Third and Long

NASHVILLE — For the second-straight season five different Ohio Valley Conference schools received at least one first-place vote in the OVC preseason poll while Jacksonville State picked up the most first-place votes (11) and was tabbed the 2010 OVC preseason favorites in a vote of league head coaches and sports information directors.
The 11 votes were out of 18 total votes, putting the Gamecocks (120 points) atop the preseason poll for the third time since joining the league in 2003. Eastern Illinois, last year?s champion, picked up four first-place votes (114 total points) and were just six total points behind Jax State. Eastern Kentucky (102 points), Tennessee Tech (78 points) and Tennessee State (70 points) each received one first-place vote apiece and were picked third, fourth and fifth respectively. The preseason poll was rounded out by UT Martin (59), Austin Peay and Southeast Missouri tying for seventh (38) and Murray State (29).
Jacksonville State finished with the best record in the OVC last season (8-3 overall, 6-1 OVC) but was ineligible for the Conference crown because of a NCAA postseason ban due to an APR penalty. The Gamecocks, however, are once again eligible for the title and NCAA postseason this season and will look to win its third OVC crown with a group of 46 returning letterwinners.
After being picked first in each of the past two seasons Eastern Kentucky was tabbed third this year. The Colonels struggled down the stretch last year losing its last three games and four of its last five contests to finish at 5-6, the first losing season for the program since 1972.
Despite the late skid, EKU was in the thick of the OVC race and would have shared the overall championship had the team topped Jacksonville State on the final weekend of the season. Eastern will look to sophomore quarterback T.J. Pryor to lead the offensive attack. Last season Pryor picked up OVC Freshman of the Year honors after finishing fourth in the league with 2,153 passing yards and accounting for 10 total touchdowns. Despite having just five starters back on offense, Eastern has eight of 11 starters back on the defensive side of the ball, a strength under defensive-minded head coach Dean Hood.
Among those starters are three preseason All-OVC selections in senior defensive lineman Andrew Soucy, senior linebacker Jordan Dalrymple and junior cornerback Jeremy Caldwell. Caldwell has been named to the Sports Network’s Buck Buchanan Watch List, an award given to the nation’s top FCS defensive player. Caldwell had seven interceptions in 2009, a mark that ranked fourth nationally.

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The predicted order of finish in the SEC by reporters who covered the league’s media days, with first-place votes in parentheses and total points:
SEC Champion — Alabama (143), Florida (17), Auburn (7), Arkansas (3), Ole Miss (2), Georgia (2), LSU (1), South Carolina (1), Kentucky (1).
Western Division:
1. Alabama (157) 1034
2. Arkansas (6) 726
3. Auburn (10) 691
4. LSU (1) 653
5. Mississippi St. 320
6. Mississippi (3) 293
Eastern Division:
1. Florida (153) 1030
2. Georgia (15) 791
3. South Carolina (8) 790
4. Kentucky 462
5. Tennessee 450
6. Vanderbilt (1) 194

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CINCINNATI (AP) — The black Mizuno bat that Pete Rose used to get his final hit has been auctioned for $158,776, well below what was expected for the 32 ounces of baseball history.
Rose used the bat for hit No. 4,256 in 1986, the major league record.
Lelands.com auctioned the bat online this month. Seven bids were received.
Lelands.com president Mike Heffner expected the bat to fetch a bigger price. He thinks the tough economy and Rose’s controversies — he’s got a lifetime ban for betting on baseball — held down the price. The record for an auctioned bat is $1.3 million, paid for one that Babe Ruth used to hit his first homer at Yankee Stadium.

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HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Robbie Caldwell’s season of firsts started with his initial trip to SEC media days.
The very new Vanderbilt interim head coach’s assessment: “Awesome.” Caldwell was promoted to the head job after Bobby Johnson announced his retirement on July 14.
Caldwell says he and his staff are professionals and aren’t worrying about the interim tags.
Besides, the 56-year-old has been an interim head coach before: of a high school baseball team. He says that team went 14-2 under his guidance.
Caldwell says all Vanderbilt officials told him about the future is that they’re behind him 100 percent.
He joked that nobody knows who he is — including the other head coaches.

