THURSDAY 2.5.15
TOMORROW’S WEATHER
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National
Signing Day UK rebounds with strong 2015 class
Top Commits
Alvonte Bell Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 260 lbs Position: Defensive End Hometown: Miramar, Fla. Highschool: Everglades
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MITCH DEAVER OF PEARL RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Courtney Miggins played defensive tackle for Pearl River Community College before commiting to the University of Kentucky.
By Joshua Huff jhuff@kykernel.com
Courtney Miggins Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 285 lbs Position: Defensive Tackle Hometown: Lithonia, Ga. Highschool: Miller Grove
UK football breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday as it concluded the national signing day with a 2015 recruiting class that adds size, length and speed to a team that struggled down the stretch last season. In addition to the jewels of the class, tight end C.J. Conrad and offensive lineman George Asafo-Adjei, UK head coach Mark Stoops and recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow mined the all-important Ohio region along with Washington D.C. and Florida to add size to an undersized wide receiver and defensive back position. “I think getting 13 defensive guys was important,” Stoops said. “We just continue to build depth to get the size we’re looking for, and to get the players in the secondary was important.” The commitments of 6-foot-2 defensive backs Derrick Baity and 6-foot-4 Chris Westry add length to a defensive backfield that faltered in the latter half of the 2014 season despite having 12 of the team’s 15 interceptions.
The ability of the new players allows for UK to move around in the backfield without worrying about mismatches. “They’re very versatile,” Stoops said. “We want players that can play anywhere in the secondary.” With the focus on building an SEC caliber defense, Stoops has slowly turned his team into a contender in the conference. “We’re getting there,” Marrow said about turning the club into an SEC caliber team. “We’re starting to get players that look like SEC players.” One of those players is 6-foot-5, 231-pound Conrad, a product of LaGrange, Ohio. He enters UK as a four-star prospect after catching 55 passes for 752 yards and 10 touchdowns at Keystone High School in 2014. Conrad will replace the departed Steve Borden who caught just four passes last season. Conrad will play along-side redshirt-freshman Darryl Long, who according to Marrow has bulked up to 245 pounds and has impressed coaches. New offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson expects See SIGNING on page 4
Record number of Arts and Sciences internship students make Dean’s list gives real-world experience Growing student numbers possible factor in increase By Cheyene Miller news@kykernel.com
A record number of UK undergraduate students earned their place on the Dean’s list in the fall 2014 semester. According to associate provost for undergraduate education Benjamin Withers, 6,366 students achieved the Dean’s list, which is attained by receiving a 3.6 GPA for full time students taking at least 12 credit hours. “I was excited to see this number, and I think it’s a reflection of several things,” Withers said. “It’s a reflection of the good quality of students we’re attracting to UK.” Withers said that prior to fall 2014, the semester with the highest number of students on the Dean’s list was the fall 2013 semester, which saw 5,887 students placed on the list. According to numbers provided by the UK public relations staff, the number of students on the Dean’s list has been steadily increasing since
the spring 2010 semester. The number of students on the Dean’s list is typically higher in the fall than in the spring. The fall 2014 semester had 479 more Dean’s list students than fall 2013, and 888 more than the spring 2014 semester. “Looking back to 2010, there’s been an increase in the number of students (on the Dean’s list). In part that’s because since 2010, we’ve had a tendency to see larger classes each year, so I think part of that has got to do with it,” Withers said. The incoming fall 2014 class set a record for the largest freshman class in UK’s history, with the university’s total population reaching over 30,000 students. “It also shows the hard work the students are putting in while they’re here in order to maintain that record of academic achievement,” said Withers, who also praised UK faculty for “challenging the students and keeping them academically involved. We work hard here to make sure we provide academic re-
sources outside of the classroom.” According to Withers, the incoming class in the fall 2014 semester had the highest average ACT score of any incoming class in UK’s history. “It shows that the university was able to successfully meet the challenge of providing a quality education for that class,” said Withers, who noted that UK retained 92.7 percent of its incoming students between the fall and spring semesters, which is right on par with the retention rate from this time last year. Withers also noted that the retention rate was the same, but that more students overall were retained since this incoming class was larger, making UK’s number of retained students the highest ever. Withers said that both students and faculty at UK deserve credit for the new records. “It takes a village in order to get on the Dean’s list,” Withers said.
