It was dubbed “Big Blue Weekend,” and a big weekend it was for the Big Blue Nation.
In the span of 44 hours, UK baseball hosted Ole Miss, the UK softball team hosted Tennessee in addition to the annual Blue-White spring football game.
Fourty-four hours, seven games and 46,883 total fans. On a beautiful weekend in the bluegrass, Commonwealth Stadium, John Cropp Stadium and Cliff Hagan Stadium were the places to be.
The spring game attendance was 35,117. It was the second-largest crowd in program history behind last season’s, when over 50,000 watched UK’s annual spring scrimmage. As No. 9 softball took on No. 8 Tennessee in a top-10 matchup, 4,664 fans filled John Cropp Stadium, the largest crowd for a three-game series in program history.
Big Blue Nation did not disappoint this weekend and came out in droves to support their team as only they could.
After the baseball and softball teams opened the weekend on Friday night, the party hit its peak on Saturday with a jam-packed day.
Head football coach Mark Stoops got things started when he threw out the first pitch at the baseball game in front of 2,474 fans. Each of the baseball team’s three games drew at least 2,200 fans.
As the football team arrived at Commonwealth Stadium, players and coaches were greeted by fans, forming the Catwalk into the stadium. The energy and sheer numbers from the Big Blue Nation for Saturday’s Catwalk were like those seen on Saturdays in the fall, not in the spring.
“Great turnout today,” assistant coach Neal Brown said. “Our Catwalk was tremendous. It was like an in-season Catwalk today. They were lined–it was backed up and then the crowd in the game was terrific. That shows people, that shows recruits that people are serious about football here and we are very thankful. I want to make sure that I thank the fans.”
Thanks BBN for another amazing turnout!! Nobody better!!! #BBN pic.twitter.com/B2z882UGzO
— Mark Stoops (@UKCoachStoops) April 27, 2014
The parking lots surrounding Commonwealth Stadium were a sea of blue hours before kickoff. Food on the grill, music blaring and footballs flying through the air made it seem like a typical fall Saturday. All that was missing was a chill in the air and some color in the leaves.
Once inside the stadium, 35,117 fans watched as the Blue team beat the White squad, 38-14. Not only was it the second-largest spring game crowd in UK history, but it was the 12th-best crowd in the country this spring and seventh in the SEC.
UK is one of just 16 schools to draw 30,000 fans or more this spring.
As the football game was winding down, the softball team’s second game of its series with Tennessee was beginning, with another big crowd on hand.
The second-largest crowd in program history, 1,858 saw the Wildcats beat their SEC rivals, 5-2, to even the three-game series. The sold-out crowd came a day before the Big Blue Nation packed in 1,685 Sunday on Senior Day for a second consecutive sellout.
“The fan base was incredible this weekend and especially today on Senior Day for them to come pack this place was awesome,” softball head coach Rachel Lawson said. “Saturday the fan support really helped push us over the edge. I love the Big Blue Nation and everything they do for our athletic department.”
1,685 at John Cropp Stadium today, taking the weekend total to 4,664 fans – which is a program record for a three-game series! Thanks, #BBN!
— UK softball (@UKsoftball) April 27, 2014
While Big Blue Weekend officially is complete, there is still plenty of action left in the 2014 season for UK’s spring sports at home.
The baseball team hosts Auburn on Senior Weekend May 9-11, while the men’s tennis team is expected to host the NCAA Regionals, May 9-10.
The following weekend, the SEC Track and Field Championships come to Lexington May 15-18. Should the softball team host the NCAA Regional for the second consecutive season, that will be held at John Cropp Stadium May 15-18.
