Craig Yeast can remember the day as if it was yesterday when he met quarterback Tim Couch for the first time.
Yeast was already at the University of Kentucky establishing himself as a marquee receiver and had watched Couch play a few times during his legendary career at Leslie County where he established numerous state and national passing records because of his prolific arm. Yet Yeast knew he had to let the talented freshmen know quickly that his past success meant nothing at Kentucky.
“It was one of those deals where I was trying to figure out what I could do to get under his skin and let him know he better throw the ball to me. So one of the first days he was there in the summer, I was sitting at my locker getting read for a workout,” said Yeast. “He had just finished lifting weights and got a drink from the juice machine that was directly across from my locker. He takes a little sip, looks at me and I just glare at him and go on about my business.
“Without him knowing it, I looked to see what he was doing. I knew he wanted to say something, but I didn’t give him a chance. Eventually he walks over. I never got up. He extends his hand to me and says, ‘Man, what’s up? I am Tim Couch.’ I didn’t even look up and said, ‘I don’t care who you are. You ain’t done nothing yet in college.’
“If you could have seen the look on his face. It was priceless. His jaw dropped. He did not know what to say or do. I let it go on that way all day. Finally we went out to do 7-on-7, I walked up to him and said, ‘I was just messing with you. Just make sure I am the one you throw to and we will both end up happy.’ That was the start of our relationship, but I’ll never forget it. We still talk about that, including when I was inducted into the UK Hall of Fame.”
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