The novelty of being a 300-pound quarterback wore off quickly during last year's disappointing 2-9 season.

In 2001, Kentucky's Hefty Lefty, sophomore Jared Lorenzen, would like to be known simply as a winning quarterback.

"When we were losing it was like, 'Oh well, we lost, but it was close,' " said Lorenzen, reflecting on the first losing season of his football career at any level.

"That attitude's not going to stick this year. I don't like it. I came from a winning program and most of these guys did. It (losing) is something we don't want to get used to and we're not going to get used to."

To help facilitate that, the 6-4 Lorenzen has made it his goal to be a slimmer, trimmer signal-caller by Sept. 1, when the Wildcats open the season at home against archrival Louisville.

Lorenzen said he weighed 300 pounds by the end of last season, but some reports say he was closer to 315.

New coach Guy Morriss has set a goal for Lorenzen's weight by the opener and says he won't play if he doesn't reach it. Neither Morriss nor Lorenzen would reveal that number during spring drills.

Lorenzen appeared to be slimmer in the spring, the result of winter conditioning, some dietary changes and a new roommate.

"I'm living with a guy who works in the weight room with us," Lorenzen said. "He's there to watch what I eat and make sure if I do bring something home it's not pizza or something terrible. He's done a great job of keeping me on track."

On the field, Lorenzen's goal is to be more assertive and to cut down on his interceptions.

Last year, in Hal Mumme's passing-intensive "Air Raid" offense, Lorenzen set six NCAA freshman passing records. He threw for 3,667 yards and 19 touchdowns, but tied the UK single-season record with 21 interceptions.

"I'm not going to say I guarantee it," Lorenzen said. "But I have to cut them (interceptions) in half. Twenty-one? That's ridiculous."

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