The Kentucky football team had its first major scrimmage of the preseason Saturday afternoon at the Nutter Training Center and Coach Rich Brooks had a good initial impression of the game simulation.
?I think this was a very productive day, a lot of good hitting on defense, good plays on both sides of the ball. I was very pleased, actually, for the first scrimmage,? Brooks said. ?This may be the best punting scrimmage we?ve had since we?ve been here, with both (Ryan) Tydlacka and (Tim) Masthay getting very good punts. The protection and snapping were good.
?The only negative of the day was that (defensive end) Nii Adjei Oninku went down with a knee injury that we?ll have to determine the extent. It could be serious, we?ll have to get all the tests and see.?
The Wildcats practiced for two hours, 10 minutes, including the 70-minute scrimmage. Here are additional thoughts from Brooks:
(Asked about standouts in the scrimmage) ?I like our young backs. We gave them more reps than the returning guys. Keenan (wide receiver Keenan Burton) made a great catch for a touchdown. Andr? (quarterback Andr? Woodson) threw it and he went up and made an unbelievable catch, because he was extremely well covered by Trevard (cornerback Trevard Lindley), but he made a great play.
?I think the young (offensive) tackle, Brad Durham, is making very good progress and (offensive tackle) Zipp Duncan continues to be impressive. Durham is physically ahead of the rest of the (freshman) linemen in size and strength. He seems to be handling the intensity, the pressure, the learning as well as any young lineman we?ve had.?
(Asked about Micah Johnson, who is starting at middle linebacker in place of the injured Braxton Kelley) ?He did some good things, but I really can?t say specifically because I was watching so many other things. He made some good tackles and he didn?t look like he was out of place very much, so he must have played pretty well.?
(Asked about the punting) ?It will be interesting. It?s a very competitive thing. Masthay is performing at a higher level than he ever has in fall camp. Whether it?s because he?s being pushed or because he?s matured and gotten more consistent fundamentally, I?m not sure. He?s always had the talent. Tydlacka is the best freshman punter I?ve had since I?ve been here. He also can kick, although he?s spending a little more time punting right now than he is placekicking.?
(Asked about the defense) ?The offense didn?t have their way today. I think the first offense went three or four times against the first defense and got one touchdown and one field goal. And, the one touchdown, (tight end) Jacob Tamme made a catch and a nice long run and Keenan made a great catch on a well-covered play for the touchdown.?
Kentucky returns to practice Sunday afternoon.
Woodson Featured on ESPN.com: Senior quarterback Andr? Woodson is the subject of a feature story by Pat Forde on ESPN.com. To access, go to ESPN.com, or .
Single-Game Tickets for all Games Available: Single-game tickets for all UK home football games have gone on sale.
The tickets will be available online at www.ukathletics.com, , and TicketMaster outlets statewide. (For a list of TIcketMaster outlets, go to the website.)
The UK Ticket Office will accept phone and walk-up orders starting Mon. Aug. 13 at 9 a.m. The UK ticket office is located in the Joe Craft Center on Lexington Ave. and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets for home games vs. Eastern Kentucky, Kent State, Florida Atlantic, LSU, Florida, Mississippi State, and Tennessee cost $30 each. A limited number of tickets are available for the Louisville game at a cost of $70 each and there is a limit of two per order.
Kentucky Football on FSN South, SportSouth: A 30-minute show on the Kentucky football team will be aired on FSN South and SportSouth. Shot on location at UK, the show provides an in-depth review of the 2006 season, a look ahead to the 2007 schedule, and exclusive interviews with Coach Rich Brooks and select key players. The show host is Natalie Taylor and also features commentary from veteran SEC analysts Tony Barnhart and Dave Neal.
Here is the schedule, all times Eastern Daylight:
Thurs. Aug. 16 – 7:30 p.m. – FSN South
Fri. Aug. 17 – 10:30 a.m. – SportSouth
Mon. Aug. 20 – 1 p.m. – FSN South
Thurs. Aug. 23 – 7 p.m. – FSN South
Burton, Woodson Featured on ?Aaron?s Football Saturdays in the South?: Senior wide receiver Keenan Burton and senior quarterback Andre? Woodson will be featured in an upcoming episode of ?Aaron?s Football Saturdays in the South.? The show is produced by Lincoln Financial Sports and syndicated around the South.
The show will air in the following stations that serve Kentucky markets. For a full list of stations, go to . Viewers should check their local listings to confirm airtimes.
Bowling Green, Ky. – WBKO – Sun. Aug. 19, 1 p.m. CDT
Charleston, W.Va. – WSAZ – Sun. Aug. 19, 12:30 p.m. EDT
Evansville, Ind. – WTVW – Sun. Aug. 19, 5 p.m. CDT
Hazard, Ky. – WYMT – Sat. Aug. 18, noon EDT
Lexington, Ky. – WKYT – Sat. Aug. 18, noon EDT
Louisville, Ky. – WAVE – Sun. Aug. 12, 1:30 p.m. EDT
Nashville, Tenn. – WUXP – Sat. Aug. 18, 5 p.m. CDT
Paducah, Ky. – WPSD – Sun. Aug. 19, noon CDT
