No buzz about the "Spring Game" at all.
- Thread starter TheKentuckyKid
- Start date
There isn't a spring game this year. It's an open practice. Spring games are losing favor in many programs.
I was pissed that nothing came out about it until this past Monday. Then having just a glorified practice at 10 a.m. If it was later in the day I would have gone. Pretty epic fail with regards to being fan friendly/accommodating IMO. Not exactly what the program needs at this time.
Why is it an epic fail? Stoops explained his decision and it seems reasonable. I get being disappointed. I don't get the judgmental stuff.
Wish there was a bit more info floating around. Who looks good, who doesn't etc, etc
Me too. But, aside from the spring showcase, the practices are closed so no news. Like you, I get curious. But knowing the circumstances (especially the fact that well over half of our roster is turning over), I don't think it's very difficult to know what they are doing.
Here is a fun question to ponder. When September rolls around, how many of the 22 starters will be starting for UK for the first time? I will guess 6 new starters on the offense and 7 new starters on the defense.
Those are pretty good guesses, I'll raise you 1 on offense and call your guess on defense😁
I do as well, but the only way anyone should get real info is if they can keep their mouth shut about it. Players transfer enough with the sht show the way it is. Until/if the system is fixed, there's no reason to even have the scrimmages and practices open to the press or public.
As much as I hate saying it there's no point. You're just shooting yourself in the foot if you do. I accepted that this system is terminal and just hasn't gotten the diagnosis yet. Don't care if it survives as it exists now.
Waiting 5 days before the event to announce any details and then having it at 10: a.m. I was expecting it to be a glorified practice, have no problem with that. I'm as bigbluehomer as they come, been a season ticket holder for thirty some odd years. I kind of think maybe the program should be a little more fan friendly right now.
These traditional spring games just seem to be done all over most of college football. I hate it, but is what it is.
TOS has a little free write up about this morning. Stoops still griping about Wilcox being accountable. Talented guy, hopefully he and Stoops can get on the same page before thee season starts. No mention of Brian Robinson, disappointing to me at least.
Not everyone is running scared. Some are keeping the tradition going, good on OSU for bucking this stupid trend.
Eleven Warriors
Eleven Warriors
Stoops explained the scrimmage and we have known about this for more than 5 days. As he said, this was done because he wanted good on good and needed to limit injury risks. It's a trend now all over college football. I just don't see what that has to do with fan friendlines. But I understand the disappointment, especially for old school fans like you and me. Always enjoyed the Blue White spring game myself although I also have to say it was rare for the stars of the spring game to play a lot the following fall.
The buzz after today's scrimmage sounded really good for-
Kalen Edwards
Grant Godfrey
Sam Greene
Jordan Lovett
Dante Dowdell
David Washington
Alex Wollschlaeger
Jalen Farmer
Jacob Kauwe
Kalen Edwards, Martels Carter, and DJ Miller are very intriguing true freshmen.
Kalen Edwards
Grant Godfrey
Sam Greene
Jordan Lovett
Dante Dowdell
David Washington
Alex Wollschlaeger
Jalen Farmer
Jacob Kauwe
Kalen Edwards, Martels Carter, and DJ Miller are very intriguing true freshmen.
I went and I liked it even BETTER than the old Spring Game format. The scrimmage moved FAST with a lot of plays in the nearly 1 hr of play.
I am also an over 35 year season ticket holder and have been to nearly every spring game in that time span and was a UK student in the late 80's so I've been going for 40 years.
O-Line looked MUCH better and BIGGER
D-Line was deep and looked like they were in better shape and more active
WR's were thin because a few of them were injured
Calzada looked poised, sharp and had A LOT of ZIP on the ball AND made quick decisions
DB's were steady
RB's and LB's were hard to judge in this low contact format
Kicker has a lively leg and the ball POPS off his foot
One thing I noticed that was MUCH BETTER than the last 2 years was the ATTITUDE of the team and the ENTHUSIASM of the players AND coaches. Constant chatter from everyone the ENTIRE day.
I realize that I am giving an EXTREMELY optimistic assessment, but I want to stay positive. 😁 😁
I am also an over 35 year season ticket holder and have been to nearly every spring game in that time span and was a UK student in the late 80's so I've been going for 40 years.
O-Line looked MUCH better and BIGGER
D-Line was deep and looked like they were in better shape and more active
WR's were thin because a few of them were injured
Calzada looked poised, sharp and had A LOT of ZIP on the ball AND made quick decisions
DB's were steady
RB's and LB's were hard to judge in this low contact format
Kicker has a lively leg and the ball POPS off his foot
One thing I noticed that was MUCH BETTER than the last 2 years was the ATTITUDE of the team and the ENTHUSIASM of the players AND coaches. Constant chatter from everyone the ENTIRE day.
