November 18th: On this date....

..... in 2006, your University of Kentucky Wildcats moved to 7-4 on the season with a heart-pounding 42-40 victory over Louisiana-Monroe in Commonwealth. Keenan Burton caught multiple touchdown passes (37, 17, and 25 yards) for a program record fourth consecutive game to break teammate Dicky Lyons Jr., record set earlier in the year. The Warhawks (2-8, 1-4 Sun Belt) were down 18 points midway through the second quarter after an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown by Rafael Little. LA-Monroe wouldn’t give up though, and actually held the lead going into the fourth quarter, 34-33. A Lones Seiber field goal and a touchdown put the Cats up 42-34 with a minute to play. The Warhawks scored on a QB sneak to cut the lead to two, but the Big Blue defense stopped a two-point conversion, an onside kick, and a hail mary in the final moments to secure the win. This is the life of a Kentucky football fan.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Stevie Gets Loose Over An Escalade

Neil & Bruce Whippin' It Up

November 17th: On this date...

..... in 2001, an all-to-familiar feeling was cast through Big Blue Nation as the University of Kentucky Wildcats snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against hated rival Tennessee, 38-35. Commonwealth Stadium was feeling confident when the Cats marched out to a commanding (or so we thought) 21-0 lead late in the second quarter. Jared Lorenzen had 406 passing yards and Derek Abney had 10 catches for 118 to pace the Big Blue, but the defense broke down coming home. Casey Clausen connected with Donte Stallworth for three scores, two in the fourth quarter, to slam the dagger into the heart of the Wildcat faithful. Stallworth ended the game with 8 receptions for 169 yards and the three aforementioned touchdowns. The losing streak currently stands at 25. Randall Cobb will end this losing streak.......

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November 16th: On this date...

..... in 2002, Artose Pinner led the Big Blue with a career-high 224 yards rushing as your University of Kentucky Wildcats blasted the Vanderbilt Commodores 41-21 to move to 7-4 (3-4 SEC) on the season. Pinner tied a school record by scoring four touchdowns and set a school record by going over the century mark for the eighth time during the 2002 campaign. Derek Abney also set an NCAA record with his sixth kick return for a touchdown in a single season. It was his seventh career return for a touchdown, an SEC record. The Kentucky defense frustrated Vandy quarterback Jay Cutler for most of the day, only giving up 176 passing yards to the future first-rounder. Leading 28-21 going into the fourth quarter, Kentucky pulled away on Pinner’s fourth touchdown of the day and an Otis Grigsby fumble recovery in the end zone.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

And this happened one year ago today...

November 15th:: On this date...

..... in 1985, a new generation (of Kentucky Wildcat basketball fans) was born when superstar and Kentucky-native Rex Chapman told the world he would play his college basketball at the University of Kentucky. An elite high-flyer from Apollo High in Owensboro, KY, King Rex was named a McDonald’s All-American, a Parade All-American, and Mr. Basketball in the state Kentucky for 1986. In just two years at Kentucky, Chapman gained membership into the elusive 1,000 point club and was named to All SEC teams in both seasons in the Blue and White. During his sophomore season, he was named a third team All-American, Academic All-SEC, and the SEC Tournament MVP. In 1988, Rex led the Cats to a 27-6 record and a Sweet Sixteen berth. Then there’s this:

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

November 14th: On this date....

..... in 2005, sophomore running back Rafael Little was named National Player of the Week by SI.com after his monster performance in a 48-43 shootout victory against Vanderbilt. Little did everything but kick field goals and call plays as he managed to gain 372 all-purpose yards. This number was the highest in the nation in 2005. The second most in University history. And third most in Southeastern Conference history. The South Carolina native had 198 yards rushing on 28 carries and three touchdowns, all career highs. He added five catches for 86 yards and returned two punts for 88 yards for the final tally. After the Vanderbilt game, Rafael Little led the nation in all-purpose yards per game, averaging nearly 194 yards per contest.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

November 13th: On this date...

...... in 1999, an injured Quentin McCord weaved his way through the Vanderbilt defense on his way to an 80-yard third quarter touchdown helping the Cats to a 19-17 victory in Nashville. The win was the all-important sixth on the season, giving the Wildcats the minimum number of victories to be bowl eligible. Dusty Bonner threw for only 141 yards and super tight end James Whalen only caught 3 passes for 11 yards as the Vandy defense had Kentucky’s number most of the day. The touchdown to McCord came in at #18 on Tom Leach’s Greatest Calls. The story says Hal Mumme was told by the team doctors he could have McCord for one of the two remaining games on the season, but not both. Mumme decided to use Quentin in the Vandy game to try and gain bowl eligibility for the second straight year. It worked and that’s all that mattered to Big Blue Nation.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Calipari 2.01 - Cats Shoot The Lights Out To Open The 2010-11 Season

Path to World Domination Continues.....

For the second time in just over a year (Billy G drunk golf), Lawrenceburg, KY has stepped up its game ensuring Kentucky is on a Path to World Domination. Ladies & Gents, Lawrenceburg, KY! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

November 12th: On this date...

