xt71ns0ksx88 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt71ns0ksx88/data/mets.xml Wildcat News Company 1984 Volume 9 -- Number 8 athletic publications  English Wildcat News Company Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. The Cats' Pause UKAW University of Kentucky Men's Basketball (1984-1985) coaches Hall, Joe B. players Logan, Mark University of Kentucky Golf (1984) University of Kentucky Football (1984) Claiborne, Jerry statistics schedules Cats' Pause Combs, Oscar The Cats' Pause,  27-Oct-84 text The Cats' Pause,  27-Oct-84 1984 2012 true xt71ns0ksx88 section xt71ns0ksx88 George Adams Still On
Record Road
University ArcnhH
Joe B. Hall's Cats Meet
ThePn ' >c
argareJ I. Ning Library -
Univeuity of Kentucky     SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS PER COPY
Lexington, Kentucky -40506
25590
The Cats' Pause
SPOTLIGHTING UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
X Z C - N * -' H C < N 2 J) ~ o
Ci > in g ji
2     * CL
mo -< \
X>2 fu
vi r * C    - \
r O CD QD
o > xi-co* rn o
mm o wo a
VOLUME 9 NUMBER 8
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1984
LEXINGTON,KENTUCKY
l/K Goes For Sixth Win Against Dogs Cats And Dogs Square Off At Commonwealth Stadium
An old nemesis returns to Lexington when the Georgia Bulldogs challenge the Kentucky Wildcats in a national cablecast over Ted Turner's Super-station (WTBS-Atlanta) at 12:15 p.m. Saturday in Commonwealth Stadium.
In a football series that began in 1939, the Bulldogs have dominated, leading 28-7-2, including six consecutive victories since the Wildcats beat them, 33-0, at Athens in 1977.
Kentucky was coming off an impressive 33-13 victory over LSU at Baton Rouge and had lost only to Baylor en route to a 10-1 season. The Bulldogs were 4-2 and would finish the season 5-6, which still ranks as the only losing season since Vince Dooley took over from Johnnie Griffith in 1964.
The Wildcats and Bulldogs struggled to a scoreless deadlock until Joe Bryant kicked a 51-yard field goal with
How UK's Opponents Fared
KENT STATE..........won at Ohio U.  19~7...........3-4-0
INDIANA.............lost to Wisconsin 20-16.......0-7-0
TULANE..............lost at Florida St. 27-6......2-5-0
RUTGERS.............defeated Louisville 38-21.....5-2-0
MISS. STATE.........lost at Memphis State 23"12. . . 3-4-0
LSU.................won at Kentucky 36-10.........5-0-1
GEORGIA.............defeated Vanderbilt 62-35 ..... 5-1-0
N. TEXAS ST.........lost at TCU 34-3..............1-6-0
VANDERBILT..........lost at Georgia 62-35.........4-3-0
FLORIDA.............defeated Cincinnati 48-17.....5-1-1
TENNESSEE...........defeated Alabama 28-27........3-2-1
Master, Heitz To Appear At Sports Collector's Meeting
If you're looking to build up your sports collection on baseball cards, football cards, the Kentucky Wildcats or any other sport, then the place to be this weekend will be the Hilton Inn in Lexington.
A gigantic sports collectors' convention will be held this Friday, Saturday and Sunday with over fifty dealers offering anything from baseball cards to Wildcat basketball programs to uniforms, bats, and most any other collectiables.
Highlighting the convention will be guest appearances by former UK stars Jim Master, Tom Heitz and Louisville Redbird Gene Roof. Roof will sign autographs on Saturday while Master and Heitz will be there both Saturday and Sunday. They are scheduled to appear from 3-5 each day.
Admission to the sports collectors' show is $1 for adults and fifty cents for children. A three-day pass is $2.50 for adults and $1 for children.
Dealers from several states are expected at the convention.
GEORGE ADAMS VS GEORGIA
RUSHING
ATT
NET
TD
LONG
1982
1983
13 20
34 82
0
1
TOTALS
33
116
JOE PHILLIPS VS GEORGIA
PASS RECEIVING	NO	YARDS	TD	LONG
1981	1	18	0	18
1982	4	44	0	18
1983	4	49	1	16
TOTALS	9	111	1	18
8:14 left in the first half. Less than six minutes later, Derrick Ramsey tossed a one-yard pass to Freddie Williams for a TD and a halftime score of 10-0.
