University of Kentucky quarterback and team captain Pookie Jones,  surrounded by, from left, teammates Emerson Wells, Alfonzo Browning, Mark Askin, Damon Betz and Zane Beehn in August 1992. Many of them were part of the early recruiting classes of then-third-year coach Bill Curry. The photo ran with a story labeling them as “the new breed” of Kentucky football. That’s what the players called themselves because they were the recruits who turned down the traditional powers and decided to stay at home, assume the ground floor of something new, and turn the program around. It started in 1989, when Askin, of St. Xavier, turned down Notre Dame. Then Murray’s Jones said no to Nebraska. Then Owensboro’s Beehn politely declined Illinois. “We’re the group that’s the leaders,” Beehn said. “We’re not the only leaders on the team. Marty (Moore) and Brad (Armstead) and those guys are leaders, but we’re right there with them.” The Cats started that year strong, winning three of their first four games, before faltering and losing five of their next six, finishing the season 4-7. The next year, Jones would lead the team to a 6-6 record and a Peach Bowl appearance. Published Aug. 30, 1992, in the Herald-Leader. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff