Fall Camp Then-and-Now: How Preseason Practice has changed over the years

Just a heads up: this is not a glory days’ post nor is it an article lionizing robustness comparisons between generations. I simply thought that with the 2023 Cats deep into fall camp I’d share some former player recollections of their experiences in a Jerry Claiborne-led preseason. I apologize upfront if I’ve written a similar post in the past; if I did, oh well. Here comes another one. 

Training camps are far more advanced and regulated in today’s college football world. That’s an incredibly positive development for all involved parties. Teams are more conscientious in their approach to the month-long series of practices that lead up to the season’s first game. Physical and mental health are priorities. Modern-day players stay in shape around the calendar year. Support staffs have quadrupled. Innovations in diet, sports science, as well as strength and conditioning, are producing a more finely tuned and well-rounded athlete. 

It must be noted that Claiborne’s medical team consisted of three future Hall of Famers: Dr. Mary Lloyd Ireland, Al Green, and Sue Stanley-Green. The trio are considered trailblazers in sports medicine and athletic training. Claiborne was as old-school as they came. But, he was one of the first head coaches to empower an autonomous medical staff that implanted hydration and diet into the equation along with other advancements. 

The Hall of Fame head coach also was one of the initial leaders to emphasize mental health. Dr. Dennis Sprague was brought into the fold to assist in that matter. He taught us meditation, breathing, visualization, and other techniques that I still use to this day.

I’ve never shared this with anyone before, but here goes. Dr. Sprague and I would walk the field before every game I started. We’d pace the entire 100 yards in one direction and then reverse course in order to come back to the locker room. We’d then go to a quiet space and he’d guide me in visualization and projecting positive thoughts prior to kickoff. Those sessions really helped me to focus. His voice was incredibly reassuring. Claiborne was a visionary by marrying the student athlete’s mind and body in relation to higher performance. Not sure that’s been discussed before; now it has. 

Back to on-field football. Today, there is an acclimation period to open camp. This means that players start in just helmets for a period of time before advancing up the stages of practice uniforms and conditions. There are strictly enforced rules regarding mandatory days off. This especially applies to days following scrimmages. 

Regulations also exist that limit the number of full-padded, full-go sessions. Two-a-days, or three-a-days in the Claiborne era, are no longer a thing. All the above-mentioned alterations are good for the game and the players that actually put fans into seats. Matter of fact, finding non-football activities to keep the team engaged is, at times, a struggle. It was not like that generations back. There was no need to fill time. Heck, there was no “time.” It was all ball all day and all night.

Let’s dive back into history for some enlightening and funny tales from former Wildcats. 

Former Wildcats’ Fall Camp Stories 

It must be noted that the following former Wildcats experienced fall camp many decades ago. Heck, most of us have a hard time remembering what we had for breakfast but can effortlessly rattle off stories from yesteryear. First up is “Dollar” Bill Ransdell. The UK Hall of Fame quarterback was a two-time team captain and held most, if not all, passing records upon graduation. Ransdell threw for 5,564 yards and 22 touchdowns over the course of a four-year career in Lexington.

Bill Ransdell is also considered to be one of the toughest Wildcats to ever wear the blue and white. He was a leader’s leader and an ultimate team guy. He also took time to show other quarterbacks what right looked like. There are stories that still circulate today about No. 9. Some are true, some are not. Two of my favorites about the UK signal caller involved him playing games with a punctured lung and a broken jaw. I’ve looked up to Bill for many years now.  He’s been a mentor to me both on and off the field. I’ve had many highs and many lows in my 54 years. Ransdell has been an unconditional friend through both.

Here are Dollar’s memories from fall camp. I try to explain a few comments to add context to his and all the stories to follow. 

Quarterback Bill Ransdell

Moving into K-1 

* EXPLANATION: Players were mandated to live in Kirwin-1. The football dorm was our home for both the fall and spring semesters. Curfew was enforced. The only way out of living in K-1 was to get married. Trust me, that building became a war zone after games. Today, only freshmen are required to live in a dorm. It’s not a football dorm and is shared with fellow students. Once that first year is completed, today’s Wildcats live in apartments or houses scattered all through Lexington. 

Additionally, back then, car keys were turned over to GAs on the day we reported to camp. But, like in every situation that involves humans, there’s always one that navigates the rules differently. This meant that a few may have not been forthcoming on if they had a car or not. The rule benders would sneak away to Kroger and pick up dorm contraband. This included sodas, snacks, dip, and so forth. 

Longggg meetings with Coach and orientation paperwork. 

Physicals…don’t go to the shortest line for the Urologist! Made that mistake as a freshman. 

* EXPLANATION: Back then, all players had to undergo mandatory, annual prostrate exams. Some tried to escape the torment by forging the doc’s signature on the checklist or by deploying other escape methods. Those escape and evade shenanigans never, ever worked by the way. The procedure was badly dreaded and was the most discussed topic during team meals (gross) and other camp gatherings. 

3-hour+ practices, turn the lights on until Coach (Claiborne) saw the effort was correct. Grass drills…aka up-downs. Lots of em. Oklahoma drill. Mandatory study hall…thanks, Coach Claiborne. It made a huge difference for me. 

