Sports

LEXINGTON – D.J. Eliot, who played a key role in the dramatic defensive turnaround at Florida State under Mark Stoops, has joined Stoops’ Kentucky staff as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, the new UK head coach announced Thursday.

Kentucky's new football coach already has a posse. "Stoops' Troops" is the fastest-growing student group on campus, President Eli Capilouto said as Mark Stoops was formally introduced to the Big Blue Nation during a Sunday news conference in Nutter Field House. Stoops, defensive coordinator at Florida State for the past three seasons, agreed last Monday night to take over the UK program and was named to the post Tuesday.

Eastern Kentucky University’s men’s basketball team will try this week to best a record set in the mid 1960’s.  That’s the last time the Colonels won more than seven games in a row.  E-K-U has opened this season with seven straight wins, the latest, a frantic last second win over Western Carolina Saturday night 72-70.  Tuesday, Eastern goes on the road for the first time this season with a game against North Carolina Central.

The University of Louisville will leave the Big East Conference and join the Atlantic Coast Conference, according to ESPN. U of L would become the sixth former Big East school to leave for the ACC, according to ESPN.com. The sports network reports ACC presidents and chancellors voted to add U of L Wednesday morning to replace Maryland which had announced its departure for the Big Ten in 2014.

LEXINGTON – Mark Stoops, who oversaw dramatic improvements as defensive coordinator at Florida State and Arizona, and has turned FSU into one of the nation’s top defenses, has been named head football coach at the University of Kentucky, UK director of athletics Mitch Barnhart announced Tuesday.

The College basketball season doesn’t take much of a break over the Thanksgiving Holiday.  It’s also a busy week ahead for area teams.  Eastern Kentucky University beat Norfolk State by 24 points Saturday night.  E-K-U takes on Delaware State in another home game Wednesday night.  The University of Kentucky ran past Long Island University Brooklyn Friday.  The Wildcats travel to South Bend Indiana for a run in with Notre Dame Thursday.

It’s very likely many athletes in Kentucky high schools are not aware of a 1972 educational amendment which changed the face of athletics.  A panel discussion in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Title Nine ruling was held Wednesday at Midway College.  The landmark legislation banned sex discrimination in schools for both academics and athletics.

University of Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart says he'll replace Joker Phillips as the Wildcats' football coach at season's end. Barnhart made the announcement today in an open letter to fans, saying the search for a new coach will begin immediately. Phillips will coach the Wildcats' final two games of the season against Samford and Tennessee.

It’s coming to the stretch drive in many college football leagues.  That’s certainly the case in the Ohio Valley Conference.    Eastern Kentucky University hosts Eastern Illinois Saturday afternoon.  Both teams come into the OVC contest with only one loss in the league.  E-K-U head coach Dean Hood says no one team holds an advantage right now.

The Eastern Kentucky men’s basketball team has been tabbed pre-season to finish near the bottom of a new Ohio Valley Conference division.  E-K-U’s women’s team, meanwhile,  placed near the top of its division. The OVC is debuting its divisional format this season.  The coach and media poll puts the Colonels fifth out of six teams in the East Division. Newcomer Belmont was picked to finish first in the East.  Defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Murray State holds down the number one spot in the West Division.

The college football campaigns continue this weekend with another round of key matchups.  Eastern Kentucky University rallied for a 42 to 28 victory at Tennessee Tech.  Meanwhile, the only Ohio Valley Conference team to beat the Colonels, Tennessee State lost Saturday by three to Jacksonville State.  Eastern comes home this weekend to take on Eastern Illinois.

ESPN will premiere a new sports series this fall focusing on the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team. All-Access Kentucky debuts this month, according to a news release from UK, and will follow Coach John Calipari and his staff as they guide the new faces of the defending national champion Wildcats from Big Blue Madness to the start of the 2012 season. The multi-part series will consist of 30-minute weekly shows airing on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Eastern Time with the first three episodes scheduled for Oct. 17, 24 and 31.

The weekend schedule doesn’t get any easier for two area college football teams.  Eastern Kentucky University came from behind to win 28 to 16 over Tennessee Martin Saturday.  The Colonels travel back to the Volunteer state this weekend to battle Tennessee State.  The Tigers are undefeated at five and oh.  The University of Kentucky, coming off a 21 point loss to South Carolina, stay home to host Mississippi State.  The Bulldogs come to Commonwealth without a loss.

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 32-31 tonight in overtime at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington. Western won the game with a trick pass play on a two-point conversion. The Wildcats sent the game into overtime with a touchdown pass play with 24 seconds left in regulation.

The childhood home of boxing legend Muhammad Ali has been purchased by a Las Vegas real estate investor. Last month, the single-story home in west Louisville’s Parkland neighborhood where Ali grew up was put up for sale. State lawmakers and Metro Council members had recently held a ceremony placing a historical marker in front of the house.