How about Paducah native Neal Clark, the former UK football standout who is now the director of Men’s and Women’s Basketball Advising in the Gopher program?
Clark, who played for two coaches — Jerry Claiborne and Bill Curry — at Kentucky and caught a then-school record 47 passes during his senior year of 1991, loves working in an academic environment, helping the student-athletes.
Before coming to Minnesota in 2009, Clark, who has two degrees in social work from UK, has served as an academic counselor at Kentucky, James Madison and Vanderbilt.
“After having early success as a counselor, I decided to learn more about the field, more specifically understanding college curriculums, the admission process and career development,” Clark wrote in a recent e-mail.
“I also took the time to learn about NCAA rules and requirements as it relates to progress towards degree completion and graduation rates. With my experience as a former student-athlete and the knowledge I was gaining, I soon realize that I could be an asset in a university setting.”
When Clark learned of a job opportunity at Minnesota, was Tubby Smith a factor?
“Although Coach Smith was not the primary factor in my decision (to move), he is definitely what I consider ‘the icing on the cake,’” Clark admitted.
While Clark had several high school and college coaches during his playing and non-playing days who were big influences in various ways, UK head football coach Joker Phillips is very high on the list.
“(Then-Wildcat assistant Phillips) instilled in me unwavering values that I have today,” said Clark, who received the team’s Most Valuable Senior Award in 1991. “He is the one coach that I’m forever grateful to have been in my life. As a matter of fact, I actually texted him when I made the decision (to go to Minnesota). He reaffirmed that this was the place for me.”
If you pay attention to Clark, you would know he had gone through some interesting moments at UK and he was the first in his immediate family to attend college.
“Being a young African American male, I was told by some in Paducah that I wouldn’t be nothing but a social security number and would get lost in the large classes,” recalled Clark. “Racism was still prevalent and I experienced it first hand when the football team threaten to boycott spring practice due to comments made by former Gov. Happy Chandler. The following year I had to leave school (for financial reasons) to join the military, then return.
“In the early 1990s (during the first Gulf War), units throughout Kentucky were being called up, including mine in Lexington. So I had to deal with those issues. I remember reflecting on everything I had been through and realized how blessed I was because I defied all odds.”
Phillips obviously is proud of Clark’s success.
“The way Neal worked and his dedication to football is my biggest memory, along with what he had to do to stay in college,” said the Wildcat coach. “Neal came to Kentucky as a walk-on but couldn’t afford to stay here (in Lexington). He went into the Army Reserves so he could afford to stay in school. The next year he earned a (football) scholarship and he ended up setting the school record for most pass receptions in a season.”
Even though he’s at Minnesota, Clark, not surprisingly, is still fond of UK, saying, “I’m an old Kentucky boy. I root really hard for the Blue and White except when they are playing against me.”
Jamie H. Vaught, whose syndicated sports column currently appears in Kentucky newspapers, is the author of four books about UK basketball. He is currently a professor at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College in Middlesboro and can be reached by e-mail at CatsUpClose2008@yahoo.com.
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