Kentucky has its look set for Saturday’s matchup with No. 12 Alabama, and the Wildcats are going with the kind of clean, familiar combination that leaves no doubt: blue jerseys, blue helmets and white pants.
Fifth-year defensive lineman Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace modeled the uniform on Kentucky’s social media account, with the photos shot in front of a backdrop split half blue and half white. That setup fits right in with the Stripe Out atmosphere the Wildcats are pushing for at Kroger Field.
The choice is a little different from what Kentucky wore in Week 1, when the team went with blue jerseys, white helmets and white pants. Some fans might have hoped for something flashier with Alabama coming to town, but Kentucky is leaning into tradition for this one.
The Stripe Out message is already being hammered home. Fans with tickets in even-numbered sections are asked to wear blue, while those in odd-numbered sections are asked to wear white.
There are still a few ways to get in, too. A handful of tickets remain on Ticketmaster, with more available on the verified resale marketplace. Saturday is also Heroes Day at Kroger Field, and Military and First Responders can get specially priced tickets through GOVX.
Kentucky also has a clear message for the crowd: show up early, and make noise all day. Will Stein said Tuesday that the Wildcats need Big Blue Nation at its absolute loudest.
“We’re excited,” Stein said at Tuesday’s press conference. “This is our first SEC game at home here in Kroger Field.
Really excited about Big Blue Nation. We have to make this the loudest game in the history of Kentucky football.
That’s my goal for our fans, the loudest it has ever been, and we need them to be at their best.
“I want people in the stands for pregame. Let’s have 65,000 watching us warm up. I love to tailgate too, but get in there and be loud, make it disruptive for them as they get here, and then for sure, when the ball is kicked, everybody in their seats, cheering as loud as they humanly can.
“I want people’s voices hoarse when they leave here, alright? They’ve got to take off work on Monday because they can’t talk; that’s how loud I want this place to be.”
For fans watching from home, the weekend still comes with plenty going on in Lexington. SEC Nation will be at the William T.
Young Library from 9 a.m. to noon ET on Saturday, followed by Marty & McGee from noon to 12:45 p.m. Paul Finebaum will also do his Friday show from the same set from 3 to 7 p.m.
ET.
And there’s another throwback angle built into the day: Tim Couch and Craig Yeast will serve as honorary game captains, 29 years after leading Kentucky to an upset of Alabama.
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