By Tabassum Ali news@kykernel.com
Former UK student Bob Burke is giving back to his university by giving Arts and Sciences students the chance to gain new skills in a yearly internship working in the insurance industry. “I wanted to create an opportunity for students who do not really know what they want to do just yet,” said Burke, who graduated from UK in 1970 and is now part of the A&S alumni. Burke now works in the insurance field and is the president and CEO of The Colonial Group. “I enjoyed my experience at UK and I wanted to give back in another way rather than just writing a check,” Burke said. “(By helping students with internship opportunities) it has a more tangible result.” Burke said that a lot of students graduating with an A&S degree “find it hard to come across a job and then come out with a lot of debt.” He also noted that there are a lot of insurance com-
panies with job opportunities looking for employees. “Not a lot of universities offer an insurance and management course,” Burke said. “This gives them the opportunity to consider a career in insurance.”
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I enjoyed my experience here at UK and I wanted to give back another way rather than just writing a check.” BOB BURKE President and CEO of The Colonial Group The internship is an eight-week paid internship, in which the student spends four weeks working at The Colonial Group, a wholesale agency in Greensboro, NC, followed by four weeks at American Modern, an insurance carrier in
Cincinnati, Ohio. “We look for juniors or seniors or even graduate students who are not too sure what they want to do,” said Burke, who noted that the internship is offered to “one student at UK and one student from one of the universities in North Carolina.” Students who were interested sent in their resumes and from there were subject to a series of Skype interviews. “We plan on having the similar procedures to look for interns this year too,” Burke said. Casey Robinson was the first intern and was chosen out of those who applied to complete the eight-week internship last summer. Robinson graduated in 2014 with a mathematical economics degree and is currently working at ACS Healthcare Provider Solutions as a medical claims processor. “I wanted to see how the insurance business worked and this internship See INTERNSHIP on page 2
2 | Kentucky Kernel | 2.5.15
OPINIONS
We need to send a message of intolerance to terrorists JOSHUA HUFF Kernel Columnist
How many more ISIS executions do we have to sit through before the world decides that enough is enough? Apparently a few more. The video release of the execution of a Jordanian pilot on Tuesday exemplifies the barbaric nature of this militant group of warpedminded thugs. This comes after ISIS released a video over the weekend of the beheading of a Japanese hostage. President Barack Obama has since declared that the U.S. will redouble its efforts to degrade and defeat the group. What he doesn’t understand is that you don’t defeat a terrorist group like ISIS. The only way to win is to destroy them. With that, I have an issue with Obama’s statement about the coalition redoubling its efforts. Did he not know years ago how dangerous this group was? So why is it taking this long for our government to decide to take ISIS seriously? It follows a pattern that the U.S. has followed since after World War II. We thrust ourselves in pointless wars but ignore the important problems. Take Afghanistan and Iraq for example. No matter how you spin it, those wars will always be viewed as a waste of lives, time and money. However, we unfortu-
nately live in a time when we don’t fight conventional wars, we fight political wars. Politicians are clueless when it comes to war. Most politicians’ knowledge of war only goes as far as a Ken Burns documentary or a game of Risk. Yet we rely on them to make our decisions. It doesn’t help that the dissemination of information is filtered to the point that military leaders are relayed information that has risen through the chain of command with the negative information cut out. They, in turn, relay that watered-down information to politicians who then decide what to do.
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a residual force in Afghanistan to train them. Didn’t we train the same Iraqi soldiers who threw down their weapons and abandoned their posts when ISIS blew through? Is our memory that short? As Obama declares an end to the war in Afghanistan, he has decided that the growing ISIS problem is like chicken pox. It’s there, it’s noticeable, but god forbid you touch it. I have a hard time grasping the concept of leaving around 11,000 troops to train a dysfunctional and poorly funded army instead of attacking a growing problem. The U.S. remains the only super power in the world, a title that holds
You don’t effect change and defeat evil with the whisper of sweet nothings or by turning a blind eye.”
