. (WKYT) – For the first time since spring football practice began in early March, Kentucky coach Will Stein said his team participated on Saturday in live tackling, which including a 30-play scrimmage inside Kroger Field.
“You have to callus your body for contact and if you just wait ‘til the fall, I believe it’s too late,” Stein said of the hitting during practice. “The best teams I’ve been apart of have been physical and practices have been physical.”
Stein added there’s a balance on the amount of hitting his team will do this spring, citing a need to protect his players, yet still be a tough football team when the season starts on Sept. 5 against Youngstown State.
“It was good. It was fun to definitely get out there and compete,” quarterback Kenny Minchey said. “You know, they can’t hit us in practice, but seeing a little bit of a live period, it was pretty cool. Like real football.”
The new coach said he likes the way his players have taken to the new coaching staff and have been willing to learn a new system. Saturday’s scrimmage dealt with situational football.
“For our first scrimmage, I was proud of the effort and intensity,” Stein said.
The Wildcats will play the spring game on Saturday, April 18 at 11 a.m.