It’s been a tough week for Eastern Kentucky University’s football team. As players and coaches have prepared to face the University of Kentucky, they’ve also been grieving over the loss of redshirt defensive lineman Joey Kraemer. He was killed in a car crash last weekend. During the OVC teleconference this week, EKU Head Coach Dean Hood said he’s made a point to remind his players and staff that there are more important things in life than football. “I think we’re psychotic in this culture with the value we place on sports and the devalue we place on other things that are really, really important,” said Hood.
Still, Hood says football also provides teaching moments about life. He says lot of EKU players and coaches are working through the recent tragedy because of lessons learned from by being on s team.
UK is 3-1 coming into the contest. EKU is 2-1. Coach Hood notes that Kentucky’s program is moving forward. “It’s not just talk, it’s on paper now with how they’ve been playing," he said. "You look at the played a ranked opponent and get them beat in the SEC, you’ve turned the corner."
This will be only the fourth meeting between EKU and UK on the football field. The last time the two teams met, Kentucky won 37 to 12. Kickoff Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium is scheduled for 7:30. ?
