Casper dies from injures

Jenni Casper, the record-setting former University of Kentucky volleyball player injured in a car accident early Saturday, has died.

Casper, 24, was pronounced dead at 1:27 p.m. Sunday by UK Hospital staff members.

She had been critically injured at 1:43 a.m. Saturday, when, according to police, she was driving on Chinoe Road and apparently lost control of her car negotiating a curve near Fontaine Road. Casper’s car hit a tree, Lt. Scott Blakely of the Lexington police department said Saturday.

Police believe speed and alcohol were factors in the crash, Lt. Garry Sennett of Lexington police said Sunday.

Casper, who played for UK from 2003 to 2006, graduated from the university in May 2007. Originally from Louisville and a graduate of Mercy Academy, Casper was the Southeastern Conference record holder in career digs, ranked 13th in NCAA Division I volleyball history in career digs and was a two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

“The Wildcat family is saddened by the loss of Jenni Casper,” UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said in a statement.

“Jenni represented the University of Kentucky and the volleyball program with passion and dignity. She was an intense competitor and amazing individual. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jenni’s family and loved ones during this period of grief.”

UK volleyball Coach Craig Skinner added, “We will do everything we can to carry on Jenni’s legacy of dedication, enthusiasm and unselfishness through our program.”

Information about funeral and memorial arrangements was not available Sunday night.

BCS Busters Survive

Both BYU and Utah won on Saturday. Utah completed their season 12-0 by dumping BYU 48-24. Boise St remained unbeaten in a game that went down to the last play against Nevada 41-34. Boist St finishes their season next Saturday against Fresno St. who was considered one of the BCS busters most likely to play in a BCS bowl. If they win they will bring up considerable debate about the rules used to qualify for a BCS game.

Automatic Qualification

1. The top two teams in the final BCS Standings shall play in the National Championship Game.

2. The champions of the Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and Southeastern conferences will have automatic berths in one of the participating bowls after the 2008 through 2013 regular seasons.

3. The champion of Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference or the Western Athletic Conference will earn an automatic berth in a BCS bowl game if either:

A. Such team is ranked in the top 12 of the final BCS Standings, or,
B. Such team is ranked in the top 16 of the final BCS Standings and its ranking in the final BCS Standings is higher than that of a champion of a conference that has an annual automatic berth in one of the BCS bowls.

No more than one such team from Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference shall earn an automatic berth in any year. (Note: a second team may be eligible for at-large eligibility as noted below.) If two or more teams from those conferences satisfy the provisions for an automatic berth, then the team with the highest finish in the final BCS Standings will receive the automatic berth, and the remaining team or teams will be considered for at-large selection if it meets the criteria.

4. Notre Dame will have an automatic berth if it is in the top eight of the final BCS Standings.

5. If any of the 10 slots remain open after application of provisions 1 through 4, and an at-large team from a conference with an annual automatic berth for its champion is ranked No. 3 in the final BCS Standings, that team will become an automatic qualifier, provided that no at-large team from the same conference qualifies for the national championship game.

6. If any of the 10 slots remain open after application of provisions 1 through 5, and if no team qualifies under paragraph No. 5 and an at-large team from a conference with an annual automatic berth for its champion is ranked No. 4 in the final BCS Standings, that team will become an automatic qualifier provided that no at-large team from the same conference qualifies for the national championship game.

Ole Miss Stuns LSU

Jevan Sneed threw touchdown passes of 25 and 38 yards and Brandon Bolden and Markeith Summers ran for touchdowns as Ole Miss beat #18 LSU 31-13. Mississippi held LSU to 36 yards rushing and 178 thru the air in the winintheir first win over LSU since 2001. The win gives them the inside track forsecond place in the SEC West and a possible hance to play in the Cotton Bowl.

Tennessee staves off Eight Loss Season

In the middle of one of its worst seasons in history, Tennessee still found a way to beat instate rival Vanderbilt.

Eric Berry returned his seventh interception of the season for a touchdown to help the Vols beat the Commodores 20-10 on Saturday.

The win helped Tennessee (4-7, 2-5 Southeastern Conference) avoid a school-worst eight losses for at least one week while Vanderbilt (6-5, 4-4) missed a chance to capture its second five-win SEC season.

The win sets up the UK vs Tennessee game to be one of the most important games for both teams in history. A win by the Cats will get them a better bowl while a win by the Vols will bid a fond fairwell to Phat Phil.

Cats Get First Win

Jodie Meeks scored 22 points to lead Kentucky to its first win of the season, a 71-42 victory over Delaware State on Saturday.

Meeks made five-of-eight 3-point attempts. He has been the scoring leader, or shared that honor, for Kentucky (1-2) in each of the Wildcats’ three games.

The Wildcats kept the defensive pressure on the Hornets (1-5), forcing 22 turnovers, 13 in the first half. Delaware State made only one-of-nine 3-point attempts.

Kentucky’s belated first victory of the season served as a coming-out party for freshman Darius Miller.

Miller scored a career-high 13 points as Kentucky beat outclassed Delaware State 71-42 Saturday in Rupp Arena.

Miller, who totaled 12 points in the two losses that started UK’s season, played an active all-court game that filled up a stat line.

Patrick Patterson added nine points, four rebounds and five assists (which tied a career high).

Wreck injures former UK star

Welcome Aboard UKBoo

BigBlueRules is happy to welcome our first contributing author UKBoo. We look forward to working with him to make BigBlueRules a interesting and enjoyable place for you to get news about the Cats. Read his first post in the basketball section.

UK vs VMI: Farce or Forewarning?

Latest SEC Rankings

1. Alabama: Alabama may not be the flashest team in the SEC but they have proved they are one of the best teams in the nation.

2. Florida: Better than Alabama maybe. The SEC championship will prove that one way or the other.

3. Georgia: 3rd best in the SEC yes able to win the ACC probably. 2nd best in the PAC 10 on way.

4. LSU: Beating Troy St with unanswered points good enough to rate them 4th in the SEC.

5. South Carolina: The ol ball coach thought he had a contender but South Carolina has had enough offensive problems to keep them in the middle of the pack.

6. Vanderbilt: Bowl elegable for the first time since 82 and finally living up to their first five games. Should be favoried over Tennessee.

9. Old Miss: Have the next SEC quarterback star and would probably rank in the top 6 in the ACC or Big East.

8. Kentucky: Banged up and no offensive but the defense even giving up 30+ points in the last few games still makes them better than the bottom of the SEC.

9. Arkansas: Who to rank 9th took some thought but not to much. Better than Auburn, Tennesee and Miss St.

10. Auburn: What

11. Tennessee: Whats keeping Tennesee out of the cellar? Mississippi St

12. Mississippi State: The worst offence in the SEC and a defense thats not living up to what is expected of them.

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