Taking A Cut
February 28, 1999

A Conversation with Tim Couch

Life for Tim Couch seems to get better and better. The former UK superstar is counting the days until the NFL draft next month. Taking a Cut wanted to find out what the great quarterback has been doing since leaving UK. Couch: "I'm doing great. I've been pretty busy traveling around and accepting a lot of awards and going a lot of places. It's been a lot of fun." Taking a Cut: Do you feel like you are going through another round of being recruited ? Couch: "Yeah, it is. It's very similar to the recruiting season. I'm interviewing with a lot of teams and having a great time." Taking a Cut: How did you prepare for all the questions you've been asked by NFL coaches and general managers ? Couch: "Peyton (Manning) and Heath Shuler and some of the guys that have been through it before really gave me a lot of good advise on how in-depth and thorough the teams are before they make a commitment to you. They know everything about you, from all of your background. They're real in-depth about everything. It's just part of it." Taking a Cut: How many teams have told you that they'd like to draft you ? Couch: "Just a couple. I've talked to Cincinnati, Cleveland and Philadelphia. Hopefully, I can end up in one of those places." Taking a Cut: The only negative about Tim Couch comes from NFL scouts who question your arm strength. I've never understood that. On March 11th you are holding a private workout for the team you want to play for, the Cleveland Browns. Are you nervous ? Couch: "Yeah, a real big day. No, I'm not nervous. I think I've been getting ready for it for about 18 years. So, I think I'm ready to go." Taking a Cut: If you don't get drafted first by Cleveland, will you be disappointed ? Couch: "I think I'll be disappointed for a day or two and then I'll just have to move on with my career and make it somewhere else." Taking a Cut: There are so many Kentucky fans that will miss you next year and wish that you would have stayed for your final season. What kind of reaction have you been getting from the True Blue Fans ? Couch: "I've been getting a lot of support from fans who are on my side and wish me the best of luck where ever I end up."

Taking a Cut: As we talk during the half of a UK basketball game, do you still ever wish you could play hoops for UK for one year ? Couch: "It would have been a lot of fun." Taking a Cut: UK needs a shooter ! Couch: "I used to shoot a lot." Taking a Cut: Ever shoot hoops ? Couch: "Not anymore." To UK hoops. 1. Tubby, I love you--but please play Jules Camera some more. He could make the difference the way another rookie named Antoine Walker did for UK. 2. No one has defended Saul Smith more than yours truly. Sure he makes some mistakes, but his heart, hustle and guts to take and make a big shot get overlooked by fans who think about who his father is instead of what he brings to the table. Plus, only Jules Camera has improved more this season. But, not having Wayne Turner as the point guard at the end against Tennessee drove me crazy. 3. Even though fans are down on UK, remember this team doesn't have to beat the teams of 1992, they have to beat the teams of 1999. With that in mind, if they get it together, they can still make it to St. Pete and the Final Four. 4. No one in the SEC fears UK in '99. The great Cawood Ledford once told me that there were many games he broadcast, that when it came down to figuring out how UK won, the only thing he could come up with was "the uniform said Kentucky across it's chest." There is no reason why that fear can't come back, and the wonderful UK fans must realize that it can't be there every year. UK women's hoops. The strangest thing happened to our sports department at WLEX-TV. We were all standing around and watching UK women's hoops. It was fun. Last year you would have had to pay us to do that. No one in their right mind could have predicted that they were going to win two games in the SEC tournament. As I've said for years, there is no reason why UK hoops......men and women.....and UK football can't be in the top 25. It is all a matter of having the right coach to lead the program. It is really that simple ! Alan Cutler is a motivational speaker, an award winning TV sportscaster, and a sports talk show host in Lexington and Cincinnati. Comments can be e-mailed to sportscut@mis.net . Choose to have a great day !