Excited for class to start so two-a-days ends (Fall camp ended in those days when classes started). 

Game week. Let’s kick some ass!

Nothing like the huddle. 

Outside Linebacker Jay Dortch 

Jay Dortch came to UK from Paducah. He starred at Tighlman before walking on at Kentucky. Advancing from walk-on to starter was not a rare occasion in the Claiborne era. Matter of fact, multiple Cats that fit this description went on to earn All-SEC honors and play in the NFL. Dortch worked his way to earn a scholarship and became a multi-year starter. You may be familiar with Dortch from his appearances on the Depth Chart Podcast.  Here are Jay’s recollections. 

I remember fall camp being physically exhausting and mentally taxing. Early morning starts for treatment, practice, position meetings, quick lunch and a nap if you didn’t have to do treatment again. Then workouts, another practice, then team meetings at night until 9 or 10. Then, do it all over again. 

Back in our day there was no 20-hour-per-week practice rules. Practices were 3+ hours each. The grind of it was tough for roughly 2 weeks. 

The energy going in was always awesome. Getting to see everyone, meeting the rookies and getting back into the routine was comforting because that is what we knew, we are football players, that was our happy place and it was comfortable being there. 

My head was always hurting from all the contact (Full pads, full speed both practices) 

Fullback Andy Murray 

I consider myself a fairly knowledgeable UK Football historian. When asked who is the best fullback to ever play for the Wildcats, my answer is always the same, Andy Murray. The Louisville Trinity product was a straight-up hoss cat. He led the world in knockdown blocks for multiple seasons and actually posted a 100-yard rushing performance from the FB position. That’s rare from a non-wishbone or veer offense. Murray was another tough guy and a man of few words as you can see in his remarks below. 

Fall camp. All day long. Three weeks long. 

Hot as #@*+. Lose 12 pounds per practice. Conditioning. I think today’s teams never get out of shape. We tried to see how tired we could get everyone. 

Fullback Mike Knox 

Mike Knox was a fullback from Tennessee. The special teams and pass-game specialist was extremely popular amongst teammates and coaches alike. Knox was yet another former walk-on that earned a scholarship and integral offensive roles through standout play in the third phase. His take on fall camp was a little different and reflects his path of fighting for a full-ride scholarship, a spot on the field, and a place on the two-deep travel roster. He accomplished all, by the way. 

Three-a-days for us was trying to get on the bus (travel roster) via special teams. Dog days of summer…nothing but a grind. 

Running Back Alfred Rawls 

Alfred Rawls is from Pitts, Georgia. He was considered to be the next great running back for his home state Bulldogs after being named an All-American in football and track for two consecutive years. The RB rushed for 2,040 yards and scored 36 touchdowns as a high school senior. Rawls also broke Hershel Walker’s 100-yard dash record before signing with Georgia. He later attended Northeast Oklahoma Junior College where he won a national title. Rawls signed with Kentucky after his stay at NEO. 

Alfred Rawls’ UK career produced many electric runs. He rushed for 1,370 career yards and 17 touchdowns. Rawls is considered one of the fastest players to ever suit up for the Wildcats. Side note, I was matched up against Alfred in a 400-meter relay during summer conditioning. Not sure I’ve ever been a part of a more mismatched race in my life. I actually held my own. He only beat me by a couple hundred yards. Rawls’ camp memories include blocking one of many physical UK linebackers and a distance run that was affectionately nicknamed, “The Campus Tour.” 

My memories of fall camp included when we had a run that left the facility onto to Cooper Drive and went all around Lexington including Tates Creek Road, Euclid, and then eventually back to Shively Center (Football training facility at the time). All this before practice where I’d go head to head with linebackers. I hated it because of Jeff Brady. He was crazy to block. 

* EXPLANATION: Distance running was a thing back then. Now, it’s all about the burst and twitch. The “Campus Tour” sucked. I absolutely hated that thing and was in the lineman group for motivational purposes only. Looking back, can you imagine driving down Tates Creek Road and seeing Josh Allen or Will Levis jogging on the sidewalk along with thirty other large humans? 

Additionally, the linebacker mentioned by Rawls was Jeff Brady. He was an absolute Dude. The Newport Central Catholic product was another former walk-on that earned a scholarship and starting job while garnering All-SEC honors prior to enjoying a nine-year NFL career. 

What Does All This Mean? 

Just as in life, things change. For the purpose of this article, this applies to the intent and operation of fall camp. Modern-day advancements in science, diet, hydration, strength and conditioning, mental health, and other factors are producing a more fine-tuned and well-rounded athlete. That’s a good thing. I don’t buy into the philosophy of the “old days are the better days” theory. We weren’t tougher than today’s athletes just because we had to endure more hell; we just simply survived it. As Jay Dortch so accurately put it, “We are football players. That was our happy place and it was comfortable being there.” 

Kentucky Football has come a long way in thirty years. Facilities are nicer, wins are more common, and Mark Stoops has expectations sky-high in the Bluegrass.