April 24, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky football team has wrapped up preparations for the Blue/White Game, presented by Verizon Wireless, which will be played Saturday at 1:30 p.m.at Commonwealth Stadium.
The Blue and White teams were announced on Thursday after the coaches had a draft of players. Defensive coordinator Steve Brown heads up the Blue team and offensive head coach Joker Phillips will guide the White squad.
“I think it’s fairly evenly split,” Coach Rich Brooks said. “It’s always an interesting process when you split up the (coaching) staff and draft players. We gave them about 25 minutes (during Friday’s practice) for the individual teams to work to put in any new wrinkles they want to throw at the other team. It should be, as last year’s was, a fairly close and hopefully entertaining game.”
In 2008, the White team edged the Blue, 23-22, with a touchdown with 1:06 remaining in the game.
“You always look for the same things,” said Brooks, when asked what he’d like to see from the Blue/White battle. “Individual technique and ability as well as guys making plays. We’ve had a lot of good fundamental work this spring and now it’s time to go out and see who’s going to make plays and take advantage of the opportunities.
“It’s been a good spring. It can always be better, but overall I think we’ve made some good progress and identified some people that are playing at a different level than they were when the season ended last year, and that’s always an important thing.”
More Spring Game Information: The Blue/White Game, presented by Verizon Wireless, will be played on Saturday, April 25, at 1:30 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium.
- Admission and parking are free.
- Stadium gates open at noon.
- The game will be broadcast on the Big Blue Sports Network, including WLAP (630 on the AM dial) in Lexington and WHAS (840 AM) in Louisville.
- Concession stands and the Nike Team Shops will be open on the stadium concourse.
- Verizon Wireless will have an interactive area on the west concourse of the stadium, inside Gates 6 and 7.
- Kentucky’s SEC Academic Honor Roll players will be introduced before the game. UK had 31 players on the 2008 SEC Honor Roll, the second-highest mark in school history.
- There will be a special sale of surplus Wildcat apparel from various sports, see below.
- Fans may renew their season tickets for 2009 at the game, see below.
Season Ticket Renewal Deadline is May 1; Tickets May be Renewed at Blue/White Game: The deadline for renewal of 2009 Kentucky football season tickets is Friday, May 1. Tickets may be renewed on the Internet at UKathletics.com, in person at the UK Athletics Ticket Office or by mail.
Fans also may bring their season-ticket renewals to the Blue/White Game. UK ticket-office personnel will be available to accept renewals from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the ticket booth outside Gate 4 of the stadium.
Surplus Apparel/Equipment Sale at Blue/White Game: There will be a sale of surplus athletic apparel (various sports, items and sizes) on Saturday, April 25, from noon to 4 p.m. on the west concourse of Commonwealth Stadium.
There is also a sale of used athletic equipment – various weight machines, weight-training items and football practice gear – on Saturday, April 25. This sale will be by sealed bids only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Nutter Field House, which will be open on the Alumni Drive side of the building. Football practice items will be sold in “lots” (quantities only). The items may be viewed Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with sealed bids due by 3 p.m. Instructions on how to bid will be available at the site.
Weather Report Encouraging for Spring Game: The forecast for Saturday is partly cloudy with a high of 81 degrees.
Brooks is “Guest Conductor” for UK Symphony Orchestra: Coach Rich Brooks will be the guest conductor for the UK Symphony Orchestra on Friday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the Singletary Center for the Arts on the UK campus.
The Symphony Orchestra is presenting Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, with vocal music provided by the UK Choruses and UK Opera. Brooks will make the special guest appearance for a rendition of John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
For tickets and other information, call (859) 257-1808.
Brooks has been extremely supportive of the UK music program. His recent appearance on the Maker’s Mark special edition bottle will raise more than $200,000 for the traveling symphony program.