I’ve been on the ground in Afghanistan. I spent 12 months patrolling with the Afghan National Army and know exactly how they operate. They are poorly managed and are prone to quitting a mission in the middle of a patrol because they’d rather go back to the FOB (Forward Observation Base). In laymen’s terms, they are beyond help, and I have no idea where Washington is getting this information that everything is going well in Afghanistan. Yet, we choose to leave
weight in a world that looks up to power. Our priorities are skewed, however. We throw a blanket over crises like the continuous massacres by Boko Haram, push away Syrians who are being slaughtered by their government and offer only air support and advisers to fight ISIS. But we’ll happily jump into wars against Afghanistan and Iraq. The only way to destroy ISIS before executions become a weekly primetime special is by fighting their war.
One thing the U.S. should know by now is that there is no such thing as a fair fight. You won’t defeat terrorists with diplomacy or cutting their funding. People need to shove aside their aspirations of peace and harmony and realize that the world is not fair. You don’t effect change and defeat evil with the whisper of sweet nothings or by turning a blind eye. If the world is too scared to fight then something needs to be done to wrap minds around the danger that is growing, and the U.S. needs to lead that charge. I’m not saying we should hastily deploy troops because more young men shouldn’t be subjected to battle. But if we must send troops, then we need to prioritize where we send them, because ISIS and Boko Haram are greater threats than the Taliban in Afghanistan. It’s time to take off the gloves and send a statement to those who feel they can use the world as a playground for death and destruction. Much like a forest after a wildfire, the trees and flowers rise from the ruins and embrace a new life, a life with promise. Terrorism will never end, but sending a message of intolerance is a statement that will put thoughts of doubt into those who mean harm. Josh Huff is the sports editor of the Kentucky Kernel. Email jhuff@ kykernel.com.
Star Wars film adds women to cast ANNE HALLIWELL Kernel Columnist
To the optimistic sci-fi fan, it looks like the Star Wars franchise reboot is trying to make up for the initial lack of female characters in spades. Felicity Jones has been selected as the female lead for a stand-alone film to be released in December of 2016, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Io9.com writer Annalee Newitz wrote in April of last year that the initial Star Wars casting lineup included only one new actress: Daisy Ridley, whose character is still something of a mystery. “Having Ridley is great, but one new female lead in a cast of men? That's how we launch ourselves into the future of this series …?” Newitz wrote. “Are we seriously still pretending that the universe is comprised almost entirely of men (and mostly white men at that)? Mythic tales are supposed to open up possibilities, not shut them down.” Lucasfilm quickly announced the existence of more female characters and confirmed in June that Lupita Nyong’o and Gwendoline Christie will be part of the movie. The announcement about Jones, who, according to The Hollywood Reporter, beat out Rooney Mara and geek icon Tatiana Maslany (of “Orphan Black” fame) is the latest of what could be seen as a genuine attempt to include more of the female fanbase in movie decisions.
However, The Hollywood Reporter also stated that “the secrecy surrounding the project is thicker than the mists of Dagobah, and it is even unclear which character the stand-alone is focusing on.” By itself, this statement backs up what we already know about the franchise – that it’s not following any particular spinoff plot from the books or comics or character created after the first six movies. But. The inclusion of a few tentative possibilities to play the “male lead” in the movie immediately after that sentence leads me to believe that this announcement is not an announcement of more equal hiring practices. The Star Wars series has never been particularly good with female leads. Queen Amidala and Princess Leia are pretty much the only two women who can be considered to “star” in the first six movies. Just as an exercise, I suggest that you try to picture the second-most-famous female character from the movies. I came up with a bikiniclad Twilek. Closely followed by Anakin’s mother, Schmi. So while I hope that this recent casting news is a good sign for the movie universe, especially given all of the progress that the comics and books made in developing female Jedi and Sith, I think I’ll remain skeptical, for now. Anne Halliwell is the news editor of the Kentucky Kernel. Her column appears every Thursday. Email opinions@ kykernel.com.
NEWS
2016 election campaign debate troops to stop ISIS By David Lightman McClatchy Washington Bureau (MCT)
WASHINGTON _ The horrifying murder of a Jordanian pilot, made public this week, suggests that U.S. efforts to stop the Islamic State extremist group are ineffective, making it more likely that the 2016 election campaign will become a debate about ground troops. President Barack Obama has launched waves of airstrikes at Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria, but he steadfastly rules out sending ground troops into combat. Americans are increasingly worried about terrorist threats and want heightened readiness and a tough response. A recent Pew Research Center survey found combating terrorism inching ahead of the economy as Americans' top priority for Obama and Congress. Two-thirds were concerned that the Islamic State was a major threat to this country. The drumbeat of horrors keeps the apprehension fresh. The beheadings of hostages, the killings at the offices of satirical Parisbased magazine Charlie Hebdo and the burning alive of Jordanian Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh intensify the concern. Republicans, far more than Democrats, have for months sensed an opportunity to use terrorism policies to their advantage, and aren't relenting. Add to that the prospect of former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee, even though she was in office in 2011, when American forces killed terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden. “Republicans likely view her as being weak on foreign policy,” said Robinson. Clinton said last month that military action against Islamic terrorists was “critical.” She did not get more specific about U.S. ground troops. Republicans argue that weakness from the Obama administration, including the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq, allowed the rise of the Islamic State. “We should not be surprised,” former Virginia Gov. James Gilmore said of Tuesday's murder. “When the good guys step out and leave a void, the bad guys step in and fill it.” Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has been a supporter of U.S. airstrikes, though he said Obama had acted improperly by not seeking congressional authorization first. In December, he introduced a resolution providing that consent, which hasn't been taken up for a vote. It included a section limiting how ground forces could be used. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told a New York audience last fall that the rise of the Islamic State has come partly because of allies' inability to trust Obama and his policies. His office didn't respond to requests for comment.
CARTOON BY TYLER WORTHINGTON | STAFF
FROM THE FRONT PAGE
INTERNSHIP Continued from page 1
would allow me to shadow employees in different areas of insurance,” said Robinson in an article from UKNow. According to the article, Robinson said the most enjoyable part about the experience was “going on sales trips with the agents and learning how the different sales agents built rapport and
gained trust from customers.” After completing his internship, Robinson realized how, “math and economics were combined to solve real life problems.” Burke said he plans on offering this opportunity every year to an A&S student. “This is a good opportunity for them and it gives them a good exposure to the insurance sector,” Burke said.
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CLASSIFIEDS
For Rent 3 Bedroom 1-9 Bedroom 4 Bedroom 3 BR/3 full BA. Living room, dining room, family room, fireplace. All electric. $975/month. Call (859) 229-8515.
2 & 3 BR/2 BA deluxe apartments, 250 Lexington Ave. 8-minute walk to campus. Low utility bills. Available now, leasing for August 2015. Electric kitchen, coin laundry, assigned parking. Near High Street YMCA. No pets. $1,200/month. (859) 523-5331. 2-15 BR homes. Excellent service, variety of nice homes, locations all around campus, starting at $349/person. Leasing@KampusProperties.com. Call/Text (859) 333-1388. 8 BR/3 BA house off Rose Street. 3,850 square feet, parking. Available early summer. $2,200 per month. Also 5-6 BR house available. $1,750/month. Call (859) 948-5000. Condo, great security and great location. 1 BR/$645. 2 BR/$795. All utilities included, and a pool! Close to UK, St. Joe and Central Baptist. Call Brad at (859)983-0434. Downtown: 1 & 2 BR apartments starting at $550/month. Completely renovated and walking distance to all of what downtown has to offer. Call: (678) 982-3565, 636 W. Main St. Great properties for rent, walk to campus. W/D included. (859) 619-3232. www.myuk4rent.com.
Student Housing August 2015-16 1-6 bedrooms Great quality Good prices Better landlord Dennis (d.sills@live.com) www.sillsbrothers.com 859-983-0726 Walk to Campus Houses 1- 6 Bedroom. Wayne Michael is now pre-leasing 1-6BR houses for the Fall 2015 semester. www.waynemichaelproperties.com. (859) 513-1206.
WALK TO CAMPUS! 3-6 BR houses. Porches, parking, W/D, DW. Very nice! Waller, State, University area. Choose early for best selection. Lease begins 8/1/2015. (859)539-5502.
