Gameday UK Football Links and Notes

Chip Cosby gives his breakdown of the UK-EKU matchup. Cosby gives UK the advantage at all position except quarterback. Morgan Newton is getting better each week and gaining confidence. UK fans should expect a big game from Newton this weekend.

Brett Dawson writes that UK needs a win against the Colonels. On paper, UK should win this game easily, but the team can't afford to over look EKU. I'm sure there are some players on EKU's roster who wanted to play for UK, but never received the opportunity. I expect EKU to come out fired up and play with a chip on thier shoulder. Hopefully, UK takes out their frustrations on EKU and sends the Colonels back to Richmond licking thier wounds.

Which UK team will show up against EKU? Given the injuries, the sicknesses, the emotional let down from last weekend and one can understand why this question is being asked. One thing is clear, UK is upset about their performance last weekend and wants redemption.

Trevard Lindley will return against Eastern Kentucky and hopes to finish the season strong. I agree with Rick Brooks' comment on Lindley, "If he's well it makes a major, major difference in our defense because you usually don't have to worry about the guy he's covering. That makes a pretty significant difference, and if you think back at a few games that we played, it might have made a major difference". Having Lindley back will be a huge emotional boost for the entire team.

Keenan Burton will return to Lexington for the EKU game. Burton is leading the St. Louis Rams in receiving yards. Chip Cosby has a nice article on Burton and I love one of Burton's quotes, "When you walk in our facility, there's a picture of Coach Brooks (who coached in St. Louis in 1995 and 1996) and it reminds me of what we did at Kentucky. Coach Brooks gave me so much confidence in believing what we could do, and when I see that picture of him I say to myself, 'If I can do it with him, build something special, then I can do it in St. Louis.'"

Expect to see more LaRod King at wide receiver against Eastern Kentucky. The coaches have been impressed with King all season and the freshman is showing signs of what is to come. UK fans should be excited about the future of their football program with players like Morgan Newton, Derrick Locke, Randall Cobb and LaRod King leading the program.

Chip Cosby has a nice Q&A with kicker Craig McIntosh. Hopefully McIntosh will get stronger in the off season and compete for the kicking job next year. UK has received a commitment from kicker Joseph Mansour (LaGrange, Ga) for 2010 to compete with McIntosh.