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HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Alabama coach Nick Saban is more of a look-ahead kind of guy, but right now he’d settle for his players focusing on the present and not the past.
“Is it 2010? Am I right about that?” Saban asked Wednesday at Southeastern Conference media days. “Because everything I hear has always been about last year. I’m going to make sure that we’re going to talk about this year.”
The defending national champion Crimson Tide are regarded as the preseason favorites to win again, but Saban said you can’t do that while looking in the rearview mirror.
Quarterback Greg McElroy said Tide players understand that.
“It was a great run, great memories that we’ll have for the rest of our lives,” McElroy said. “If you look at us, none of us are wearing our (championship) rings. We understand that whatever happened last year isn’t going to give us an advantage this year.”
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FLORIDA FRESHMEN: Florida coach Urban Meyer isn’t telling his freshmen to hurry up and wait.
The Gators brought in the top-rated recruiting class in the country to help replenish a team that lost three players to the first round of the NFL draft, including quarterback Tim Tebow.
“There was no discussion about redshirting,” Meyer said. “If that comes up, we don’t get that young man and move on. We’re gonna play you.
“If you don’t play at Florida, it’s because you’re not good enough to play, it’s not because we’re saving you for down the road.”
The Gators certainly brought in some highly regarded players, including defensive end Ronald Powell, who was rated the No. 1 prospect in the country by Rivals.com.
“We lost some key players, but we’ve got a lot of young guys that are going to step up and prove themselves this year,” offensive lineman Mike Pouncey said.
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MULLEN OVER: Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen thinks both his team and quarterback Chris Relf have taken a big step forward going into the coach’s second season.
The Bulldogs coach said finishing his first year with a win over Mississippi — or, as he says, “that school up north” — helped his players believe they can win any game they play.
“They’re not just going to play hard and battle teams for four quarters, they’re going to find a way to win games and get us to championship level this season,” Mullen said.
Offensive lineman Quentin Saulsberry said there’s more of a comfort now.
“Everybody is more confident,” Saulsberry said. “People are playing under control and not just going wild, going 100 percent but not going in the right place. Now we’re going in the right direction to the right place and doing the right things, at 100 percent.”
Mullen said that Relf returns as a completely different player, while redshirt freshman Tyler Russell is also expected to vie for the job at quarterback.
He also might try to get more tailbacks involved after the departure of Anthony Dixon.
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MISSING KIFFIN: SEC commissioner Mike Slive is happy to have coach Derek Dooley at Tennessee. So is Florida coach Urban Meyer.
“I want to welcome coach Dooley back to the SEC,” Slive said, grinning, “and when I say welcome, I mean welcome.”
It was a not-so-subtle dig at former Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin, who had some run-ins with Slive — and Meyer — during his year with the Vols. Kiffin has since left to coach at Southern California, or as Slive put it, “return to his western roots.”
Neither Slive nor Meyer mentioned Kiffin by name, though the Florida coach was asked for his reaction and who he “high-fived” when he heard that the Trojans were placed on four years of probation for NCAA violations in June.
“I’ll let the commissioner handle that one,” Meyer said, smiling. “Nah, no comment.”
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OPERATION WIN: Joker Phillips sees plenty of reason to believe his so-called “Operation Win” plan is on track.
The first-year Kentucky coach said recruiting for next year’s signing class is at “an all-time high.” Phillips the Wildcats have received 14 verbal commitments from recruits, a dozen more than last year at the same time.
Phillips even sees the three-man quarterback competition as a positive. He said there’s not enough separation among senior Mike Hartline, sophomore Morgan Newton and redshirt freshman Ryan Mossakowski to pick a starter going into fall camp.
Phillips also predicted that wildcat quarterback/receiver/return man Randall Cobb will be “the sorest player in the league” because of his many roles.
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QUOTABLE: “In the future, there may well be continued interest in conference expansion for some,” Slive said. “If that happens, we should take the opportunity to assess the values shared by intercollegiate athletics and higher education. This assessment needs to go beyond television sets, contract revenues and market share. It needs to include the potential impact on conference cultures, on the lives of student-athletes, on the impact to our respective communities, and on the collegiate model as we have come to know and appreciate.”

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LEXINGTON – The University of Kentucky announced six inductees into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame. The class includes former UK student-athletes Mike Casey (men’s basketball), Steve Flesch (men’s golf), Nancy Napolski Johnson (rifle), Billy Ray Lickert (men’s basketball), Valerie McGovern Young (cross country, track and field) and Tayshaun Prince (men’s basketball).
The class will be formally inducted during Hall of Fame Weekend, Sept. 10-11, in conjunction with the football game against Western Kentucky.

