From the Desk of J Batt: The Season is Here!
Big Blue Nation,
This is my favorite time of year!
Students are back on campus, our teams are competing and it’s finally football time here in the Bluegrass. There is a special energy across Lexington, and after spending my first several weeks getting to know so many members of our community, I am excited to experience the season alongside all of you.
On Saturday, Coach Will Stein will lead Kentucky Football into Kroger Field for his first game as head coach. Will, his staff and our student-athletes have put in so much hard work to prepare for this moment. Now, they have the opportunity to compete with Big Blue Nation behind them.
A month ago, Will and I spent a Saturday morning visiting fans setting up their tailgates. We appreciated the early chance to connect with some extremely devoted members of BBN. Everywhere we went, we saw the passion and commitment that make BBN the greatest fan base in college sports.
That morning also reinforced something Will and I both believe: Our fans are the difference maker for our program.
When Kroger Field is full, loud and united behind the Wildcats, it creates an environment our team can feel and our opponents cannot ignore. Saturday’s BBN United Game and White Out will be a great early opportunity to create that atmosphere this season, and I look forward to seeing the passion of BBN on full display.
We also remain committed to constantly improving the game-day experience to deliver even more for BBN. Fans will see several new enhancements at Kroger Field this season, many developed with fan feedback. From new, lower-priced concessions and local cuisine options to an updated team entrance and additional in-stadium engagement, our focus is on creating memorable experiences for everyone who joins us.
As college athletics moves into this new era, we will continue making the investments necessary to support our student-athletes and keep Kentucky competing among the nation’s best. The challenges and opportunities ahead will require us to stay united as one Big Blue Nation, working together to ensure the Wildcats thrive in this changing landscape.
While football game week brings a special sense of anticipation, our other fall teams have already given us plenty to be excited about.
Kentucky Women’s Soccer opened our athletics calendar with an impressive 6-0 victory at the Bell Soccer Complex last month. It was the first home regular-season event I attended as Athletics Director and a terrific way to begin the year. Coach Troy Fabiano’s team will host a rivalry match vs. Louisville on Thursday at The Bell. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. and I look forward to seeing plenty of Blue supporting the Wildcats from the stands.
Our men’s soccer team has also welcomed outstanding crowds during the opening weeks of its season. I appreciate everyone who has supported Coach Johan Cedergren and the defending conference champions as they begin the year.
With free admission to our regular-season home soccer matches, there will be many more opportunities to support both programs this fall.
Coach Craig Skinner and Kentucky Volleyball opened the season by sweeping a top-10 Wisconsin team at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee a few weekends ago. The Wildcats then returned to Historic Memorial Coliseum this past weekend for a pair of wins, the unveiling of the banner recognizing last season’s national runner-up finish as well as their ninth consecutive Southeastern Conference regular-season championship and the SEC Tournament title.
After Saturday’s win, we celebrated Coach Skinner’s 500th career win – an incredible accomplishment of longevity and elite performance over many years. We’re looking forward to many, many more.
Tonight, the volleyball team will play UCLA in HMC before they take the court Sunday at one of the most iconic venues in sports, Wrigley Field, for the culmination of the SEC / Big Ten Challenge.
Cross country and the fall golf and tennis seasons will also get under way soon. Winter sports will get up and running before we know it.
This is the beginning of a special time for Kentucky Athletics.
My first several weeks in Lexington have been filled with opportunities to listen, learn and build relationships across our department, University and the Big Blue Nation. My family and I are grateful for the welcome we have received.
We will continue engaging with BBN and working together to build on the proud tradition of Kentucky Athletics.
For now, it’s time for our teams to do what they do best: compete.
Our student-athletes and coaches are ready to represent Kentucky on the fields and courts of play. They need BBN with them, and I look forward to seeing the greatest fans in college sports show up and make a difference throughout the season.
See you Saturday in Kroger Field.
Go Cats!
