College Football

LEXINGTON — Despite its 4-5 record, Kentucky has 19 verbal commitments for its 2011 recruiting class and continues to have a  projected top 30 recruiting class. Now UK recruiting coordinator Chuck Smith says the Wildcats are looking for “difference-makers” to complete the recruiting class. “We have specific needs, but we want difference-makers. That is what we have to have. We have to have guys in the last few that have a chance to be immediate impact players,” said Smith.

When Sewanee snapped the ball out of the end zone for a safety on the first play of the game Saturday, it was a good omen for the Centre College football team. The Colonels led by 30 points at the half and rolled up 541 yards of offense in a 63-14 win over host Sewanee. Tyler Osterman threw for 191 yards and three touchdowns — all to Rob Pope — and Monte Scotton ran for three touchdowns and had 74 yards on 10 carries as Centre improved to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

The Centre College football team erupted for 22 third-quarter points Saturday and rolled over host Maryville (Tenn.) 35-0. “We finally got out of that little rut of halves,” Centre coach Andy Frye said. “The first half we played a little like the second half of Hanover (in last week’s loss), so I was pleased to see kids’ mental focus and intensity better coming into the second half.” A pair of Jordan Gay field goals (23 and 21 yards) gave Centre a 6-0 halftime lead.

Torrey Campbell insists he is “wide open” about where he will play college football, but the Florida athlete says he was impressed by both Kentucky and Louisville on a recent trip to the Bluegrass. “We were just there a couple of days ago,” Campbell said. He says Kentucky was one of the places that his mother liked the best among the schools that he’s been to this summer (Tennessee, Iowa, Georgia, Georgia Tech and South Florida) in addition to Louisville.

Jacinta Williamson knows if a strong work ethic can lead to a successful college football career, then her son will be fine. “Give God credit for everything. Avery has had a good upbringing and works a lot with his dad,” said Jacinta Williamson. “He helps him a lot on the farm. He loves being out there working. He’s so relaxed when he’s out working the cows. “He knows more about those cows than his dad. He drives the tractor and does everything when his dad is gone to work.

Jordan Aumiller knows he has a shot at playing this season, but he also knows he still has lots of work to do. The Kentucky redshirt freshman tight end was in Danville Tuesday to speak to campers at the Boyle County Youth Football camp and said if he works hard he feels he can get on the field this season. “I’ve got a good chance to play next year, I think. The spot’s still open. Nobody’s really secured it,” Aumiller, a former Boyle all-state tight end, said.

In this era of instant success and gratification, it's hard to imagine coaches staying longer than a decade at a particular school. Long before winning took precedence over loyalty and commitment, it was common for coaches to stay at one place long enough to raise a family and stay long enough to make a name for themselves within the community. Bobby Bowden not only made a name for himself at Florida State, but impacted thousands of lives in his 44-year coaching career that spanned 34 seasons in Tallahassee.

LEXINGTON ? Ridge Wilson knows the general public perception about him probably is not what he wants it to be because of an off-field incident earlier this season that led to a one-week suspension and probably cost him a chance to play much more than he has this season. However, the freshman linebacker from Louisville insists he has learned from what happened, vows nothing like it will happen again and wants to show University of Kentucky football fans that he is not a bad person.

A pair of Bucyrus, Ohio, teammates have both decided they want to play their college football at the University of Kentucky. Tyler Brause, a 6-4, 220-pound quarterback, and Teven Eatmon, a 6-7, 290-pound tight end-defensive lineman, both verbally committed to the Wildcats after visiting last weekend to give coach Rich Brooks five players in his 2010 recruiting class now. "The University of Kentucky is blessed to not only be getting two...

HOOVER, Ala. - Tim Tebow again was a popular figure at the Southeastern Conference media days here Thursday, just as he was a year before when he was coming off his Heisman Trophy season. Tebow didn't win the Heisman last year, but he did lead the Gators to a national championship and made good on a promise early in the season that Florida wouldn't lose again after being upset by Mississippi. However, some skeptics still wonder how Tebow will do in the National Football League next year.