Will Stein says the 11 a.m. Kentucky Spring Game is a necessary evil

Fans are thrilled that Will Stein is bringing back a traditional Kentucky football Spring Game. But the actual schedule? That is leaving plenty of Big Blue Nation feeling a bit frustrated.

The highly anticipated scrimmage now has a tentative kickoff time of 11 a.m. on April 18.

For the locals in Lexington, a morning kickoff is no big deal. But for the lifeblood of the fanbase driving in from Paducah, Pikeville, or Northern Kentucky? Making an 11 a.m. kickoff requires waking up before sunrise just to hit the highway.

But according to Stein, that early start time is a necessary evil.

Stein recently joined the Chuck Oliver Show and explained the reality of the schedule. The morning kickoff gives the Cats a chance to secure an exclusive, live broadcast window on the SEC Network.

Plus, it actually sets up the ultimate Lexington double-header. Fans can watch the football scrimmage at Kroger Field and immediately head over to Kentucky Proud Park to catch the massive SEC baseball showdown against Vanderbilt at 2 p.m.

And for the fans who do make the early morning drive, Stein is promising an absolute show.

No more Spring portal means more Kentucky football

Stein confirmed the early portions of the game will feature live, full-contact hitting before they eventually take their foot off the gas and transition into fun mode.

“If you want to get good, get 11 versus 11 and play the (expletive) game,” Stein told Oliver. “I want our guys to experience Kroger Field, experience our fans, experience an actual game clock, and officials out there."

For the last few years, college coaches were terrified of holding live spring games. If a breakout star flashed on national television, rival programs would immediately tamper and poach them during the post-spring transfer portal window.

But with the NCAA officially moving to a single portal window in January, that fear is completely gone. And Stein is ready to take full advantage of it.

“Prior, when there was two transfer portal windows, I think every coach was afraid,” Stein explained. “You go out there, and you play, and it’s on TV, and you’re gonna get your guys poached by other teams, which is, I think, a fair point. I’m a believer in playing the game. So it’s important for me, especially in year one, to show Big Blue Nation what our team is all about.”

The morning drive might be brutal for some people across the state, and that does suck. But getting to watch real, physical Kentucky football without the fear of the transfer portal looming over the roster will be well worth the price of admission if you can make it to Lexington early.