Kentucky took the opening kickoff in the third period and marched down the field in five plays. Ramsey hit Dave Trosper for a 17-yard TD and Bryant's kick make it 17-0. Early in the third quarter, Bryant kicked his second 51-yard field goal and the 'cats coasted.
That was UK's first victory over the Bulldogs since 1973, when new head coach Fran Curci took his 4-4 Wildcats, led by Mike Fanuzzi, into Athens. Trailing 12-7 late in the game, Georgia completed six straight passes to the UK 29, but Andy Johnson's next pass slipped off Richard Appleby's fingers and Darryl Bishop intercepted. Bishop returned a few yards and dropped the ball, which was recovered by Frank LeMaster with 37 seconds remaining. Georgia finished 7-4-1 and defeated Maryland in the Peach Bowl.
That victory broke a seven-game Georgia win streak dating back to 1965, when the Wildcats handed the Bulldogs their first SEC defeat, 28-10. Behind the big guns of Rick Norton and Rodger Bird, UK handed Georgia its worst loss that year, registered the highest number of points by UK in the series and scored the biggest win margin by either side since 1958.
Georgia jumped to a 10-0 lead in the opening quarter on a surprisingly effective air attack, but Charlie Bradshaw's Wildcats exploded for four TDs in the second quarter, mostly on the passing combination of Norton to end Rick Kestner, who was named national "Lineman of the Week" for his performance.
One of UK's most heartbreaking losses to Georgia came in 1978, when Rex Robinson hit a 29-yard field goal with three seconds left in the game to highlight a Georgia comeback. Kentucky had led the entire game until Robinson booted the final field goal for a 17-16 victory.
Kentucky led 16-0 in the third quarter in a bid to upset the 16th ranked 'Dogs. Larry McCrimmon hit Felix Wilson on a 12-yard TD pass and Tom Griggs kicked a 33-yard field goal for a 10-0 UK first-quarter lead. Freddie Williams ran for a one-yard TD, the extra point try by Griggs was no good, but UK led 16-0 in the third quarter.
Willie McClendon put Georgia on the board with a four-yard TD in the third quarter and Jeff Pyburn threw a six-yard scoring pass to Ulysses Norris in the fourth quarter. Georgia's winning drive started on its own 25 with 4:03 remaining in the game.
The Bulldogs feature another fine kicker in Kevin Butler, who is the new SEC career scoring leader. With the Bulldogs ahead of Vanderbilt 59-35 late in the fourth quarter Saturday at Athens, Butler hit a 51-yard field goal to give him 317 points, surpassing the conference record (314) held by his former Bulldog teammate Herschel Walker.
Butler is averaging 9.3 points per game this season, second to UK's George Adams. (11.0).
PI 'HI.ICATION NO. USPS 707340
Published by WILDCAT NFAXS COMPANY
P.O. Box T297 Lexington, Kentucky 40522 Second Class Postage Paid at Lexington, Kentucky ti>5 and additional mailing offices
THE CATS' PAUSE
oscar l combs Editor and Publisher
nick n1choias Staff Writer
todd hallum Staff Writer j.c. dumas Prep Editor
bob gibbons National Recruiting Columnist
larry vaught Columnist
bob watkins Columnist
danny Mckenzie
Columnist
mel holbrook Columnist
rick bolus Kentucky Basketball Recruiting
jamie vaught Contributing Columnist
jack maiden Sport Hobby Columnist
donna combs Business Manager
don coffey Composition Coordinator
gary cromwell Staff Photographer
clarence miller, jr. Staff Photographer
wanda hooker Circulation Coordinator
dan krueckeberg Crossword Puzzle Editor
Published Weekly: Sept. 3 - April 7 Monthly: May, June, July, August
Advertising Representative WILDCAT NEWS COMPANY
2625 Regency Road Lexington, Kentucky 40503
Subscription Price $22.50 per year In USA $30.00 per year in Canada
Phone: (606) 278-3474
Postmaster: Send Address changes to THE CATS' PAUSE, P.O. Box 7297, Lexington, Kentucky 40522 Cats Will Bounce Back Today
It was good ole-fashioned "whupp-ing" as they say in the country. Sure, the Kentucky Wildcats suffered nine (count 'em) turnovers. But it was a simple matter of being beaten in the trenches as well.