Mike Casey (1968-69, 71) was a three-time first-team All-SEC (1968, 1969 and 1971) selection in men’s basketball. He finished his career with 1,535 points, currently ranking 13th all-time on UK’s illustrious list of top scorers. Casey averaged 17.0 points or more in all three seasons with the Wildcats, including a team-high 20.0 in his first year on the varsity team. The former guard led the team in assists during the 1968-69 season with 129 assists, in addition to leading the team in field-goal percentage (.489) and free-throw percentage (.823) during the 1967-68 season. Casey helped UK win three SEC championships, earn an Elite Eight appearance and also earned Academic All-America and All-SEC honors in 1971. He was named Kentucky’s High School Mr. Basketball in 1966 and was drafted in the eighth round (130th overall) in the 1970 NBA Draft by Chicago.

Steve Flesch (1987-90) played at UK from 1986-87 through 1989-90 and ranks among the top 40 golfers on the all-time PGA Tour career-earnings list. Flesch has won more than $17 million as a professional and has four PGA victories, the 2003 HP Classic of New Orleans, the 2004 Bank of America Colonial, the 2007 Reno-Tahoe Open and the 2007 Turning Stone Resort Championship. He turned pro in 1990 on the Nationwide Tour and won the Nike Tour Championship in 1997, earning exempt status on the PGA Tour in 1998. In 2001, Flesch ranked second behind Tiger Woods in top-10 finishes with 13. One of three UK medalists in Johnny Owens Invitational history, he was a two-year member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and named to the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame.

Nancy Napolski Johnson (1993-96) was a UK Rifle All-American and Olympic gold-medal winner for the United States. She captured the individual national championship in air rifle in 1994 and was a three-time first-team All-American (1994, 1995 and 1996). Napolski Johnson led the team to three consecutive third-place finishes at the NCAA Championships from 1994-96. She continued competitive shooting after her collegiate career and won the gold medal in women’s 10-meter air rifle in the 2000 Olympics. She also went on to win gold medals at several other international events.

Billy Ray Lickert (1959-61) was a three-time, first-team All-SEC selection in men’s basketball, including a second-team All-America selection by the Helms Foundation in 1961. He ranks 47th on Kentucky’s all-time scoring list with 1,076 points. Lickert was named to the 1961 NCAA All-Region Team and led the team in scoring during the 1959-60 and 1960-61 seasons, averaging 14.4 points per game in his junior year and 16.0 in his senior campaign. He finished his career with a 14.7 scoring average and was also UK’s leader in field-goal percentage in 1959-60 (.401) and 1960-61 (.420). Named the SEC “Sophomore of the Year” following the 1959 season, his team advanced to two NCAA Tournaments during his three years. Lickert was drafted in the fifth round (No. 45 overall) of the 1961 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Valerie McGovern Young (1988-91) won three individual national championships in the 5,000-meter run and was the leader of the 1988 cross country team that won the NCAA national championship. McGovern Young was UK’s top performer at the 1988 national meet, finishing second individually. An eight-time All-American in cross country and track, McGovern Young won eight individual SEC championships, including cross country, 3,000-meter indoor, 5,000-meter indoor (twice), 3,000-meter outdoor (twice) and 5,000-meter outdoor (twice). She still holds five UK track records: 3,000-, 5,000- and 10,000-meter outdoor and the 3,000- and 5,000-meter indoor.

Tayshaun Prince (1999-02) was a two-time men’s basketball Associated Press All-American, garnering second-team honors in 2001 and third-team honors in 2002. Prince was named the SEC Player of the Year in the 2000-01 season by both the AP and the league’s coaches and was a three-time All-SEC selection (2000, 2001 and 2002). He ranks eighth on UK’s all-time scoring list with 1,775 points and third on UK’s all-time 3-point field goals made list with 204. Prince helped lead the Wildcats to three Sweet 16 appearances (1999, 2001 and 2002) and an Elite Eight appearance (1999). He was drafted in the first round (23rd overall) in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. Prince helped lead Detroit to the 2004 NBA Championship and was named to the NBA’s 2005 All-Defensive second team. He was also a member of the 2008 gold-medal Olympic team.

