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Danville clinic part of Phillips’ ‘Operation Win’

June 26, 2010|By LARRY VAUGHT | larry@amnews.com

For Joker Phillips, there’s nothing wrong with a working vacation.

The Kentucky head coach will be at Danville’s Millennium Park on Monday for a three-hour clinic for youngsters entering their eighth-grade year or below even though the camp date falls during his normal vacation — as do stops he’s made in three other cities.

“This is our off time, but we wanted to get our message out across the state and this is a great way to do it,” said Phillips. “This is part of what ‘Operation Win’ is. We want to get out in the community and help let all these communities embrace us.

“A lot of people can’t get to Lexington to see what is happening. That’s especially true for kids. We want people to feel what we are all about and let everyone get a feel for what we are doing.”

Phillips, who flew to New York to attend a concert with his wife this weekend before returning for a clinic in Central City tonight, didn’t require any assistant coaches to attend the camps since they are on vacation.

“We are trying to get ex-players to help. Tim Couch came to Hyden in Leslie County where he played to help us. I didn’t feel it was right to ask our staff to come out, but I will be there and there will be former players there,” Phillips said.

Former Boyle County standout Jacob Tamme, a tight end with the Indianapolis Colts, won’t be at the camp at Millennium Park.

“I wanted to and tried to work it out, but my schedule just wouldn’t let me,” Tamme said.

Phillips says he will be involved in everything the youngsters do at the camp.

“I want to be the guy putting our message out there. I will definitely be active at the camp. We will run a little combine for some of the youngsters. It’s not recruiting. It’s just to help connect with the different cities and let fans get close to us and our program,” he said.

UK's football program is also making a $15,000 donation to purchase equipment for the park here.

“We are going to leave something for all the local parks, too, so that every time a kid goes to the park he will see our brand and hopefully remember the impact we made with our camp,” he said.

Registration for the Gam3Day Ready clinic begins at 4:30 p.m., with football activities starting at 5:30. The family-friendly event will feature music, giant inflatable games and other activities for children ages 6 and under.

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