The Winchester Sun from Winchester, Kentucky • B1

SPORTS THE WINCHESTER SUNWWW.WINCHESTERSUN.COM WEEKEND EDITION, JAN. 15-17, 2021 B1 Echols helped make Gator Bowl even more special for one Kentucky family BY LARRY VAUGHT Views Ally Echols grew up a Kentucky fan in Shep- herdsville and met her husband, Thomas Paine Echols, a few months be- fore he graduated high school there. Tom Echols, who was a year older, was from a mil- itary family. His father was in the Coast Guard and he had numerous other family members who had been in the military. His older brother joined the Marines when he gradu- ated high school and Tom did the same in 2004.

was a military brat and was always interested in the military and knew what he wanted to Ally Echols said. She graduated in 2005 when Tom, a Michigan native who moved to Ken- tucky at age 10, was on his first tour in Iraq. He came home in October of 2005 and they were married. He got orders to return to Iraq in 2006 and deployed in September. She found out a week before his deploy- ment she was pregnant with their daughter, Julia.

Tide rolls over Wildcats 85-65 in Rupp Arena BY KEITH TAYLOR Kentucky Today football team won a national championship Monday. The basketball team followed with an impressive rare road win in Lexington on Tuesday night. The Crimson Tide (10-3, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) notched just their seventh win in school history at Rupp Arena with an 85-65 vic- tory over Kentucky to remain perfect in league play and served notice to the rest of the teams in the conference. The Wildcats had won 12 of the previous 13 games against the Crim- son Tide, including eight in a row at home before Tuesday setback. Kentucky coach John Calipari said his overall performance was and was frus- trated after the setback.

He admitted his team picked up their past hab- its, especially on defense. one of our play- ers played he said. obviously coach well. We got every beat every which way but loose. We were late to everything and we were Cats say support, criticism from decision to kneel not distraction Olivier Sarr knew there would be opinions after the Kentucky Wildcats kneeled during the national an- them in Gainesville.

understood that our ges- ture would have Sarr said Monday. just want people to understand. We knew that some people would be mad about what we did, but we just want people to understand that a peaceful way to protest in the way that we can use our platform. We just want people to understand (it was done) to raise awareness and Kentucky freshman Isaiah Jackson admitted he deleted his social media accounts and added the Wildcats were simply to make a peaceful pro- Like Sarr, Jackson said the Wildcats to ex- pect criticism. trying to get through to everybody that we need equality just like everybody he said.

is a great country. I just feel like, and we feel like, everybody, like, minori- ties and stuff, have equal rights as everybody else. why we protested and why we kneeled. a peaceful Sarr said the action for regarding the decision to kneel, which Kentucky coach John Calipari said was made during the bus ride to the game last Satur- day. Jackson added the events at the U.S.

Capitol last week were out of and something that people happened in the past few days, few weeks, and even during quarantine, we just want to show support for our com- munity and raise awareness Hoskins not a big talker off the field Talking is something that Kentucky de-fensive lineman Phil Hoskins has never minded doing. Ask him a ques- tion, get a truthful sometimes humorous answer. About the only thing he talk a lot about is his success and personal growth during his six-year collegiate career, including the last four years at Ken- tucky after transferring from Highland Commu- nity College. Still, overcome hav- Ally Echols with her husband, Tom, before he was de- ployed. He was killed in Iraq in 2006.

This is the memory bracelet in honor of Marine Thomas Paine Echols that UK cornerback Brandin Echols wore in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. UK Athletics PhotoSee ECHOLS, on B2 team and coaches took a knee during the national anthem Saturday in Gainesville. (UK Athletics Photo) UK defensive lineman Phil Hoskins does his talking on the field, rather than off it. Photo by Jacob Noger Brandon Boston Jr. is fouled going to the basket against Alabama on Tues- day.

Photo by Tammie Today VIEWS Larry Vaught Contributing Writer Keith Taylor Kentucky Today See HOSKINS, on B5See TIDE, on B5 See CATS, on B2.