Saturday marked Kentucky football’s annual tailgate setup day, giving fans the opportunity to begin claiming their spots ahead of the upcoming season.
Some fans arrived at Kroger Field as early as Friday night to prepare for Saturday morning. Others said they arrived around 10 p.m. Friday or 1 a.m. Saturday to make sure they were ready for the early setup.
While fans were getting settled, new Kentucky athletic director J Batt and football coach Will Stein decided to show their appreciation for the people
who support the program.
Batt and Stein drove around in a golf cart with donuts for fans, creating several memorable moments throughout the morning.
At the beginning, Stein placed his hand over the donuts and said, “Gotta protect the donuts,” making sure they did not fall out of the cart.
Fans were excited to receive the donuts, take pictures, and talk with both Batt and Stein.
Stein also took part in some memorable fan interactions, including putting his face through a photo stand-in featuring his signature “Feed The Studs” phrase. He also held a fan’s baby for a picture.
Another fan told Stein that he had played football with his father, creating what had to be a special moment for both of them. One fan also shared that they have held Kentucky football season tickets since 1974.
The interactions are showing that Stein and Batt are trying to build a connection with the fanbase.
Since Stein took over as Kentucky’s head coach, the football program has also become much more active on social media, while Stein has made himself available for one-on-one interviews with radio and television stations, as well as podcasts.
Through all of this, it has given the fans more opportunities to hear directly from the coaches and players while also seeing more behind-the-scenes content from the program.
Batt, who recently began his tenure as Kentucky’s athletic director, has also emphasized the importance of Kentucky fans and their role in the future of Kentucky Athletics.
With kickoff approaching, the relationship between the program and its fans appears to be stronger than ever, and the new direction for where the program is going.