1 Bedroom
145 Virginia Ave. 1 BR/1 BA. Walk to campus. Available August. W/D, walk-in closets, parking. $850/month. Water, cable/internet included. (859)285-1361 or www.mpmlex.com. Large 1BR/1BA Apartments on Woodland Avenue. $495-$600/month, includes utilities. Please call (859) 552-4147.
2 Bedroom
4 BR/2 BA, 219B (back) University Ave. $1,600/mo. August. Call or text (859) 619-5454. 4 BR/2 BA, 323 Lafayette Avenue. $1,400/mo. August. Call or text (859) 619-5454. 4 BR/2.5 BA New Luxury townhouse on Broadway next to JDI Tavern. Designer kitchens, large bedrooms, all appliances, all electric, off-street parking. Walking distance to UK, security systems and garages. $575/student. (859) 489-0908. 4BR/3 BA duplex half available August. Near campus on Crescent Ave and Transcript. W/D, all appliances. Recently updated, new flooring. Parking. $1,500/month. Call Sarah (859) 559-2474.
5 Bedroom
5 BR houses. Large nice homes with private yards/decks, close to campus off Virginia/Broadway area. Ample parking. Excellent service. $349-$399/person. Leasing@KampusProperties.com. Call/Text (859)333-1388. Newer 2-5BR homes. Only a few left. Near UK. Pet friendly. From $349/person. www.lexingtonhomeconsultants.com Contact James McKee at (859) 221-7082 or jwmckeebroker@msn.com.
Attention
BAHAMAS SPRING BREAK: $189 - 5 days. All prices include: Round-trip luxury party cruise. Accommodations on the island at your choice of 13 resorts. Appalachia Travel, 1-800-867-5018. www.BahamaSun.com. Horse boarding. 10 minutes from Hamburg. Excellent care. Beautiful barn,all amenities. Indoor and outdoor training areas -turnout paddocks. Full care only. (859) 396-1506.
For Rent
Newer 2-5BR homes. Only a few left. Near UK. Pet friendly. From $349/person. www.lexingtonhomeconsultants.com Contact James McKee at (859) 221-7082 or jwmckeebroker@msn.com.
For Sale
Great Location! 1 BR/1 BA Condo- Walking distance to UK and downtown. Fully equipped Kitchen/Laundry. Monitored underground parking. Elevator entrance. $115,000. Call (859)552-7377.
2 BR/1BA, 211 Waller. Incudes all utilities, Wi-Fi, and W/D. $990/mo. August. Call or text (859) 619-5454. NOW LEASING FOR AUGUST. 2 BR/2 BA, W/D in unit. Horseman’s Lane. $675/month. Call (859) 948-3300.
Help Wanted
Commonwealth Eye Surgery is accepting applications for part-time Runner/Accounting Clerk. Ideal candidate will be a business or accounting major but will train the right person. Requires 10-15 hours/week but days and times are flexible. Email resume to Jenny Lackey at jlackey@commonwealtheyes.com. Great opportunity, make good money! Come work with us at Ramsey’s Diners. Now hiring part-time and full-time servers, all locations. Apply in person 3-5 p.m. Mon- Fri. 4101 Tates Creek Centre. 3090 Helmsdale Place (Andover.) 4391 Harrodsburg Rd. 151 W. Zandale (off Nicholasville Road.) O’Charley’s on Nicholasville Road now hiring enthusiastic FT/PT servers, guest assistants and cooks for a fun, fast-paced environment with flexible hours. Interested candidates may apply directly at www.ocharleys.jobs for the 212 Nicholasville Rd. location. Office Assistant- part-time, proofreading, computer work. Must have good social skills, good English. 20 hours a week, daytime. Email resume to 1adams08@insightbb.com. Pita Social is now hiring enthusiastic cashiers and cooks! We are offering a wide range of opportunity. Please email allison.briggs@shakespeareandco.us. PPM is now hiring Lifeguards, Pool Managers and Swim instructors. PPM is hiring for country clubs, water parks and Home owner associations in Lexington, Richmond, Winchester, Danville, Frankfort, Shelbyville, and Louisville areas. Pay ranges from $8.50-$15/hour. Email Brad at Brad40965@aol.com for application. Property management company seeks part-time leasing and office admin assistant. 20-30 hours per week. $10-12/hour. Please forward contact information and resume to mprentals@netbusiness.com. PT receptionist needed for property management company. Must have excellent computer and communication skills. Apply at 860 South Broadway, Lexington, KY 40504. PT sales clerk. Flexible hours. Must be able to work during the summer. Chevy Chase Hardware. Call (859) 269-9611. Researchers at the University of Kentucky are looking for individuals 21–34 years of age who have received a DUI in the last 5 years to participate in a study looking at behavioral and mental performance. Participants are compensated for their time and participation is completely confidential. For more information, call (859) 257-5794. Researchers at the University of Kentucky are conducting studies concerning the effects of alcohol and are looking for male & female social drinkers 21-35 years of age. Volunteers paid to participate. Call (859) 257-5794. Specialty foods and kitchen wares shop looking for part-time sales and deli help. Apply in person, 3323 Tates Creek Rd. Lansdowne Shoppes. Wanted: Volunteer Youth Football Coaches and Cheer Team Leaders for 2015. Contact (859) 559-9445 or lexingtontigersfootball@gmail.com for more details.
