< PreviousKENTUCKY 40 @UKFootball Kentucky Football History appearances since 1983-84. Guy Morriss coached the Wildcats in 2001-02. He guided UK to seven wins in ‘02, but the Wildcats could not go to a bowl game because of NCAA probation. Derek Abney returned six kicks for touchdowns, more than any player in one season in NCAA history, and was named first-team All-Ameri- ca along with punter Glenn Pakulak. Pakulak emerged as the best punter in school history and won the Mosi Tatupu Award as National Special Teams Player of the Year. Inheriting a roster weakened by proba- tion was the major obstacle for Rich Brooks when he took over as head coach in 2003. Brooks’ rebuilding efforts began bearing fruit in 2006. The Wildcats had their best season in 22 years by winning eight games, includ- ing a 28-20 upset of highly favored Clemson in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl. Led by quarterback Andre’ Woodson, tailback Rafael Little, wide receiver Keenan Burton, tight end Jacob Tamme and line- backer Wesley Woodyard, the 2007 season contained some of the most exciting mo- ments in school history. UK notched its first win over a Top- 10 opponent in 30 years with a dramat- ic comeback victory over No. 9 Louis- ville. UK reached the Top-10 rankings for the first time since 1977 and the popular “ESPN GameDay” crew made its first visit to campus. UK also knocked off No. 1-ranked LSU -- the eventual national champion -- with a 43-37 triple-overtime thriller. The campaign was capped with another Music City Bowl win, this time over traditional power Florida State. UK capped the 2008 season with a win over East Carolina in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, the first time in school history that UK won bowl games in three consecutive seasons. Brooks retired following the 2009 sea- son, handing the reins to former Wildcat player and long-time assistant coach Joker Phillips. Sparked by All-America receiver Randall Cobb, Phillips became the first head coach in UK history to take the Wildcats to a bowl game in his first season, completing a school-record streak of five-straight post- season appearances. Another highlight of Phillips’ term was ending the 26-year losing streak vs. Tennessee with a 10-7 win over the Volunteers in 2011. A new era began in 2013 with the hiring of Mark Stoops as head coach. Stoops made steady progress, tying or improving the team’s record for six straight seasons. The Wildcats returned to the postseason scene at the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl, followed by a trip to the 2017 Music City Bowl. Stoops’ building culminated in 2018 with a 10-3 record, UK’s best season in 41 years and only the third 10-win season in school history. UK’s 5-3 SEC record also was the team’s first winning league mark since 1977. Highlights included ending a 31- game losing streak vs. Florida with a 27-16 win in The Swamp; a miraculous comeback win at Missouri; a 56-10 win at Louisville that is the largest margin of victory in the Governor’s Cup series; and the season was topped by a 27-24 win over No. 12 Penn State in the VRBO Citrus Bowl. A rock-ribbed defense was led by line- backer Josh Allen, who broke the sin- gle-season and school records for quar- terback sacks en route to winning the Bednarik Award, Nagurski Award and Lott Trophy as the National Defensive Player of the Year. He was UK’s first unanimous first-team All-American since Art Still in 1977. Running back Benny Snell had three straight 1,000-yard seasons, break- ing UK career records with 3,873 rushing yards and 48 touchdowns. He was a sec- ond-team All-American. Helping pave the way for Snell’s exploits was guard Jervon- tius “Bunchy” Stallings, who received first- team All-America accolades. With massive personnel losses on de- fense, and the quarterback corps wiped out by injuries, the 2019 Wildcats overcame adversity to become one of the feel-good stories of college football. Wide receiver/ kick returner Lynn Bowden Jr. took over at QB, leading the Cats to a 6-2 record down the stretch, including a dramatic, come- from-behind Belk Bowl win over Virginia Tech. Bowden was named the winner of the Paul Hornung Award as the Most Versatile Player in College Football and Max Duffy claimed the Ray Guy Award as top punter in the land. Wildcats also were recognized for their all-around excellence. Linebacker Court- ney Love won the 2017 Danny Wuerffel Trophy and tight end C.J. Conrad the 2018 Pop Warner Award, both emblematic of ex- emplary community service and excellence on the field and in the classroom. In 2019, Landon Young was the 15th player in UK history to earn a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Work