Operation: Win gives back while in Birmingham

As we all sit waiting for someone to say something significant about Deandre Daniels or Enes Kanter, it’s worth taking a look at what the football Cats have been up to since getting to The Yellowhammer State for Saturday’s BBVA Compass Bowl, and what they’ve been up to is some community outreach in the Birmingham area.

Joker and the Cats took off on the idea of their ‘Gameday Ready’ program from around the Commonwealth last year, extending it to Alabama to benefit kids in the area hosting their postseason activities. They worked with children from the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of the area, schooling them on a commitment to education and physical fitness and coordinating activities like the 40-yard dash for the youngsters. There has been no word on where any of the kids will find themselves on the depth chart for the defensive line .

Seriously, Coach Phillips has made community service a focus of his program and, despite whatever detractors he may have, that is worth commending. He reiterated his commitment to working within the community when asked why he would take time out of bowl preparations to do something like this, saying “This is what we do at Kentucky. We’re in this for the long haul.  You have to give back.  So, in that regard, it’s not hard for me at all.” Besides, giving back to the community is a much better way to spend the bowl week than having to give back a head coach, I would think.

[WLEX – Cats Hold Football Clinic in Birmingham]
[Video from UK Athletics]