Call 859.257.2871 to place an ad | Ads can be found at kykernel.com DEADLINE - 3 p.m. the day before publication The Kentucky Kernel is not responsible for information given to fraudulent parties. We encourage you not to participate in anything for which you have to pay an up-front fee or give out credit card or other personal information, and to report the company to us immediately.
SUDOKU HOROSCOPE To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 9 — You see what needs to be done over the next two days. Edit your work now. Focus and discipline, especially with communications, pays off. Don't stumble over an old rule. Practical organization satisfies on many levels. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Talk gains more than action today. Go for substance over symbolism. Articulate what you want. Romance is a growing possibility over the next few days. Have fun and play creatively. Make practical, common sense plans and share them. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 7 — Home calls to you over the next two days. Costs on a domestic project may run higher than anticipated. Don't ask for favors now. Rethink practical issues. Repair an antique. Research and provide facts. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Things are starting to make sense. Discuss practical options with your team. Work out obvious wrinkles in the plan. An older individual offers useful information. Don't speculate or splurge. You're entering a learning phase. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Bring in the money over the next two days. You're gaining wisdom along with your pay. Tempers could flare. Friends offer good advice. Set priorities. Provide a practical perspective. Collaborate on a profitable venture. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 9 — Things seem to go your way over the next two days. You can find what you're looking for. Reject a far-fetched scheme in favor of practical solutions. Confirm plans for a job. Go for the gold!
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7 — Take time for peaceful contemplation. Confer with your team confidentially. Clarify your direction, and who will do what. Offer peacemaker skills. Be sensitive to another's view. Offer comfort and compassion (especially to yourself). Rest and relax. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Your team inspires you today and tomorrow. Heed a cautious person's warning. Wait to get a project moving... talk over all the angles first. Associates provide valuable input. Invest (at least your time) in a professional opportunity. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Watch out for bizarre requests. Stick to basic jobs that keep communications channels flowing. Clear your desk of clutter and file papers. Keep stashing your pennies. They add up. Don't bet the rent money. Express your wishes. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Get into planning a vacation or trip today and tomorrow. Further your own education. Allow time to reduce transportation costs. Research the best bargain, and get what you want. Review the budget before committing to reservations. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Set long-term goals over the next couple of days. Plan for upcoming expenses and revise the budget to suit. Notice the limitations under which you've been laboring. Your assumptions get challenged. Just talking really does help. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — Compromise and negotiate a situation that works for everyone involved. Less is definitely more at this time. Record your decisions. Some fantasies will have to go. Plan an upcoming gathering. Go for simple elegance.
