Kentucky honored offensive coach John Schlarman, who died this week after a long battle with cancer by standing in line with no left guard and delaying the game penalty in Saturday’s first game against Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt refused the sentence.
Kentucky Senior left tackle Landon Young and then came on the next game wearing Schlarman’s # 65 jersey.
Schlarman was a four year old starter in Kentucky from 1994 to 1997 and received the All-SEC award as a senior before moving to coaching.
He trained at Troy before returning to Kentucky in 2013 as part of head coach Mark Stoops’ first staff. Schlarman’s offensive lines were among the best in the SEC, nicknamed “The Big Blue Wall”. In 2016 and 2019, they were semi-finalists for the Joe Moore Award, which was given to the top offensive line in the country.
Schlarman was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer of the biliary tract, more than two years ago. He rarely missed a practice, commuting from Lexington to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for treatment.
Recently the cancer had spread to the liver, lungs and abdominal cavity.
Schlarman, who died Thursday aged 45, was loved by players and coaches for his kindness, determination and overwhelming optimism. Stoops said his nickname was “The Great American” because he was so popular.
Assistant coach Vince Marrow said he had never met anyone as strong as Schlarman and called them his hero.
“I can’t bear to find out about the death of my friend John Schlarman,” Stoops said in a statement. “My prayers go to LeeAnne and the children Joseph, Benjamin, Matthew and Evelyn at this very difficult time.
“John was everything we all strive for – honest, tough, fair, respected. Kentucky football will not be the same without him, but his legacy will never fade. He was a fighter and we will strive every day to be his warrior to honor spirit. “
Drake Jackson, a seasoned offensive lineman, told ESPN in March that Schlarman was and has stayed the funniest person in the building.
“He has a charisma and work ethic that all coaches aspire to,” said Jackson. “He’s just a complete person. It’s not a fake. It’s not artificial.”
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