LEXINGTON, Ky. — The annual Kentucky Football Fans’ Day will be held Saturday, Aug. 13, at Commonwealth Stadium, highlighted by an autograph session, prize giveaways, and a team practice.
Activities begin outside the stadium at 9 a.m. with the “Wildcat Refuge” children’s play area.
Gate 4 and Gate 9 of the stadium open at 10 a.m., when posters, Wildcat gift envelopes, and prize tickets will be given away. Schedule cards, schedule magnets, meal tickets, and other goodies will be in the gift envelopes. Meal tickets can be redeemed for free hot dogs and Pepsi while supplies last.
Coach Rich Brooks and the team will be introduced at 11 a.m., followed by an autograph session with the Wildcat coaches and players. During the autograph session, there will be drawings for grand prizes, such as football season tickets, airfare and tickets to away football games, women’s basketball season tickets, Kroger gift cards, 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 1:20 p.m. Coach Rich Brooks has indicated that game officials would be present and there will be some scrimmage action during the practice.
Fans interested in purchasing season tickets or single-game tickets may do so at the stadium ticket booth, located outside Gate 4.
Practice Update: The Kentucky football team has practiced for three days in full pads, going just under three hours on Wednesday and Friday and approximately two and one-half hours during each of two practice sessions on Thursday.
Following Friday’s practice, Coach Rich Brooks indicated that he was looking for more consistency from the Wildcats.
“Practice hasn’t been great, but we’ve had some guys ‘dinged up’ (short-term injuries), so we’re missing some pieces of the puzzle,” Brooks said.
Brooks announced that sophomore tailback Tony Dixon sustained a sprained ankle today. Brooks indicated that the initial diagnosis was that it did not appear to be a mild sprain and that Dixon likely would miss at least a few days of practice. As usual with joint injuries, the full extent of the injury will not be known for 24-48 hours.
Brooks also announced that freshman offensive lineman Kenny Ray Turner has completed the eligibility process and has joined the team. Turner was a first- team all-state choice as a senior at Trigg County (Ky.) High School, also earning three-year All-Western Kentucky Conference and two-year all-area honors.
The addition of Turner completes Kentucky’s 25-man signing class of 2005. Five of the new Wildcats, including four grayshirt freshmen and junior-college transfer Fatu Turituri, enrolled in January of this year and they were joined by 20 more freshmen when the squad reported for fall practice last week.