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page 4 | 2.5.15
Joshua Huff | Sports Editor | jhuff@kykernel.com
Surprises abound on UK signing day Late additions bolster 2015 recruiting class hit with decommitments prior to national signing day By Kevin Erpenbeck kerpenbeck@kykernel.com
As national signing day concluded for UK, head coach Mark Stoops and his staff got the two JUCO transfer players they wanted as defensive lineman Courtney Miggins and Alvonte Bell committed to the Cats. Both players are transferring from Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, Miss. “Those guys are difference makers,” Stoops said of the Cats’ final signees of the day. “It was very important to get those guys and to land them. We went through some good recruiting battles to land those guys.” Both players’ commitments came as a surprise. UK was not considered the favorite to land Miggins, who is ranked the eighth-best JUCO defensive tackle in the nation by 247Sports.com, as the Lithonia, Ga., native had offers from both Mississippi State and N.C. State. Bell originally signed with UK in 2013, but did not qualify to enroll at the school at the time. The defensive end from Miramar, Fla., had offers from Florida State, Notre Dame and
Mississippi State. Stoops said he likes Bell’s explosiveness off of the line, something the coach was looking for in a defensive lineman in this year’s recruiting class. The Cats will need a pass rusher to fill the void recent-graduate Bud Dupree left. Dupree led the team in sacks last season with 7.5. “He's a very good football player, very explosive,” Stoops said of Bell. “Our coaches have gone (to Pearl River) and watched him practice and (have) been around him. We feel like he's got a very bright future.” Defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot said the coaching staff wanted to remain quiet about recruiting Bell so that other programs wouldn’t snatch up the previously-committed UK signee. “You never really want anybody to know what your plan is or who you want,” Ellot said. “There wasn’t a lot of media hype about him. He’ll get all his hype on Saturdays.” Overall, the Cats had 23 commitments in the 2015 recruiting class, including Javon Provitt (Warren, Ohio) and Kengera Daniel (Raleigh, N.C.) rounding out the new defensive line.
Recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow said the days leading up to national signing day were stressful, but is ultimately proud of the work the coaching staff did in collecting such highly coveted players. “When we get commitments, we hold them. We don’t recruit other people at that position,” Marrow said. “We’re fishing in the right water. You want to be with that. That’s the type of people you’re going to recruit from here on out.” Other news During Stoops’ press conference, it was announced that Andy Buh, former California defensive coordinator, was hired to be UK’s new outside linebackers coach. Buh fills in the coaching spot vacated by former safeties and special teams coach Craig Naivar, who left the program in December. However, Buh will not be taking over the special teams coordinator position, as Stoops said the responsibilities of the job will be handled collectively by the coaching staff. Stoops also said that he and cornerbacks coach Derrick Ansley will coach the entire secondary in 2015.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MITCH DEAVER OF PEARL RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Defense end Alvonte Bell makes a tackle while playing for Pearl River Community College. He commited to UK Wednesday.
After slow start, Villanova finds form, defeats Marquette, 70-52 Golden Eagles struggle against Wildcat defense in second half By Joe Juliano Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)
PHOTO BY YONG KIM | PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS
Villanova's Darrun Hilliard (4) drives past Marquette's Sandy Cohen III in the first half at the Wells Fargo Centerin Philadelphia on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015.
Villanova and Marquette began Wednesday night's Big East game with some of the worst basketball seen all season at the Wells Fargo Center _ yes, even worse than anything the 76ers have displayed. But the seventh-ranked Wildcats managed to pick up their game a little bit and capitalized on poor shooting by the Golden Eagles to post their 20th victory of the season, defeating the visitors, 70-52, before an announced crowd of 13,313. Ryan Arcidiacono continued his run of fine shooting, scoring 18 points
FROM THE FRONT PAGE
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Conrad to have an immediate impact but will need to be more physical. Especially in a new offensive system that will utilize the tight end positon more than past UK teams. As the confidence in the tight end position grows, the expectations for the receiving core have risen to new levels this offseason as the additions of 6-foot-6 Therrell Gosier, 6-foot-3 Jabari Greenwood and 6-foot-3 Will Jackson add unprecedented size to a position that has seen little size at the position the past few years. Along with 6-foot-5 Blake Bone and 6-foot-3 Dorian Backer, UK quarterback Patrick Towles will have plenty of opportunities to spread the field and throw it deep.
“Another group you see great length and great size in is the wide receiver position,” Stoops said. “Two guys in the 6-foot-3 range and one guy in the 6-foot-6 range. Once again we’re starting to build a quality group of receivers.” The unspoken heroes of the offense, the offensive line, also benefited from upgrades in the 2015 class. Stoops and Co. added four new linemen who bring quality depth to a position that struggled last season in SEC play. “Offensively, four offensive linemen is always important to continue to build quality depth and get solid class after solid class with offensive lineman.” The addition of size on the line was the focus this offseason. The addition of 6-foot-4, 310-pound Asafo-Adjei, who enrolled early to get a jump at
playing next season, will bolster an offensive line that lost Darrian Miller to graduation. “He looks as good, if not better, than anybody we have on our team, and he’s only been here for two weeks,” Stoops said. “I thought highly of Asafo-Adjei,” Dawson added. “He was one of the guys that stuck out and he has a bright future.” Despite late decommitments, UK has rebounded with a solid 2015 class that ranks 35th in the nation according to 247Sports.com. However, UK is ranked 12th out of 14 in the SEC, ahead of only Florida and Vanderbilt. But optimism still rises above the madness that is signing day. “The first year we sold hope,” Marrow said. “The second year was more about getting need. Now we need to start winning.”
Go Green. Recycle this Kernel.
as the Wildcats (20-2, 7-2) overcame a 2-of-11, sixturnover start in the opening 8 { minutes of the contest. They led, 36-19, at the half and led by as many as 24 in the second half. Jajuan Johnson led the Golden Eagles (10-12, 28) with 10 points. Matt Carlino, who came in averaging 18 points in Big East play, scored just nine. Villanova turned the ball over on five of its first seven possessions to set the tone for the early portions of the game. When a media timeout was called with 11 minutes, 34 seconds left, the two teams had combined to shoot 5 of 26 from the field and
turned the ball over 10 times, with the Wildcats holding a 7-6 lead. The game was tied at 12 when the Wildcats held the Golden Eagles scoreless for more than five minutes and scored 12 straight points. Darrun Hilliard fueled the run with seven points, including a pair of free throws that gave 'Nova a 24-12 lead with 6:05 left. After a 3-point basket by Johnson for Marquette, the Wildcats scored the next seven points, including Arcidiacono's 3-pointer. Villanova took its largest lead, 36-16, on Phil Booth's layup with 21 seconds to play before Carlino's three-ball made it a 17-point game at the half. The Golden Eagles scored the first five points of the second half to give
them some hope, but the Wildcats responded with a 14-2 run that featured four points each from Arcidiacono, JayVaughn Pinkston and Josh Hart and gave 'Nova a 50-26 lead with 12:16 remaining. Marquette never got closer than 16 after that. The Golden Eagles shot 35 percent from the field, while the Wildcats hit 37.7 percent. Villanova placed four other players in double figures _ Hilliard with 12, Hart with 11 and Booth and Pinkston with 10 each. The Golden Eagles struggled against the defense of Villanova, at one point going 11-straight possessions without a basket over a nearly sevenminute span. Villanova used a 10-0 run to take control.
Syracuse bans basketball team from post season By James Qually Los Angeles Times (TNS)
Syracuse University announced a decision to ban its men's basketball team from the 2015 NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference tournaments, citing an ongoing investigation into possible team infractions. In a statement released Wednesday, school officials said the self-imposed ban had to do with “potential violations” that the university reported to the NCAA in 2007. Most of the potential misconduct occurred years ago and none of the allegations involved any studentathletes currently affiliated with the school, according to the statement. “The university has taken this matter seriously and
worked with the NCAA for nearly eight years to investigate and address potential rules violations. The process has been exhaustive,” Chancellor Kent Syverud said in the statement. “We have taken responsibility for past violations and worked hard to ensure they are not repeated. I am disappointed for our current men's basketball players who must shoulder this postseason ban.” The school declined to elaborate on the nature of the possible infractions, citing the ongoing NCAA probe. The school last faced controversy during the 2012 NCAA tournament, when center Fab Melo was ruled ineligible. The Orangemen, who have reached the NCAA
tournament the last six years in a row and advanced to the Final Four in 2013, were no lock to crack the field of 68 this season. The team has not been ranked in the Associated Press top 25 since November and had a middling record of 15-7 as of Wednesday. The ACC tournament will feature 14 teams this year, with Syracuse dropped from the field that will compete for an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. League Commissioner John Swofford applauded the college's decision. “We are fully supportive of Syracuse and its decision to self-impose sanctions by removing themselves from any men's basketball postseason opportunities,” Swofford said in a statement.
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