First Down Kentucky: Two Weeks till Spring Football

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting that itch. Spring football practices are popping up this week around the South. Each time I see a quarterback spin the football in a new jersey, like Cam Ward at Miami, I pine for the days when we can watch Brock Vandagriff in action for the Kentucky Wildcats.

The wait is almost over, Big Blue Nation. Kentucky will conduct its first spring practice exactly two weeks from today.

If you cannot contain your excitement, Kentucky football season tickets are on sale right now. There are eight Caturdays on the slate this fall at Kroger Field. Make sure you don’t miss a moment of the action by securing your seat today.

A Special Guest at Kentucky Football Workouts

Some former players are spending the spring months preparing for the NFL Combine. Some are staying in shape just to be ready to return to the NFL. That’s the case for Wan’Dale Robinson, who was training with the team this week, just a few days after he was spotted at Rupp Arena with Will Levis.

Lofty Praise Continues for Kentucky Wide Receivers Coach

We previously told you about the lofty buzz Daikiel Shorts was generating. That buzz has reached all the way to Pate State.

Josh Pate power ranked the coaching staffs across the SEC on the most recent edition of Late Kick. It probably will not thrill you to see the Kentucky coaching staff in the third tier, but you’ll be pleased to learn that according to this 247 Sports model, nobody in the SEC upgraded their offensive support staff more this offseason than Kentucky.

“Mark Stoops did some work,” said Pate, who believes the biggest addition wasn’t the play-caller or offensive line coach, but the new guy coaching Kentucky’s wideouts.

“Daikiel Shorts, that’s the wide receivers coach. That’s the one we’ve circled. That was the big get in our opinion for Mark Stoops. It’s not a name that’s going to grab a lot of headlines but that’s not what we’ve billed this for. Again, emotionless, just care about grading guys and Daikiel Shorts is a big-time get for Mark Stoops.”

Neal Brown Receives Contract Extension

Neal Brown had his back against the wall entering the 2023 season. West Virginia had back-to-back losing seasons and a new athletic director. Year five was do or die for Brown and he’s living to fight another day.

The Mountaineers capped off an 8-win regular season with a victory over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. The nine-win mark was only accomplished twice by Brown’s predecessor, Dana Holgerson, most recently in 2016. Brown was rewarded by his new boss, Wren Baker, with a new contract that will keep him in Morgantown through 2027.

Steve Spurrier Throws In-House Jab

We’re used to seeing Steve Spurrier throw darts at opposing coaches. Now he’s publicly criticizing one of his own.

“There’s a feeling around the Gators of ‘what the heck are we doing?’ There’s a lot of questions that I don’t have the answers to about organization,” said Spurrier. “Just because you hire the most people doesn’t mean you’re going to win. All these extra people, I question how much that really helps. 

“Billy [Napier] is a good guy who works his tail off. I like Billy, good family man. But we do wish the organization was a little bit more tidy,” Spurrier told the Florida Times-Union.

Not only did the Head Ball Coach criticize Napier’s army of assistants, he praised Georgia’s approach to NIL and said he hoped his alma mater would take note. WOW. Spurrier still has an office in The Swamp and collects a paycheck as an ambassador. Those words are damning. Would anyone be surprised if Napier gets the ax after another loss to Kentucky?

Almost an 8-Second Ride

The sport of college football produces many great headlines. I never expected to see “UNLV head coach rides a bull” but this sport never ceases to deliver. Well done, Barry Odom.

Dad rode a bull tonight! pic.twitter.com/59kW64CuhD

— JT Odom (@jtodom04) March 3, 2024