As new head coach Joker Phillips looks to implement ‘Operation Win’ at the University of Kentucky, its Mike Hartline who is the topic of discussion at Wildcats practices this summer.
Hartline, a fifth-year senior, has a load of expectations on his shoulders and plenty of questions surrounding his status as the starting quarterback of the Kentucky Wildcats.
“You have to prove you’re a fifth-year senior quarterback, and if I can’t do that, then I don’t deserve to be playing,” Hartline said as he fielded questions from every direction during one of Kentucky’s heated practices last week.
The questions arose when Hartline first came onto the scene two years ago when All-SEC quarterback Andre Woodson graduated. Would Hartline succeed behind center and most importantly first on the depth chart?
Hartline’s play was inconsistent at first while starting the first eight games of the season, at which point head coach Rich Brooks decided to use freshman Randall Cobb at the position until the ‘Cats reached the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Brooks decided to use Hartline in the team’s bowl game and he didn’t disappoint, going 19-of-31 for 204 yards passing and one touchdown.
The 2009 season started with promise, as the ‘Cats walloped Miami (OH) 42-0 behind an outstanding performance by Hartline: 18-of-27, 222 yards, and 2 touchdowns.
Everyone in and around the Kentucky program felt Hartline had turned the corner, capable of putting the Wildcats on his shoulders and becoming one of the SEC’s biggest surprises. The Week 5 matchup between South Carolina would prove otherwise, as Hartline suffered a season ending knee-injury.
The promise and hope for Hartline quickly went down the drain.
As the 2010 nears, Hartline is in a familiar position fielding questions about his recovery from injury and his status as the No. 1 quarterback on Kentucky’s depth chart.
"“Wear on you?” Hartline replied, when asked Friday if thequestions about the status of the QB spot grow tiring. “No, it doesn’t wear onyou. I’ve known that you have to compete no matter what position you’re at, andno matter what the depth chart looks like. You just do what you know how to dobest. You can’t take a back seat to anybody. You have to make plays. You have tomake all the right throws when you need to.”"
Highly touted sophomore Morgan Newton could give Hartline a run for his money if the fifth-year senior doesn’t perform to Joker Phillips’ expectations. Newton player admirably in Hartline’s absence last year and could very well become a staple of Kentucky’s offense once more.
One way or another, Hartline will have to show his worth not only for the rest of his time at Kentucky, but also for his career in the future saying, “I’m going to do all I can to push myself to the point where I can’t do anything more to get where I want to go.”
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