..... in 1881, the University of Kentucky football program played its first ever football game, although they didn’t play as the University of Kentucky. And if you’ve been paying attention in class, you’ll also know they didn’t play as the Wildcats either. Your University was known as A&M College, Kentucky State College, and/or State College of Kentucky during the last part of the 19th century. Their opponent? Wait for it...............Kentucky University. The final score? Wait for it...................7 1/4 - 1. I’m going to go out on a limb and say the game has changed quite a bit in this 129 years. The football front page over at UK Athletics says the game and scoring probably resembled rugby more than football, but nevertheless was called football. Football would go on hiatus until 1891, when it would be a staple at the University until World War II. The team later known as your University of Kentucky Wildcats finished the three game season in 1881, 1-2.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

This is the only video from that day....

Freak Show Alert: Jimmy Gets His First Triple Double

November 11th: On this date...

..... in 2006, Kentucky became bowl eligible (in what would become the first of the current four straight bowl-eligible seasons) by beating Vandy 38-26 in Lexington. Andre Woodson threw for 450 yards and four touchdowns to lead the way at quarterback. Rafael Little had a career game catching 8 passes for 114 yards and rushing for another 132 yards and a touchdown. Keenan Burton led the wideouts with 11 receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns, in what would become a statistical freak show for the Blue and White. The win moved the Cats to 6-4 (4-3 in SEC) and guaranteed Big Blue Nation they would have at least a .500 record in the regular season and in conference, virtually guaranteeing them a bowl game. We would go on to play the often overated Clemson Tigers in the Music City Bowl in Nashville.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

November 10th: On this date...

..... in 2001, Jared Lorenzen threw for a career-high 453 yards and six touchdowns as he led the hapless Cats to a 56-30 drubbing of Vandy. It was only the second win of the season and the first SEC win for first year head coach Guy Morriss. The win snapped a 15-game conference losing streak for the Wildcats. The 56 points were a season high for the Big Blue. Tight end Derek Smith had 4 catches for 130 yards and Derek Abney added seven receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns. For his part, sophomore quarterback J-Load was named National Player of the Week. His six touchdowns passes came with no interceptions.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

November 9th: On this date...

..... in 2002, is a day that will go down in infamy for your beloved Kentucky Wildcats. One of the most sickening feelings I’ve ever had as a UK fan. Two words: Gatorade bath. Excuse me while I go vomit.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

November 8th: On this date....

..... in 2008, Georgia’s Matthew Stafford got the revenge he was looking for when he hit A.J. Green for the go-ahead touchdown (in Joe Montana/Dwight Clark fashion), giving the visiting Bulldogs a 42-38 victory in Commonwealth. Randall Cobb ran for 82 yards and three touchdowns, but was intercepted at the Georgia 13-yard line with only 43 seconds remaining to secure the Georgia win. Kentucky amassed 226 yards rushing against the SEC’s second ranked run defense. Cobb finished the game 12-20 for only 105 yards passing, as the new Wildcat package was the main source of productivity. Matthew Stafford finished game with 376 yards passing and three TDs; Knowshon Moreno ended with 123 yards rushing and three TDs; and Mohamed Massaquoi had 8 receptions for 191 yards to pace the Dawgs.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Shoe People Come Into Public And Buy John Wall Shoes

November 7th: On this date....

..... in 2007, Billy Clyde Gillispie’s second game turned out to be a disaster as the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs upended the #20 Wildcats, 84-68 in Rupp Arena. The game was supposed to be an easy win on the way to a four team tournament in Madison Square Garden with Connecticut, Oklahoma, and .......ahem....... Memphis. Gardner-Webb’s win forced them to fly cross country the night before the Madison Square Garden game because they hadn’t planned on making the trip to New York. At this point, it was clear to many Kentucky fans that Billy Clyde’s honeymoon was over. I’m just not sure Billy Clyde ever got that memo. Years later, the aforementioned Kentucky head coach would be arrested for Driving Under the Influence after completing a round of golf at 2:30am in Lawrenceburg, KY. I wish I was making that up.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

2010 Breeders' Cup Classic - Oh So Close For Zenyatta

It was an epic race for our lady, the traffic was just a bit too much. Another great Breeders' Cup. Another great day for horse racing, just not the best. Cheers to this wonderful horse.

November 6th: On this date...

..... in 1999, #8 Mississippi State needed a rally late to ward off Kentucky 23-22 in Starkville to move their record to a school record 8-0. The Cats almost pulled off the upset against the nation’s best defense by only gaining 176 total yards, 226 yards below their SEC leading average. James Whalen led Kentucky with 11 receptions, giving him 78 receptions on the year, a new NCAA record for tight ends. Harrodsburg-native Dennis Johnson blocked a punt to set up Dusty Bonner’s offense at the 1-yard line. Bonner would sneak it in to put Kentucky up 12-7. The Wildcats went into the locker room with a 19-14 lead, but couldn’t muster any offense in the second half and managed only three points.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach