Alabama vs Kentucky: A Historical Retrospective
by kleph on Sep 28, 2009 10:00 AM CDT
5 comments
Since Alabama and Kentucky first met on the gridiron 92 years ago, the Wildcats have garnered a victory on just two occasions; in 1922 and in 1997 (the two teams battled to a 7-7 tie in 1939). While Kentucky football has a lengthy history it has never been known for being a powerhouse and the contests with Bama bears that out. The Crimson Tide has rolled up 919 points over the entire history of the series to Kentucky's 256 - holding the Wildcats scoreless on no less than 16 occasions.
According to the Alabama Record Book, Kentucky was the foe for a pair of games that highlighted the prowess of two of the Crimson Tide's greatest players, Harry Gilmer and Derrick Thomas. In 1945 Gilmer gained 216 yards in six carries against the Wildcats in Louisville including touchdown runs of 59 and 95 yards. He also threw two passes for 50 yards in the 60-19 blowout.
It was quite a different story in 1988 when Alabama clawed back from a 17-point deficit to upend Kentucky in Lexington (see video above). The game was clenched for the Tide with a desperate TD pass thrown in the final ten seconds but the Tide's turnaround was led by linebacker Derrick Thomas who played like a man possessed in the second half. By the time it was over he had amassed 14 tackles, four sacks (for -14 yards) not to mention blocking a punt and a field goal.
Perhaps the strongest tie between the two programs is Alabama's legendary coach Paul W. Bryant who was the HC for the Wildcats from 1946 to 1953. This was arguably the acme of the Kentucky program's prominence with the wildcats reaching four bowl games and winning the SEC Championship in 1950. During that span Coach Bryant faced off against his alma mater two times, in 1946 and 1947, but was unable to emerge victorious. The former contest is notable in that it was Bryant's only opportunity to coach against Frank Thomas, his head coach while he was a player at the Capstone.
Alabama vs Kentucky Historical Record
| Season | W/L | Score | Date | Location | Game | Information |
| 1917 | W | 27-0 | Nov. 17 | Lexington, KY | ||
| 1922 | L | 0-6 | Nov. 18 | Lexington, KY | ||
| 1923 | W | 16-8 | Nov. 10 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | ||
| 1924 | W | 42-7 | Nov. 8 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | ||
| 1925 | W | 31-0 | Nov. 7 | Birmingham, Ala. | ||
| 1926 | W | 14-0 | Nov. 6 | Birmingham, Ala. | ||
| 1927 | W | 21-6 | Nov. 5 | Birmingham, Ala. | ||
| 1928 | W | 14-0 | Nov. 10 | Montgomery, Ala. | ||
| 1929 | W | 24-13 | Nov. 9 | Montgomery, Ala. | ||
| 1930 | W | 19-0 | Nov. 1 | Lexington, KY | ||
| 1931 | W | 9-7 | Oct. 31 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | ||
| 1932 | W | 12-7 | Oct. 29 | Lexington, KY | ||
| 1933 | W | 20-0 | Nov. 4 | Birmingham, Ala. | ||
| 1934 | W | 34-14 | Nov. 3 | Lexington, KY | ||
| 1935 | W | 13-0 | Nov. 2 | Birmingham, Ala. | ||
| 1936 | W | 14-0 | Oct. 31 | Lexington, KY | ||
| 1937 | W | 41-0 | Oct. 30 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | ||
| 1938 | W | 26-6 | Oct. 29 | Lexington, KY | Alabama's 250th win | |
| 1939 | TIE | 7-7 | Nov. 4 | Birmingham, Ala. | ||
| 1940 | W | 25-0 | Nov. 2 | Lexington, KY | ||
| 1941 | W | 30-0 | Nov. 1 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | ||
| 1942 | W | 14-0 | Oct. 24 | Lexington, KY | ||
| 1944 | W | 41-0 | Oct. 27 | Montgomery, Ala. | ||
| 1945 | W | 60-19 | Nov. 3 | Louisville, KY | ||
| 1946 | W | 21-7 | Oct. 26 | Montgomery, Ala. | ||
| 1947 | W | 13-0 | Nov. 1 | Lexington, KY | ||
| 1972 | W | 35-0 | Sept. 23 | Birmingham, Ala. | ||
| 1973 | W | 28-14 | Sept. 22 | Lexington, KY | ||
| 1980 | W | 45-0 | Oct. 3 | Birmingham, Ala. | ||
| 1981 | W | 19-10 | Sept. 19 | Lexington, KY | ||
| 1988 | W | 31-27 | Oct. 1 | Lexington, KY | ||
| 1989 | W | 15-3 | Sept. 23 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | ||
| 1996 | W | 35-7 | Oct. 5 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | ||
| 1997 | L | 34-40 | Oct. 4 | Lexington, KY | OT | |
