For four weeks - with the exception of one practice that was open to the media - Kentucky has worked behind closed doors.

As Mark Stoops and his coaching have installed new schemes and systems, fans have only heard about the Wildcats' progress secondhand.

On Saturday, that will all change.

"I'm excited to show everybody what we've improved on," linebacker Avery Williamson said. "Last year was a real bad year for us and I just want to show everybody what we've improved on, how much better we've gotten and how committed these guys are to making these fans proud."

More than 40,000 tickets have been distributed to Saturday's Blue/White Spring Game in Commonwealth Stadium, meaning a record crowd is certain to see the event when it kicks off at 7 p.m. ET. Through film sessions, individual workouts and 14 tough practices, that unprecedented support has been a constant motivator.

"I'm excited about the energy and really appreciate the great support that we've received and from everything I'm hearing about the spring game tomorrow," Stoops said. "The team feels that; we're energized by that."

That energy was on display Friday at UK's final practice before the spring game. Though the Cats practiced without pads, Stoops reported seeing an energetic, fun practice. He is hoping for more of the same on Saturday.

"Just good football," Stoops said when asked what he wants to see at the spring game. "Good execution, good tough blocking, good tough running, catching the football. On defense, great pursuit. Physical, making good tackles, just good execution on both sides."

To encourage that kind of competitiveness, Saturday will feature a regular game format. The first-string offense and No. 2 defense will pair up to form the White team and face off against a Blue team composed  of the No. 1 defense and No. 2 offense.

UK has not yet released a depth chart this spring, which means the way the teams are split will be the first indication of who has grabbed the early lead in battles for starting roles. Even so, don't think anything is decided just yet.

"They're all up for grabs," defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot said. "I know there are some good players out there that are doing some good things, but we don't have many spots at all that our solid."

That's particularly true at quarterback. Snaps will be split evenly between Maxwell Smith, Patrick Towles and Jalen Whitlow as they have been all spring, and expect to see all three line up with both the Blue and White teams.

Absent from the scrimmage will be most of UK's special-teams sets. There will be no kickoffs or kickoff returns and all punts will be fair caught.

The Cats have gotten enough work on special teams that Stoops feels comfortable, and that's mostly true for the offense and defense as well. None of UK's units is anywhere near where it will need to be when the season opens, but Stoops and his staff had a clear idea of what needed to be accomplished this spring. On that front, they are satisfied.

"I think they have a good understanding of the tempo that we want to operate," Stoops said. "I think they've got a good understanding of how precise we want to be. So we've made some good strides in those areas."

The spring game will represent somewhat of an end point for UK, but only to the initial phase of the Stoops era. Much work is ahead in the next stages, but Saturday - with a strong showing by both the team and fans - can serve as a springboard into the summer and fall.

"It's gonna be great," Williamson said. "I'm excited. It would mean the world to me to see all these fans come out and show their support to us. I'm just so excited. Can't wait."

Head coach Mark Stoops



Defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot

Losing weight is not typically high on the priority list for offensive linemen. Given the size and strength of the defenders who line up across from them each down, mass is almost always an asset.

But as Darrian Miller has gone through his first spring practice in Kentucky's new offense, the pounds have melted off. After working for so long to gain or maintain weight, Miller has dropped 10 pounds without even thinking about it.

"I didn't feel like I wanted to or needed to do that at all," Miller said. "It just sort of happened when we got out here with this fast-paced offense."

Offensive line coach John Schlarman - a former UK offensive lineman - says there's no reason to sound the alarm about the shrinking left tackle. Having spent the last five seasons coaching linemen under offensive coordinator Neal Brown, Miller - now 6-foot-5, 285 pounds - is not a unique case.

"It's very high-paced," Schlarman said. "These guys burn a lot of calories out here in these practices."

If he needed any additional evidence, Schlarman needs look no further than Miller's play in 13 practices so far this spring to reassure himself. Lining up most often opposite Za'Darius Smith - a 6-foot-6, 257-pound defensive end - Miller has more than held his own.

"Darrian Miller, I've been very, very pleased with him this spring," Schlarman said. "He's really had a good spring. He's played very, very consistent. I know we still have two practices left so I hope I don't jinx him, but he's been real consistent all spring long, come to work every day with a great attitude and done a great job on that left side."

Miller, who played well as a sophomore at left tackle in 2012, has shown himself to be a natural in UK's quick-tempo attack. The Lexington, Ky., native had a reputation as a cerebral player over his first two seasons, but reports the speed of the new offense helps him because he has less time to think, paradoxical as it may sound.

"I like to play fast," Miller said. "I think best when I don't have a lot of time, if that makes sense. Sometimes when you have more time to think about stuff, you start second-guessing yourself and you start to get confused, things start blurring together. When you actually know the offense, things sort of pop up and I guess that's what you're supposed to do."

Having established himself as a solid performer this spring, Miller is being asked by his coaches to step up in other areas. When something needed in either of the past two years, Matt Smith and Larry Warford would be the ones saying it. With those two having exhausted their eligibility - though they are still fixtures at practice as they pursue professional careers - the staff wants Miller to help fill the void.

