Don Owen: As college sports resume around the nation, NKU harriers patiently wait out pandemic
For the second time in his career, Steve Kruse is watching helplessly as a bizarre situation has canceled Northern Kentucky University’s cross country season.
As a collegiate runner, Kruse witnessed a devastating budget cut at NKU that resulted in the elimination of the cross country program in 1981. It caused the Oak Hills High School graduate to leave NKU after his sophomore year. As a result,...
Keith Taylor: Football is back, and it looks like a break-even season for UK against tough SEC
Kentucky will step into unchartered water and right into Southeastern Conference play when the season kicks off this Saturday at Auburn.
After weeks and months of debate, the Wildcats will join the rest of the league and provide a dose of normalcy as the nation recovers from a pandemic that has crippled sports and society as a whole since March.
What remains to be seen is if the conference can complete...
Prep Sports Notebook: Cooper golfer remains on top in all-state point standings following latest victories
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Rylan Wotherspoon of Cooper will remain on top in the Mr. Kentucky Golf point standings after winning the Kentucky Golf Coaches Association All-State Tournament over the weekend in Lexington.
The junior finished the 36-hole tournament at the University Club of Kentucky with a 3-under 140 and won the medalist trophy by a two-stroke margin. He carded a 3-under...
Seven UK football players voted preseason All-SEC; Duffy, Jackson, Kinnard named to first team
Seven University of Kentucky football players have been voted to the All-Southeastern Conference preseason team by league coaches. SEC coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Three UK standouts — center Drake Jackson, punter Max Duffy and offensive tackle Darian Kinnard — earned first-team honors, while offensive tackle Landon Young was named to the second team. In addition, three...
Billy Reed: Just when I was thinking some people had good sense, we find out it really is about the money
Yes, that was heartfelt applause you heard coming from this corner when two of the country’s major college sports conferences, the Big Ten and the Pac-12, announced their teams would not play football this fall due to concerns about the coronavirus.
Finally, I thought, we have some universities who put the health and welfare of their athletes above the money that football generates. Finally, I thought,...
No. 17 Miami (Fla.) uses big plays to sprint past No. 18 Louisville 47-34 in ACC opener Saturday night
NKyTribune staff
LOUISVILLE — While playing at the University of Houston, D’Eriq King was known for producing touchdowns and big yardage.
He’s now doing the same thing for Miami (Fla.).
King threw three touchdown passes and No. 17 Miami used big plays to defeat No. 18 Louisville 47-34 on Saturday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams. The transfer from Houston tossed...
Kentucky Downs enjoys another record-breaking meet with total betting at $59,828,444 on 62 races
By Jennie Rees and Dick Downey
Kentucky Downs
Even before Saffie Joseph won Wednesday’s eighth race with Sugar Fix on closing day of the RUNHAPPY Meet at Kentucky Downs, the trainer’s thoughts had turned to next year.
“First meet here. I love it,” said Joseph, one of America’s fast-rising trainers who this summer expanded his East Coast base to include Kentucky. “It’s a cool setting,...
Dixie Heights falls in final seconds at Corbin; Highlands, Conner, Lexington Christian notch wins
NKyTribune staff
With less than a minute remaining Friday night, Dixie Heights appeared on the verge of knocking off host Corbin in the Cumberland Falls Pigskin Classic.
Corbin trailed 22-20 when quarterback Cameron Combs connected with Treyveon Longmire for a 74-yard touchdown pass that lifted the Redhounds to a 26-22 victory over a stunned Dixie Heights squad. Longmire’s decisive touchdown...
CovCath keeps two winning streaks alive with strong second-half performance against Beechwood
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Last week, Covington Catholic’s football team nearly lost its season-opening game against Dixie Heights due to a shaky performance in the second half, but the Colonels finished strong Friday to come away with a 19-17 win over the visiting Beechwood Tigers.
CovCath outscored Beechwood, 10-0, in the final two quarters to post its 17th consecutive victory...
Mack excited, Louisville players ‘relieved’ to finally have tipoff date for upcoming basketball season
By Russ Brown
Kentucky Today
Louisville basketball coach Chris Mack will be dealing with some massive scheduling headaches for the 2020-21 season during the next week or so, but he’s not complaining. Far from it.
Mack was just glad to get the news Wednesday night that the NCAA had finally decided when teams can tip off the season, bumping the starting day back two weeks from Nov. 10 to Nov. 25...
CovCath plays Beechwood riding 16-game winning streak; Highlands (0-1) faces tough test at Ryle (1-0)
By Don Owen
NKyTribune sports editor
The post-Michael Mayer era began for Covington Catholic last Friday night, and the Colonels survived an upset attempt at Dixie Heights.
Now, can the defending Class 5A state champions do it again this week against another neighborhood rival — Beechwood? The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday in Park Hills.
Playing without the graduated Mayer — last season’s...
Don Owen: While NKU celebrates 50 years of sports, check out this top 50 in Norse athletics history
For those who aren’t aware, Northern Kentucky University is celebrating its 50th anniversary of intercollegiate athletics during the 2020-21 academic year.
NKU’s fall sports have been sidelined by the pandemic, but there is guarded optimism that basketball season will proceed in November or December. In the meantime, the 50th anniversary of NKU sports is an excellent diversion from all the current...
Louisville enters national rankings for first time since 2017; Smith receives weekly honor from ACC
NKyTribune staff
The University of Louisville football team has entered the national rankings following Saturday’s season-opening 35-21 victory over Western Kentucky.
The Cardinals moved into the Top 20 of both polls, ranking No. 16 in the Amway Coaches Poll and No. 18 in the Associated Press Poll. Louisville is nationally ranked for the first time since Oct. 1, 2017.
Louisville plays host to...
Former NKU star Walton inks professional contract in Finland; averaged 16.1 points as a senior
By Bryan McEldowney
Northern Kentucky University
Recent Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball graduate Dantez Walton signed his first professional contract to play for Kataja Basket Club in Joensuu, Finland, which competes in the top Finnish league Korisliiga.
“Personally, I think this is a great start to the beginning of my career as a pro athlete,” said Walton. “This is a top league,...
UK thin at certain positions, but depth chart ‘manageable’ following final scrimmage of camp
By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops had to change his plans during his team’s third and final scrimmage of fall workouts Saturday.
“We’re thin at certain positions and we did have to look at that and alter some of the scrimmage today,” he said. “We’re getting thin at a few spots and positions with injuries and COVID-19. Everything is still manageable at this point...
