The Southeastern Conference has released the official attendance numbers from each member school’s spring game and needless to say, Kentucky’s numbers are a little disappointing.
Alabama topped the league with an unbelievable 92,310 fans at their spring showcase. At the other end of the spectrum is Kentucky…with a grand total of 4,000.
I’m not saying Kentucky football should bring out fans like Alabama football, but that’s a difference of 88,310. Even Vanderbilt managed to attract more fans than the Wildcats.
[B]2011 SEC Spring Game Attendance Numbers[/B]
Alabama: 92,310
Arkansas: 42,000
Auburn: 53,209
Florida: 51,000
Georgia: 43,177
Kentucky: 4,000
LSU: 25,032
Ole Miss: 28,000
Miss. State: 36,357
South Carolina: 29,451
Tennessee: 35,891
Vanderbilt: 7,500
[B]TOTAL: 447,927 (37,327 average)[/B]
[B]2010: 430,228 (35,852 average)[/B]
[B]2009: 455,232 (37,936 average)[SEC Record][/B]
[B]2008: 373,232 (31,103 average)[/B]
[B]2007: 293,739 (24,478 average)[/B]
Here are some game notes from the SEC:
[QUOTE][B]Kentucky[/B]
• Kentucky wrapped up spring practice with the Blue/White Game on April 23. The White team was the starting offense and defense and the Blue squad was comprised of second-teamers. Staked to a 14-0 lead to begin the game, the Blue actually expanded the advantage to 28-7 before the White rallied to tie at 28 late in the game. With under a minute to go, the Blue’s Joseph Mansour hit a 38-yard field goal to give the Blue a 31-28 win.
• Duly noting that the second-teamers were given a 14-0 lead to open the Blue/White Game, Coach Joker Phillips was excited that his second team played competitively against the first team and eventually won the game. “I was really pleased with the way our second-teamers played. That only helps our depth. That is something that we have to have. I think we have a good first 22, but we have to have guys behind them. I was excited about some of the plays these kids made. All of this says is that we have a chance with this football team.”
• * The major change of the spring came on defense as new co-defensive coordinator Rick Minter added a 3-4 look to the existing 4-3 system. The emphasis is to create more turnovers and negative-yardage plays and the Wildcats seemed to make progress in those areas. Kentucky returns its top 11 tacklers from last season although several players moved to new or adjusted positions in the spring in order to best fit the new defensive scheme. “On defense, our goal was to create more turnovers, and more negative plays, and I thought we did that,” Phillips said. “We showed that we can attack. We created minus-yards plays and we created turnovers.”
• Strong safety Winston Guy, a second-team All-SEC pick last season, is now playing a hybrid safety/linebacker position that often moves him close to the line of scrimmage. Guy created havoc in the team’s first major scrimmage of the spring with a pair of quarterback sacks, an additional tackle for loss, and stuffing a running back for no gain on a fourth-and-one play.
• Martavius Neloms, a starter at cornerback last season, moved to free safety in the spring. He looked very comfortable in the new slot, as he has a good knack for positioning on pass plays and is a competent tackler, two key components for playing free safety.
• Redshirt freshman defensive end Justin Henderson showed he might be ready for the playing rotation this fall. He made a big play in each of the team’s three major scrimmages, including two sacks and an additional tackle for loss in the Blue/White Game.
• The offensive emphasis in the spring was to replace departed veteran playmakers at quarterback (Mike Hartline), tailback (Derrick Locke) and wide receiver (Randall Cobb and Chris Matthews).
• Junior-to-be Morgan Newton established himself as the starting quarterback. He completed 23 of 44 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns in the Blue/White Game and his totals would have been significantly higher if not for some dropped passes. In his first two seasons, Newton completed 56 percent of his passes for 971 yards and six touchdowns. The backup QB is grayshirt freshman Maxwell Smith, who showed good passing accuracy and pocket presence in his spring with the Wildcats.
• Despite the losses of Cobb and Matthews, there is some promise at wide receiver. Junior-to-be La’Rod King is established as one starter after catching 36 passes last season. Sophomore-to-be Brian Adams made a strong showing in spring practice and caught seven passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns in the Blue/White Game. Adams had a busy spring as he split time between football practice and as the starting centerfielder for the Kentucky baseball team. Senior-to-be Matt Roark caught five passes for 104 yards and two TDs in a scrimmage. The receivers will be bolstered in August by the return of junior-to-be Gene McCaskill, who caught 32 passes his first two years before missing the 2010 season and this spring practice because of injury.
• Punter Ryan Tydlacka had a terrific spring. Tydlacka punted four times for a 55.5-yard average in the Blue/White Game. He has improved his average each year, posting a 43.8-yard average last season, and appears poised for a strong senior season.
• Several players missed all or parts of the spring because of injuries, including defensive linemen Mister Cobble, Nermin Delic, Tristian Johnson and Brice Laughlin; tailback Brandon Gainer; linebacker Jabari Johnson; offensive lineman Jake Lanefski; and wide receiver Gene McCaskill. If all goes well, the players will be ready by the time the season begins in September.
• Kentucky opens the 2011 season on Thursday, Sept. 1, at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn., as the Wildcats take on Western Kentucky University. The game is set for a 9:15 p.m. ET kickoff and will be televised on ESPNU.
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Photo: UKAthletics.com
