Kentucky Wildcat Athletics: Mark the calendar for August 9
By Paul Jordan
It’s getting close. Can you smell it?
It’s the return of life to the UK campus and the University of Kentucky sports programs are slowly whirring back to life.
Football season is less than a month away and as a matter of fact, media day is today. John Calipari’s season is a couple of months away but as students arrive on campus, the sight of his top recruiting class amongst them will cause excitement, and in some cases hysteria.
And August 9th is a date that both football and basketball fans can mark on their calendars for different reasons.
For football fans, Friday night will mark Kentucky’s Fan Day. It’s a perfect end to the first week of Fall camp. Here is more infor from a UKAA press release:
"The annual Kentucky Football Fan Day has been slated for Friday, Aug. 9 at Commonwealth Stadium at 6 p.m. ET, when the Kentucky football team will hold an autograph session, followed by an open practice along with a fireworks show. Admission and parking to the event is free of charge.Gates for the event will open at 6 p.m. (gates 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12 will be open) with 2013 posters and schedules cards available at gates 1, 4, 9 and 12 beginning at approximately 5:30 p.m. The 2013 Wildcats will be available for autographs on the main concourse with C.M. Newton Field accessible for fans to take photos. The autograph session will conclude at 7:15 p.m. with the team hitting the field for open practice at 7:30 p.m. All times are Eastern.A fireworks show will close the event following the conclusion of the open practice, which is scheduled to end at approximately 9:45 p.m.Parking will be available in the green, red or blue lots surrounding Commonwealth Stadium.“After seeing the crowd and enthusiasm in Commonwealth Stadium for the Blue/White Game a few months ago we are very anxious to get back in front of the Big Blue Nation,” said UK head coach Mark Stoops. “Fan Day is not only an opportunity for our players to interact with our great fans, but for us to get on the Commonwealth Stadium field and get some work in. We are very excited to get the players here for fall camp and get this season going.”"
Oct 24, 2011; Lexington, KY, USA; Big Blue All Stars forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) sits on the bench as his team plays the The Villains in an exhibition game at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Also on Friday, the tickets for the Kentucky Basketball Alumni game go on sale. Here is a bit more from the UKAA:
"Tickets for the 2013 UK Alumni Charity Game, which will be held Sept. 9 at Rupp Arena, will go on sale to the public on Friday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. ET. Members of UK’s 2010 Elite Eight and 2012 National Championship John Calipari-coached teams are set to square off in the alumni charity event.All seats are reserved and priced at $50 (premium lower level), $20 (lower level), $10 and $5 (upper level). Tickets can only be purchased at the Rupp Arena box office, online at Ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster Outlet or by phone at 1-800-745-3000. There is an eight-ticket limit per person. Online orders and phone orders will have additional fees attached. All proceeds from the game will go to charity.You must be 16 or older to purchase tickets and children under 2 get in for free with a paying adult.Doors to Rupp Arena will open at 5 p.m. ETSet to tip off Monday night at 7 p.m. ET, the game will only feature Wildcats currently or formerly playing professionally. The Big Blue Nation will have an opportunity to enjoy some of the top talent to come through the UK men’s basketball program since the 2009-10 season. Per NBA rules, the University of Kentucky cannot confirm individual players participating in the exhibition game."
While UK can’t comment, we can. The official rosters have not been released, but look for guys like John Wall, Boogie Cousins, Darius Miller, and Anthony Davis to participate. And the best thing is this event is the day after Big Blue Madness … which means a lot of impressionable recruits will still be in town.
After a long summer of inactivity, it’s just great to have something to mark on the calendar!