Brooks and Petri up for Coach of the Year Awards

UK Coach Rich Brooks and defensive line coach Rick Petri are up for a pair of “Coach of the Year” awards.

Brooks is one of the top 25 vote-getters for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.  Despite major graduation losses from last year, and key injuries this season, Brooks has guided the Wildcats to a 6-5 record.  At 6-5, UK is bowl-eligible for the third-consecutive season, the first time since 1949-50-51 that UK has accomplished that feat in three-straight years. To vote for Brooks, fans can go to the website www.coachoftheyear.com.  Fans can vote once per day.

Petri is one of four finalists for a national award for defensive line coaches.  FootballScoop.com is sponsoring national coach of the year honors for assistant coaches at each position group.

The defensive line has been one of the key components of the Wildcats’ success this year.  The UK defensive linemen have combined for 161 tackles, including 31.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 quarterback sacks.

To vote for Petri, go to www.footballscoop.com, click on “2008 Coaches of the Year” on the left side of the screen, then go to “defensive line.”