YOU ARE HERE: Central Kentucky Home→Collections

UK Football: Brooks would like big Blue-White crowd

April 24, 2009|LARRY VAUGHT

LEXINGTON - Kentucky coach Rich Brooks would enjoy seeing a large crowd at Saturday's Blue-White Game at Commonwealth Stadium.

Yet the veteran coach knows that UK's spring game traditionally has not drawn crowds anywhere near what other Southeastern Conference schools do.

"I hope we have a packed stadium in the fall with a lot of noise, more so than the spring game," Brooks said. "But it would be nice to have a big crowd. I read where we have no excuses since there are no conflicts with other things this year.

"Our players have had a very good spring. I want to be get better and stay healthy (Saturday). If we can do that and have a big crowd, too, that would be wonderful."

Brooks let coordinators Steve Brown and Joker Phillips draft players Thursday for the intrasquad game.

Brown's Blue team has three of his key defensive players - end Jeremy Jarmon, linebacker Micah Johnson and cornerback Trevard Lindley - who stayed at Kentucky rather than going to the NFL.

Phillips, UK's offensive coordinator, has starting quarterback Mike Hartline along with the team's top running back, Alfonso Smith, and its top fullback, John Conner, on his White team.

Sophomore Randall Cobb, who started games at quarterback last year, is on Brown's team. Brooks said his primary playing time will be at wide receiver, not quarterback, where the Wildcats plan to still use him at times next season. Brooks said Cobb will not run the ball more than four or five times in the game.

"He was drafted as a receiver, and that is where he will primarily play," Brooks said.

Admission and parking are free for the game, which will start at 1:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on the Big Blue Sports Network. Concession stands and the Nike Team Shops will be open on the stadium concourse.

Kentucky's SEC academic honor roll players will be introduced before the game. UK had 31 players on the 2008 SEC honor roll, the second-highest mark in school history.

|

|

|