Any time you get beat 36-10, well, you just got beat. No ifs, buts or anything else. The loss to LSU is now a part of history. The only thing you want to remember from a game like that is to review the film and correct mistakes which are correctable. There were many. Missed blocking assignments were plentiful. Lining up in wrong positions were almost as common as lining up in the correct position.
Time-outs, bless 'em, were called like the Cats were afraid the officials were going to take them away from the Big Blue in the first half. Confusion on getting plavs in the game has been a problem much of the season.
Less we forget, though, this is a relatively young Kentucky team with limited talent going up against one of the finer clubs in the nation. It wouldn't be surprising at all if LSU is the SEC champion this fall. A shot at the national title is certainly within sight of the Bayou Bengals.
With Georgia coming up this Saturday at 12:20 p.m. (nationally televised over Atlanta superstation WTBS), the Cats will have an opportunity to bounce back against another one of the nation's finest programs.
The Bulldogs, fresh from a 62-35 pounding of Vanderbilt in Athens last Saturday, have SEC title aspirations themselves with a 5-1 mark. This is the Georgia team which was supposed to be in the rebuilding stages in 1984. All the Dogs have done is upset Clemson and beat everyone else to date with the exception of a touchdown loss to undefeated South Carolina, perhaps the most improved team in America.
There may be little consolation in it, but the Cats do match up better against the Bulldogs. While Georgia is very talented, the Dogs do not have a Jeff Wichersham or a Dalton Hillard. The Dogs run like dogs, the Tigers zip by you like greyhounds.
All season long, Georgia has played well enough to win, but that is typical of a Vince Dooley team. Some of his most productive years have come in seasons when the Dogs were expected to be only so-so.
Of the two lone bright spots for the Cats last Saturday, the Kentucky defense was best. It did a very commendable job of holding off the vaulted LSU offensive thrust the first two periods until it was finally put in a suicide situation.
Sure, the defense gave up some rather large chunks of yards, but it
also turned the ball over to the offense several times in excellent field posit-tion. Twice, LSU's Tigers should have scored touchdowns in the first half, but the defense limited the Tigers to a pair of field goals.
And speaking of field goals, that could be the difference this Saturday. Kevin Butler ranks as the all-time SEC field goal kicker, not to mention the all-time SEC scoring king, breaking the old mark last week against Vanderbilt.
In other words, the UK defense will have to turn in another stellar exhibition to keep the Dog offense from crossing midfield. Any time Georgia gets inside the opposition's fifty-yard-line, Butler is a real threat.
That's where Kentucky's second bright spot of a week ago fits in. His name is Paul Calhoun, just the finest punter in the SEC and perhaps the nation.
What Calhoun is so good at is giving his teammates time to cover his punts. Calhoun's net punting yardage is phenonmenal. He's outkicked his coverage only a couple times all season, and it's extremely important for him to keep the Dogs backed up if Kentucky has a chance to spring an upset.
Again, it should be a war on the line. Whether or not UK's young, patched-up offensive and defensive lines can hold their own against powerful Georgia is yet to be seen, but the effort should be there.
Look for the game to come down to the final minute with a field goal deciding the outcome. Only this time, Vince, the butler didn't do it. The cat did.
+ +
+
Much has been written and said about Kentucky's decision to change the starting times of the LSU and Georgia games from night to afternoon to accommodate television.
Much of the criticism has come from proponents of the Keeneland racing meet which has an afternoon post time.
For many, many years, Kentucky has obliged the race meet by moving afternoon football games to a 7:30 p.m. start during the race dates so those wanting to attend both the races and football game could do so.
However, night games at Kentucky in October also offer some rather unpleasant weather to some football fans who are not race fans. Still, UK continued the policy to keep peace with the horse industry which has been very generous to the university over the years.
What has complicated matters in recent years has been the sudden
explosion of television for afternoon telecasts. The boob tube offers a school the opportunity to showcase its program to hundreds of thousands of fans plus a nice financial package.
