Tim Couch remains a fan favorite at Kentucky. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Landry Collett’s first quarterback at Leslie County High School was Greg Couch, the older brother of former University of Kentucky star Tim Couch who has just been selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
“Greg was first-team all-state and played at Eastern Kentucky,” Collett said. “I basically lived with the Couch family growing up. We played ball all the time. Tim was two years younger than me but you could tell he was special.”
Collett remembers the first time he believed Tim Couch, who recently was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, was extra special.
“There was a telephone pole at the end of the year and if you did not hit the pole with the ball when you were throwing it the ball would go into the highway,” Collett recalled. “One day Tim at 12 years old was nailing that pole every time from about 30 yards away. I got Greg and told him he had to see what Tim was doing. I knew then this kid would be a freak.”
Collett’s senior year at Leslie County was Tim Couch’s freshman season. WYMT-TV did a preseason interview with Collett and asked him if he thought Tim was better than Greg. Collett immediately said yes.
“They asked if I meant as a freshman he would be better and again I said yes 100 percent,” Collett said. “I explained it was because he was so accurate and had a very, very good arm.”
After the interview aired, Collett got a call from Greg Couch asking if he really thought Tim was better or just said that for the interview.
“I told him, ‘Yeah I do Greg,’” Collett said. “Greg was competitive but your could tell Tim was special right away.”
