Clay….
[QUOTE]On being first UK coach to start 2-0 since Bear Bryant: “That sounds good. Joker and the Bear, huh.”
Says Tee Martin, “is the best one we’ve got as far as knowing the dang Facebook stuff.“
Phillips uses Mister Cobble as a player who was redshirted last year, then came up academically ineligible this year, so lost two years. Says he is always afraid that if he redshirts a player, the player could get hurt and lose another year.
Says decided not to redshirt Newton because “it’s a long season. . . . It’s hard to put a redshirt on a guy. . . . I’m really not into redshirting guys who can help us win.”
“La’Rod (King) was a guy who understood the offense a little bit better than most freshmen, but what’s helped him is his strength,” Phillips said.
Says that last year, Chris Matthews’ first step off the ball would be a hesitation step. He was thinking about what he was supposed to be doing.
Told that the receivers interviewed today said they believe the offense can score on anyone. “I hope they’re right,” Phillips said. “We’re going to need to.”
Says defensive lineman don’t make a lot of tackles, but thinks that DeQuin Evans does need to make more plays.
Phillips says he is surprised the team hasn’t tackled better, considering how physical the training camp was this season. Says Mychal Bailey, for example, “isn’t pulling the trigger,” on tackles. Bailey is hitting people too high and wrapping up. Others are doing the same. Just using Bailey as an example.
Akron had two players rush for 100 yards in loss to Gardner-Webb on Saturday.
Joker Phillips says that Nick Melillo is still questionable for this weekend. Same for safety Taiedo Smith. Thinks he will get Martavious Neloms back on Tuesday, and good chance that Dakotah Tyler will be back, as well.
Just announced that the Kentucky-Florida football game on Sept. 25 will be 7 p.m. on ESPNU.[/QUOTE]You can [URL=”http://johnclay.bloginky.com/2010/09/13/liveblog-uk-football-press-luncheon/”]read all the highlights here….[/URL]