I realize that I am giving an EXTREMELY optimistic assessment, but I want to stay positive. 😁 😁
I honestly do not keep up with out of season rosters spots, but basically anyone on that list not listed as a starter will now leave for greener pastures.
THAT is the reason all the spring games are no more.
Sounds like addition by subtraction is hopefully the theme. No more drama queens. No more letting dl walk and dog it. Just hate our schedule is so tough.
Interesting point. I do not buy the narrative that everyone on the list who is not an immediate starter will leave UK. Younger players moving up into the playing rotations will continue to contribute as their roles grow in Stoops' program. However, you have a point that public practices are a tryout for the football world now, not just for the team. The relationship of the coaching staff with the player is still the dominant dynamic. But the relationship is now complicated by the annual NIL renegotiation. Some players are happy with their campus life and their coaches. For those players, relocating is not the primary priority. And there are plenty of those players. But there are also plenty of the other kind. And who can blame them? $Millions are on the table, and the money can be life changing.
This brings us to Nico Iamaleava. Josh Heupel says no one is bigger than the team. Traditionally, Heupel is correct. But Heupel's moral standards didn't apply when Tennessee boosters paid Iamaleava $8 million to relocate from Long Beach, CA, to Knoxville. That set Iamaleava apart from the other Tennessee players, sent the wrong message, and gave Iamaleava his own national stage. So, no surprise when Iamaleava leveraged his success after one season as Tennessee's starter. Unlike Heupel, Iamaleava owes Tennessee nothing. It's the other way around. So Iamaleava is an expensive grifter with one marketable skill. He won't inspire respect, but he will be rich if he saves and invests well.
The point is that Iamaleava is not unique. He is a creation of the times. As we watch the transfer portal, we see more and more football and basketball players who attend three or four schools in four years. An education means nothing. It's always about this year's deal.
To date, UK football doesn't have guys like Iamaleava. Gerald Mincey was probably the closest, but his embarrassing UK legacy is unlikely to entice Stoops farther down that path. OTOH, Zach Calzada will be on a college football field for his 7th year. That will be interesting. UK is depending on Calzada (and Leary, and Levis) because a series of UK OCs were unable to evaluate hs QBs and develop them into successful college QBs. Early on, it appears that Cutter Boley may break that bad streak, but we don't know yet. Boley won't have to be paid $8 million and won't put himself above the team. It would be interesting to know what kind of discussions are occurring between Stoops and Oscar Rios.
For now, I believe UK's current team will hold together. But there are no rules now in NIL. Everything is fluid because that's how ESPN wants it. No one knows where this is headed, but the Congressional pathway to profit sharing seems to be the next shoe to drop. Profit sharing will be hard on the schools, but will even out the burden somewhat. But nothing is in the cards to change motivations for grifters like Iamaleava or for garbage schools like Tennessee and UL. I just hope UK never falls into the garbage category, and I am glad UK's leadership has tried to hold our standards higher. But with amateurism dead now, it's a crap shoot. We will see how Tommy Tuberville's Congressional legislation translates to reality, but the intangibles that created great college athletics are gone forever.
Love hearing this about the attitude and energy
Yes.
Boley looked better, but was not a sharp and as quick at making the right reads.
Calzada looks like a dude that has played A LOT of football. Which is what this team needs right now.
What about Stone? I contend that he will beat out Boley eventually. Sensitive situation for the staff as you don't want to run off future in-state prospects, but a friend of mine has seen both Stone and Boley in person in games and workouts and says Stone is the better prospect.
Stone was not even as sharp as Ward, much less Boley. But it was one practice. I just hope we retain at least 2 of those 3. Which ever 2 that proves they can succeed in the SEC which is a TALL TASK for a QB.
Hopefully Coach Hamden can break the AMAZING cycle of UK OC’s not being able to develop a HS QB into a starter.
Really haven't heard much about Ward this spring. Certainly, Calzada and Boley have garnered the most attention with Saunders getting a bit just because he was a pretty good recruiting win and played great in PA HS football. Is Ward more of an RPO/athlete than a pocket passer? Seems like I recall him being on the small side but that's a guess.
Brennen looked to be about the same size as Stone. Boley is much taller and has put on some good weight.
All 3 have decent arms and all 3 took off and ran and Boley even pulled the ball a couple of times and looked good running it.
Thanks for the updates!!! Wish I could hear the pads cracking!
Well it’s all we have to go on right now for us football fanatics. I’ll take it. Kentucky is a place that could explode. Great fan base. Just need one magical year
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