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Kentucky’s win at Florida on Saturday broke a 31-year winless streak against the Gators and it was an emotional night for Big Blue Nation. After the game, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops added to the emotion by awarding the game ball to offensive line coach John Schlarman, according to Derek Terry of 247Sports.
Schlarman played at Kentucky from 1994 to 1997 and has been the offensive line coach in Lexington since 2013. Schlarman was recently diagnosed with cancer and has remained coaching the offensive line despite going through chemotherapy. With the streak dating back to the 1980s, Schlarman was never a part of a Kentucky team that beat the Gators until now.
Also receiving a game ball on Saturday was Kentucky defensive end, Josh Paschal. Paschal has been out indefinitely after he was diagnosed with melanoma on August 3, the sophomore was not able to make the trip to Gainesville, but was honored in the locker room after the game anyway.
As the celebration continues for the Wildcats, these gestures for a coach and player fighting diseases have come into the limelight and are sure to put a smile on any college football fan.
Our second story is the one that means the most.
"Cats Win in the Trenches for @CoachSchlarman , @JPaschalx "
? by @guyramsey >> https://t.co/434G3BlH9A#GetUp #SchlarmanStrong #JPon3 pic.twitter.com/L8SUPT18XP
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) September 9, 2018
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Lucas is a digital reporter for 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, and a high school play-by-play broadcaster. Lucas has been covering SEC football for Saturday Down South since 2018.
