2008 Spring Football Practice

This was my very first football experience as a photog! I went to UK’s spring football practice to take pictures and to watch the scrimmage game that would take place after the initial drills. I got up at 8 a.m. for the 9:40 practice (early for a Saturday morning!), borrowed Brad’s 70-200 and headed out to Commonwealth. After circling the stadium trying to find the open gate and ending up virtually where I started if only I had taken a left instead of a right, I went in and took it all in.

I absolutely LOVE football! It is my favorite sport to play, and I love watching UK and the pros play, especially the Cowboys! I watch college games too sometimes, but I’m not as attached to those except Kentucky, probably because I don’t know many of the players. ANYWAY, I walked down to the front row and hung out there for a little while. Then I began noticing people coming in through the tunnel, and some were standing on the sidelines. So, I decided to be a little proactive and walked around to that side and went in the tunnel as well. I walked up to one of the student trainers and said that I was with the Kentucky Kernel, and I wanted to know where I could stand. She directed me to a lady with public relations, who said I could stand on the sidelines or in the end zone during the practice, but I couldn’t take any pictures once the scrimmage began.

Let me tell you, I was really excited to be there! Immediately, I tried to focus on, mainly, the quarterbacks and some on the receivers because those are the “question mark” positions.

I think that I got some pretty good shots, but I know that I also could have done a whole lot better! The real downer though was that I didn’t see the two Kernel sports writers until well into the scrimmage. I wish that I had known they were there before or I would have asked them who they were focusing their stories on. Honestly, I’m not sure if they were there for the practice beforehand or they just made it in time for the scrimmage, but next time, I’ll have to keep a better look out. Unfortunately, they were focusing on Locke (RB), Lanxter (WR) and Lyons, Jr (WR). I had a few shots of them, but I definitely would have concentrated more on them and less on the quarterbacks if I had known.

Overall, I had a great time, and I wish that I could have made it out to more practices! I went to the Blue/White game today though, so keep a look out for that post in hopefully the next few days!

QB Mike Hartline hands the ball off to RB Derrick Locke

QB Curtis Pulley throws a pass to Locke

Pulley passing in a drill

Hartline passing in a drill

After the scrimmage, I followed the camera guys and reporters out to meet head coach Rich Brooks for his reaction to the practice. I also took pictures of the players that were interviewed and of offensive coordinator Joker Phillips.

Sophomore WR Lanxter

Junior FB John Conner

Sophomore TB Locke

Senior FS Marcus McClinton, left, and Senior CB David Jones, right.

Offensive Coordinator Joker Phillips