The Kentucky football team got into action on Friday with Media Day and the first practice.
Media Day was held in the morning with the players being made available for interviews, along with individual, group, and team photos.
The Wildcats broke into two groups for the first practice Friday afternoon on the Tim Couch Practice Field at Nutter Training Center. Clad in helmets, jerseys, and shorts, the groups practiced for two hours each, overlapping 30 minutes so the entire team could get in special teams work.
?Hot,? Coach Rich Brooks replied when asked how the first practice in sweltering heat and humidity went. ?I was pleased with the way guys pushed themselves. It?s always harder when the coaches are pushing you than during the ?pass skellies? (players? self-run workouts) during the summer.
?We got a lot of reps (practice repetitions) in the split groups and a lot of looks at our newcomers.?
The Wildcats will continue to practice in the split-squad format Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
Fan Day on Saturday: The annual Kentucky Football Fan Day is set for Saturday, Aug. 4, at Commonwealth Stadium.
Stadium gates 4 and 9 open at 6:30 p.m., when posters and schedule cards will be given away. The first 2,000 fans will receive a coupon for a free hot dog and Coke (redeemable on Fan Day only).
There will be special activities on the stadium concourse. The giant inflatable games will be available for young Wildcats. An equipment stand will be set up and fans can try on UK helmets and shoulder pads. UK athletic trainers also will have a station, demonstrating ankle taping and other activities.
Coach Brooks and the team will be introduced at 7:15 p.m., followed by an autograph session with the Wildcat coaches and players. The autograph session ends at 9 p.m. and the event concludes with a fireworks show.
Conditioning Tests Reveal Increase in Team Speed: The Kentucky football team has made significant increases in team speed and quickness compared to a year ago, according to results from the summer conditioning program.
?Since we came here, we have said that our biggest need is increasing team speed and we continue to make progress in that area,? Coach Rich Brooks said.
In the 40-yard dash, 25.6 percent of the Wildcats tested at 4.63 seconds or less, up from 18.6 percent of the team a year ago. In the 20-yard shuttle run, a measure of quickness, 38 percent of the team clocked at 4.32 seconds or less, up from 32.9 percent a year ago ? the second consecutive year that a sizeable gain has been posted in that category.