Team and the school’s first to be named Good Works Team captain. Despite the distractions of the Covid-19 pandemic, Kentucky made its fifth-con- secutive postseason appearance in 2020 and notched its third-straight bowl win by knocking off North Carolina State in the Tax- Slayer Gator Bowl -- making Mark Stoops the first coach in school history to take Ken- tucky to five-straight bowl games. Another 10-win season came in 2021, just the fourth in UK history and second under Stoops. Highlights featured the first home win over Florida since 1986, a third- straight Governor’s Cup triumph over Louis- ville and a dramatic come-from-behind over Iowa in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl. The Wildcats had three All-Americans, offensive tackle Darian Kinnard; defensive end and big-play machine Josh Paschal; and record-setting wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. Despite a number of injuries and oth- er obstacles, the 2022 squad posted seven wins and extended its school-record bowl streak to seven consecutive postseason ap- pearances. Highlighting the season was a 26-16 win at No. 12/19 Florida, giving Stoops his school-record 61st career victory and marking the first back-to-back defeats of the Gators since 1976-77. Under Stoops, Wildcats also have been recognized for their all-around excellence. Linebacker Courtney Love won the 2017 Danny Wuerffel Trophy and tight end C.J. Conrad the 2018 Pop Warner Award, both emblematic of exemplary community ser- vice and excellence on the field and in the classroom. Kentucky has had 17 players selected for the Allstate AFCA Good Work Team, third-most of any school, with Ken- neth Horsey the most recent selection in 2021. Josh Paschal, who overcame cancer to become a leader on the team, in the com- munity and in the classroom, received the 2021 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award. Another milestone of the Stoops era was the 2015 re-imagination of Commonwealth Stadium, a renovation that cost $126 million and made the place more fan-friendly with wider concourses, more restrooms and con- cessions areas, benchback seats through- out most of the stadium and new premium spaces and suites. The venue was renamed Kroger Field in 2017 and the playing surface is named C.M. Newton Grounds in honor of the former director of athletics.KENTUCKY 42 @UKFootball First Game n Sept. 15, 1973 (UK 31, Virginia Tech 26) Largest Crowd Since 2015 Renovation n 63,543, 2018 (UK 17, Georgia 34) Kroger Field Record n 182-141-4 (.563), 46-25 (.648) under Mark Stoops Field Name n C.M. Newton Grounds in honor of the former UK Director of Athletics Seating Capacity n 61,000, including the Kroger Field Suites. n UK announced its first sellout since 2010 when 62,933 fans attended the season opener vs. Louisiana Lafayette on Sept. 5, 2015. Attendance n Since the 1999 expansion, UK has averaged 60,094 fans per game and ranked in the nation’s top 30 teams in attendance in 17 of the last 19 seasons. Both the single game and season attendance record has been broken in recent years. *Note: Kroger Field capacity was limited to 12,000 fans per game in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions Playing Field n UK switched from natural grass to synthetic turf for the 2015 season. Other SEC schools with a turf surface are: Vanderbilt and Missouri. The end zones and team sideline areas feature a checkerboard pattern in alternating shades of blue. It was designed to mimic the pattern of Secretariat’s silks, which has been part of the football uniforms for five seasons. The school’s new interlocking “UK” logo is positioned in the center of the field. A new turf field was installed in 2023. Video Boards n Video boards by Daktronics measuring at 39 by 79 feet, each, bring a total of 6,162 square feet of video capability. The video boards put UK among the nation’s leaders in video square footage. The interior seating bowl also has LED ribbon boards. Sound System n Sportsound system delivers pounding bass energy, smooth mid- and high-range frequencies, and high-impact entertainment. Components of the sound system include a main speaker cluster behind the end zone, under-balcony speakers and concourse speakers. 1. 63,543 Georgia 2018 2. 63,407 Auburn 2015 3. 63,380 EKU 2015 4. 63,081 South Carolina 2018 5. 63,076 Florida 2019 * Since 2015 Renovation 1973 When first constructed in 1973 as Commonwealth Stadium, Kroger Field had a capacity of 57,800 and was completed at a cost of $12 million by the firm of Huber, Hunt and Nichols. The stadium and parking areas rest on an 86-acre plot that was once part of the UK Experimental Station Farm Grounds. The stadium was officially opened on Sept. 15, 1973, as the Wildcats moved into their new home after spending 48 years at Stoll Field/McLean Stadium across from Memorial Coliseum. Kentucky defeated Virginia Tech in the stadium opener, 31-26, as quarterback Ernie Lewis ran for two touchdowns and threw for another TD to lead the Wildcats. 