But that hasn't been the only factor. Most coaches (Jerry Claiborne is neither the first nor will he be the last) do not like night football games. As recent as a couple years ago, the Big Ten Conference vowed to never install football lights because their fans insist the college game is meant to be played in the afternoon.
Football coaches' biggest concern is that night football games are not afforded equal newspaper coverage as are afternoon games in most big cities where recruiting is vital. Newspapers with early deadlines on Saturday night tend to give afternoon games a much larger amount of space than a night game which usually gets only a couple paragraphs and a final score. Sometimes, and most of you have experienced this, you don't even get the score. There have been times when LSU and Florida State games (most of their games at home are at night) don't even make the Sunday morning paper.
In fact, an Atlanta sportswTiter noted last week that Georgia Tech had been thinking about moving their games to night and the Atlanta newspapers reminded Tech that much of their newspaper circulation outside of Atlanta would not be able to get the game story on Sunday because of early deadlines for those years.
Despite the conventional pros and cons of night games, any decision on starting times for UK football games should rest in the hands of UK officials. And those decisions should be based solely on what is best for the UK football program.
Likewise, Keeneland officials should make their decisions strictly on what is best for Keeneland and their fans.
This doesn't mean that UK and Keeneland shouldn't work in harmony for a better community, but there are times when one must do what he thinks is best for his particular interest.
If every decision made by UK was based on conflicts with each and every group around town, then you'd never have a football game.
No doubt those fans who enjoy both racing and football prefer the opportunity to see both. Some insist UK is insensitive to the problem, but that isn't true. For years, it has been UK which has altered its schedule from daytime to nighttime to accommodate racing.
Had UK been so difficult, it could have told Keeneland to move its race card to night to avoid the conflict. Of course, those racing purists insist its tradition to race only in the afternoon
at Keeneland. Certainly, that is true. But we know of no sound reason why Keeneland's tradition is any more important to its fans than afternoon football is to UK's avid football fans, who perhaps are not racing fans.
Many Kentucky football fans are racing fans, but when 57,000 or so football fans show up for football and 25,000 or so for racing, then it's obvious there are more football fans than racing. Should the majority rule?
Horse racing has a very important role in Central Kentucky and has been a very generous and valuable member to the community. The horse industry is a leader among those who promote and give to charitable organizations.
What we have between racing and football for two or three Saturdays each fall is a very competitive situation. In the past, it has been in the best interest of both parties to avoid conflict. In the past, it has always been UK which has assumed the role of being considerate.
Kentucky is attempting to reestablish its football program and make it one of the better teams in the country. If there are those who condemn UK or its officials for doing what they think is in the best interest of the Wildcat football program, then I have no sympathy for them. They are being selfish and have something other than the UK football program at heart.
After all, UK officials are hired to build and promote UK, period.
The annual UK basketball press day was somewhat smaller and less formal than those in recent years. Perhaps, it was the absence of the Twin Towers, or the absence of great expectations.
The most surprising aspect of the press day came when UK assistant sports information director Randy Stacy handed out the official roster for this year's team.
I mean some of the Wildcats apparently spent too much time in the sauna over the summer. Players' heights were shrinking all over the place. In fact, not a single freshman lived up to his high school listing.
But freshmen weren't the only previously over-sized players. All in all, only five veterans were correctly listed last year.
The changes came after coach Joe B. Hall ordered the entire team to be measured in sock feet a few weeks ago. Suddenly, those 6-8 and 6-11 giants melted down to 6-6 and 6-9.
Hall said he just wanted the players to be listed at what they really are. It's not uncommon for high school coaches
[Continued On Page 22] Dalton Hilliard Leads The LSU Attack
LSU In Drivers Seat After Win
UK FALLS FOR FIRST TIME
Kentucky entered the Louisiana State game with hopes of raising their SEC slate to 2-0 and to improve on their 15th national ranking. After the game, the Cats were trying to pick themselves emotionally off the turf, especially with Georgia coming to town next week.
The 36-10 defeat was partially a gift to the boys from Baton Rouge, however LSU, (5-0-1) behind the running of Dalton Hilliard, was the better team last Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium. Hilliard was the star performer as he gained 164 yards on 31 attempts. His four touchdowns rushing tied a school record set by Charles Alexander, a current running back for the Cincinnati Bengals.
