Football Opens The New CWS with UL Lafayette
After years and months of planning and construction, the Kentucky football team will open its 2015 season in The New Commonwealth Stadium on Sept. 5 with the lidlifter against UL Lafayette. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
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| UL Lafayette at Kentucky | ||
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| Sat., Sept. 5 – 7:00 p.m. ET The New CWS Lexington, Ky. Game Notes: UK  | ULL Digital Gameday Program Gameday App More Gameday Info |
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| Coverage | ||
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TV: ESPNU |
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| UK | Final 2014 Team Stats | ULL |
| 5-7 | Record | 9-4 |
| 2-6 | Conference Record | 7-1 |
| 29.2 | Scoring/game | 29.5 |
| 384.3 | Total offense/game | 417.2 |
| 153.2 | Rushing yards/game | 225.8 |
| 231.2 | Passing yards/game | 191.5 |
| 22.8 | Kickoff returns (avg) | 19.0 |
| 6.9 | Punt returns (avg) | 6.9 |
| 42.6 | Punting (avg) | 42.1 |
| 28:40 | Time of possession/game | 31:43 |
| 33.9 | Third down conversion | 42.2 |
| 41.6 | Fourth down conversion | 50.0 |
| 31.2 | Points allowed/game | 26.0 |
| 406.9 | Total yards allowed/game | 405.7 |
| 191.2 | Rush yards allowed/game | 142.2 |
| 215.8 | Pass yards allowed/game | 263.5 |
The construction of Commonwealth Stadium, a $120 million “reimagining” of CWS, features a new look to the outside of the stadium, redesigned concourses, new consession stands and restrooms, new suites, recruiting facilities and a new press box. Also in progress is a $45 million practice/office complex on the south side of the stadium, which is slated to open in 2016.
Kentucky and UL Lafayette will be meeting for the first time with UK seeking a second-consecutive season opening win. UK topped UT Martin, 59-14, in 2014.
Cat Scratches: Grand opening game the culmination of offseason of work
It’s difficult to imagine a busier August for a college football program.
At Nutter Training Facility, Kentucky’s players and coaches have been hard at work ahead of the 2015 season. The Wildcats had a productive fall camp and have moved seamlessly into preparation for their season-opening opponent, UL Lafayette.
Down the street, construction workers and UK Athletics volunteers have been toiling just as diligently to make sure Commonwealth Stadium – undergoing a $126 million renovation – is ready to host that game.
Come Saturday at 7 p.m., the pre-work will be at its end for both the team and the stadium crew.
“Excited to get the season going, it feels like it’s been a long summer,” head coach Mark Stoops said. “The players have worked extremely hard, the coaches have worked hard, so we are anxious to get going. … read full story
The New CWS Grand Opening Events Set
On Sept. 5 at 7 p.m., Kentucky football will play the grand opening game in The New CWS against UL Lafayette. Leading up to kickoff, UK Athletics will host a series of events to commemorate the big day, punctuated by a free pregame concert featuring Sundy Best.
“The opening of The New CWS marks the beginning of a new era of Kentucky football and the culmination of a great deal of hard work by many people,” Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said. “We look forward to celebrating with our fans the first game played there with a special environment before and during the game.”
The events will be headlined by a pregame concert featuring Sundy Best, a country duo formed by Kentucky natives Kris Bentley and Nick Jamerson. The concert will be held next to the Glenn Infiniti of Lexington Green Lot adjacent to Gate 1 of The New CWS. … read full story
Series Record vs. UL Lafayette
Saturday marks the first meeting between Kentucky and UL Lafayette in football.
Scouting UL Lafayette
In 2014, UL Lafayette went 9-4, including a 7-1 record in the Sun Belt Conference, good for a second-place finish. ULL went 2-3 in non-conference games in 2014 and sported a 4-2 record on the road. The Ragin’ Cajuns enter the season riding a two-game winning streak and advancing to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at the end of last season where they defeated Nevada, 16-3. The Ragin’ Cajuns have a 517-530-34 all-time record, with six bowl appearances and a 5-1 record in postseason play. ULL is coached by Mark Hudspeth, who is in his fifth season with a 36-16 record. Hudspeth most recently served as the passing coordinator and wide receivers coach for Mississippi State in 2009-10. ULL joins Oregon as the only FBS school in the nation to win nine or more games, including a bowl game, in each of the last four seasons.