| 2003 | W | 27-17 | Sept. 13 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | ||
| 2004 | W | 45-17 | Oct. 9 | Lexington, KY | ||
| 2008 | W | 17-14 | Oct. 4 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
Source: The University of Alabama 2009 Football Media Guide
Alabama vs Kentucky: The Record Book
| Record | Place | Year | Statistic | Holder |
| Highest Average Gain Per Rush (single game, min. 5 attempts) | 1st | 1945 | 36 | Harry Gilmer |
| Most Yds per Play (total offense, single game, min. 8 plays) | 1st | 1945 | 33.3 | Harry Gilmer |
| Most Blocked Kicks (single game) | 1st (tied) | 1988 | 2 | Derrick Thomas |
| Longest Kickoff Returns | 1st (tied) | 1973 | 100 yards | Willie Shelby |
| Most Sacks & Tackles for Losses (single game) | 2nd | 1988 | 6 (4 sacks, 2TBL) | Derrick Thomas |
| Most QB Hurries (single game) | 2nd | 1988 | 6 | Derrick Thomas |
| Longest Touchdown Rushes | 2nd | 1945 | 95 yards | Harry Gilmer |
| Most Sacks (single game) | 2nd (tied) | 1988 | 4 (-14 yards) | Derrick Thomas |
| Longest Punts | 3rd | 1933 | 83 yards | Dixie Howell |
| Most Points (single game) | 3rd (tied) | 1996 | 24 | Dennis Riddle |
| Most Touchdowns (total offense, single game) | 4th (tied) | 1996 | 4 (3 rush, 1 pass) | Dennis Riddle |
| Most Yds. Rushing (single game) | 7th | 1945 | 216 (6 atts) | Harry Gilmer |
| Longest Interception Returns | 10th | 1940 | 76 yards | Don Salls |
| Most Punts Returned (single game) | 10th (tied) | 1946 | 10 | team record |
Source: The University of Alabama Football Record Book
Note: While we are relying on the record book created by the UA athletic department for these entries, the publicly available edition is only complete up through 2006. We welcome any information concerning records which may have been surpassed since that time.
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The records listing starting on page 194 of the 2009 Media Guide seems to be more up to date.
by zeke2029 on Sep 28, 2009 10:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Coach Bryant ran...
the wildcat from 1946-1953! Just another reason he is the best coach ever!
by lbdasdog on Sep 28, 2009 12:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The 88 game
is one of my all time favorite wins although we did not play very good. A fake FG and pass to Doyle plus going for it on 4th and goal with 10 seconds left rather than taking a FG and a tie. Those were gutsy calls and Curry really did make the right calls that day. And throwing the winning score to little used Gene Newberry- wow!!
By the way no way we should not have lost in 97. They blocked a FG for a TD with just 6 minutes to go plus we went for it twice on 4th down early in the game when were around their 40, why we did not punt is beyond me.
But I blame Dubose for bad calls and poor prep in 97. We had a decent QB in Kitchens plus Alexander and Riddle, but we made too many mistakes. Dubose even played Lance Tucker at QB when we were behind in the 1st half- what in the world. That game cost us big time. We were 3-1 coming in and ranked # 20. After that loss the team fell apart, a typical Dubose coached team reaction. We only won 1 more game all year and finished 4-7. I still think it all went back to that night in Lexington and some of the dumbness that was Dubose.
Even Shula’s team melt downs were not like Dubose’s team melt downs which happened in 97 after UK and in 2000 which really started with UCLA and then So. Miss. from which loss in game 3 we only won 2 more games to finish 3-8.
I hate the NCAA more than UT & AU combined. At least with UT & AU you got a fighting chance.
by 5026 on Sep 28, 2009 3:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
2000 Season
Now why did you have to go and bring that up?
Shorty Price Lives
by StarStarr on Sep 28, 2009 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have three friends from KY...
…and they still bring up that ’97 game. My only reply is, “Well, we beat you a lot more in basketball than you beat us in football.”
by Nico2.0 on Sep 28, 2009 7:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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