Kentucky lost to Alabama, but Saturday proved the future is still extremely bright

As you are aware, Kentucky did not upset Alabama on Saturday. The Cats led the No. 12 Crimson Tide for 42 minutes, but were outscored by 29 over the final 18, resulting in a 45-17 Bama victory. Kroger Field had mostly emptied by the time the game ended; however, as one of the 61,820 fans in attendance when it began, I’d argue that Saturday proved that the future is still extremely bright. Living in Nashville, I don’t make it to many Kentucky games these days; instead, I run KSR’s command center from home. The games I do attend, I see from the press box. On rare occasions, I put my gameday duties aside to be a fan. Saturday was one of those days. My dad and uncle were at Commonwealth Stadium 29 years ago to witness Kentucky’s last win over Alabama. With the excitement for the start of the Will Stein era at a fever pitch, I was determined to run it back in their honor. With the help of family and friends, I got the full gameday experience. I tailgated next to the practice facility, with live music just a tent away under the shade of an oak row. The energy around Lexington was palpable, and escalated as the minutes ticked down to kickoff. Fans took Stein’s flask comments to heart; the scent of bourbon was heady in the humid air. Stein called on fans to get to their seats early; they did. The stadium was full when Wynonna Judd and her drummer performed the national anthem, thick, spectacular stripes of blue and white; Big Blue Nation understood the assignment. Soon, Judd’s voice and drum were accompanied by the thunderous chop of four helicopters flying over the stadium. The crowd responded with “USA” chants. Kroger Field at kickoff of Kentucky vs. Alabama – Photo by Tyler Thompson, Kentucky Sports Radio The atmosphere hit another level when Stein began his walkout. His team was his entourage as they left their locker room at the practice facility. When Tim Couch and Craig Yeast, heroes of the ’97 upset, joined them, Kroger Field lost its mind. As the team took the field, Stein was in front, throwing an emphatic fist pump as he crossed the UK logo at midfield. His vision had come to life. For one half, it looked like that vision may already be a reality. I’ve never heard the stadium louder than when Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace picked off Keelon Russell’s pass at the 2-yard line and dove into the end zone. Beer (and probably bourbon) rained down on Section 31 as fans celebrated. The fans around me didn’t sit down until halftime. The noise was continuous. By the end of the first quarter, I was hoarse. As for the game itself, for one half, Kentucky went toe-to-toe with the Tide. There were errors — Kenny Minchey had a pick-six of his own — but the defense made up for it, holding Alabama to just five rushing yards in the first half. It would have been nice if Kentucky had scored a touchdown instead of a field goal before half, but the lead was still intact. Hope was still alive. Not for long. You know what happened in the second half. Alabama exposed Kentucky’s flaws, especially as the starters tired. Stein did a good job rebuilding the roster with the limited time he had; Kalen DeBoer and the Tide simply reloaded, bringing in a second string almost as strong as the first. Down 23-17 at the end of the third quarter, Stein threw a Hail Mary in the form of a fake punt on Kentucky’s 32-yard line. It didn’t work. Alabama scored 20 seconds later, going for two to take a 31-17 lead. The mood was reflected in the stands, which steadily emptied as the fourth quarter went on. Some fans behind me chastised others for leaving early, just to do the same a few drives later. The pregame and first-half highs crashed to lows as sun-spent fans tried to make sense of the lopsided result. Some muttered about “the same old Kentucky football” as they walked toward the exit. I heard more mentions of Mark Stoops than I thought I would, with a few fans opining that nothing had really changed since he left. I prefer the opinion of my seat neighbor, Tammy. She’s had season tickets for decades, through three stadium renovations, so she’s sat through the best of the best and the worst of the worst. Tammy admitted that she wasn’t sure what to make of Stein’s boldness at first, but said the energy in the stadium was better than it’d been in a long time, and there were noticeable improvements from last week. She and her friend stayed until the end, standing and cheering as long as her back and voice would allow. The result did not change her plans to travel to College Station next week to see Kentucky play No. 9 Texas A&M. Be a Tammy. It was hard not to be a little disappointed as we walked home. I picked Kentucky to win, after all, wrapped up in the hype. A four-touchdown loss is quite a different result. That said, the first half on Saturday showed what the future can be. That was important for the fans, who bought in with hidden flasks and hoarse voices; however, it was even more important for the VIP recruits in the stands. I’m sure it was a message hammered home by the staff. If you build it, they will come. Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content. Gameday Specifics I paid special attention to the gameday atmosphere and services with last week’s issues in mind. These were all based on my experiences (Section 31), so they may not reflect other areas of the stadium. — The Stripe Out was a success. It’s amazing what ample notice and promotion will do. I think it was also helpful that Week 1 was a White Out, giving fans time to find a white UK shirt and wear it again if they were in a white section this week. — The sound was better. The sound at Kroger Field was a mess in Week 1 as they debuted new on-field speakers in hopes of amplifying the sound. It was a great idea in theory — and numerous trial runs when the stadium was empty; however, with 60,000+ people in the stands, the sound was muddled to the point that it was impossible to understand Ohavia, the new gameday host. On Saturday, the sound was much better. Kentucky went back to the old speaker system, which isn’t loud, but at least you can understand what’s being said/played. There were still some on-field speakers, but they were used sparingly and with intention. — Hey Mr. DJ: Helping matters was the song selection. I especially liked how the walkout/intro transitioned into “Seven Nation Army,” an easy anthem to get the stadium rolling. Fans in our section even started singing it themselves at other times in the game. In the second half, the DJ played the remix of “Bittersweet Symphony” that is often played at Rupp, and the response was great. — Beer lines: Since I was not on the clock, I partook in the cold beverages at Kroger Field. I got lucky with lines, or lack thereof, timing my trips to the bathroom and concessions perfectly. My only note is that it was hard to find premium beer, even at the concession stands that offered it; however, there were beer kiosks in our area that allowed you to avoid the lines at the main stands. Two thumbs up. — Water coolers: Saturday wasn’t as hot as the week before, but the humidity made up for it. UK offers free water for fans in large tanks in the concourses, but we heard those ran out during Game 1. In my area, I noticed one large water cooler with several spigots that still had water in the fourth quarter. Good to see. — Everyone loves a Dance Cam: Tammy noted that UK has utilized the video boards more this season, with lots of crowd shots and the occasional Dance Cam or Hunk Cam. This is a simple thing, but fans eat it up, creating a better atmosphere — Parking/traffic is still a mess: I was fortunate enough to stay within walking distance of the stadium; however, I hear that the traffic situation after the game was a zoo. Some fans waited over an hour to get out of parking garages, others to go just a mile. If you listened to the postgame show, Matt Jones shared his secret: avoid Cooper Drive on gamedays. He claims that Nicholasville Road is better, but years of waiting on that dreaded road have me skeptical. Lock in for Kentucky Football season with KSR Plus! We’re giving you behind-the-scenes intel you won’t find anywhere else. Join the most vibrant online community in the BBN for the exciting start of the Will Stein Era.