Kentucky football fans are resilient. Back-to-back losing seasons aren’t slowing down Big Blue Nation. Kroger Field’s top tailgaters spent Friday night in the parking lot preparing for Will Stein‘s first season in Lexington.
Allow me to reiterate that statement. Kentucky football fans camped out in a parking lot, one month before the season started, just to secure their tailgate location for the year. Incredible.
One of KSR’s favorites, Marsha Poe, was ready to roll. A longtime patron of Big Blue Madness Campouts, she is now getting her fix in to prepare for football season.
In previous years, Kentucky football fans placed the shells of their tents in the parking lot, leaving skeletons scattered throughout the summer. One KSBoarder, NKYCatsFan5, believes the new system isn’t perfect, but much better than before. “It has built excitement as we head into the season.”
Another, MerrickInnPoolBoys, said, “Got to Green/White lot at 5:30 am and you would’ve thought we were playing a game today.”
It wasn’t just fans who showed up on Friday night. A couple of Kentucky football players — Willie Rodriguez, Coleton Price, Nic Anderson, and Ty Bryant — surprised BBN. “Connection” is one of Will Stein’s DNA traits, and the program certainly created that with fans on Friday night.
via UKFootball/Twitter
via UKFootball/Twitter
There was plenty of camaraderie on Friday night between Kentucky football fans, who spent the night enjoying beverages and talking ball. That was fun. Saturday morning was all about business. Some took a brief break to enjoy some doughnuts from the Kentucky head coach.
Fans put in some sweat equity to ensure their tailgate is ready to roll when Youngstown State comes to town on Sept. 5. Only 28 more days until it’s Football Time in the Bluegrass.
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – AUGUST 08: Fans set up their tailgates before the 2026-2027 football season at the Kroger Field on August 8, 2026 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Crawford Ifland/Kentucky Sports Radio/On3)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – AUGUST 08: Fans set up their tailgates before the 2026-2027 football season at the Kroger Field on August 8, 2026 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Crawford Ifland/Kentucky Sports Radio/On3)