Thursday, September 30, 2010

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Saturday, September 18, 2010

September 18th: On this date...

..... in 1999, newly named Kentucky quarterback Dusty Bonner was very impressive in a shootout win over the Indiana Hoosiers, 44-35. The Wildcats used a huge second quarter to take a 28-14 lead into halftime. They never trailed again as Bonner completed 24-31 for 304 yards and 5 touchdowns. Running back Anthony White ran for 130 yards and Lexington’s own Dougie Allen caught 2 touchdowns in the high-scoring affair. Super tight end James Whalen added 10 receptions for 121 yards to lead the Blue. Indiana quarterback Antwan Randle-El threw for 201 yards and ran for another 115 yards to keep the Hoosier from letting it get too outta hand.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Friday, September 17, 2010

September 17th: On this date...


..... in 2002, the NCAA Infractions Committee upholds the penalty of a postseason ban on the Univeristy of Kentucky football program. The penalty was announced on January 31, 2002, as a part of a litany of other infractions. Under the umbrella of wrong-doings by the program included:

recruiting inducements, impermissible tryouts, unethical conduct, falsification of recruiting records, salary control, fiscal integrity and institutional control of recruiting funds. Specifically, the violations included a broad pattern of providing free lodging to recruits, their parents and coaches.

And mentioning lack of institutional control one more time for good measure. Wow. They got all that from a couple of “Atta-boys”?? Needless to say there wasn’t much the University could do as this was a publicity nightmare and we were caught red-handed. In the meantime, PaPaw Brooks was masterminding a plan to give Big Blue Nation a reason to Believe.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

September 16th: On this date...


.... in 1992, after the quick turnaround engineered by new(ish) head coach Rick Pitino, UK President Charles Wethington made sure to lock up Athletic Director C.M. Newton. Acting before his current contract expired, Wethington offered Newton a new four-year deal to stay with the University. Newton knew the program well; he played under Adolph Rupp from 1949-51. The energy for the basketball program was arguably the highest it had ever been, six months removed from the epic showdown with Duke in Philadelphia. Years later, Newton was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was the head coach at Transylvania, Vanderbilt, and Alabama. Some of his other accomplishments include:

1. Helped adopt the 3-point line and shot clock while on the NCAA Rules Committee.

2. Anything and everything during his University of Kentucky tenure.

3. President of USA Basketball when 1992's “The Dream Team” was developed.

4. In 2000, the University named the field at Commonwealth Stadium C.M. Newton Field.

I’d probably put that resume up against anyone else in basketball history/innovation.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

September 15th: On this date...


..... in 2007, we found out that “13 is a lucky number” as Kentucky wide receiver Steve Johnson got loose down the sideline for the game-winning touchdown against rival and #9 ranked Louisville. Quarterback Andre Woodson found a streaking Johnson for 57 yards with only 28 seconds left to put the Cats up 40-34. Woodson completed 30-44 passes for 275 yards and 4 touchdowns to out-duel Brian Brohm in what many thought was a Heisman showdown/preview. Enough with recap, here’s Tom call.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

September 14th: On this date...


.... in 2002, Jared Lorenzen threw three touchdowns and Artose Pinner ran for 141 yards in the Wildcats 27-17 win over Indiana. Pinner also added 92 receiving yards on 10 catches, showing that he was an infinite value for the ‘02 squad. Lorenzen finished with 183 yards passing and touchdown passes of 12, 7, and 6 yards. Most of the game was an offensive struggle due to a 35-minute lightning delay halfway through the second quarter. Another delay of 23 minutes gave the game nearly an hour of lightning delays. Go Cats.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Monday, September 13, 2010

September 13th: On this date...


..... in 2001, fresh off the SEC announcing they would play all athletic events, including football games Saturday, September 15th, Indiana announces the postponement off all athletic activities through the weekend of the 15th. It wouldn’t matter for the 2001 Cats as they would go on and lose anyway (26-15) to finish off an embarrassing 2-9 season. The game was made up on December 1, two weeks after Kentucky’s last usual game of the season, the border war with the Vols. Of course that is the year we almost beat Tennessee, losing 38-35 in Lexington.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Eminem at the MTV Awards


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Sunday, September 12, 2010

September 12th: On this date...


