1984 Kentucky Wildcats football team

The 1984 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Wildcats scored 293 points while allowing 221 points.[1] Kentucky won the 1984 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl.

1984 Kentucky Wildcats football
Hall of Fame Classic, W 20–19 vs. Wisconsin
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 19
AP	No. 19
1984 record	9–3 (3–3 SEC)
Head coach	Jerry Claiborne (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	I formation
Base defense	Wide-Tackle Six
Home stadium	Commonwealth Stadium

1984 Southeastern Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 3 Florida	5	–	0	–	1			9	–	1	–	1
No. 15 LSU $	4	–	1	–	1			8	–	3	–	1
No. 14 Auburn	4	–	2	–	0			9	–	4	–	0
Georgia	4	–	2	–	0			7	–	4	–	1
No. 19 Kentucky	3	–	3	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Tennessee	3	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	1
Vanderbilt	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Alabama	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Ole Miss	1	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	1
Mississippi State	1	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion Florida was assessed a postseason ban following an NCAA investigation, and the SEC subsequently vacated any championship. The Sugar Bowl automatic bid for the conference champion was awarded to LSU. Under modern rules, LSU would be credited with the conference championship. Rankings from AP Poll

Season

Kentucky opened with a 42–0 win over Kent State, followed by a 48–14 win at Indiana. A 30–26 win at Tulane was followed by a 27–14 win over Rutgers, which put Kentucky into the AP poll at #19. The Wildcats then won their conference opener at Mississippi State, 17–13, to improve to 5–0 for the first time since 1950. Kentucky was then ranked #16 in the AP poll.[2][3][4]

Kentucky then dropped two conference games against ranked opponents, to #10 LSU 36–10 and to #13 Georgia 37–7. The Wildcats clinched a winning season with a 31–7 win against North Texas and then defeated Vanderbilt 27–18. A 25–17 loss to #5 Florida followed. Kentucky then closed out the regular season with a 17–12 victory at Tennessee.[5][6][7]

Kentucky closed its season with a 20–19 victory over #19 Wisconsin in the 1984 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl. As a result, Kentucky finished the season ranked #19 in the final AP poll, with a record of 9–3.[8][9][10]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance
September 8	Kent State*		Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	W 42–0	56,402
September 15	at Indiana*		Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN	W 48–14	44,389
September 22	at Tulane*		Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA	W 30–26	16,505
October 6	Rutgers*		Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	W 27–14	58,010
October 13	Mississippi State	No. 19	Scott Field Starkville, MS	W 17–13	30,395
October 20	No. 10 LSU	No. 16	Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	L 10–36	57,252
October 27	No. 13 Georgia		Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	L 7–37	56,032
November 3	North Texas*		Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	W 31–7	54,328
November 10	Vanderbilt		Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	W 27–18	53,112
November 17	No. 5 Florida		Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY	L 17–25	52,823
November 24	at Tennessee		Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (Battle for the Barrel)	W 17–12	93,791
December 29	vs. No. 19 Wisconsin*		Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Hall of Fame Classic)	W 20–19	47,300
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[11][12]

Team players in the 1985 NFL Draft

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL Club
George Adams	Running back	1	19	New York Giants
Cam Jacobs	Linebacker	5	136	Pittsburgh Steelers
Oliver White	Tight end	10	268	Pittsburgh Steelers
Jeff Smith	Defensive tackle	11	291	San Diego Chargers

[13][14]

References

1. "1984 Kentucky Wildcats results". Archived from the original on 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
2. "1984 Kentucky Wildcats scores". Archived from the original on 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
3. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.209
4. "Kentucky in the AP poll, 1984, AP Poll Archive". Archived from the original on 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
5. "1984 Kentucky Wildcats scores". Archived from the original on 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
6. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.168, 209
7. "Kentucky in the AP poll, 1984, AP Poll Archive". Archived from the original on 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
8. "1984 Kentucky Wildcats scores". Archived from the original on 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
9. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.168, 209
10. "Kentucky in the AP poll, 1984, AP Poll Archive". Archived from the original on 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
11. "College Football Reference". Archived from the original on 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
12. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.168
13. "1984 NFL Draft Listing | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
14. 1997 Kentucky Wildcats Football Media Guide, p.166