UK meanwhile committed a total of nine mistakes while having its record fall to 5-1. The Kentucky defense, which was allowing only 102 yards per game (ninth in the country), gave up a total of 288. Kentucky's 10 points was far from its 32.8 points per game clip. Coach Jerry Claiborne said it best, "we just self-destructed."
FIRST HALF BLUNDERS
If watching the first half with no idea of the SEC standings you'd swear that both teams were fighting to get out of the conference celler instead of first place.
Overall in the first stanza, Kentucky gave the ball away four times (two fumbles, two interception), while LSU was more cooperative as they committed five misques (three fumbles, two interceptions).
Kentucky was trailing 3-0 late in the first quarter when UK defender Maurice Douglass picked up the Blue contingent with a big play.
With LSU quarterback Jeff Wickersham solely looking for Eric Martin in the flats, Douglass cut in front of the would-be receiver and picked off the pass at the Tiger 26 and was knocked out of bounds at the five. But UK's next three plays netted a minus 14, yards. Joe Worley, though, kicked a 36-yard field goal to knot the score at 3-3 with 14:22 left in the second quarter.
Another interception, this time by an LSU player, took the heart out of the Wildcat offense. Reserve quarterback Tim Jones, wearing No. 23, took a handoff at the LSU 9 and threw to an open Ransdell standing on the goal line, though only to have State's James Pierson steal the pass and return it to his eight yard line.
With 29 seconds left in the second quarter, UK appeared to be headed to only a 6-3 halftime deficit. But sophomore tailback Mark Logan fumbled on the Wildcat 35 after a five-yard gain.
Three plays later Juan Betanzos booted a 38-yard field goal to push the lead to 9-3 at the halfway mark.
LSU TAKES OVER IN THIRD PERIOD
After holding UK on downs Louisiana State began to drive. Wickersham, while getting great support from his offensive line, started to find his
receivers. During their first touchdown drive the LSU quarterback found Garland Jean Batiste, Mitch Andrews, Herman Fontenot, and Martin, for completions of 4,8,9, 21 yards respectively. Hilliard ended the drive with a dazzling 14-yard scoring run off the right side to give the visitors a 15-3 lead.
The Tigers very quickly made a close game into a route aided by two Wildcat turnovers.
At 7:59 Kentucky was only behind 15-3. By the time the clock ticked down 123 seconds (5:56) LSU had lengthened its lead to 29-3.
The first quick score resulted due to Tiger defender Ricky Chatman's interception at the Wildcat 35. Hilliard's one-yard scoring gallop capped off a three-play, 46-second drive.
LSU's next score took only one play. After a Logan fumble, Hilliard raced 14 yards untouched adding to his team's bulging lead. Betanzos PAT made the count 29-3. Kentucky had just handed the game away.
Reserve signal caller Kevin Dooley came in during the third quarter and directed the home team to their only touchdown.
At the Tiger 29 yard line, Dooley connected with Cornell Burbage inside the ten, Burbage then fumbled, but fullback Chris Deny grasped the ball on the six. Three plays later George Adams went over left tackle from the one for his 10th rushing touchdown of the season.
IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL CONTEST
As the final seconds were ticking down it was evident that LSU, and its hundreds of followers, wanted this game badly.
When the horn sounded the LSU players came over to the stands to thank the Tiger fans for their support. LSU was very happy to get this win under the belt as the players exchanged high fives and handshakes with the purple and gold faithfuls.
For Bill Arnsparger, a native of Paris, Kentucky, the win was especially sweet.
"I'm happy for my mother and my cousin,'' said Arnsparger. ' 'They have to live here. I am also happy for the fans who made the trip up here. They had confidence in us."
On the other hand, Kentucky left the field emotionally upset. While walking into the lockeroom a background chant led by Tiger fans of L-S-U, L-S-U followed the dejected Wildcats.
Just before reaching their destination Maurice Douglass patted defensive guard Frank Hare on the back with some encouraging words. "That's just one (loss) Frank," said Douglas, "just one."
Though it's one that Hare and his teammates would like to forget.
UK'S BRIGHT SPOTS
PAUL CALHOUN-- Calhoun continued to punt the ball exceptionally well. The senior kicker punted seven times for a total of 346 yards averaging a pro-figure of 49.6 yards per boot.
JERRY REECE -- The freshman from Christian County had 12 overall tackles (10 of those were on a first hit basis). He also sacked Wickersham twice for minus nine yards. 0coUvi27,19X4
74e       ' Pcucu
Campassi Missing The Limelight
Former University of Kentucky running back Steve Campassi believes the sport of football is finally catching on in this basketball-crazed state, and he wishes the Wildcat teams he played on in the early '70s had won a few more games than they did.
Mel Holbrook
Cats' Pause Columnist
"I'm excited about the way Coach (Jerry) Claiborne has turned it around," said Campassi, who is remembered by Kentucky fans as being primarily a blocking back for the last UK player to rush for over 1,000 yards, Sonny Collins.
"This is the first time they've won the first five games since 1950, which is quite an accomplishment," Campassi continued. "Coach Claiborne has an established program now. He's got a disciplined team. Players know what to expect when they sign at Kentucky."
Now, don't get Campassi wrong. He's not saying the seasons he played for the Wildcats, 1972-75, were all that bad. The Cats did have one winning season while he was there, 1974, when they were 6-5. But the rest of them were losing campaigns. His first year at the Lexington school, Campassi and his teammates were 3-8 under John Ray. Then the next season the Fran Curci era began. During Curci's first three seasons the Wildcats were 5-6, 6-5 and 2-8-1.
But Campassi never thought about transferring to another school when Ray was fired after the '72 season and Curci was hired.
"I felt like we were going to start something good," Campassi said. "I didn't like having to prove myself all over again. But Curci and his staff honored the scholarship. Ray was very good to me and Curci and I got along fine.
"It's sad, but my last season at Kentucky was my worst," Campassi said. "That was when we had that point-shaving scandal and Elmore Stephens (a former All-American end) and Sonny Collins were questioned about their possible involvement in a murder case. Investigators questioned nearly everybody on the team about both the point shaving and the murder."
In 1975, Kentucky was coming off its best season in nine years and Campassi said everyone was expecting a pretty good season. But the examinations surrounding the program were a major disruption and UK had its worst-ever record under Curci. The next season, 1976, Kentucky rebounded to make its first bowl appearance in 24 years and went 9-3. And the next fall was Curci's best, 10-1, but probation kept UK out of a television appearance or a bowl game. But Campassi wasn't around to share in those successful seasons.
"I would have like to have been a part of the Peach Bowl team," Campassi said. "But I was happy I got to play at Kentucky. I have no regrets about going there. I just regret some of the things that happened. We got used to losing."
Recruited out of Franklin County High School, Campassi was an All-State running back for Sonny Adkins' Flyers in 1972. He rushed for over 1,800 yards on Franklin County's 9-1-1 squad. Offers poured in, but he only visited Mississippi, Memphis State, Notre Dame and Kentucky.
"Notre Dame wasn't a factor at all," said Campassi. "It really came down to between Ole Miss and UK. A lot of my relatives lived in Mississippi and my father was from there. There was a lot of pressure from my relatives for me to go down there. But I chose Kentucky because it was close to home and the freshman-eligibility rule had just come into effect. So I felt like I would get a chance for some playing time my first year. Besides, it was where I always wanted to go anyway."
So the 5-10, 190-pound, Campassi went to Kentucky on a scholarship and played well enough during his four years there to earn a team most valuable player award in '75 and help Collins earn All-Southeastern Conference honors for three seasons (1973-75).
"I didn't start from the very beginning," said Campassi. "I think it was about the fifth game of my freshman year. I played some in the backfield and they also used me as a wing back. But we didn't pass that much. I know they didn't pass the ball to me too often."
Campassi's fondest memory during his early years at UK was of the late Doug Kotar, a running back who graduated from Kentucky in '73 and went on to play professional football before a cancerous brain tumor killed him last year. He also remembers playing in Stoll Field the year before UK moved into Commonwealth Stadium.
"Stoll Field was an entirely different atmosphere than Commonwealth Stadium," said Campassi. "I like Stoll Field a lot, although some people said it was too small. And Kotar was two years older than Collins and me but I really looked up to him. I remember when I was a senior in high school listening to UK's games on the radio. I remember him returning that kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown against Clemson the first time he touched the football in varsity competition. I followed his career in the pros. I liked him a lot."
But Kotar's graduation opened the door for Campassi to play regularly his final two years.
"My first two seasons I think I had about 300 yards, total," Campassi said. "But I rushed for over 600 yards in each of my last two years. We ran the veer, which you
Campassi Scores Over Florida
don't see much of any more. But I didn't run the ball as much as Collins. I blocked for him a lot."
Collins rushed for over 3,000 yards at Kentucky, which made him a high draft choice by the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. The only other honor Campassi received was an All-SEC honorable mention in his senior year.
"I usually got the ball on short-yardage plays," said Campassi. "A lot of people from my hometown didn't like Collins. They thought I didn't get enough press. But Collins was bigger and faster. He was 6-0 and weighed around 195 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. He was quicker than me starting out of the backfield. He had quicker feet."
While Collins was failing in his efforts for a professional career with both the Falcons and the Los Angeles Rams, Campassi met a similar fate with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles picked Campassi in the 17th round of the 1976 draft.
"My first week at training camp I hurt my knee and was gone for the season. I remained with them for a year, though, before I found out I had a foot injury that would prevent me from ever playing again. I hurt it at UK my senior year but the Lexington doctors could never find anything wrong with it. But my (left) foot kept hurting and getting worse. Finally, Dr. Ed Leslie here in town found I had broken a small bone. I had to have it operated on and UK paid for it. But my foot is still messed up. It hurts today."
The operation slowed Campassi, whose best time in the 40 was 4.5. He went back to Kentucky to finish his degree and worked a couple of odd jobs in hopes of playing professionally again. He even played one season in a semi-pro league in Louisville. Those were tough years for Campassi.
"I think you're in the limelight and when it's over it's over," Campassi said. "It's like you don't even exist anymore. Things are totally different. The years just keep rolling by now. I don't get over there (to Lexington) too much. I attend the home games and that's about it."
Campassi, 30, has worked in the power plant at the Ancient Age Distillery for the past five years. He's been married for several years now and he and his wife, Dorothy, have three girls: Jessica, 4, Michelle, 2, and Stephanie, eight months.
He now pours all his competitive efforts into racquetball, which he plays three or four times a week at the YMCA. He once finished second in the state tournament B division but his foot injury limits his playing time. He's continues to take an anti-inflamatory drug to ease the pain of the injury.
And Campassi admits he's still follows UK football religiously. He got some pleasure out of Kentucky's 17-13 win over Mississippi State at Starkville last Saturday.
"I saw some of the Mississippi State players on television," Campassi said. "And they were a little cocky. They didn't respect Kentucky all that much. I don't think, year in and year out, Kentucky can be competitive with programs like the ones at Oklahoma and other schools. But they deserve more respect. And I'll be glad when they finally start getting it." cto6w27.W?4
It's Time For A Few Changes
During this Halloween period, many a ghost and gremlin appear from out of the woodwork to show their colors. It's also a time for Kentucky sportswriters to turn a few shades of their own -- mainly a double shade of blue.
With Jerry Claiborne's Wildcats off to a quick start and Joe B. Hall's squad practicing with the pumpkin, most of the sports media across the state are getting a double shot of the Big Blue.
While in the midst of both sports there seems to be a need for a few changes (or no changes at all) in the athletic world.
Cdts' Pause Columnist
You know, something to break up the monotony.
These changes will probably never take place, but it would be nice if they did.
GAME RULE CHANGES IN COLLEGE SPORTS This is one that that should be left alone.
It seems every year that some NCAA official wants to add or change a rule to try and improve the college competition.
Sure, there comes a time when a rule must be added to lessen the chance of injury in college sports. A rule that prevents a quarterback from getting hurt (personal foul) or calling for a flagrant foul need to be maintained for proper conduct in the college game.
But to change a rule year after year to try and improve the game is ridiculous.
Both college basketball and football appear to be heading to the professional style of play.
Changes are developing year after year -- from the