1999 The stadium was expanded in 1999. Both end zones were enclosed, along with the construction of 40 suites, 10 in each corner of the stadium. The project was handled by HNTB of Kansas City, Mo., and Turner Construction of Cincinnati, Ohio. A total of $27.6 million was allocated for the expansion, which also included the original Mitsubishi Diamond Vision video boards, new scoreboards and additional restrooms and concession stands. The attendance capacity was 67,942 in 2012. 2015 Kroger Field was transformed into a state-of-the-art facility after a $120-million reinvention which was completed prior to the 2015 season. The project was also handled by HNTB. The outside of the stadium underwent a dramatic external facelift, receiving a modern look, but one that remained uniquely Kentucky. Inside, the capacity of Kroger Field was reduced over the course of the two-year project to approximately 61,000, but the value of all remaining seats were increased, from the top of the upper deck to front-row seats at midfield. Concourses were revamped and widened throughout the stadium with improved concessions, restrooms and security. Players and coaches reaped the benefits of the new Kroger Field as well, as home-team facilities were built, while a new multi-purpose recruiting room hosts future Wildcats on their on-campus visits. Kroger Field Quick Facts Top Home Attendances Kroger FieldKENTUCKY 44 @UKFootball Kroger Field KENTUCKY FOOTBALL ATTENDANCE IN KROGER FIELD Former Kentucky linebacker Terry Clayton, who is deaf, could not hear the roar of the crowd at Kroger Field. “But,” Clayton said, “I can feel the rumble!” Year ..............G ..................Total ......Avg./Game 1973.............5 .............250,055 .............50,011 1974.............6 .............328,785 .............54,797 1975.............6 .............341,204 .............56,867 1976.............7 .............393,483 .............56,211 1977.............5 .............288,990 .............57,798 1978.............6 .............346,341 .............57,723 1979.............5 .............289,042 .............57,808 1980.............7 .............392,898 .............56,128 1981.............6 .............334,837 .............55,809 1982.............6 .............329,207 .............54,867 1983.............7 .............395,365 .............56,480 1984.............7 .............387,959 .............55,422 1985.............7 .............398,788 .............56,969 1986.............7 .............384,802 .............54,971 1987.............6 .............331,923 .............55,321 1988.............7 .............337,972 .............48,292 1989.............7 .............374,248 .............53,464 1990.............6 .............332,840 .............55,473 1991.............6 .............327,250 .............54,542 1992.............6 .............324,875 .............54,146 1993.............6 .............318,178 .............53,030 1994.............7 .............352,012 .............50,287 1995.............6 .............299,772 .............49,446 1996.............6 .............243,884 .............40,647 1997.............6 .............354,662 .............59,110 1998.............6 .............346,422 .............57,737 1999.............6 .............406,536 .............67,756 2000.............6 .............392,772 .............65,462 2001.............6 .............380,881 .............63,480 2002.............7 .............449,084 .............64,155 2003.............7 .............454,457 .............64,922 2004.............6 .............374,002 .............62,334 2005.............6 .............374,697 .............62,450 2006.............7 .............401,307 .............57,330 2007.............8 .............550,588 .............68,824 2008.............7 .............486,038 .............69,434 2009.............7 .............487,156 .............69,594 2010.............7 .............462,488 .............66,070 2011.............7 .............420,052 .............60,007 2012.............7 .............347,838 .............49,691 2013.............7 .............416,303 .............59,472 2014.............7 .............403,002 .............57,571 2015.............8 .............490,361 .............61,295 2016.............7 .............370,500 .............58,038 2017.............7 .............395,276 .............56,468 