Tuesday, October 16, 2001
UK may turn back to Lorenzen
QB likely starter for Georgia game
The Louisville Courier-Journal
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Freshman Shane Boyd is still the University of Kentucky quarterback for the future, but sophomore Jared Lorenzen might once again be the QB of the present.
Coach Guy Morriss didn't announce another QB change during Monday, but he hinted that one is coming at practice today.
Lorenzen (Highlands High) started the season-opening loss to Louisville, but Boyd started the next five game, including last Saturday's 29-25 home loss to Louisiana State. Lorenzen replaced Boyd in the third quarter of that game and nearly led the Wildcats to an upset. He directed two 80-yard touchdown drives that turned a 22-10 deficit into a 25-22 lead before LSU scored in the final seconds to drop the Wildcats' record to 1-5, 0-4 in the Southeastern Conference.
Kentucky will play at 17th-ranked Georgia (4-1, 3-1) Saturday. Last year Lorenzen threw for a school-record 528 yards in a 34-30 home loss to the Bulldogs. Morriss said last year's performance against Georgia wouldn't be a factor in determining whether Lorenzen or Boyd starts Saturday.
What will be a factor is what Lorenzen did in relief against LSU.
“I'd like for him to play more,” Morriss said of Lorenzen. “I think he's stepped up. He's seeing some things better now. Obviously, he came off the bench Saturday and did a good job for us. I think he's really growing.”
Morriss stopped short, however, of making the change official.
He said he met with both quarterbacks Sunday and reviewed the LSU game films. The team did not practice Monday.
“We'll probably make some kind of announcement after practice (today),” Morriss told reporters. “You come out and watch practice. You're smart enough to know who's going to start anyway. I can't keep any secrets there. I just want a chance to talk to both of them before we get on the practice field.”
Boyd completed 17 of 31 passes against LSU, and Morriss said four of the misses were drops. For the season he's completed 55 percent of his throws. He also ran for 41 yards against the Tigers, including 13 yards for Kentucky's first TD. But Boyd also threw two interceptions and now has more interceptions (six) than TD passes (four).
Lorenzen hit six of his first eight attempts (he finished 6 of 11 for 146 yards), including TDs of 31 yards to Aaron Boone and 23 to Derek Abney.
“I think Jared coming in and giving us a spark was the big thing,” said UK defensive end Dennis Johnson when asked about the second-half turnaround. “He came in, threw the ball down the field, made a few plays and the fans got into it.”
“He gave us a spark,” agreed tight end Derek Smith, another Highlands product, who had his best game of the season with five catches for 65 yards. “Any time you get a change, it helps mentally.”
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UK may turn back to Lorenzen
