Kentucky Football hears from Matthew Mitchell, receives hands-only CPR training

Fall camp starts soon for the Kentucky Football team. This week, Mark Stoops’ squad got some important off-the-field instruction from some familiar faces.

You first heard about Matthew Mitchell’s new book, “Winning Tools: 3 Leadership Principles That Build Purpose, Respect & Success,” when he guest-hosted Kentucky Sports Radio earlier this month. This week, the football team got to hear about it from the former Kentucky Women’s Basketball coach himself. Mitchell spoke to the squad as part of the program’s “40 for 40” program, delivering an inspirational message ahead of the 2023 season.

“Anybody can put their self first,” Mitchell told the team. “If I’m only thinking about myself. When we have discipline, we put the team first. Our human nature is telling us to put ourselves first and it takes tremendous discipline that you can build day after day. I just wake up every day and make a decision, I’m going to put the team first.

“‘Hey, I want to do this.’ ‘I want to cut a rep short.’ ‘I don’t want to make it to practice on time.’ Whatever it may be, that may be what I want to do. What I need to do every day is put the team first so that takes discipline.”

Thank you, @UKCoachMitchell, for sharing the winning tools with our team! 🏆🛠️ pic.twitter.com/1m2fXD6JRX

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) July 27, 2023

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A post shared by Matthew Mitchell (@coachmitchell333)

You can purchase “Winning Tools: 3 Leadership Principles That Build Purpose, Respect & Success” at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington. The audio and Kindle versions are also available on Amazon.

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Kenneth Horsey teaches hands-only CPR Training

The Cats got another important lesson this week. For the third time in his career as a Wildcat, Kenneth Horsey teamed up with the American Heart Association to give his teammates hands-only CPR training, a cause near and dear to the super senior offensive guard’s heart.

The spring before his freshman season at Kentucky, Horsey was diagnosed with endocarditis, a dangerous infection on a heart valve, and had to undergo open-heart surgery. Once fully recovered, he worked his way into the starting lineup and started 33 consecutive games on Kentucky’s offensive line. Now, he’s sharing his story to help others, working with the American Heart Association to spread awareness and instruction.

The hands-only CPR lessons are timely given Bronny James’ cardiac arrest earlier this week during a practice at USC. Thankfully, Bronny is on the road to recovery, but these lessons could help the Wildcats save someone’s life down the line.

Important learning hands only CPR training with @Work_Horse68 and friends from the @American_Heart @HeartKentucky.#4For40 pic.twitter.com/dHk2RjgOKO

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) July 28, 2023

The Lexington Fire Department also helped with the lessons, giving four former Cats — Paul Warford, Durrell White, DJ Warren, and Mike Kamphake — a chance to reunite with the football staff.

Thank you, @LexKYFire for stopping by this week to help teach hands-only CPR to our team alongside @American_Heart Association and @HeartKentucky.

Great to see four of our Wildcats who are now Lexington firefighters — Paul Warford, Durrell White, DJ Warren and Mike Kamphake! pic.twitter.com/LRzTWhAwgq

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) July 28, 2023