FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Fran Curci, responding publicly for the first time to the recent controversy involving Gov. John Y. Brown Jr.'s attempt to replace him as the University of Kentucky head football coach, says the governor's actions were 'out of line.'
But Curci later added he was 'very impressed' with the way UK president Otis Singletaryhandled the affair.
Curci, speaking at a Rotary Club meeting in Paducah earlier this week, became embroiled in a mid-summer brouhaha when Brown tried to convince Singletary to replace the Wildcat mentor with George Allen, who previously coached in the National Football League.
Allen, currently a television analysist with CBS along with Brown's wife Phyllis George, has been out of coaching since August 1979 when he was fired by the Los Angeles Rams. He had previous stints as a head coach with the Rams and the Washington Redskins.
In response to a question, Curci said despite numerous newspaper and television stories regarding the matter, he 'tried to stay out of the whole thing.
'I think a lot of it was politics,' Curci continued, 'and that was an unfortunate thing. I think he was out of line in taking that approach, but that's h.'
Curci will have his first official meeting with the press at the Wildcats' annual Picture Day activities Aug. 13. He will begin his ninth year at Kentucky Sept. 5 with a 44-43-2 career record which includes a 1976 loss to Mississippi State -- later forfeited to the Wildcats.
His eight years on the job ties him for the UK record for longevity with Paul 'Bear' Bryant (1946-53) and Blanton Collier (1954-61).
But after three successive losing marks, including a 3-8 effort last year, several critics have called for Curci's resignation. Brown's voice, though, was by far the most powerful.
'A few years ago,' said Curci, 'I was one of the geniuses of the country. Now all of a sudden, I'm not very smart. But I guess that's politics and I'm not a politician.'
