The Kentucky football team had its first practice in full pads with a three-hour workout Wednesday afternoon at the Nutter Training Center, and Coach Rich Brooks was not pleased with the results.
?I didn?t like my team today,? the candid Brooks said after the workout. ?I didn?t like the effort, the contact, or the execution. This one surprises me, being our first time altogether and our first practice in pads. We were more physical in helmets and shoulder pads than we were today. I think we were more physical in shorts (than today). If it doesn?t change tomorrow, there?s going to be some shuffling with the roster.?
Asked about the performance of the quarterbacks, Brooks said, ?It was such an ugly practice I didn?t notice what happened at quarterback. It?s my job to get ?em ready and obviously I have to do a better job of that.?
Brooks also was asked if there were any bright spots today. After noting that the first and second teams did not scrimmage, he said that the third team had a brief scrimmage and that freshman linebackers Sam Maxwell and Micah Johnson each had a good hit during that portion of practice.
Brooks also updated the team?s injury situation:
Redshirt freshman cornerback Jordan Nevels has a strained knee and is out indefinitely. Center Matt McCutchan missed practice today because of an unusual situation. A piece of food got lodged in his throat and stayed there for several hours before eventually dislodging. McCutchan?s throat was scoped to check for possible damage. He appears to be fine and is expected to return to practice Thursday. Sophomore wide receiver Joe Joe Brown will have an MRI test for an injured knee and Brooks said that there is concern about the potential severity of the injury. Sophomore offensive guard Micah Jones continues to be out indefinitely with a back injury. Junior defensive tackle Jason Leger is out with a sore knee but hopes to return to practice by Monday.
Fan Day Set for Saturday: The annual Kentucky Football Fan Day will be held Saturday, Aug. 12, at Commonwealth Stadium.
Activities begin outside the stadium at 9 a.m. with the “Wildcat Refuge” children’s play area.
Gate 4 and Gate 9 open at 10 a.m., when posters, schedule cards and prize tickets will be given away. The first 2,000 fans will receive a coupon for a free hot dog and Pepsi (redeemable on Fan Day only).
Coach Brooks and the team will be introduced at 11 a.m., followed by an autograph and photo session with the Wildcat coaches and players. During the autograph session, there will be drawings for grand prizes, such as football season tickets, women’s basketball season tickets, golf at the University Club, volleyball season tickets, baseball season tickets, and other items.
Fans also can get an up-close look at special elements of Wildcat football. An equipment stand will be set up in the east end zone and fans can try on UK helmets and shoulder pads. UK athletic trainers also will have a station in the east end zone, demonstrating ankle taping and other activities.
The autograph session ends at 12:45 p.m. Fans are invited to remain at the stadium and observe practice, which will begin at approximately 1:15 p.m.
Kentucky Preview on FSN South, Turner South Channels: A preview of the Kentucky football team will be televised on FSN South on Thurs. Aug. 10 at 8 p.m. and Mon. Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. (times are Eastern).
The same show will be televised on the Turner South channel on Wed. Aug. 16 at 10:30 p.m., Thu. Aug. 17 at 2:30 p.m., and Sun. Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Rafael Little Featured on Aaron?s Football Saturdays: Rafael Little and his friendship with James Kennedy, the man who inspired the movie ?Radio,? will be featured on an upcoming episode of ?Aaron?s Football Saturdays.?
The show will air on the following stations that serve Kentucky markets:
Bowling Green, KY – WBKO Sat. Aug. 19, 2 p.m. CDT
Cincinnati, OH – WSTR Sat. Aug. 19, 1 p.m. EDT
Evansville, IN – WTVW Sun. Aug. 13, 5 p.m. CDT
Lexington, KY – WKYT Sat. Aug. 12, noon EDT
Paducah, KY – WQWQ Sat. Aug. 12, 3 p.m. CDT
The show is produced by Lincoln Financial Sports (formerly Jefferson-Pilot Sports) and is syndicated throughout the South. For a complete list of stations, go to website lfsports.com.