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UK’s History in the Music City Bowl

Image courtesy of UK Athletics 

 

The Kentucky Wildcats are gearing up for their second consecutive bowl game, as the Wildcats will play No. 21 Northwestern in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville, TN., on Friday, December 29th. The matchup of Wildcats will be Kentucky’s fifth trip to the Music City Bowl, the most of any school in the bowls twenty-year history.

 

When Kentucky fans think of football and bowls, the Music City has to come to mind. Some of the programs best moments have occurred at Nissan Stadium in Nashville and the Big Blue Nation flooded the streets everytime the Wildcats are in town. Overall, the Wildcats have a 2-2 record in the Music City Bowl and will be going for a third win in a few weeks.

 

1999 Music City Bowl

Kentucky vs. Syracuse

 

Both the Wildcats and Orangemen entered the game with 6-5 records. Hal Mumme, who led the program to its second consecutive bowl game, coached the Wildcats.

 

Kentucky took the opening possession and put together a 79-yard touchdown drive to take an early 7-0 lead. The Wildcats were led by tight end James Whalen Jr., a first-team All-American. Whalen’s 45-yard reception set up Kendrick Shanklin’s three-yard touchdown run.

 

Leading 7-0, the Kentucky defense forced a Syracuse punt. The Wildcats, behind quarterback Dusty Bonner, drove inside the Syracuse 10-yard line looking to take a two-score lead. However, Whalen suffered an injury that forced him to miss the remainder of the game. Through two drives, the UK tight end was on pace to be the games MVP with four catches for 79 yards. The Wildcats stalled out and had to settle for a field goal to take a 10-0 lead.

 

The score remained 10-0 until Syracuse found the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown run with 1:56 remaining in the second quarter. The score at the half was 10-7 and it remained that way until the fourth quarter.

 

A second field goal by Marc Samuel extended the UK lead to 13-7 but Syracuse answered with a 32-yard touchdown run from James Mungro to take their first lead at 14-7. Mungro added another fourth-quarter touchdown but the two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score 20-13 Syracuse. The Wildcats marched the ball to the Syracuse 41-yard line but a Hail Mary attempt to tie the game fell incomplete.

 

Final Score: Kentucky 13, Syracuse 20

 

2006 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl

Kentucky vs. Clemson

 

The Wildcats entered the 2006 Music City Bowl vs. Clemson as 10-point underdogs. Kentucky was making its first bowl game appearance since the 1999 Music City Bowl and the first under head coach Rich Brooks.

 

Kentucky got off to a fast start on a 1-yard touchdown run by Micah Johnson to take a 7-0 lead. Clemson answered with a 32-yard touchdown strike from Will Proctor to Durrell Barry. However, the extra point was no good and Kentucky held a 7-6 advantage.

 

Kentucky extended the lead to 14-6 when Andre Woodson found DeMoreo Ford for a 70-yard touchdown with 2:14 to play in the first half, setting up the Wildcats with a 14-6 halftime advantage.

 

The Kentucky offense continued to pour it on during the third quarter when Woodson found Dicky Lyons, Jr. for a 24-yard touchdown to take a 21-6 lead. The Wildcats extended the lead to 28-6 on a 13-yard touchdown catch by Jacob Tamme in the fourth quarter. The Tigers scored two late touchdowns to trim the UK lead to 28-20 but the Wildcats recovered an onside kick to emerge victorious.

 

Final Score: Kentucky 28, Clemson 20

 

2007 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl

Kentucky vs. Florida State

 

The Wildcats were making their second consecutive bowl appearance and their straight December trip to Nashville, TN. Kentucky, under the direction of Rich Brooks, squared off with ACC power Florida State.

 

The Wildcats had an advantage, as the Seminoles were forced to play without 34 players due to various reasons (injuries, violation of team rules, and a cheating scandal).

 

Kentucky struck first in the opening quarter on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Tamme. Florida State responded with a touchdown before Kentucky built a 14-7 lead on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Woodson to Steve Johnson. The Wildcats forced a turnover on downs inside the five-yard line but the Seminoles were able to tie the game before the half on a 24-yard interception return by Tony Carter.

 

During the third quarter is when the Wildcats seized control of the game. First on a 2-yard touchdown pass to Rafael Little and later, a 4-yard run by Tony Dixon. The UK running back duo gave the Wildcats a 28-14 advantage going into the fourth quarter.

 

Florida State climbed back into the game on a 1-yard touchdown run to begin the fourth quarter but Woodson and Kentucky answered with a 38-yard touchdown strike to Johnson. Florida State scored again late to climb with seven at 35-28 but a Hail Mary attempt fell short in the end zone.

 

The victory gave Kentucky its second consecutive season with a bowl victory, the first time that had happened since 1952.

 

Final Score: Kentucky 35, Florida State 28

 

 

2009 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl

Kentucky vs. Clemson

 

The Wildcats and Tigers squared off in the Music City for the second time in four seasons. It was the fourth consecutive season under Rich Brooks that the Wildcats would play in a bowl game but to everyone’s surprise, the UK coach retired a week later.

 

The Wildcats only touchdown of the game came on the first drive when Morgan Newton found Chris Matthews for a 17-yard touchdown. The Tigers tied the game on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Parker to Jacoby Ford. The Wildcats regained the lead on a 39-yard Lones Seiber field goal in the second quarter but Clemson’s Jamie Harper plunged into the end zone from a yard out to give the Tigers a 14-10 halftime advantage.

 

Kentucky trimmed the deficit to a point on a 44-yard field goal by Seiber early in the third quarter. That was as close as they would get as C.J. Spiller, the games MVP, extended the Clemson lead to 21-13 with an 8-yard score with 10:14 to play.

 

Final Score: Kentucky 13, Clemson 21

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