... in 2001, the SEC announced even though there was a national tragedy one day earlier, they would go ahead and play all athletic events as scheduled, including football games on Saturday, September 15th. Here is the release from the SEC:

The members of the Southeastern Conference mourn the tragic loss of lives, bodily injury and condemn the acts of destruction which occurred yesterday in this nation. Each of our institutions has been personally touched by these events.

After reviewing all of the issues involved, the Southeastern Conference announces that all Conference athletic events will be played as scheduled, including the football games on Saturday, September 15.

The Conference believes these events present a meaningful opportunity to bring our people together in a common expression of sympathy and mourning. An appropriate ceremony to express these sentiments will be held prior to each game.

The Conference also announces that the member institutions will donate $1,000,000 from the gate receipts and television fees to funds which will assist the victims of this tragic event. In addition, fans at each event will be encouraged to make donations to these funds.

In taking this action, we join the President of the United States and other leaders of our nation by "not allowing this event to change our way of life or restrict our freedoms."
If required by changing events or circumstances, adjustments could be made to this schedule.”

These colors don’t run, especially if you involve SEC Football.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

September 11th: On this date...

... in 2010, remember those who are close to you and the ones you love. We do not negotiate with terrorists. We will never forget.

Friday, September 10, 2010

September 10th: On this date...


... in 2005, Rafael Little ran for a career high 102 yards, including a key fourth quarter 99 yard kickoff return for a touchdown to help the Cats squeak by tiny Division I-AA Idaho State 41-29. Kentucky needed four second half touchdowns and two fourth quarter interceptions to guarantee victory. (I’m guessing this was around the time everyone was wanting PaPaw to hand in his walking papers). Little’s kickoff return TD was the first since Derek Abney in 2002 and the fourth longest return in program history. The Idaho State Bengals led 16-14 at halfime and 29-28 with only 5:06 left in the game. But for 2005 Kentucky? A win is a win is a win is a win. And that’s all that mattered.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Ra Smooth International Presents...

Ramel Smooth Bradley "FLY" (feat. Jonathan Webb) OFFICIAL VIDEO from Ramel Smooth Bradley on Vimeo.

September 9th: On this date...


... in 2002, Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen was named SEC Player of the Week after his performance in the 77-17 drubbing of UTEP. The Pillsbury Throwboy threw for an astonishingly low 211 yards on 10-17 passes. Five touchdowns were also on the stat sheet for the hefty one. He led the Wildcats on touchdown drives on six of their first eight possessions, efficiently directing them to a near record-setting point total. It actually ended up being the second highest total in program history. The victory led Big Blue Nation to gobble up 2,500 tickets the following Monday, 1,500 more to their upcoming Commonwealth Stadium tilt vs. Indiana.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

September 8th: On this date...


... in 1987, a rivalry was put on hold when the University of Louisville cheerleaders performed a very selfless act in raising $15,000 for a fallen member. Kentucky cheerleader Dale Baldwin was paralyzed from the neck down after breaking his neck on a trampoline stunt. The money was raised for a specially equipped van for Baldwin’s transportation. They convinced a Louisville store, Kustom Koncepts, to help with $18,000 more worth of equipment for the van. After the incident, UK Athletic Director Cliff Hagan outlawed any stunt using trampolines. Baldwin went on to graduate from Kentucky in 1990. In 2005, a brand new dorm was named in his honor.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

September 7th: On this date...


... in 2007, Mason County star Darius Miller gives a verbal commitment to the University of Kentucky. This was a huge get for new coach Billy Gillispie, as Big Blue Nation remembers the most recent Mason County star who chose not to go to Kentucky, Tennessee’s Chris Lofton. The fact Gillispie was able to keep Miller in Lexington let everyone know some in-state talent would choose Blue if given the opportunity. Miller had an up-and-down freshman campaign under Gillispie. A campaign that many Wildcat faithful thought he was being held back. Not anymore. Fresh off a gold medal in 2009, Miller was a key cog in the 2010 Wildcat NCAA Tournament run.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Monday, September 6, 2010

September 6th: On this date...


... in 2003, Hefty-Lefty Jared Lorenzen became the University’s all-time passing yards leader in a 37-6 beating of Murray State. J-Load completed 14-21 passes for 197 yards and 4 touchdowns. The 197 yards gave him 8,566 career passing yards, breaking Tim Couch’s mark of 8,435. Couch completed his in three years compared to Lorenzen’s four, but records are records nonetheless. Lorenzen was one of the most likable and gigantic football players in my lifetime.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

also

... in 1990, the man, the myth, the legend, John Wall was born.


Sunday, September 5, 2010

September 5th: On this date...


...... in 2001, the Voice of the Wildcats, Cawood Ledford, passed away at the age of 75 after a battle with cancer. Ledford was the University of Kentucky’s play-by-play man from 1953-1992. Before, and even after TV, Ledford was the eyes and ears of Big Blue Nation painting some of the most glorious pictures for our beloved team. A native of Harlan, Ledford attended Centre College in Danville. He was inducted to the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994. He won three Eclipse Awards for his coverage of thoroughbred racing and voted Kentucky Sportscaster of the Year a record 22 times. In 2001, the University of Kentucky named its basketball court at Rupp Arena “Cawood’s Court” in Ledford’s honor. Arguably the most recognizable face for the most storied college basketball programs in history.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Saturday, September 4, 2010

September 4th: On this date...


...... in 2008, an historical marker was dedicated commemorating Stoll Field, where the first football game was played in the southern United States nearly 130 years ago. Stoll Field/McLean Stadium played host to Kentucky Wildcat football until the 1972, when the team moved into Commonwealth Stadium. The stadium was the home of the Wildcats during the Bear Bryant era, which included their first bowl game and first SEC Championship. Bryant later refused to schedule Kentucky at the run down stadium and is one of the reasons Alabama and Kentucky did not play for 25 years. The last game was a 14-13 win over Vanderbilt on November 11, 1972. The UK marching band still practices there today, with the Singletary Center for the Arts in the opposite end zone.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Friday, September 3, 2010

September 3rd: On this date...


...... in 2008, the University of Kentucky announced it would be holding Big Blue Madness a week earlier (October 10th) than everyone else, giving the Kentucky brand the college basketball stage to itself. This decision allowed more recruits to come to Lexington and still keep their other visits in line. Those recruits would have to cherry pick which school’s they would visit the following week. The UK Athletic Department found a loophole that allowed two hours of practice per week after September 15th. The NCAA rule book prohibited practice before October 17th. So, in essence, the NCAA won’t allow you to practice before October 17th, but they will allow you to two-hours of practice per week after September 15th. I don’t understand it either.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Thursday, September 2, 2010

September 2nd: On this date...


...... in 2008, following a dominant performance against rival Louisville, Kentucky defensive tackle Myron Pryor was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week. Pryor, a Louisville native, played a role in two defensive touchdowns. He forced a fumble in the second quarter that Ashton Cobb picked up and ran 28 yards for a touchdown. The second came when the big man scooped up a fumble forced by linebacker Johnny Williams. Myron “310 lbs. Of Glory” Pryor raced 72 yards the other way for the games final touchdown. Final score: UK 27 - UL 2. It was the first time in 16 years a Wildcat had been named SEC Defensive Player of the Week. Dean Wells was the last. Jeremy Jarmon had been named SEC Lineman of the Week, but not overall Defensive Player of the Week.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Pat and Chuck Called In For Backup

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

September 1st: On this date...


...... in 2002, your University of Kentucky Wildcats put the clamps down on the prolific Louisville offense allowing only 248 total yards in the 22-17 upset of the #17 ranked Cardinals. This snapped a three-game losing streak to the Cards and was a giant step forward for the Wildcat defense, as they were ranked 109th nationally the previous year. Jeremy Caudill’s violent sack on Dave Ragone late in the fourth quarter helped key the win for the Cats. Ragone lay motionless on the ground as Caudill stood overtop punching the air like a boxer. On the next play, Mike Williams intercepted Ragone to seal the deal. Kentucky RB had 123 total yards to help key the offense.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach