The Fort Thomas Independent Schools announced Wednesday that the University of Kentucky Marching Band will perform at a Highlands football home game on Oct. 4 when the school will retire Jared Lorenzen’s jersey number.
Lorenzen, who passed away on July 3 at the age of 38, was named Mr. Kentucky Football after a record-setting senior season as quarterback of the 1998 Highlands team. He went on to set a passing record at the University of Kentucky and won a Super Bowl ring in the NFL as a backup quarterback for the New York Giants.
“Highlands High School is proud to honor Jared Lorenzen and his family by retiring his iconic #22 football jersey,” said Kevin Nieporte, athletic director at Highlands. “We are proud to have had the privilege of watching him play and calling him a friend. He will forever be a Bluebird.”
Highlands will play Conner in a Class 5A district game on Friday, Oct, 4. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The UK Marching Band plans to collaborate with Highlands band students to perform renditions of the “Star Spangled Banner” and “My Old Kentucky Home” as well as provide other entertainment.
The marching band realizes that not everybody has the opportunity to watch their performances at UK home football games in Lexington. They like to take the show on the road and share their talents with audiences throughout Kentucky whenever possible.
“Performing at Highlands is a wonderful opportunity for the tremendous Highlands Marching Band to see what’s possible for them after graduation,” said Dana Biggs, director of athletic bands at UK. “College marching band is an experience like nothing else. It gives students that love being in a band the chance to perform on a huge stage.”
The press release announcing the event said the night promises to hold special meaning because it blends so many of Jared Lorenzen’s passions into one setting — football, family and friends, two schools he attended and the Fort Thomas community.