Dicky Lyons

LEXINGTON - Most fathers can't wait for a son to follow in their footsteps when it comes to sports. Dicky Lyons Sr. was one of the Southeastern Conference's best players from 1966-68 when he played for Kentucky. He was the first player in league history to go over 1,000 yards rushing, returning punts and returning kicks. Dicky Lyons Sr. already has had his jersey retired at Kentucky. Yet he never pushed his son, Dicky Lyons Jr., into a football career. "He never wanted me to play football," said Dicky Lyons Jr., now a freshman receiver-kick returner at Kentucky.

In just three games, Kentucky has "passed" the grade on offense, at least through the air.A big question mark heading into the season, Kentucky has experienced somewhat of an air-raid revival it once enjoyed during the Hal Mumme era. "I am extremely pleased with the passing game production," Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said earlier this week. Brooks has plenty of reason to be pass happy. Through the team's first three games, Kentucky has thrown for 778 yards and is averaging 259.3 yards per game through the air. A variety of factors have contributed to the Wildcats' success with the passing game.

MEMPHIS -- Kentucky offensive coordinator Joker Phillips says head coach Rich Brooks has a knack for knowing how to prepare a team for a bowl game. "The reason we've done so well in bowl games is coach Brooks does a good job keeping players fresh. You've got to make it fun," Phillips said as the Cats finished their preparations for Friday's Liberty Bowl matchup with East Carolina here. Kentucky beat Clemson in 2006 and Florida State in 2007 in the Music City Bowl. Phillips says Brooks continued his philosophy this year of not making bowl practices long.

LEXINGTON - After Kentucky lost 49-0 to LSU last year, receiver Dicky Lyons confidently guaranteed that the Cats would beat Mississippi State. While Kentucky coach Rich Brooks didn't like Lyons' brash prediction, UK did win and save its season. So does Lyons have anything to predict or guarantee about UK's upcoming game at Vanderbilt on Saturday or games with Georgia or Tennessee following the Cats disappointing loss to Mississippi State on Oct. 27? "If they (the players)

LEXINGTON - Kentucky will lose sophomore linebacker Micah Johnson for at least one game, and maybe more, because he will have orthopedic surgery on his knee to repair a cartilage problem this week. "We hope he will be back after the bye week," Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said on Sunday. Johnson had six tackles in Saturday's loss to Florida and has 41 this season, the second highest total on the team. Johnson didn't say anything about his knee problem after the loss to Florida.

LEXINGTON - Patrick Patterson is averaging almost a double-double per game and shooting 71.4 percent - the nation's third best mark. But those are not the reasons why the Kentucky sophomore has been named to the early watch list for the Naismith Trophy. The Atlanta Tip-Off Club announced its watch list of 51 players Thursday. The list was compiled by the Atlanta Tip-off Club's Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for this season.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky won't have its leading rusher and second leading receiver the rest of the season. Sophomore running back Derrick Locke has torn both the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his knee and will have season-ending surgery in the next week. Kentucky's top receiver, Dicky Lyons, had injured his knee a week earlier and is set to have surgery Tuesday. "Obviously, he is out for the year and that really hurts us," said Kentucky coach Rich Brooks.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Kentucky ended the season with three straight losses and will stumble into posteason play with a 6-6 record. Yet after his Wildcats were humbled 28-10 by Tennessee here Saturday, Kentucky coach Rich Brooks emphasized that this was not a lost season when he was asked if this could be termed a successful season. "Let me tell you this. It's the second time in school history we have gone to three straight bowls," said Brooks. "The season was not a success. We should have won more games.

LEXINGTON - Even though a spring knee injury kept him from participating in summer workouts, junior receiver DeMoreo Ford still is playing a key role for the Kentucky football team. "Being hurt has not impacted my leadership at all. I am still coaching the boys up if they need it," said Ford Tuesday during UK's Media Day here. Ford liked what he saw from freshman receivers Aaron Boyd, Randall Cobb, Eric Adeyemi, E.J. Fields and Gene McCaskill this summer. "They are not hard headed.

It's going to be hard to top what Louisville and Kentucky pulled off last week when they beat West Virginia and Georgia. But, since this is a football state, there's no reason to think the two teams will have a letdown. Louisville certainly shouldn't at unbeaten Rutgers. The Cards have climbed to No. 3 in the rankings after their big win last week - and then had to listen to most national analysts explain why Louisville doesn't deserve a chance to play in the national title game even if it ends the season unbeaten.

