Kentucky invited fans and media in to watch practice on Monday at the Tim Couch Practice Fields.
The practices are intense and fast-paced. It is easy to get lost in the whirlwind of drills and movement between fields. Fans lining the sidelines get an all-access, raw view of the proceedings. These coaches hold nothing back.
Coach Stoops was very hands-on at this practice, even taking a few snaps at one point.
It is interesting watching the dynamic between the coaches and players. Coaches can go from fiery and demanding to instructional and supportive in the blink of an eye, or the drop of a pass. While coaches understand it is a learning process and mistakes are natural, they want to make expectations clear and set the right tone. Balancing it all is a challenge so early in the season with a sea of new faces on the roster.
“The way we respond,” Stoops said about the progress his squad is making in accountability. “Maybe the offense is not doing some good things, they come back and make a few plays and bounce back. Defensively the same thing. Just to stay on the grind. Just keep on pushing and never accept being average. Our guys are pushing to be better. We are not there. It is frustrating at times to be so young in certain spots again but it is what it is and it is our job to get them better.”
“Hope you guys enjoyed the practice. I was glad to open it up again, it was good to have you out there and open it up to the public,” Stoops said. “We will do that a few more times.”
*via ukathletics.com
The next open practice is scheduled for Tuesday from 3:30-5:00 p.m.
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- Photo: Regina Rickert
