Being in the press box will enable Rich Scangarello to be a better play caller

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Quarterback Will Levis, right, says not having offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello, left, on the field during games is not a problem for him. (Vicky Graff Photo)

For the first time since he got to Kentucky as offensive coordinator this season, Rich Scangarello was not on the sideline when UK beat Missouri 21-17 Saturday.

Instead, he was in the press box watching the action and making his play calls from there.

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops joked after the win at Missouri that the “cold” weather sent Scangarello to the warmer press box before admitting it was planned no matter what the weather had been.

Quarterback Will Levis said he didn’t care whether Scangarello was on the sideline or in the press box.

“I don’t mind (where he is). I don’t need someone in my face (on the sideline),” Levis said. “Whatever makes him more comfortable.”

Levis said former UK tight end C.J. Conrad, now a UK graduate assistant, was his “main source” of communication on the field with Scangarello watching from above.

Scangarello explained it was “much easier” to call a game from above the field and “distribute” information to coaches to get problem areas fixed quicker if he has a better view of what is happening on field.

“To me I would rather have Will be down there by himself and let me orchestrate things up top,” the UK offensive coordinator said.

Scangarello came to UK from the NFL where coaches could communicate easier with players during games due to technology that cannot be used in collegiate games. Scangarello said this was only the third year in his long coaching career that he had been on the sideline during games rather than in the press box. He admitted some things happened in the first half of the 44-6 loss at Tennessee that were not what he thought had happened watching from the field.

“I just know I am more effective for players and coaches up there and I can call a cleaner game,” Scangarello said.

He said being on the field does let him see and feel the “pulse of the players and feel emotions” that can partially offset making it harder to call a game from the field level.

“It’s nice taking the emotion out of it and you can get caught up as a play caller (on the sideline). Up there (in the press box) you can plan things out better,” the UK offensive coordinator said.

2 Responses

  1. His call, but I am not impressed with his offense yet on the field or from the press box either one. it was not that much better at Missouri. UK just lost a 2023 RB commit in Khalifa Keith, Parker high school in Alabama. Could it be UK’s offense that has turned him off?

    Now UK has lost Goodfellow, their punter, for the year because of a bad snap over his head. I hope UK can close it out strong, but we’ll see. This has been a strange year after so much promise. I know one thing, these UK coaches have slowed down on the tough talk we all heard before the season. It would be good to see UK football get at least 8 wins. This team is beat up now, the Vols took care of that. Go Cats!!!!

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