HOOVER, Ala. — No player has had a greater impact on Kentucky football the last two years than Randall Cobb. He’s done everything from catch game-winning passes to throwing game-winning passes to running for game-winning scores. He’s been special in returning kicks and even holds for extra points and field goals. More importantly, Cobb’s leadership has been essential during two more bowl seasons and he’s also become one of the most popular players.

LEXINGTON ? No one had to tell junior college transfer DeQuin Evans that his Kentucky debut was not exactly what UK fans were expecting after the way coaches and teammates had talked about his preseason play. Instead of dazzling fans with big plays, Evans had only one tackle in UK's 42-0 win over Miami. He views today's game against Louisville as a chance for redemption. "I do have something to prove. The fans and everybody wants to know what DeQuin Evans can do. Mainly I just want to do what my coaches ask of me and that is playing assignment football.

LEXINGTON ? No one had to tell junior college transfer DeQuin Evans that his Kentucky debut was not exactly what UK fans were expecting after the way coaches and teammates had talked about his preseason play. Instead of dazzling fans with big plays, Evans had only one tackle in UK's 42-0 win over Miami. He views Saturday's game with Louisville as a chance for redemption. "I do have something to prove. The fans and everybody wants to know what DeQuin Evans can do. Mainly I just want to do what my coaches ask of me and that is playing assignment football.

LEXINGTON ? Trevard Lindley is different from many star cornerbacks in the Southeastern Conference in that he doesn't spend hours pouring over film of opposing receivers. "I watch a little film, but I usually rely on my instincts and try to read them and see what they are doing. That's the main thing. I just try to play them tough," said Lindley. "You play a good player every week. I have played some good ones, but almost every team has good receivers. You just play good guys every week and that makes you get better.

LEXINGTON ? Trevard Lindley is different from many star cornerbacks in the Southeastern Conference in that he doesn't spend hours pouring over film of opposing receivers. "I watch a little film, but I usually rely on my instincts and try to read them and see what they are doing. That's the main thing. I just try to play them tough," said Lindley. "You play a good player every week. I have played some good ones, but almost every team has good receivers. You just play good guys every week and that makes you get better.

LEXINGTON ? If Chris Matthews is feeling any pressure to be Kentucky's next star receiver, he's not letting it show. He was joking with teammates and media members at UK's Media Day Friday and patiently explaining why he just wanted to fit in and learn the offense after transferring from Los Angeles Harbor College. Yet there's no doubt Matthews has a chance to be "the guy" at Kentucky this year. First, he's 6-5. That's taller than any receiver Kentucky has. Second, he caught 80 passes for 1,235 yards and 11 touchdowns in only nine games last year.

LEXINGTON - If Chris Matthews is feeling any pressure to be Kentucky's next star receiver, he's not letting it show. He was joking with teammates and media members at UK's Media Day Friday and patiently explaining why he just wanted to fit in and learn the offense after transferring from Los Angeles Harbor College. Yet there's no doubt Matthews has a chance to be "the guy" at Kentucky this year. First, he's 6-5. That's taller than any receiver Kentucky has. Second, he caught 80 passes for 1,235 yards and 11 touchdowns in only nine games last year.

HOOVER, Ala. ? No one was more surprised that he was coming to the Southeastern Conference media days than Kentucky cornerback Trevard Lindley. Certainly he has the on-field qualifications to be here. He was UK's most valuable player last season when he was a consensus first-team all-SEC pick and second-team all-American choice. Lindley, who has started 39 straight games, has led Kentucky in pass breakups three straight years ? he already holds the school record with 34 ? and has led the Wildcats in interceptions the last two years.

LEXINGTON ? Jeremy Jarmon got in on an interview session with Randall Cobb following the Blue team's 28-23 win over the White squad Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium. "How many snaps at quarterback this year are you expecting and do you want to play wide receiver?" Jarmon asked. "That's not my main thing," Cobb answered with a smile. "I'm trying to play to play defense and I know Jeremy is a great guy, but I always thought I was better than him. As soon as coach gives me a chance, I'm going to rush the quarterback.