2018.............7 .............385,820 .............55,117 2019.............8 .............425,023 .............53,128 2020* ...........5 ...............60,000 .............12,000 2021.............7 .............394,105 .............56,301 2022.............8 .............482,312 .............60,289 Total ...........327 ......18,652,675 .............57,041 Since 1999 .150 ........9,915,598 .............60,094 (Note: stadium was expanded in 1999) * Kroger Field capacity was limited to 12,000 in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictionsAt LG&E and KU, we power more than lights and scoreboards. We empower the students, faculty, and fans with the energy they need to tailgate, celebrate, and cheer the Cats to new heights. It’s just one of the many ways our energies go to serving you. lge-ku.com empoweringKENTUCKY 46 @UKFootball Wildcat Spirit Wildcat Marching Band Entertaining thousands of fans with their spirited, high- energy performances, the Wildcat Marching Band enjoys a nation- al reputation as one of the finest collegiate marching bands in the country. The Wildcat Marching Band has participated in nu- merous post-season bowl games, BOA Re- gional Championships, a Presidential Inau- guration, a World Series, and the 2008 Ryder Cup. The basketball pep bands also follow both the men’s and women’s basketball teams throughout postseason play. Marching Band (MUC 190) is a one credit hour class that rehearses Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:30-7:30PM. In addition, the Wildcat Marching Band represents nearly every academic major on campus and is the largest student organization at the University of Kentucky while maintaining some of the highest GPA’s on campus. Sweetheart Majorettes As the first female members to join the University of Kentucky Wildcat Marching Band in 1960, the UK Feature Twirlers and Sweetheart Majorette Twirling line is rich in tradition, excellence, and is comprised of national champion twirlers from all over the United States. Taking pride in being one of the best twirling schools in the SEC, the UK Twirling program loves being a part of the Wildcat Marching Band and representing twirling in front of 60,000+ CATS fans at Kroger Field. The UK Feature Twirlers and Sweetheart Ma- jorette line also perform at other UK Athlet- ic events, around the Lexington community, and compete on the local, regional, and na- tional level. Kentucky Cheer, Dance and Mascots The University of Kentucky spirit squads are an important part of the game day expe- rience for the Big Blue Nation. Both the UK cheerleading and dance programs play a key role in helping to preserve and continue the traditions and pageantry that come with any Kentucky game day. Kentucky’s cheerleading squad is, quite simply, the gold standard in the sport. With a record 24 Universal Cheer Association national championships, UK has an un- paralleled tradition in the world of college cheerleading. Kentucky has won five of the last nine titles and 20 of the last 28 national championships. Kentucky is the only school to ever win more than two championships in a row, and UK has done so on multiple occasions. Ken- tucky won a record eight straight champi- onships from 1995-2002, won three straight from 2004-06, won three more in a row from 2008-10, then won four in a row from 2016-19. The UK Dance Team has developed into one of the premier programs in the nation as well. In 2021 at the Universal Dance Asso- ciation competition in Orlando, UK placed second in both the gameday and hip-hop portions of the competitions. Those finishes were the best in UK history. The dance squad energizes the crowd at UK games and keeps the fans engaged from beginning to end. Their high-energy routines have become a regular part of the game day tradition at Kentucky. Both programs re- ceive significant nation- al exposure each year during their national competitions, for UCA and UDA, which air on ESPN. The UK cheerlead- ers are considered some of the best ath- letes on the entire UK campus, while the dance team’s athlet- icism is on display during all of their game day routines. In addition to bring- ing their talent to game days, cheerleaders and dancers represent the universities at numer- ous functions through- out each school year. Kentucky’s mascots, Wildcat and Scratch, are also fan favorites in the Bluegrass. Both mascots appear at UK games year ‘round, bringing joy to UK fans young and old.YOUR TAILGATING HEADQUARTERS 2187 HARRODSBURG RD. 3292 RICHMOND RD. & DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR $5 OFF citybbq.comHam · Turkey · BaconKENTUCKY @UKSportsNetwork 49 All-Americans First-Team All-Americans 1942 Clyde Johnson, Tackle (AP) 