The UK Athletics Hall of Fame was started in 2005 to recognize and honor persons whose participation and contributions enriched and strengthened the University’s athletic program. The charter class included 88 individuals who had previously had their jersey retired by UK.
There is a five-year waiting period – after leaving UK – to be eligible for inclusion into the Hall of Fame and a 10-year waiting period to have a jersey retired. An individual must be a member of the Hall of Fame to be eligible for jersey retirement.
A committee consisting of Hall of Famers, media members, campus representatives, and current coaches and administrators elects new inductees each year.

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I remember the first time I saw Melvin Turpin. He was tall and and seemed liked a giant. That was in 1980 when I was nine and he was just starting his career at the University of Kentucky.
I still have a picture of me with Turpin and Fred Cowan when several Kentucky players and retired coach Joe B. Hall made an appearance at the Richmond City Park during a “Meals on Wheels” benefit. As you would imagine, I was starstruck and so happy when members of the team and coach Hall signed my program. I still have the program and the picture.
On that very day, I became a big fan of “Dinner Bell Mel” and he became one of my favorite players when I was young. My first-ever game at Rupp Arena was in 1984 when Turpin and Sam Bowie formed the “Twin Towers.” I don’t remember who Kentucky played that night, but I do remember purchasing a game program and a poster with a picture of Bowie and Turpin overlooking Seattle, site of the Final Four that year. I also watched plenty of games on television, many on tape delay and cheered on the Wildcats while others in the house thought I was asleep.
Bowie battled injuries for most of his career at Kentucky, but Turpin developed into an inside force and made a name for himself in the post and was a consistent player.
Turpin passed away Thursday at his home at the age of 49 and will forever been remembered in my mind as a gentle giant. Rest in Peace, Melvin.

Barnhart, Calipari speak on Turpin’s passing

University of Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart issued a statement through the university on the passing of Turpin.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Melvin Turpin,” he said. “Our hearts and prayers are with his family and friends as they mourn their loss. The University of Kentucky and the Big Blue Nation will forever remember Melvin and all his contributions to our basketball program.”
Current men’s basketball coach John Calipari also issued words of condolences to the family and Big Blue Nation.
“I want to express my deepest sympathy to all of Melvin Turpin’s family and friends,” he said. “I also pray for their strength during this time of grief.”

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The annual University of Kentucky Football Kickoff Luncheon has been set for Friday, July 30, at the Lexington Convention Center.
During the luncheon, fans will hear coach Joker Phillips’ plans for his first season as head coach of the Wildcats. Fans also will have the opportunity to ask questions of the head coach. The event is capped by the always-popular highlight video, which displays the successes of the 2009 season and the Wildcats’ fourth-consecutive bowl trip.
Fans interested in attending should make their reservations now as seating is limited. For reservations, contact Leslie Bray at leslie.bray@uky.edu or (859) 257-2589.

— Individual tickets cost $40 each and a table for 10 costs $400.
— The event is on July 30 from noon to 1:30 p.m. and will be in the Heritage Ballroom of the Convention Center.
— Free parking is available in the Cox Street lot located next to the Convention Center-Rupp Arena complex. The Cox Street lot is on the same level as the event and is the most convenient place to park.
— Paid parking is available in the High Street lot across from Rupp Arena.
— Business casual attire is appropriate.

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What we know: LeBron James is a free agent.
What we don’t know: What team James will play for in the future. For the time being, James has made one decision and opened up a twitter account today and the following story was released by the Associated Press:

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — LeBron James has made one decision — he joined Twitter.
The NBA’s most ballyhooed free agent opened an account on the social networking site Tuesday. Publicist Keith Estabrook confirmed the monicker kingjames is indeed LeBron. It is not known if James will post his own messages or have someone do it for him.
James had been reluctant to join Twitter or Facebook and had even joked in the past about how other athletes discussed their personal lives online.
New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul, one of James’ closest friends, posted on Twitter at midday today that while he couldn’t persuade the two-time MVP to tell him which team he’ll sign with, he talked him into joining the service. Less than an hour after Paul’s tweet, James had nearly 18,000 followers — even though he had yet to make a single post.
By 2:30 p.m., James had nearly 60,000 followers.
Under the bio heading on James’ page it reads: King of Akron.
James has yet to announce where he’ll play next season, a decision that could affect the future of several franchises and the city of Cleveland’s economy. The 25-year-old Akron native has spent his first seven seasons as a pro with the Cavaliers.

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