HOOVER, Ala. — Jeremy Jarmon’s NFL career is over, but the former University of Kentucky defensive lineman has a new career at UK.
Coach Joker Phillips announced here Wednesday at the Southeastern Conference Football Media Days that Jarmon is the new assistant director of football operations at Kentucky. The job came open when former UK¿receiver Tommy Cook left to take a job at Kent State.
“You always have guys on your list if somebody leaves,” said Phillips.
Jarmon’s UK¿career was cut short when he was banned by the¿NCAA from playing because of a failed drug test due to an over the counter supplement he bought and took. Jarmon played with the Washington Redskins before signing with Denver.¿He recently decided to end his NFL career.
“This is big for our program,” Phillips said. “It’s huge to get a young man like Jeremy Jarmon around our program. It’s huge to have him part of the program. He understands how we do things and he’s just a couple of months removed from being a NFL player.”
No more tattoos: Phillips had a bit of a different answer when asked about his opinion of giving college athletes a $2,000 per year stipend over their athletic scholarship.
“You don’t want to know what I think. I agree that players should way we can pay them. But I am not willing to supply more tattoos, more dogs, more cell phones,” Phillips said. “I’ve had kids come up with a new tattoo on their arm and ask the what it cost and he’s told me $250 and it wasn’t finished yet.
“I would like to put money aside for retirement for them. But I am not one that wants to give $2,000 more and now a player will have four body tattoos and two bulldogs. I would love to see the money put aside for retirement or something.”
Perception: Mississippi State offensive lineman Gabe Jackson has no real explanation for why his team has won three straight games over Kentucky.
“Every team is the same. We have the same attitude to play Kentucky or Alabama. We know they are good and can win.¿Nothing personal. Just want to beat them and we’ve been able to outplay them. It’s just happened that way,” Jackson said.
Jackson says Commonwealth Stadium has a “good atmosphere” that is not easy for opposing teams.
“We took the crowd out of the game a bit, but they really have good fans. They really enjoy their football,” Jackson said.
Jackson says teams like Mississippi State and Kentucky are undervalued nationally.
“When they are not ranking or respecting us, as competitors you want to show them that is not true,” Jackson said. “When SEC teams play no matter what team it is, if you play outside the conference it is a big difference and why SEC teams do so well against those teams. Teams like Mississippi State,¿Kentucky, Vanderbilt are better than most people nationally realize.”
Gator changer: Florida coach Will Muschamp brought in former UK¿offensive coordinator Brent Pease, who worked under Hal Mumme, to run the Gator’s offense this season. He said Pease had been on “my radar” for a long time.
“Was at Kentucky when I was at LSU. The 'Bluegrass Miracle.' Outplayed us that day. A lot of that was because of him. He's a very intelligent guy, does an outstanding job with our players. Philosophically we're on the same page,” Muschamp said.
“People ask what will be different. We better score some more points. But he brings a lot of formation variation, motion shifts. We will be a more downhill running game because of the backs we have. Brent is a guy that brings a lot to the table, played the position at quarterback in the National Football League, has coached that position and called plays in our league before, which is important to me. Coached receivers at Boise State, did an outstanding job there. Very pleased with that transition as Charlie (Weiss) moved on to Kansas.”
Muschamp said he’s always had a list of coaches he wanted to hire when he got to be a head coach as he did at Florida last year.
“But I was very fortunate this year to be able to hire him at Florida. I think he's a great addition to our staff. Very bright, intelligent guy. He and his wife Paula are a great family. I'm really pleased with how that transition has occurred and where we're headed,” Muschamp said.
Coach Joker Phillips announced here Wednesday at the Southeastern Conference Football Media Days that Jarmon is the new assistant director of football operations at Kentucky. The job came open when former UK¿receiver Tommy Cook left to take a job at Kent State.
“You always have guys on your list if somebody leaves,” said Phillips.
Jarmon’s UK¿career was cut short when he was banned by the¿NCAA from playing because of a failed drug test due to an over the counter supplement he bought and took. Jarmon played with the Washington Redskins before signing with Denver.¿He recently decided to end his NFL career.
“This is big for our program,” Phillips said. “It’s huge to get a young man like Jeremy Jarmon around our program. It’s huge to have him part of the program. He understands how we do things and he’s just a couple of months removed from being a NFL player.”
No more tattoos: Phillips had a bit of a different answer when asked about his opinion of giving college athletes a $2,000 per year stipend over their athletic scholarship.
“You don’t want to know what I think. I agree that players should way we can pay them. But I am not willing to supply more tattoos, more dogs, more cell phones,” Phillips said. “I’ve had kids come up with a new tattoo on their arm and ask the what it cost and he’s told me $250 and it wasn’t finished yet.
“I would like to put money aside for retirement for them. But I am not one that wants to give $2,000 more and now a player will have four body tattoos and two bulldogs. I would love to see the money put aside for retirement or something.”
Perception: Mississippi State offensive lineman Gabe Jackson has no real explanation for why his team has won three straight games over Kentucky.
“Every team is the same. We have the same attitude to play Kentucky or Alabama. We know they are good and can win.¿Nothing personal. Just want to beat them and we’ve been able to outplay them. It’s just happened that way,” Jackson said.
Jackson says Commonwealth Stadium has a “good atmosphere” that is not easy for opposing teams.
“We took the crowd out of the game a bit, but they really have good fans. They really enjoy their football,” Jackson said.
Jackson says teams like Mississippi State and Kentucky are undervalued nationally.
“When they are not ranking or respecting us, as competitors you want to show them that is not true,” Jackson said. “When SEC teams play no matter what team it is, if you play outside the conference it is a big difference and why SEC teams do so well against those teams. Teams like Mississippi State,¿Kentucky, Vanderbilt are better than most people nationally realize.”
Gator changer: Florida coach Will Muschamp brought in former UK¿offensive coordinator Brent Pease, who worked under Hal Mumme, to run the Gator’s offense this season. He said Pease had been on “my radar” for a long time.
“Was at Kentucky when I was at LSU. The 'Bluegrass Miracle.' Outplayed us that day. A lot of that was because of him. He's a very intelligent guy, does an outstanding job with our players. Philosophically we're on the same page,” Muschamp said.
“People ask what will be different. We better score some more points. But he brings a lot of formation variation, motion shifts. We will be a more downhill running game because of the backs we have. Brent is a guy that brings a lot to the table, played the position at quarterback in the National Football League, has coached that position and called plays in our league before, which is important to me. Coached receivers at Boise State, did an outstanding job there. Very pleased with that transition as Charlie (Weiss) moved on to Kansas.”
Muschamp said he’s always had a list of coaches he wanted to hire when he got to be a head coach as he did at Florida last year.
“But I was very fortunate this year to be able to hire him at Florida. I think he's a great addition to our staff. Very bright, intelligent guy. He and his wife Paula are a great family. I'm really pleased with how that transition has occurred and where we're headed,” Muschamp said.