"They've told me several times that they wanted me to step up and be more of a vocal leader," Miller said. "I'm not really all that big on yelling and screaming; I usually try to lead by example. But that's something different that I'm trying to get used to."

Miller is a logical candidate to move into a leadership role because of his experience, something many of his fellow linemen lack.

At right tackle, Jordan Swindle has gotten the majority of first team reps. The true sophomore played in 11 games, but only as a reserve or on special teams. Junior Teven Eatmon-Nared and senior Kevin Mitchell have worked at the two guard spots, but only Mitchell has starting experience and that was at right tackle. At center, redshirt freshman Zach Myers is ahead of the pack.

Left out of that group, but not because he is not a potential starter, is Zach West. The redshirt sophomore started all 12 games last season next to Miller at left guard, but had offseason shoulder surgery. Because of his recovery, West missed the first two weeks of spring and is still working his way back into the mix.

"Zach's coming along," Schlarman said. "I'm proud of him. Just coming off of surgery and getting out here in spring ball and getting some work. There's a lot of guys that could have just kind of gone through non-contact in the spring and probably nobody would have said anything. But Zach's not that type of guy."

Adding West to the conversation at guard and potentially even center, Schlarman sees his group of contenders.

"Right now I would have to say we've got a starting six," Schlarman said. "We've gotta figure out how that six turns into five."

Those six linemen still have the Blue/White Spring Game to make their cases, but final decisions on starters aren't likely to be made before the fall. However, work in the summer could be what lays the foundation the five linemen that start on Aug. 13 vs. Western Kentucky.

"We're nowhere near the shape we need to be in to run this offense for four quarters right now," Schlarman said. "So the summer program is very important for us up front.

"Now they have a little taste of what this is all about. I think they'll really understand the importance of getting into good shape."

Not only do the linemen have a taste for what will be demanded of them next season, but they also have a pretty clear idea of what they could do to opposing defensive lines in the new offense, even if they might be a bit trimmer than a season ago.

"Watching our defensive linemen, I know it's going to take a toll," Miller said. "It's not something that's easy to keep up with. It hurts. It hurts to say the least."

Head coach Mark Stoops



Offensive coordinator Neal Brown

 You better throw all your Kentucky gear in the laundry right now, because you're going to need every clean piece of blue clothing you can find.

This weekend, the UK campus will be buzzing with activity, highlighted by the Blue/White Spring Game at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday. But that's far from the only opportunity fans will have to cheer on the Wildcats this weekend. With upwards of 10 events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday across five different sports, it's going to be a Big Blue Weekend.

Let's take a look at your options (all times Eastern):

Friday, April 12 (Forecast: High of 55 degrees, 20 percent chance of rain)
4 p.m. - Women's tennis vs. No. 2 Florida (Boone Tennis Complex)
6 p.m. - Softball vs. No. 3 Florida (UK Softball Complex)
6:30 p.m. - Baseball vs. Tennessee (Cliff Hagan Stadium)

There's a fair bit of overlap here, but you can make it to doubles play and at least the start of singles at the tennis match before making a short trek north or south to baseball or softball.

Saturday, April 13 (Forecast: Sunny with a high of 57 degrees, zero percent chance of rain)
11:30 a.m. - UK Softball Complex grand opening
1 p.m. - Softball vs. No. 3 Florida (UK Softball Complex)
2 p.m. - Baseball vs. Tennessee (Cliff Hagan Stadium)
4 p.m. - Wildcat Refuge opens (Gate 9 of Commonwealth Stadium)
5 p.m. - Men's soccer spring game vs. Lipscomb (UK Soccer Complex)
5 p.m. - Alumni Association tailgate (Commonwealth Stadium Red Lot, near Gate 4)
5:15 p.m. - Cat Walk (Gate 1 of Commonwealth Stadium)
7 p.m. - Blue/White Spring Game (Commonwealth Stadium)

Does that give you enough to do on a Saturday?

No matter what, start your day at the grand opening of the UK Softball Complex at 11:30 a.m. Refreshments will be available and Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart and head coach Rachel Lawson will speak at the ceremony. From there, you can either stick around for the softball game, head to baseball or some combination of the two.

The baseball game still figures to be going on when pre-spring game festivities begin, but you should have plenty of time to tailgate and maybe even make it to the Cat Walk if you stick around for the end of the game at Cliff Hagan. Gates open at Commonwealth at 6 p.m.

All parking for the spring game is free. A portion of the Green Lot will be reserved, but the remainder is available on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, a shuttle will be available for those wishing to park at Commonwealth and receive transportation to Keeneland and back to the stadium. For complete information on the spring game, visit our Gameday Central page.

Spring game tickets have been distributed at a record rate, but seats are still available online.

Sunday, April 14 (Forecast: Mostly sunny with a high of 63 degrees, zero percent chance of rain)
Noon - Softball vs. No. 3 Florida (UK Softball Complex)
Noon - Women's tennis vs. No. 27 South Carolina (Boone Tennis Complex)
1 p.m. - Baseball vs. Tennessee (Cliff Hagan Stadium)

After a long Saturday, these three events offer a chance to relax outside on what is expected to be a warm, sunny day.