No Tackling for Cats in Blue-White Game

Deone Walker is one of the eight UK defensive linemen out after having offseason shoulder surgery.

It was good news-bad news from Kentucky coach Mark Stoops after Saturday’s open practice.

First the good news even though Stoops admitted that Saturday’s practice was not quite as clean and sharp as other practices have been.

“Through the spring, I’ve been very optimistic and very encouraged. As I just told the team, I think when we’re segmenting things and going through a detailed practice where we have everything segmented … and coaches usually go over things, that’s going to happen in practice, individuals and then we go to half line, go to seven on, go to team run, piece it all together, we’ve been very good, very clean. I’ve been very encouraged,” Stoops said.

Now the bad news that is forcing Stoops to make changes to the format for Saturday’s Blue-White Game that will give fans their first look at UK’s 2024 team. The game w ill not include any tackling to prevent additional injuries.

“With the spring game, I cannot do a typical, just go to the ground (tackle to ground),” “I have eight D-linemen that can’t participate,” Stoops said. “I’d put everybody else at risk if I go full tilt and if O-linemen are playing against freshmen, we’re gonna get more injuries. So can’t do it.

“We’ll have some format and it’ll be open and we’ll have practice and thud it and fill some time and everybody can see what we’ve been doing, which is fine, but it won’t be your typical game.

“There’s no way I could divide it and have two teams and even go offense versus defense to the ground. I just don’t have enough bodies. We’ll have some format. You guys will see it and be able to see practice, but it is slowing us down a touch. We will overcome it.”