1949 Bob Gain, Tackle (All-Players, NY Sun, NEA) 1950 Bob Gain, Tackle (AP, UPI, INS, Camp, NEA, CP, FWAA-Look, AAB, FD, NYNews) 1950 Babe Parilli, Quarterback (AP, INS, Camp, Colliers, NY News, Sporting News, AAB) 1951 Babe Parilli, Quarterback (UP, INS, Camp, NEA, CP, AAB, NY News, All-Players) 1951 Doug Moseley, Center (AP, FWAA-Look) 1952 Steve Meilinger, End (NEA, All-Players) 1953 Steve Meilinger, End (NEA, Colliers, AAB) 1953 Ray Correll, Guard (FWAA-Look, Chicago Tribune) 1955 Howard Schnellenberger, End (AP) 1956 Lou Michaels, Tackle (UPI, NA, Camp, Colliers,NY News) 1957 Lou Michaels, Tackle (AP, NEA, Camp, FWAA-Look, Coaches, NY News, Sporting News) 1961 Irv Goode, Center (Time) 1963 Herschel Turner, Tackle (Time) 1965 Sam Ball, Tackle (UPI, NEA, Camp, FWAA-Look, Coaches, Time, Sporting News) 1965 Rodger Bird, Halfback (Time, NBC) 1965 Rick Norton, Quarterback (Time, NBC) 1974 Elmore Stephens, Tight End (Time) 1974 Rick Nuzum, Center (NEA) 1976 Warren Bryant, Tackle (Coaches, Camp) 1977 Art Still, End (AP, UPI, NEA, Coaches, FWAA, Camp, Sporting News, Football News) 1989 Mike Pfeifer, Off. Tackle (Football News, Mizlou) 1998 Tim Couch, Quarterback (Camp, FWAA, AAFF) 1999 James Whalen, Tight End (AP, Camp, FWAA, AAFF, CNN/SI, CBS SportsLine) 2002 Derek Abney, Kick Returner (AP, FWAA, Camp, Sporting News, ESPN, CBS SportsLine, CNN/SI, College Football News) 2002 Glenn Pakulak, Punter (CBS SportsLine) 2010 Randall Cobb, All-Purpose Player (AP, SI.com, ESPN.com) 2010 Danny Trevathan, Linebacker (CollegeFootballNews.com) 2018 Josh Allen, Linebacker (Camp, SI, TheAthletic.com, ESPN, AP, College Football News, FWAA, Sporting News, USA Today, CBS, AFCA, Athlon, Phil Steele) 2018 Jervontius “Bunchy” Stallings, Offensive Guard (AP, The Athletic) 2019 Lynn Bowden Jr., All-Purpose (Athlon, AP, ESPN.com, AFCA FBS Coaches, SI.com, CBS Sports, Phil Steele, Sporting News, USA Today) 2019 Max Duffy, Punter (AP, Athlon, FWAA, Walter Camp, AFCA Coaches, ESPN.com, Phil Steele, Sporting News, USA Today) 2020 Darian Kinnard, Offensive Tackle (Pro Football Focus) 2021 Darian Kinnard , Off. Tackle (AFCA, AP, FWAA, Walter Camp, Phil Steele, CBS Sports, Reese’s Senior Bowl) Second-Team All-Americans 1949 Bob Gain, Tackle (FWAA-Look) 1956 Lou Michaels, Tackle (FWAA-Look) 1970 Dave Roller, Def. Tackle (NEA) 1971 Joe Federspiel, Linebacker (AP) 1972 Sonny Collins, Tailback (NEA) 1976 Warren Bryant, Off. Tackle (AP, Football News, NEA) 1983 Paul Calhoun, Safety/Punter (The Sporting News) 1990 Randy Holleran, Linebacker (Football News) 1994 Melvin Johnson, Free Safety (Gannett News Service) 1998 Tim Couch, Quarterback (AP, Football News) 1999 James Whalen, Tight End (Football News) 2002 Glenn Pakulak, Punter (Camp, College Football News) 2003 Derek Abney, Kick Returner (AP) 2008 Trevard Lindley, Cornerback (Camp, CollegeFootballNews.com) 2010 Randall Cobb, All-Purpose Player (Rivals.com, CollegeFootballNews.com, Phil Steele’s College Football) 2011 Danny Trevathan, Linebacker (SI.com) 2018 Benny Snell Jr., Running Back (Camp, College Football News, USA Today, AFCA) 2018 Jervontius “Bunchy” Stallings, Offensive Guard (SI, USA Today, Athlon) 2019 Logan Stenberg, Offensive Guard (FWAA, Phil Steele) 2020 Darian Kinnard, Offensive Tackle (CBS/247sports, The Sporting News) 2020 Drake Jackson, Center (Pro Football Focus) 2020 Chris Rodriguez Jr., Running Back (Pro Football Focus) 2021 Darian Kinnard, Off. Tackle (The Sporting News, Pro Football Focus, TheAthletic.com, USA Today) 2021 Josh Paschal, Defensive End (CBS/247Sports, USA Today) 2021 Wan’Dale Robinson, Wide Receiver (PFF) Third-Team All-Americans 1950 Al Bruno, End (AP, UPI) 1962 Tom Hutchinson, End (Coaches) 1963 Herschel Turner, Tackle (UPI) 1974 Sonny Collins, Tailback (Football News) 1975 Warren Bryant, Off. Tackle (Football News) 1976 Derrick Ramsey, Quarterback (AP, Football News) 1984 Paul Calhoun, Safety/Punter (AP) 1989 Oliver Barnett, Def. Tackle (AP) 1998 Craig Yeast, Wide Receiver (Football News) 1999 James Whalen, Tight End (The Sporting News) 2001 Dennis Johnson, Def. End (Football News) 2001 Glenn Pakulak, Punter (Football News) 2002 Glenn Pakulak, Punter (AP) 2008 Trevard Lindley, Cornerback (Phil Steele’s College Football) 2011 Danny Trevathan, Linebacker (Rivals.com) 2012 Larry Warford, Off. Guard (AP, Phil Steele’s College Football) 2014 Alvin “Bud” Dupree, DE/LB (Phil Steele’s College Football) 2018 Benny Snell Jr., Running Back (AP, Phil Steele, Athlon) 2018 Jervontius “Bunchy” Stallings, Offensive Guard (Athlon, Phil Steele) 2020 Darian Kinnard, Offensive Tackle (AP) 2020 Max Duffy, Punter (Pro Football Focus)Danny Trevathan was named a First-Team All-American in 2010Next >