A QUICK LOOK AT - Kentucky

by Jack Witthaus

The Institution

School Quick Facts

Official Name:

University of Kentucky

Nickname:

Wildcats

Location:

Lexington, KY

Enrollment:

28,094

Founded:

1865

Mascot:

The Wildcat, Scratch

Live Mascot:

Blue (Bobcat)

Fight Song:

"On, On, U of K"

SEC Division:

East

Although located in the “Horse Capital of the World,” the University of Kentucky’s nickname has nothing to do with thoroughbreds. After a 6-2 football win over Illinois in 1909, Commandant Carbusier told a group of students in a chapel service that the boys had “fought like Wildcats.”

The blue and white colors were adopted when a football player suggested in 1891 to use the shade of blue on his necktie.

Each year since 1979, the UK holds the Kentucky Women Writers Conference. The UK doesn’t have many notable people that went to the university. Oddly, Kentucky has turned out seven governors, including the current governor of Kentucky.

Dr. Thomas Hunt Morgan and William Lipscomb, winners of Noble prizes, both went to the UK. Also, actor Ashley Judd hails the UK as her alma mater.

Kentucky is known for its elite basketball program, which has the most wins in college basketball history.

Kentucky Football

Football Quick Facts

Venue Name:

Commonwealth Stadium

Venue Capacity:

67,606

Venue Surface:

Bermuda Grass

First Season:

1881

Overall Record:

578-572-44

Last Season:

5-7 (2-6 SEC)

Head Coach:

Joker Phillips (11-14)

Football Rivals:

Tennessee, Louisville, South Carolina

Compared to the successful basketball program, Kentucky football isn’t much to look at. In their 130-year history, the Wildcats have won one national championship, eight bowl games, two Conference titles and have claimed 10 consensus All-Americans. Kentucky boasts 19 current players in the NFL and two players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Dermontti Dawson and George Blanda).

Fast forward to 1946, when legendary football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant began his first of eight seasons as the Wildcats head coach (Bryant later coached at Alabama starting in 1958).

In 1947, Kentucky won its first bowl, the Great Lakes Bowl. Three years later, Kentucky won the Sugar Bowl and was recognized as a co-national champion that year.

No kidding, Joker Phillips is the current head coach of the Wildcat program. Phillips may not have the best of records, but he did snap Kentucky’s 26-game losing streak to Tennessee last year at Commonwealth Stadium.

Arkansas Basketball

Basketball Quick Facts

Venue Name:

Rupp Arena

Venue Capacity:

23,500

First Season:

1903

Overall Record:

2090-649

Last Season:

38-2, (16-0 SEC, National Champs)

Head Coach:

John Calipari (102-14, 505-151)

NCAA Final Fours:

15

NCAA Championships:

8

The Wildcat basketball program ranks at the top or near the top in almost every category. The program has won eight National Championships, second to UCLA, and has made more tournament appearances, 52, than any other school.

Rupp Arena is the largest basketball-only arena in the US. Fittingly, UK’s “Big Blue Nation” fan base sets attendance records every season. The fans are not usually disappointed. Since Rupp Arena opened in 1976, Kentucky has played 538 games, losing only 60. Over 36 seasons, on average Kentucky loses less than 2 games a season at home.

A testament to their successful seasons can be found in their coaches. UK is the only basketball program with five different NCAA championship coaches.

Kentucky wasn’t always winning basketball contests. In the early 1900s, the Wildcats had some ups-and-downs as a program. At one point, the faculty athletic senate almost wiped the program from campus.

Students intervened and pressed football coach E.R. Sweetland to take over the team in 1909. In his fourth season, Sweetland led the Wildcats to their first undefeated season.

After some rocky seasons, UK hired coach Adolf Rupp (the Arena is named after him). Rupp coached an incredible 42 seasons at the university. The “Baron of the Bluegrass” as he was known brought enormous success to the program. He won half on Kentucky’s NCAA championships, 27 SEC titles, and 13 SEC tournaments.

Unfortunately, Rupp was head coach during in the infamous 1951 point shaving scandal. Although he received criticism from the university, Rupp was never found guilty of any wrongdoing. Rupp had to retire when he turned 70 as part of a UK requirement.

Current head coach John Calipari has coached three seasons at Kentucky and won the National Championship last year for the Wildcats.

This year, UK sent a record six players to the NBA draft including No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis.

Watch out for this team at home. Calipari’s squad hasn’t lost a single game during his reign—a 51 game winning streak.