Bluegrass football: The rebirth of a program in Lexington

Basketball is ingrained in the Bluegrass State. But March Madness ended too early last weekend for Kentucky's hoops flagships, Louisville and Kentucky.

Meanwhile, the state's other non-horse sport is thriving. Both schools won bowl games in the same season for the first time. Louisville won its first BCS bowl in January and came close to playing for the national championship. Kentucky is coming off its first bowl victory since 1984.

In the middle of the madness Dennis Dodd takes a look at football in the Bluegrass State from two different angles. Tuesday: Kentucky's improving fortunes. Thursday: Why Brian Brohm came back for his senior season.

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Michael Bush teases Keenan Burton a lot.

Bush you probably know. The NFL-bound Louisville tailback rushed for 2,508 yards and 41 touchdowns in three-plus seasons before breaking his leg in last year's season opener.

Kentucky could reach new heights with Keenan Burton and 15 other starters returning to Lexington. (Getty Images)

Keenan Burton is from Louisville too, but chose Kentucky to play football. That might make some question his judgment. It surely makes him as anonymous in the sport as Bush is famous.

"He makes fun of me at times," said Burton, Kentucky's senior receiver. "'How are classes going?'"

Bush chose to declare for the draft after the 2006 season. Burton could have done the same thing. Injuries had plagued his career too. After catching 77 passes for 1,036 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior, Burton sought NCAA-approved advisers to project his draft status.

"They said worst-case scenario, third round," Burton said. "I was OK with third round, but at the same time I felt like I could do better than that. Michael Bush basically he told me, 'You're healthy right now, I think you should cash in.'"

Easy for Bush to say. Had the tailback not been injured, his draft status would not have changed much. Burton? Considering this might be the first time you're reading about him, it's a great idea to return.

Kentucky linebacker Wesley Woodyard tackled Bush on the play that ended the runner's college career. Woodyard is proud of the tackle, one of 256 he has made in his career, but not what it caused.

"That's one of the reasons why I came here, to help try to build a program," Woodyard said, "so we're looked upon as one of the teams to beat."

It's happening. Maybe at the same rate fine Kentucky bourbon ages, but it's happening. On this day Burton and Woodyard have driven to a Lexington hotel to meet an out-of-town writer.