Chip Cosby on UK football

The University of Kentucky will welcome back one starter to the lineup for Saturday’s game with Eastern Kentucky but will be losing another. Cornerback Trevard Lindley, who’s missed the past four games with a high ankle sprain, will return to the starting lineup. But UK will be without starting tailback Derrick Locke, who will sit with a knee injury.  Senior Alfonso Smith and junior Moncell Allen will get the bulk of the snaps in Locke’s absence.

A case of the flu is currently running through the Kentucky football team, as several players were sent home from Tuesday’s practice: senior linebacker Micah Johnson, senior offensive lineman Christian Johnson, senior running back Alfonso Smith, redshirt freshman offensive lineman Dave Ulinski, junior linebacker Jacob Dufrene,  true freshman defensive end Patrick Ligon, and true freshman lineback Ridge Wilson.

Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks said the illness will affect his team’s preparation for Saturday’s game with Eastern Kentucky.

“The illness is finally getting to us,” Brooks proclaimed. “Injuries are one thing, but the sickness bug has really hit us good right now. That usually means there’s going to be a lot more to follow. We just have to deal with it the best we can. It’s as many guys as we’ve had at one time. We’ve always had the flu every season. But it’s usually one or two guys here, one or two guys there, not this many at once.”

Kentucky’s Nov. 14 game at Vanderbilt has been selected as the SEC Network Game of the Week and will kick off at 12:21.

UK Coach Rich Brooks said the junior tailback Derrick Locke is questionable to doubtful for Saturday’s game with Eastern Kentucky with torn scar tissue in his surgically repaired left knee. Locke was able to finish Kentucky’s 31-24 loss to Mississippi State on Saturday and was the Wildcats’ leading rusher with 103 yards on 17 carries.

Former UK receiver Dicky Lyons, Jr. will be signing copies of the book, ‘True Blue’, along with his father, Dicky Lyons, Sr. and sister, Leslie Lyons, Saturday from 5-6 p.m. at the K-Men’s House, located next to the Cat Walk. The book chronicles the Wildcat career of Lyons Sr. and Lyons Jr. and was penned by Leslie.

Senior linebacker Micah Johnson made it through practice on Thursday and will be available for some action in Saturday’s game vs. Mississippi State, although Coach Rich Brooks said that sophomore Ronnie Sneed would get the start. Senior cornerback Trevard Lindley (ankle) remains doubtful, but Brooks said Lindley would dress and take part in pre-game warm-ups to see if he can contribute.

With the regular season starting to hit the stretch run, the bowl representatives are about to start their evaluation process. Chick-fil-A Bowl representative Mark Zimmerman will visit Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday to scout the Mississippi State-Kentucky game. The two teams are being scouted as potential representatives in the 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl on Dec. 31.

he ACC and SEC team selections for the 42nd edition of the Bowl will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 6.

Kentucky senior center Jorge Gonzalez has been named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance in UK’s 36-13 win over Louisiana-Monroe. Gonzalez graded out of 86 percent against the Warhawks.

The University of Kentucky’s homecoming contest against Mississippi State will be a ‘blackout’ game.  Fans are encouraged to wear black to celebrate Halloween. The Kentucky players are trying to convince UK Coach Rich Brooks to allow them to wear black jerseys for the game.

-Kentucky’s game with Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday represents UK’s annual Military Appreciation Day. Military personnel will be in attendance, and two AH-64D Apache helicopters will fly over the stadium after the national anthem.

-The ‘Cat Walk’ is set for 4:45 outside Gate 1 of Commonwealth Stadium

-Game captains will be junior cornerback Paul Warford and sophomore guard Stuart Hines, joining permanent captains Corey Peters and Zipp Duncan.