Following a disappointing performance in Wednesday?s workout, the Kentucky football team bounced back with a pair of strong practices on Thursday.
The Wildcat practiced two and one-half hours Thursday morning in sweltering conditions on the Nutter Training Center practice field. The team came back with a two-hour workout Thursday afternoon, held indoors at the Nutter Field House because of the rainstorm that soaked Lexington.
?We practiced well ? focused well, practiced hard, which is what we have to do to get better,? Coach Rich Brooks said.
Senior center Matt McCutchan returned to practice Thursday?s practices after missing Wednesday. Brooks noted that redshirt freshman offensive tackle Zach Hennis is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury.
The Wildcats return to practice Friday afternoon and will have Fan Day and a scrimmage on Saturday.
Burton Continuing Double Duty: Following Thursday afternoon?s practice, offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Joker Phillips had words of praise for Keenan Burton.
Burton, a junior wide receiver from Louisville, Ky., took it upon himself to do double duty this summer, continuing his own rehabilitation of an injured foot while helping four new Wildcat wideouts begin their adjustment to major-college football. Burton spent extensive time helping teach junior-college transfer Steve Johnson and freshmen Terrence Jones, Darrell Stevens, and Michael Strickland the basics of the Wildcat offense. That work has paid off at the beginning of fall practice.
?What?s helping us now is that we?re skipping a lot of general stuff in practice, (such as) alignment, snap counts,? Phillips said. ?(Because of Burton) The new receivers also have some knowledge of our system. Keenan understands how we want to get things done ? full speed every play and being a model citizen off the field and in the classroom.?
Phillips also is encouraged by what he?s seen of Burton?s own progress.
?He looks really good,? Phillips said. ?He?s practicing fast and making plays. Watching him not make mistakes allows me to rest him some and work the younger kids.?
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 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.
Lincoln Financial SEC Preview Coming Up: The hour-long Southeastern Conference Football Preview Show, produced and syndicated by Lincoln Financial Sports (formerly Jefferson-Pilot), will be televised around the South in the coming weeks.
The show will air on the following stations that serve Kentucky markets. For a complete list of stations, go to website lfsports.com.
Bowling Green, KY – WBKO Sun. Aug. 27, noon CDT
Charleston, WV – WSAZ Sat. Aug. 26, 1 p.m. EDT
Evansville, IN – WTVW Sun. Aug. 27, 5 p.m. CDT
Lexington, KY – WKYT Sun. Aug. 27, 6 p.m. EDT
Louisville, KY – WAVE Sat. Aug. 26, 1 p.m. EDT
Paducah, KY – WQWQ Sat. Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m. CDT
