April 20, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky football head coach Joker Phillips said after his team’s final spring practice Wednesday that everything offensively and defensively has been installed and now it is time for the players to put in the work to get themselves better.
The second-year head coach will lead his team into Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday for the annual Blue/White Game, which is presented by Verizon. The game is scheduled to 3 p.m. ET. Admission and parking are free on a first-come, first-served basis. Commonwealth Stadium gates 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 will open at 1:30 p.m. ET.
“Now, the work starts,” Phillips said. “We have installed all of our offense and all of our defense and now Saturday is the game. You won’t see a lot of it (installed offense and defense) but you will see some of the things that we installed.”
Phillips stressed that not only does the work start for the Wildcats on the football field Saturday, but that Saturday is just the first step in the players making sure that they take care of their bodies this summer and are fully prepared to compete when they enter preseason camp in August.
The scrimmage will consist of offense vs. defense, instead of splitting the squads into two teams. The Kentucky coach believes it will be the most beneficial for the team down the road.
“The offense vs. defense, what you do is you play our schemes and everybody plays together,” Phillips said. “The first team will play with the first team and all the guys that are starters, same on both sides. If you split it up like that then you will be playing beside the same guys that you will play next to in the fall. I think we will get more out of it as a football team.”
So far this spring, Phillips said he has been encouraged by some of the things that he has seen his team do but has also been upset with some recurring errors. Phillips told reporters after practice that the kicking game, led by senior Ryan Tydlacka and junior Craig McIntosh, has been promising, while he also liked how the defense smothered the offense in the scrimmage on April 9.
After Saturday’s scrimmage, Kentucky will break from team practice until officially getting back together in August.
More Information on the Blue/White Game:
• Admission and parking are free on a first-come, first-served basis. (If you’ve never gotten to sit on the 50-yard line, here’s your chance!)
• The Red, Blue and Green parking lots open at 8 a.m. and fans are welcome to tailgate.
• Stadium gates 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 open at 1:30 p.m.
• Seating will be available in the north, west and south lower sections of the stadium.
• Verizon, the event sponsor, will be positioned inside stadium gates 4 and 9. Verizon will be giving away sunglasses, lanyards or drawstring bags while supplies last.
• Team roster cards will be given away at the stadium gates. There is a coupon on the back of the roster card which is good for free admission to that night’s baseball game at 7 p.m. vs. Arkansas.
• The stadium ticket office outside gate 4 will be open from 1-3 p.m. in order for current season-ticket holders to renew their tickets.
• Concession stands and the Nike Team Shops will be available on the stadium concourse.
• There will be a radio broadcast on the Big Blue Sports Network, including WLAP in Lexington (630 on the AM dial) and WHAS in Louisville (840 AM).
Scoring Format for Blue/White Game:
Offense
First Down 1 point
Field Goal 3 points
Touchdown 6 points
Extra Point (PAT) 1 or 2 points
Defense
Three and Out 3 points
Stop on Downs 1 point
Stop on Fourth Down 6 points
Turnover 6 points
Touchdown 10 points
Defense may score in only one category on a play. For example, an interception returned for a touchdown is 10 points, not 16 points.
