Tennessee Alumni Tampa Bay Chapter

Our Next Football Viewing Party is Saturday November 26th 2011 12:21 pm

TENNESSEE VS. KENTUCKY GREEN IGUANA 2520 N. DALE MABRY (NEAR THE BUCS STADIUM) TAMPA, FL

AND NOW FROM OUR LOCAL ROVING FOOTBALL REPORTER-KELLY NEES: DID YOU KNOW… One down, one to go! After knocking off Vanderbilt 27-21 in a thrilling overtime game last week in Knoxville, all that's standing between UT (5-6, 1-6 SEC) and a return to the postseason is a rival it has knocked off 26 times in a row as the program heads to Kentucky for the last game on the schedule Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium. The Wildcats (4-7, 1-6 SEC) fell to the Georgia Bulldogs 19-10 last week, but would like nothing more than to close out their season by spoiling the Vols’ postseason plans. This interstate rivalry dates back to 1893 with Tennessee holding an impressive lead in the series, 74-23-9, including a 24-14 win last year in Knoxville. The 26 game winning streak versus the Cats is the current longest streak among Division 1-A teams. Although Kentucky has historically been known primarily as a basketball powerhouse, some people may not remember that the legendary Bear Bryant was once the school’s head football coach. Beginning in 1946, Bryant coached the Wildcats for 8 seasons. Under Bryant, Kentucky made its first bowl appearance in 1947 and won its first Southeastern Conference title in 1950. The 1950 Kentucky team concluded its season with a victory over the number 1 ranked Oklahoma Sooners in the Sugar Bowl. Bryant also led Kentucky to appearances in the Great Lakes Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Cotton Bowl Classic. Kentucky's final AP poll rankings under Bryant included #11 in 1949, #7 in 1950, #15 in 1951, #20 in 1952 and #16 in 1953. The 1950 season was Kentucky's highest rank until it finished #6 in the final 1977 AP poll. Overall at Kentucky, Bryant compiled a record of 60-23-6, with 4 bowl appearances and no losing seasons. His record against Tennessee was not as stellar, as his teams were only 1-5-2 against the Vols. When he retired from coaching after the 1982 season with a then all-time record of 323-85-17, one of the few disappointments in his remarkable career was that he never defeated a team coached by our very own General Robert Neyland. Former UT players Randy Sanders and Tee Martin are assistant coaches on the UK staff. INJURY UPDATE: Safeties Brian Randolph (mild concussion) and Prentiss Waggner (shoulder sprain) are both questionable for Saturday’s game. GO VOLS!!!