September 24th: On this date...

... in 2000, former Kentucky player and coach Jerry Claiborne died as a result of a heart attack at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Claiborne was a blocking back and a defensive back for the Wildcats from 1946-1949 and played under Paul “Bear” Bryant. Once Claiborne graduated, he worked as an assistant to Bryant at Kentucky and Texas A&M. In December of 1981 he was named the 31st football coach at the University of Kentucky, replacing Fran Curci. He led the Wildcats to a Hall of Fame victory over Wisconsin in 1984, the last win in a bowl game before the recent stretch. Coach also led Kentucky to academic achievement as he received recognition for having a 90% graduation rate in 1989. After the 1989 season, Claiborne stepped down as head coach. A native of Hopkinsville, Jerry Claiborne was 72 when he passed.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach